# Nigel Sparshott > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nigel_Sparshott > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nigel_Sparshott.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Sparshott > Source revision: 1250145279 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name = Nigel Sparshott | image =Nigel Sparshott (1).jpg | caption = | nationality = British (English) | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1961|9|2}} | birth_place = [Swanley](/source/Swanley), Kent, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1998|7|10|1961|9|2|df=y}} | death_place = [Swanley](/source/Swanley), Kent, England | career1 = [Crayford Kestrels](/source/Crayford_Kestrels) | years1 = 1978 | career2 = [Milton Keynes Knights](/source/Milton_Keynes_Knights) | years2 = 1979-1980, 1982, 1988 | career3 = [Kings Lynn Stars](/source/Kings_Lynn_Stars) | years3 = 1980-1981 | career4 = [Birmingham Brummies](/source/Birmingham_Brummies) | years4 = 1982-1983 | career5 = [Oxford Cheetahs](/source/Oxford_Cheetahs) | years5 = 1983-1985, 1987 | career6 = [Eastbourne Eagles](/source/Eastbourne_Eagles) | years6 = 1983 | career7 = [Exeter Falcons](/source/Exeter_Falcons) | years7 = 1985 | career8 = [Wimbledon Dons](/source/Wimbledon_Dons) | years8 = 1986 | career9 = [Long Eaton Invaders](/source/Long_Eaton_Invaders) | years9= 1987, 1992-1993 | career10 = [Middlesbrough Bears](/source/Middlesbrough_Bears) | years10 = 1988-1989 | career11 = [Rye House Rockets](/source/Rye_House_Rockets) | years11= 1990 | indivyear1 = | indivhonour1 = | teamhonour1 = Gauntlet Gold Cup | teamyear1 = 1980 }} '''Nigel Sparshott''' (2 September 1961 - 10 July 1998) was an English [speedway rider](/source/Motorcycle_speedway).{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2737/nigel-sparshott |title=Speedway riders, history and results |website=wwosbackup |access-date=7 October 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6639135.ex-cheetah-nigel-dies-car-crash/|title=Ex-Cheetah Nigel dies in car crash |website=Oxford Mail |access-date=7 October 2022}}{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=253|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}}{{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 June 2023}} == Speedway career == Sparshott began his career at Crayford in 1978 before joining [Milton Keynes Knights](/source/Milton_Keynes_Knights) in 1979. The following year he signed for [King's Lynn Stars](/source/King's_Lynn_Stars) who rode in the [top tier](/source/List_of_United_Kingdom_speedway_league_champions) of British Speedway during the [1980 British League season](/source/1980_British_League_season). When the 1981 season started he was riding for Milton Keynes when he was recalled for parent side King's Lynn.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaygbarchive.co.uk/resultarchive |title=History Archive |website=British Speedway |access-date=7 October 2022}} Following a full season with Milton Keynes in 1982 he came to the attention of the [Oxford Cheetahs](/source/Oxford_Cheetahs) who signed him for the 1983 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19830702/319/0013 |title=Nigel Sparshott |website=The Scotsman |date=2 July 1983 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=8 October 2024 }} It was the 1984 season that saw the Oxford Cheetahs famously break the British transfer records as they started the season in the [1984 British League season](/source/1984_British_League_season), they bought [Hans Nielsen](/source/Hans_Nielsen_(speedway_rider)) for a record £30,000, [Simon Wigg](/source/Simon_Wigg) for £25,000, [Marvyn Cox](/source/Marvyn_Cox) for £15,000 and [Melvyn Taylor](/source/Melvyn_Taylor) for £12,000. Sparshott retained his place in the team his place at number 7. The following year in 1985, he was rarely used during the 1985 season as he spent most of the season at [Exeter Falcons](/source/Exeter_Falcons) on loan but he earned his place in history as Oxford won the league and cup double.{{cite book|last=Bamford/Shailes|first=Robert/Glynn|title=The Story of Oxford Speedway|year=2007|pages=128-135|publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-7524-4161-0}} In 1987 he signed as the number 1 rider for [Long Eaton Invaders](/source/Long_Eaton_Invaders) and would later spend two more seasons with the club from 1992 to 1993 until his retirement after the 1993 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19870527/531/0034 |title=Sparshott a hot-shot |website=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=27 May 1987 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=8 October 2024 }} == Death == In 1998, he died after his van crashed into a barn.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6502012.fatal-pile-up-leaves-12-mile-tailback-at-tunnel/ |title=FATAL PILE-UP LEAVES 12-MILE TAILBACK AT TUNNEL |website=News Shopper |access-date=7 October 2022}} == References == {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sparshott, Nigel}} Category:1961 births Category:1998 deaths Category:British speedway riders Category:Birmingham Brummies riders Category:Crayford Kestrels riders Category:Exeter Falcons riders Category:King's Lynn Stars riders Category:Long Eaton Invaders riders Category:Middlesbrough Bears riders Category:Milton Keynes Knights riders Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders Category:Rye House Rockets riders Category:Wimbledon Dons riders --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nigel Sparshott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Sparshott) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Sparshott?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.