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Crayford Kestrels
The Crayford Kestrels were a Speedway team which operated from 1968 until their closure in 1983. They were based at Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium in Crayford. History Crayford were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968 and finished in sixth place in its inaugural season. The team were known as the Crayford Highwaymen from 1968 until 1970 but were disbanded after the 1970 season. Speedway returned to the stadium in 1975 with a team nicknamed the Kestrels. They competed for nine years, with their most successful season being the third place finish during the 1983 National League season The 1983 National League was the second tier of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom. Summary The winning team was Newcastle Diamonds. After the tragedy of losing a rider the previous season Milton Keynes endured a second loss when ... although they did win the Four-Team Championship in 1980. The team were forced to relocate for the 1984 season as the stadium ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crayford Kestrels
The Crayford Kestrels were a Speedway team which operated from 1968 until their closure in 1983. They were based at Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium in Crayford. History Crayford were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968 and finished in sixth place in its inaugural season. The team were known as the Crayford Highwaymen from 1968 until 1970 but were disbanded after the 1970 season. Speedway returned to the stadium in 1975 with a team nicknamed the Kestrels. They competed for nine years, with their most successful season being the third place finish during the 1983 National League season The 1983 National League was the second tier of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom. Summary The winning team was Newcastle Diamonds. After the tragedy of losing a rider the previous season Milton Keynes endured a second loss when ... although they did win the Four-Team Championship in 1980. The team were forced to relocate for the 1984 season as the stadium ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1968 British League Division Two Season
The 1968 British League Division Two season was the inaugural season of a second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The formation of a new division 2 was a success and attracted five new clubs to league speedway, the Nelson Admirals from Nelson in Lancashire, the Crayford Highwaymen from east London, the Canterbury Crusaders from Kent, the Berwick Bandits from Scotland and the Reading Racers. Additionally three other clubs, Middlesbrough, Plymouth and Rayleigh returned to league action having previously competed in the old defunct Provincial League and Weymouth returned after a 13 year absence. Belle Vue Aces, members of the first division, fielded a reserve side known as Belle Vue Colts and won the first league title. Colt's riders Taffy Owen, Ken Eyre, Eric Broadbelt and John Woodcock all scored heavily and ended with impressive averages. Canterbury in their first season of existence won the division 2 Knockout Cup beating another new team Reading in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1982 National League Season
In 1982 the National League, also known as British League Division Two, was the second tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom. Summary The league champions were Newcastle Diamonds. Milton Keynes rider Brett Alderton was killed in an accident during the second half of a league meeting at King's Lynn. The 18-year old Australian sustained a fatal head injury on 17 April. Final table Top Five Riders National League Knockout Cup The 1982 National League Knockout Cup was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Newcastle Diamonds were the winners of the competition. First round Second round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final First leg Second leg Newcastle were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 118–74. See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions *Knockout Cup (speedway) Knockout Cup (sometimes referred to as the KO Cup) is a type of British motorcycle speedway competition, examples of which have run annually ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1981 National League Season
The 1981 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary The league started with 20 teams with Nottingham Outlaws dropping out and Wolverhampton Wolves joining up, having moved down from the British League. Berwick Bandits were forced to quit after 26 league meetings, their record being expunged. Middlesbrough Tigers comfortably won their first ever title. Exeter Falcons rider Tony Sanford died following an accident at the County Ground Stadium on 7 September. He was racing in a match against Milton Keynes when he hit a barrier near the final bend. A memorial trophy was held in subsequent years in his memory. Final table Top Five Riders National League Knockout Cup The 1981 National League Knockout Cup was the 14th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Edinburgh Monarchs were the winners of the competition. First round Second round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final First leg Second leg Edinburgh were de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1980 National League Season
The 1980 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary The league was increased from 19 teams to 20 from the previous season. Exeter Falcons dropped down from the British League to join the 19 incumbent sides. Rye House Rockets who had been pipped to the title in the previous season in the last meeting, won the title by just one point from Newcastle Diamonds to win their first National League title. Rye House had managed to retain all of their top riders from the previous season and the solid performances of Bob Garrad, Karl Fiala, Kelvin Mullarkey and Kevin Smith for the second year running made up for the disappointment of 1979. Newcastle's second place finish was remarkable bearing in mind that they had lost the league's leading rider Tom Owen to Hull Vikings in the highest division. Despite signing 1979 Riders' champion Ian Gledhill, the defending champions Mildenhall suffered after losing Melvyn Taylor and Mick Hines to othe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1979 National League Season
The 1979 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary The league was reduced from 20 teams to 19 from the previous season. White City Rebels closure saw their riders move to Eastbourne Eagles who moved up to the British League. Barrow Furness Flyers dropped out and Nottingham Outlaws joined the league. Teesside Tigers changed their name to Middlesbrough Tigers. Scunthorpe Saints changed their name to Scunthorpe Stags. Tom Owen of Newcastle topped the averages for the third consecutive year and Ian Gledhill, riding for Stoke won the Riders' Championship but both Newcastle and Stoke finished well behind Mildenhall Fen Tigers and Rye House Rockets in the league table. In a season that would go down to the last match, Mildenhall won their first title in their history. The consistency of four riders, Ray Bales, Mick Hines, Melvyn Taylor and Robert Henry was the crucial factor to their success. There was a controversial en ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1978 National League Season
The 1978 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary Newport Dragons dropped out of the league after just one season of second tier racing, however two new entrants - Milton Keynes Knights and Barrow Furness Flyers - saw the league expanded to twenty teams. Weymouth changed their nickname from Wizards to Wildcats. Canterbury Crusaders won the National League title. Although equal on points with Newcastle Diamonds they won by virtue of the fact that their race points difference was greater than their rival. It was Canterbury's second title win in eight years, previously winning in 1970. The Crusaders were led by heavy scoring from Les Rumsey and Riders' Champion Steve Koppe, while Newcastle's Tom Owen topped the averages for the second consecutive year. Earlier in the season 18 year-old junior rider Chris Prime was representing Newcastle when he was killed in the National League match against Mildenhall on 3 April. Final ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1977 National League Season
The 1977 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary Newport had moved down from the British League. Their riders were transferred to Bristol Bulldogs but they acquired new riders and were renamed Newport Dragons. Paisley Lions dropped out so the league had 19 teams, the same as the previous season. Part way through the season, Coatbridge Tigers relocated and changed name to Glasgow Tigers. Eastbourne Eagles won the National League title, completing a league and cup double. Eastbournes's star rider was Colin Richardson, who won the Riders' Championship and averaged 10.70 for the season. He was backed up by Mike Sampson, who also surpassed a 10 average and Dave Kennett (8.37 average) and a member of Eastbourne's 1971 winning team. Joe Owen, the leading rider of 1976 had moved from champions Newcastle Diamonds to join British League side Hull Vikings. Newcastle were unable to compensate for the loss and finished in 6th place, d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1976 National League Season
The 1976 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom having been renamed from the previous season's moniker of New National League. Summary The league was reduced from 20 teams down to 18, following the loss of three teams and gain of one. Birmingham Brummies moved up to the British League and Bradford Barons and Crewe Kings both closed down. Sadly for Crewe the team would never return. The additional team was the Oxford Cheetahs, who had returned to their traditional name following a three year period known as the Oxford Rebels. The Rebels team and promoters had moved to White City during the winter but Oxford were saved by new promoters Harry Bastable and Tony Allsop after a committee of fans had created a "Save Our Stadium" campaign over the previous winter. Newcastle Diamonds comfortably won their first National League title, completing a cup double, and dropping only seven points. The Owen brothers Joe Owen and Tom Owen topped the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1975 New National League Season
The 1975 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom when British League Division Two was renamed. It was subsequently named the National League. Summary The league increased by one team for the fourth season in a row despite the loss of three teams; the Barrow Bombers, Long Eaton Archers and Sunderland Gladiators. The latter closed for good. Four new teams entered; the Newcastle Diamonds and Crayford Kestrels both returned for their first seasons since 1970, while Mildenhall Fen Tigers and Paisley Lions both competed in their inaugural seasons. Birmingham Brummies, winners of the last British League Division Two, retained their title and were promoted to the British League for 1976. Birmingham won the league by 5 points despite losing their leading rider Phil Herne to Newport in division 1. Birmingham relied heavily on Arthur Browning, Alan Grahame and Keith White, improved performances by Ricky Day and Carl Askew and solid seas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1970 British League Division Two Season
The 1970 British League Division Two season was the third season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Team changes The league expanded from 16 to 17 teams in its third season. Plymouth Devils dropped out but two new teams had been created and joined the league, they were the Workington Comets and Peterborough Panthers. Before the season got underway the 1968 and 1969 champions Belle Vue Colts disbanded with most of their riders and the promotion team moving to Rochdale and becoming the Rochdale Hornets. Doncaster changed their nickname from Stallions to Dragons. Summary Two teams changed venue during the season. In July, the Nelson Admirals moved Bradford to become Bradford Northern and in August, the King's Lynn Starlets promotion moved to Boston and became the Boston Barracudas. Canterbury Crusaders won their first title. New Zealander Graeme Smith averaged 10.49 for the Crusaders and was well backed up by Barry Crowson (9.17) and Barry Thomas (9.11). Another ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |