{{Short description|Australian motorcycle speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name = Clem Mitchell | image = | caption = | nationality = Australian | birth_date = {{birth date text|3 February 1908}} | birth_place = Blyth, South Australia, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|2|28|1908|2|3|df=y}} | death_place = Victoria, Australia
| career1 = Perry Barr | years1 = 1930 | career2 = Crystal Palace Glaziers | years2 = 1930, 1932 | career3 = Plymouth Tigers | years3 = 1932 | career4 = Harringay Tigers | years4 = 1937 | career5 = New Cross Rangers | years5 = 1937–1938 | career6 = Edinburgh Monarchs | years6 = 1948–1950
| teamyear1 = 1938 | teamhonour1 = League champion }}
'''Clement Walter Mitchell''' (3 February 1908 – 28 February 1995) was an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 29 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.<ref name=URI>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref>
== Biography== Mitchell, born in Blyth, South Australia, was brought over to the UK in 1930 by Roger Frogley,<ref>{{cite news |title=Motor Dirt-Track Thrills |work=Evening Despatch |date=14 April 1930 |access-date=3 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19300414/011/0011 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> before he started his British leagues career racing a couple of times for Birmingham Perry Barr. The Birmingham team folded, leaving Mitchell to join the Crystal Palace Glaziers during the 1930 Speedway Southern League season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1930record.pdf |title=1930 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref> He was named in the Crystal Palace team for 1931 but he chose to stay in Australia for the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=The World of Sport |work=Norwood News |date=29 January 1932 |access-date=3 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002308/19320129/162/0010 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 1932, the northern and southern leagues merged to form the National League and Mitchell returned to UK shores arriving to race for Crystal Palace again. He failed to make it out of the reserves and joined Plymouth Tigers mid-season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway competition |work=Western Morning News |date=5 July 1932 |access-date=3 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19320705/114/0011 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Mitchell raced in Australia from 1933 to 1936 and was instrumental in setting up the debut's of Jack Milne and Cordy Milne in British speedway.<ref>{{cite news |title=It's worth a note that... |work=Lewisham Borough News |date=24 March 1936 |access-date=3 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004585/19360324/559/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Mitchell returned himself for the 1937 season, signing on with the Harringay Tigers before moving to New Cross Rangers the following season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref> He won the league title with New Cross in 1938.<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}}</ref>
After World War II, he joined Edinburgh Monarchs and spent fours seasons with the Scottish club from 1948 to 1952, before becoming their team manager.<ref>{{cite news |title=Young Jams £4,000 move |work=Daily News (London) |date=23 January 1952 |access-date=3 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19520123/099/0006 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==Family== His brother Lindsay Gordon Mitchell also rode professional speedway.<ref name=URI/>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Clem}} Category:1908 births Category:1995 deaths Category:Australian speedway riders Category:Crystal Palace Glaziers riders Category:Harringay Tigers riders Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in England Category:New Cross Rangers riders Category:Plymouth Gladiators riders Category:West Ham Hammers riders