Mike Sampson

{{Short description|British speedway rider (born 1945)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| name = Mike Sampson

| image = Mike Sampson, speedway rider.jpg

| caption =

| nationality = British (English)

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|8 August 1945}}

| birth_place = Exeter, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| career1 = Romford Bombers

| years1 = 1971

| career2 = West Ham Hammers

| years2 = 1972

| career3 = Barrow Happy Faces/Bombers

| years3 = 1972–1973

| career4 =Exeter Falcons

| years4 = 1972–1975

| career5 =Eastbourne Eagles

| years5 = 1974–1978

| career6 = White City Rebels

| years6 = 1977–1978

| career7 =Nottingham Outlaws

| years7 = 1979–1980

| career8 =Cradley Heathens

| years8 = 1979–1980

| career9 =Stoke Potters

| years9 = 1981–1982

| indivyear1 =

| indivhonour1 =

| teamyear1 = 1974, 1977

| teamhonour1 = British League Champion

| teamyear2 = 1977

| teamhonour2 = National League Champion

| teamyear3 = 1975, 1977, 1978

| teamhonour3 = New/National League KO Cup Winner

}}

Mike Sampson (born 8 August 1945) is a former speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2720/mike-sampson|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/87680/page/37|title=Mike Sampson|website=eader exacteditions .com|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=20 June 2023}}

Speedway career

File:Mike Sampson VWGP.jpg

Sampson rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1971 to 1982, riding for multiple clubs.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=History Archive|website=British Speedway|access-date=29 July 2021}} He started his career at Romford Bombers before going on to ride for West Ham Hammers and Barrow.

He was a member of the Exeter Falcons team that won the 1974 British League and doubled up for Eastbourne Eagles in division 2.

He continued to ride for Eastbourne{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000656/19760723/257/0012 |title=Sampson sidelined for two months |website=Sussex Express |date=23 July 1976 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 October 2024 }} and also rode for the White City Rebels team that won the 1977 British League. In 1978, Sampson won the Daily Mirror Sword title.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19780329/234/0028 |title=The grand old man of speedway Johnnie Hoskins congratulates Daily Mirros Sword winner Mike Sampson |website=Daily Mirror |date=29 March 1978 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 October 2024 }}

In 1979 Sampson rode for Nottingham Outlaws and in 1980 for Cradley Heathens before finishing his career with Stoke Potters from 1981 to 1982 as the club captain.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19820306/009/0009 |title=Stoke rider hits snag |website=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=6 March 1982 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 October 2024 }}

References