Eric Boocock

Eric Boocock
Born (1945-02-02) 2 February 1945
Dewsbury, England
Nationality England
Current club information
Career status Manager
Manager Sheffield Tigers
Career history
1961-1964 Middlesbrough Bears
1965-1974, 1983 Halifax Dukes
Individual honours
1974 British Champion
1970 Northern Riders Champion
1968 NSW State Champion (Aust)
Team honours
1966 British League Champion
1966 British League Knockout Cup Winner
1966 Northern Cup Winner

Eric Boocock (born 2 February 1945 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England)[1] is a former Speedway rider who appeared in three Speedway World Championship finals.[2]

Career

Eric started his career with the Middlesbrough Bears in 1961 and stayed there until the promotion closed in 1964. The promoter, Reg Fearman opened up a speedway track at The Shay in Halifax and moved his Middlesbrough riders there, to form the Halifax Dukes. Eric spent his entire career with the Dukes, winning the British League and the KO Cup in 1966.

He made three World final appearances and appeared with brother Nigel Boocock in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals, finishing in third place. He was also a regular England International rider.

Eric became British Champion in 1974 after finishing on the rostrum three times previously. The same season he became the first rider to gain a testimonial meeting for his services to speedway and then retired as a racer at the early age of twenty-nine. He appeared again briefly for the Halifax Dukes in 1983 but retired again very quickly.

Manager and Promoter

In 1975, Eric became team manager of the Belle Vue Aces where he stayed for seven seasons. In 1976 he also helped Peter Collins win the Speedway World Championship by stripping, cleaning and rebuilding his clutch between heats in the final, and by keeping away an attempt by the Polish contingent to put off Collins who were making irrational protests over his fuel.

In 1980 he became coach of England with Ian Thomas as team manager, winning the World Team Cup and the Speedway World Pairs Championship, with Michael Lee also becoming World Champion. In 1982 Eric had a season as England team manager and then in 1986 he was appointed joint manager with Colin Pratt with whom he spent seven years at the helm.

In 2004 Eric became co-promoter of the Hull Vikings where they won the Premier League, the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield. He then went on to team manager the Belle Vue Aces with Chris Morton.

In 2008 Eric became co-promoter and manager at the Sheffield Tigers.

Has served several terms on the British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee.

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

World Pairs Championship

World Team Cup

References

  1. ↑ Boocock, E. & Neal, M. (2006). Booey. Retro Speedway. ISBN 978-0-9551176-6-4
  2. ↑ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
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