The Riders - J

John Jackson:  Jackson was associated with Halifax for a number of seasons - filling in at the bottom end of the team, especially for parts of 1973, although was never oficially announced as a number 8.  He was number 1 for the Crewe Kings through the early 1970s, and was happy to fill in for Halifax when the need arose - riding in over 20 matches for the Dukes over the 1973-1975 period.  Jackson would go on to spend many several seasons for local club Ellesmere Port and was a giant in National League circles up until the end of 1982, regularly averaging over 9 points a match.  Joined Stoke for 1983, which proved to be his final season, and he announced his retirement in early 1984, despite still averaging over 6.50 points per match.

Bob Jameson:  Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Jameson was part of the successful Dukes team from 1965 until 1970, taking part in over 150 meetings.  Never a top-scorer, but a solid second-string performer, his best season was in the Championship-winning 1966 team, where he averaged nearly 5.50 points a match.  His scoring diminished as the decade wore on however, and he was only retained as number 8 for 1970, riding in 2 more fixtures, whilst on loan to Middlesbrough.  He spent 2 seasons on Teeside before retiring.

Merv Janke:  Merv The Swerve first came to the UK in 1977, and following spells with Coatbridge and Glasgow, was signed by The Dukes to cover the retirement of Graham Plant in early 1979. After achieving a near 5 point average, he returned to the Dukes full time in 1980 and was a solid scorer, and his spectacular style endeared him to the fans. Despite increasing his average by almost 2 points, Janke surprised the Dukes in early 1981 by announcing he would be remaining in Queensland that season - but 12 months on had a change of heart, and returned to bolster the Dukes for 1982. Early season mechanical difficulties, using old machinery, landed him at reserve, where his form started to improve, and he scored a spectacular 12 point maximum as the Dukes demolished Leicester.  The following week, in a bid to win the Yorkshire Open, he piled up, breaking a wrist.  He was back after 6 weeks, but crashed again in his first race, this time breaking both wrists.  It was the end of his British speedway career.

Alan Jay:  Originally from Oxford, Jay's speedway career started with 7 seasons at Sheffield, before the Dukes called upon his services, to cover for the injured Dennis Gavros.  He rode in 16 official matches, but when Gavros returned, the Dukes were unable to keep him, the rider-allocation committee sending him to Newcastle.  Was brought back to The Shay in 1969 to replace Eric Boothroyd, and enjoyed a good season with Halifax, averaging nearly 7.50 points a match.  Jay would remain with the Dukes until the end of the 1972 season, although his average dipped slightly each year.  He joined Coventry, spending 3 seasons at Brandon, before retiring in 1975.