The 1974 Season

The 1974 British League season began with a shock - defending Champions Reading would not be taking part.  They had been evicted from their Tilehurst stadium, the land being sold for development, and as the season approached, no new alternative land had been found.  They would return 12 months later.  Coatbridge also dropped out of the league after their troubles the previous season, to be replaced by Hull, who stepped up from the second division.  Several tracks were affected by the announcement from the Swedish authorities that the top Swedish riders were to be blocked from competing in the UK.

Halifax were boosted by the announcement that Eric Boocock was fit and ready to go following his awful arm injuries the previous season, although the skipper would receive special dispensation to start the season at reserve, given the length of his lay-off.  The decision was made to move on from Les Sharpe, the Dukes promotion considering he was nowhere near the rider who was scoring 10 points a match 4 years earlier, and Bill Andrew was also released after only one season.  Charlie Monk would return, along with Mike Hiftle, and the promising Dave Gatenby would join full time after an impressive second half of 1973.  But the Dukes' plans were left in tatters when John Titman failed to agree terms to return for a third season, and ultimately stayed at home in Australia.

The Dukes entered the transfer market, signing two proven stars to provide back-up to Boocock.  Stalwart Rick France joined after a below-par season with Coventry, whilst Graham Plant joined from Newport - both Shay track specialists, and proven heat-leaders.  To fill the void left by Titman, Halifax brought in unknown 22 year old Dutchman Henny Kroeze, in the hope he would prove a fan favourite and score valuable points at the bottom of the team.  John Jackson would continue to deputise as number 8, and the Dukes also added the promising Graham Drury on loan from Ellesmere Port.  Halifax, at least on paper, had the strongest looking side in the league.

Early away successes - a draw at Swindon and a win at Leicester - sent the Dukes to the top of the league by the end of May - but a run of niggling injuries took the sting out of their challenge, and the early optimism soon disappeared, as Wolverhampton, and then eventual champions Exeter pulled away.  Plant broke a collar bone at Poole, and both France and Hiftle had spells out of the saddle, as the usual pattern developed - the Dukes were strong at home, often woeful away.  But Boocock aggravated his arm injury, and missed 2 home fixtures in June - and Halifax lost both of them.

The season became a celebration of the career of Eric Boocock - the Dukes' skipper brilliantly won the British Final at Coventry in June, and received a hugely deserved testimonial for 10 years service, marked by a star-studded line-up for the meeting in July.  But Charlie Monk was injured in the very next meeting, and was out for the rest of the season as the injury-jinx continued...

The Dukes run in the Knock-out Cup failed to take off - drawn against local rivals Belle Vue, Halifax contrived to lose at home to the Aces, and were dumped out on aggregate after a similar fate at Hyde Road.

Boocock was joined by Rick France in the British Semi-Finals, but whilst the skipper progressed, France was eliminated.  Boocock's win in the British Final saw him through to the British/Nordic Final, the round of his controversial exit in 1973 - but in the Danish round, Boocock crashed heavily in his first outing, spending the night in hospital - his World Championship over for another season.

Once again, the hopes for a sustained league title challenge were diluted by the Dukes' inability to stay out of the wars - their intended starting 1-7 of Boocock, France, Monk, Kroeze, Plant, Hiftle and Gatenby would take to the track together in only FOUR of their 32 league fixtures, and in only one of their other matches!  Halifax would finish a distant 7th in the final league table, 20 points behind the Mauger-inspired Falcons.

Eric Boocock's form was clearly affected by his injuries the previous season, as he dipped below a 10 point average for the first time in his stellar career.  France, Monk and Plant were all guaranteed 7 point riders, but were all affected by the injury bug.  Henny Kroeze had an excellent first season, his spell at reserve during the summer months helping boost his scoring as he discovered his way around the British tracks.  And both Dave Gatenby and Mike Hiftle continued to please the home fans with their efforts, both having spells in the main team proper.

Whilst Graham Drury and John Jackson had limited opportunities, and failed to score consistently when called upon, late season outings for second-halfers Ian Cartwright and Andy Cusworth suggested the Dukes may have the riders for the future on their door-step. 

The hope was that the 1974 Dukes could push on into 1975 and challenge for honours, if they could stay injury free - but as the new year approached, Eric Boocock announced the end of his career.  The Dukes would have to move on without their skipper and British Champion for the second half of the decade.

The heat details, scorers and reports for each meeting through the season can be found by clicking on the pages for each month.