I followed Middlesbrough speedway team "The Bears" from their reintroduction to the provincial League in 1961.
They had opened their doors to racing in the very earliest days of the sport in 1928, but like most teams had opened and shut with varying degrees of success over the years.
The 60's were similar to what had gone before, not much to show in the trophy cabinet and closed for a year or 2 in the middle sixties.
As the bleak 80's dawned, and the works around Teesside were closing down, the speedway team had their finest moment.
In 1981 the team clinched the National League speedway title.
From then however it was all down hill. A fire in the main Grandstand in 1986 was the beginning of the end and by 1996 it was all over. Cleveland Park that was christened "The Wembley of the North" was sold off and Speedway and dog racing was finished after 60 years.
I wasn't there to see it all happen, I emigrated in 1982 and returned in 1993-97, so I caught the final years, and when it closed another link to my home was broken.
Above 1981 Teesside Tigers beat local rivals Newcastle to win the National league title.
Below, Steve Wilcock, Boro stalwart for many year, blocking out a competitor.