Nobby Key
{{Short description|British speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Nobby Key
| image = File:Nobby_Key_motorcycle_speedway_rider_cigarette_card.png
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth-date|28 March 1906}}
| birth_place = Forest Gate, Essex, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1941|4|20|1906|3|28|df=y}}
| death_place = Sheringham Avenue, East London
| career1 = Wembley Lions
| years1 = 1929
| career2 = Cardiff White City
| years2 = 1929
| career3 = Nottingham
| years3 = 1930–1931
| career4 = Crystal Palace Glaziers
| years4 = 1931–1933
| career5 = New Cross Lambs
| years5 = 1934–1937
| career6 = Wimbledon Dons
| years6 = 1937–1938
| indivyear1 =
| indivhonour1 =
| indivyear2 =
| indivhonour2 =
| teamyear1 = 1938
| teamhonour1 = National Trophy Winner
| teamyear2 = 1934, 1938
| teamhonour2 = London Cup Winner
}}
Walter Charles Key known as Nobby Key (28 March 1906–20 April 1941) was an international speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/playerscigarettecards5.html|title=Speedway Riders, 22 Nobby Key (New Cross)|website=Speedway Museum|access-date=20 August 2021}} He earned 11 international caps for the England national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=21 December 2023}}
Speedway career
Key earned the nickname 'Nobby' and came to prominence in 1929 when signing for the Wembley Lions.{{cite news |title=Wembley's Speedway|work=Sporting Times |date=18 May 1929 |access-date=20 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001682/19290518/075/0008| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} 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.{{cite news |title=Nobby Key must not leave Nottingham|work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 May 1931 |access-date=20 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19310521/035/0010| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He did leave and joined the Crystal Palace Glaziers where he became their club captain and earned several England caps.{{cite news |title=Speedway Test Changes|work=Daily Mirror |date=10 September 1932 |access-date=20 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19320910/210/0018| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
When the Crystal Palace operation moved in 1934 he was attached to the New Cross Lambs{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=20 August 2021}}{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1929-1939|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}} and was part of the team that won the 1934 London Cup.{{cite news |title=New Cross win London Cup |work=Daily Herald |date=26 September 1934 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19340926/312/0018 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=16 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }}
When riding for the Wimbledon Dons from 1937 to 1938, he won another London Cup{{cite news |title=Speedway win for Wimbledon |work=Daily Herald |date=11 October 1938 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19381011/261/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=16 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }} 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) in Manor Park, London, 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.newhamphotos.com/p579167328/h66F51BCB#h66f51bcb|title=Sheringham Avenue, Manor Park|website=Newham Photos|access-date=20 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/|title=UK, World War II Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945 for Walter Charles Key|website=Ancestry|access-date=20 August 2021|url-access=subscription }}
Players cigarette cards
Key is listed as number 22 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Nobby}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:Crystal Palace Glaziers riders
Category:New Cross Rangers riders
Category:Nottingham speedway riders
Category:Wimbledon Dons riders
Category:British Merchant Navy personnel of World War II