Tom Leadbitter
| Born | 8 September 1945 Long Eaton Archers |
|---|---|
| 1968, 1970-1971 | Leicester Lions |
| 1968-1970 | Middlesbrough Teessiders |
| 1969 | Newcastle Diamonds |
| 1972-1975 | Wolverhampton Wolves |
| 1975-1976 | Teesside Tigers |
| 1977 | Bristol Bulldogs |
| Team honours | |
| 1973 | Midland Cup |
Thomas William Leadbitter (8 September 1945 – May 1995) was a British
Biography
Born in
Long Eaton Archers in 1967. In 1968 he was signed by newly formed Leicester Lions, but only made one appearance for the team that season, spending most of it on loan to Middlesbrough Teessiders.[3]
In 1969, he progressed with Middlesbrough,
averaging close to nine points per match, and had ridden in four matches in the top division as a guest for Newcastle Diamonds.[3] In 1970, he stayed with Middlesbrough as well as riding in several matches for his parent club Leicester, and was recalled to a full team place for the Lions in 1971.[3] He competed in the Second Division Riders Championship in 1970, finishing in fifth place.[4]
At the end of the season he transferred to
National League where he averaged over nine points and recorded five full maximum and three paid maximum scores in 33 matches. After a second season back with Teesside in 1976 he moved on to Bristol Bulldogs in 1977, his final season before retiring. He was a part of the 1973 Wolves Midland Cup winning team.[5]
Leadbitter represented England against the Soviet Union in 1974, and represented Young England against Scotland in 1975.[4]
Leadbitter was also a top scrambles rider, winning the British Scrambles Championship in 1970 and 1972.[4] He also rode in grasstrack events in France and Germany.[4]
References
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 170
- ^ ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 74
- ^ "Midland Speedway Cup". Leicester Daily Mercury. 10 October 1973. Retrieved 21 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.