Nobby Key
Born28 March 1906 (1906-03-28)
Forest Gate, Essex, England
Died20 April 1941(1941-04-20) (aged 35)
Sheringham Avenue, East London
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1929Wembley Lions
1929Cardiff White City
1930–1931Nottingham
1931–1933Crystal Palace Glaziers
1934–1937New Cross Lambs
1937–1938Wimbledon Dons
Team honours
1938National Trophy Winner
1934, 1938London Cup Winner

Walter Charles Key known as Nobby Key (1906–1941) was an international speedway rider from England.[1] He earned 11 international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]

Speedway career

Key earned the nickname 'Nobby' and came to prominence in 1929 when signing for the Wembley Lions.[3] During the 1931 season, when riding for Nottingham (speedway) he was seeking a transfer following continued machinery problems and as one of their star riders was also one of the highest wage earners, something the club were addressing.[4] He did leave and joined the Crystal Palace Glaziers where he became their club captain and earned several England caps.[2][5]

When the Crystal Palace operation moved in 1934 he was attached to the New Cross Lambs[6][7][8] and was part of the team that won the 1934 London Cup.[9]

When riding for the Wimbledon Dons from 1937 to 1938, he won another London Cup[10] and won the 1938 National Trophy.

War and death

He joined the Merchant navy at the outbreak of World War II. However, he is listed as being killed as a civilian casualty on 20 April 1941 at Sheringham Avenue (presumably in a bombing) based on the fact that he is listed as a civilian casualty and that it is known that Sheringham Avenue was subject to German bombs in late April 1941.[11][12]

Players cigarette cards

Key is listed as number 22 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Speedway Riders, 22 Nobby Key (New Cross)". Speedway Museum. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Wembley's Speedway". Sporting Times. 18 May 1929. Retrieved 20 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Nobby Key must not leave Nottingham". Nottingham Evening Post. 21 May 1931. Retrieved 20 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Speedway Test Changes". Daily Mirror. 10 September 1932. Retrieved 20 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  7. ↑ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  8. ↑ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "New Cross win London Cup". Daily Herald. 26 September 1934. Retrieved 16 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Speedway win for Wimbledon". Daily Herald. 11 October 1938. Retrieved 16 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Sheringham Avenue, Manor Park". Newham Photos. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "UK, World War II Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945 for Walter Charles Key". Ancestry. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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