Howdy Byford

Francis Howard Byford (28 August 1919 – 10 June 1996) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England.

[4] He rode for West Ham for nine years and although the team failed to win any honours his story endeared people to him and he became a crowd favourite.

[7] He once again became a crowd favourite at the Cowley Stadium, became the club captain and rode for Oxford for five years.

[8] In November 1956, he was travelling in a car (with fellow Oxford teammates in South Africa) that crashed and killed rider Terry Courtnell.

[10] In 1965, he returned to London to join the Hackney Hawks for the new British League season[1] before finishing his career with King's Lynn Stars from 1966 to 1967.