Romford – Steve Fluin
Steve Fluin has been a regular at Romford Stadium for over 50 years and he started The Champagne Club back in 1986 with their now well known ‘BUBBLY’ prefix and with many members both locally and around the world.
Each BUBBLY greyhound is a syndicate of a 100 members paying an all-inclusive one-off payment which gives greyhound enthusiasts a low cost and exciting entry to the sport. Steve sends regular texts, emails and videos to all his members to keep them fully updated. Arguably the most successful Bubbly to date is Bubbly Bluebird, but the club has had lots of success over the years with the likes of Turbo, Totti, Prince and Torpedo to name just a few.
The Champagne Club has a puppy programme using the Bubbly brood bitch’s which supports the Romford graded strength with regular new additions.
Steve & the club has also raised money for various charities including the likes of Great Ormond Street Hospital over the last 35 years
Monmore – Jim Woods
Born in London in November 1952 , Jim had a sporty background playing football to a high level as a youngster making a youth cup final playing at Wembley one of his claims to fame , but after a accident in a lift badly damaging his foot his footballing days where cut short, Jim began a short career in travel when he left school working for Paris Travel in London but then became interested in greyhounds after a visit to Harringay where he began his career, Jim moved to the Midlands and in 1982 became Racing Manager at Perry Barr also assisting at Hall Green during this time , Jim then moved to Nottingham as RM working with his great friend the late Terry Meynell , he then moved to Leeds as RM and then his working home for the rest of his long career at Monmore Green.
Jim made many friends in his time at Monmore especially with his love for golf he would spend many weekends in tournaments enjoying the craic With the late Peter Billingham as his room mate during many late nights in both Ireland and England, he was a member of Bloxwich Golf club and would run charity days there and at other courses to raise funds for the retired greyhound trust.
Jim had a eye for detail and would make sure that he walked the track before every race meeting taking pride in his role and in his thought for the dogs that would be racing daily, he spent his time in the stewards box and would give great direction to his team meticulously watching replays.
Jim was elated when Monmore won the Track Championship in one of his final years he had been trying so hard for many years in super track before this and has always done us proud and also when Chris Allsopp won the trainers championship as we all where at Monmore.
Jim had a eye for a good dog no wonder he had judged and stewarded the best in his illustrious career, when ever I was with Jim whether it was on kennel visits , visiting different stadia or awards Jim would be held in high regard it was a honour and privilege for me to learn my role through working with Jim and I know from myself and all of his friends and colleagues at Monmore he will always be remembered and sadly missed
Crayford – Dave Barfoot
‘Mr Crayford’ as he is know by his colleagues at the Stadium Dave started in June 1986 under the leadership of another Hall of Famer Peter Bussey as a member of the track team getting the newly built Stadium ready for racing.
Progressing quickly to be Peter’s right hand man Dave learnt how to prepare tracks in all weathers from Peter and when Peter sadly passed away Dave was the natural successor and has been in charge of in his words an excellent team ever since looking after not just the track but also all maintenance at the Stadium
Dave has overseen many projects over the years a complete track relay a recent replacement hare rail new floodlights and kennel upgrade being just some of the bigger ones but the change from the old Sumner hare system to the current system was one of the biggest in Dave’s eyes.
Hove – Philip Grimstone
IN February 2020, Coral Brighton & Hove Stadium inaugurated a ‘Hall of Fame’ to celebrate outstanding human or canine achievement at the ‘showplace of greyhound racing’ and the hugely respected Phil Grimstone, a former deputy racing manager at the track, is the latest inductee.
Phil Grimstone, who originally started as part of the ground staff at Hove in 1974 and joined the racing office two years later to learn his craft alongside Peter Shotton and Jim Cremin.
He is currently employed by Hove on a freelance basis to combine a dual role he enjoys with Brighton racecourse.
An individual of great integrity and experience within the greyhound racing industry, Phil Grimstone is held in the absolute highest regard at the stadium.
