CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 411 (202 League; 28 Knock-Out Cup; 91 League Cup; 5 Inter-League Knock-Out Cup; 29 Midland Cup; 33 Challenge; 4 Four-Team Championship; 8 Four-Team Tournament; 11 Three-Team Tournament) Rides: 1,855 Points: 4,254 Bonus: 163 Total: 4,417 Average: 9.52 Maximums: 65 (49 full and 16 paid)
CLUB DEBUT: 20 May 1978 versus Coventry (Home) British League; 8+2 points (5 rides).
PHILIP JOHN CRUMP was a truly brilliant rider, who won four Australian Championships during a long career in the saddle. His record in the sport includes a wonderful stint with the Robins, beginning in 1979, when he joined the club from Bristol. However, prior to joining full-time, he had already made his Swindon debut as a guest, when scoring 8+2 points in a heavy 53-25 defeat in a British League match at Coventry on 20 May 1978.
The gritty Aussie enjoyed something of a love affair with the Abbey Stadium track record in the late 1970s, firstly equalling Martin Ashby's time of 67.6 seconds while racing for Bristol in a league match on 29 July 1978. The following season, he shattered the best time, when clocking 67 seconds dead for Australasia in a Test match versus England on 27 July. Then, a matter of weeks later on 22 September, he was timed at 66.5 seconds when defeating Peter Collins in the first heat of the Golden Helmet Match-Race Championship. ‘Crumpie' represented the Robins for nine seasons in total and topped the club's league averages on six occasions. In his latter years at the Abbey, he was practically a one-man band in struggling Swindon sides, but it never affected his own form and he was simply Mr. Consistency, reeling off big scores home and away, week in, week out.
One particular performance that many supporters remember occurred in a home league match versus a powerful Cradley Heath side on 29 August 1983. The Robins went down to a crushing 49-29 defeat, but Phil stood alone to register one of the finest 15-point maximums ever seen at Blunsdon. And this was against a team that went on to lift both the British League Championship and the Knock-Out Cup!
Regrettably, Crump retired from British racing at the end of the 1986 season, owing to a long-standing wrist injury. He did make a comeback in 1990, however, and the crowds at Blunsdon immediately increased, although at the age of 38, he understandably wasn't the dominant force of his earlier years. Nonetheless, it was still wonderful to have him back.
He was awarded a much-deserved Testimonial at Swindon in 1983, for ten years service under the Wally Mawdsley promoting banner (Newport 1974-76, Bristol 1977-78 and Swindon 1979-83) and his special event on 2 October proved to be a great success. Phil just loved to race, so much so that he took part in his own benefit meeting and skippered the Pacific Stars, for whom he top scored with 9 points. Such was the high regard in which he was held that all the big names of the era turned out to honour the speedy Australian, including Ole Olsen, Erik Gundersen, Hans Nielsen, Michael Lee and Simon Wigg etc.
During his Swindon days, Crumpie also became known as the ‘Marathon Man' for his remarkable 16-lapper performances at Ipswich. Indeed, between 1981 and 1985, he won the event three times and finished third on two occasions. He also won the Blunsdon-staged Evening Advertiser Superstar individual event in both 1982 and 1984.
In his early days, Phil had originally linked with Second Division Crewe in 1971, and it was the following year, on 27 May to be precise, that he made his first-ever appearance at Blunsdon. The meeting was a World Championship qualifying round and the then virtually unknown Crump wasn't even programmed to ride. Swindon boss Ted Nelson had received a telephone call explaining that Sandor Levai of Ipswich would not be riding and it would be the Aussie who rode instead.
Everyone expected the youngster to be out of his depth but, after running a second to Mike Broadbank, the lad wearing the No. 13 race-jacket blitzed to a heat five success in a very fast time. Two further wins followed, before the Aussie had to settle for a third place behind Blunsdon masters Barry Briggs and Martin Ashby. However, had had notched up a 12-point tally to finish the meeting in third spot and had certainly made his mark with the Swindon fans.
After two years with Crewe, as well as numerous guest bookings in the top league, mainly with King's Lynn, Crump joined the Norfolk side on a full-time basis in 1973. Unluckily, his season was curtailed almost as soon as it had started, due to a freak accident while travelling home from Saddlebow Road after a Border Trophy match against Leicester on 7 April. His car suffered a puncture and whilst replacing the tyre, the jack collapsed and his hand was crushed. Thankfully, he recovered in time to link with Wally Mawdsley at Newport in 1974 and, the rest - as they say - is history.
With a total of 411 club appearances in all competitions and 4,254 points, Phil will always be held in high regard by the Robins' supporters and is one of the all-time greats of the sport. These days, Crumpie is still seen regularly by the viewers of Sky Sports, helping out at the Grand Prix events, alongside his superstar son and triple World Champion, Jason.
In 2006, Phil became the eleventh former rider to be inducted into the Legends' Lounge, when he was the guest of honour on 28 August.
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DATE OF BIRTH: 9 February 1952, Red Cliffs, near Mildura, Australia.
During his Swindon days, Crumpie also became known as the ‘Marathon Man' for his remarkable 16-lapper performances at Ipswich. Indeed, between 1981 and 1985, he won the event three times and finished third on two occasions. He also won the Blunsdon-staged Evening Advertiser Superstar individual event in both 1982 and 1984.
