▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁whilst ▁with ▁the ▁W im ble don ▁D ons , ▁and ▁also ▁represented ▁England ▁many ▁times . ▁ ▁Biography ▁St ath am ▁began ▁gr as stra ck ▁racing ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁six teen . ▁He ▁first ▁rode ▁in ▁speed way ▁as ▁a ▁nov ice ▁at ▁the ▁Br andon ▁track , ▁going ▁on ▁to ▁ride ▁for ▁Cov entry , ▁signed ▁for ▁B irmingham ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 2 , ▁and ▁then ▁South am pton , ▁r iding ▁as ▁a ▁h ob by ▁with ▁his ▁gar age ▁business ▁his ▁main ▁priority . ▁ ▁He ▁rode ▁for ▁the ▁Harr ing ay ▁Tig ers ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁before ▁dro pping ▁down ▁a ▁division ▁to ▁the ▁South am pton ▁Sain ts . ▁He ▁gave ▁up ▁racing , ▁thinking ▁he ▁was ▁not ▁good ▁enough ▁to ▁progress , ▁but ▁due ▁to ▁financial ▁difficulties ▁with ▁his ▁gar age ▁business ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 7 ▁he ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁National ▁League ▁with ▁Harr ing ay , ▁soon ▁rising ▁to ▁heat ▁leader ▁status . ▁After ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁O ds al ▁Bo omer angs ▁in ▁Brad ford , ▁captain ing ▁the ▁team , ▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁the ▁W im ble don ▁D ons ▁for ▁a ▁record ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁transfer ▁fee , ▁rep ay ing ▁that ▁with ▁ 3 3 6 ▁points ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁season . ▁ ▁St ath am ▁first ▁rode ▁in ▁the ▁England ▁team ▁in ▁the ▁ 1