What merger? As I remember it, Bradford didn't have a speedway team until Halifax Dukes left the Shay, moved to Odsal, and became Bradford Dukes.

Bradford did have a Speedway team of their own in the second division and went under the name of Bradford Barons. The Bradford Dukes only came about when Halifax moved to Bradford

The Bradford Barons went out of business in 1975. The Dukes moved there in 1986 due to Halifax Town's greed and resentment of the fact that the speedway drew far bigger crowds than the football.

At The Shay the Dukes were paying Halifax Town AFC a rent of £30,000 per year and were also faced with a similar amount to move a floodlight pylon on the first bend to comply with safety requirements. However, at Odsal they were welcomed with open arms by Bradford Council, who let the Dukes run rent free for the first three years

I followed Halifax Dukes for about 10 years and still have my programme board somewhere. Ian Cartwright, Steve Finch, Henny Kroeze....those were the days. You could get right up to the trackside at the Shay but were miles away at Odsal. Would go home with a head full of shale.

Would go home with a head full of shale

Don't you mean ale?