Eric James Monaghan (born 31 October 1957) is a former

motorcycle speedway Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to simply as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. The motorcycles are specialist machines that use only ...

rider from England.

Career

Monaghan made his British leagues debut during the 1979 National League season, where he rode for

Ellesmere Port Gunners Ellesmere Port Gunners were an English Motorcycle speedway, speedway team in Ellesmere Port, Wirral Peninsula, Wirral, which operated at the Ellesmere Port Stadium from 1972 until their closure in 1985. History The inaugural league season for th ...

. In 1979, he helped the Ellesmere Port win the Fours Championship during the 1979 season. He continued to ride for Ellesmere Port until they disbanded at the end of 1982. He then joined

Sheffield Tigers The Sheffield 'Tru Plant' Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British SGB Premiership, and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium. The Tigers traditionally hold their race n ...

for the 1983 British League season and then

Halifax Dukes The Halifax Dukes were a Speedway team which operated from 1949–1951 and again from 1965 until their closure in 1985 at The Shay Stadium in Halifax. The team were nicknamed the "Dukes" after the local Duke of Wellington's Regiment, whose tra ...

for the 1984 British League season. He switched back to the National League in 1986, when he joined

Mildenhall Fen Tigers The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are a British speedway team, founded in 1975 and currently riding in the National Development League. History 1971–1989 The original track was built in 1971 on farm land owned by Terry Waters, with chef Bernie Kla ...

and was part of the team that won the

National League Four-Team Championship The National League Four-Team Championship was a contest between teams competing in the second tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. Teams were grouped into fours, with one rider from each team in each race. The winners and second place of each ...

in 1987. After three seasons at Mildenhall, Monaghan signed for

Stoke Potters The Stoke Potters previously the Hanley Potters were a British speedway team competing in the National League. As Stoke, the team raced at Loomer Road Stadium in Newcastle-under-Lyme. As Hanley Potters they raced from 1929 to 1963. History H ...

, where he would spend four years from 1989 until 1992. His time at Stoke included winning the 1989 Pairs championship with

Nigel Crabtree Nigel Crabtree (born 15 March 1960) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England. Speedway career Crabtree rode in the top two tiers of British Speedway from 1977 to 1996, riding for various clubs. In 1984, he won the National Leagu ...

and the 1990 Fours championship. His final seasons were spent with

Peterborough Panthers The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England. They are three times champions of the United Kingdom, winning the highest level league in 1999, 2006 and 2021. History 1970–1994 The Panthers inaugural se ...

(1993 and 1994) and

Long Eaton Invaders Long Eaton motorcycle speedway teams operated from 1950 until 1997 in Long Eaton, England. Teams have raced at the Long Eaton Stadium as the Long Eaton Archers, Long Eaton Rangers, Nottingham Outlaws and the Long Eaton Invaders. The Invaders ret ...

(1995).

References

Living people 1957 births British speedway riders Ellesmere Port Gunners riders Halifax Dukes riders Leicester Lions riders Long Eaton Invaders riders Mildenhall Fen Tigers riders Peterborough Panthers riders Sheffield Tigers riders Stoke Potters riders {{Speedway-stub