Southampton Saints were a

speedway Speedway may refer to: Racing Race tracks *Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, a former motor raceway in Edmonton, Alberta *Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a motor raceway in Speedway, Indiana Types of races and race cours ...

team which operated from 1928 until its closure in 1963. Its track was located at

Banister Court Stadium Banister Court Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Court Road, Southampton, Hampshire. Origins At the turn of the 20th century Banisters Park in the north of Southampton consisted of the County Ground, Southampton which had ...

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

History

Southampton was one of the founder members of the 1929 Speedway Southern League, one of the two leagues that came into existence that year. They finished runner-up in the 1929 league and the

1930 Speedway Southern League The 1930 Southern League was the second season of speedway in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. The Northern teams also had their second season known as the 1930 Speedway Northern League. Summary White City had left the league but 3 ...

before joining the

National league The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...

in 1932. However, halfway through the 1932 National Association Trophy they withdrew and the operation moved to London, with the team becoming the Clapton Saints. The Southampton team returned in 1936 and won the second tier of British speedway, the 1936 Provincial Speedway League. They were

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...

runners up in 1961 and National League champions in 1962. The club closed in 1963 when the promoter, Charles Knott, sold the stadium to developers.

Notable riders

Dick Bradley Derrick Edward Bradley (28 November 1924 – 30 October 2022) was an English motorcycle speedway rider. Speedway career When Bradley left school he became an apprentice mechanic for a company called Skurrays. After competing in grasstrack ra ...

Barry Briggs Barry Briggs (born 30 December 1934) is a New Zealand former speedway rider. Career He won the World Individual Championship title four times – in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedw ...

Brian Crutcher Brian Crutcher (born 23 August 1934 in Poole, England) is a former international speedway rider who finished second at the 1954 Speedway World Championship finals. Career Crutcher made his debut for third division team the Poole Pirates in 19 ...

* Billy Dallison *

Frank Goulden Frank Donald Goulden (1909–1976) was an international speedway rider from England. Speedway career In 1929 and 1930, Goulden was a leading rider for the Southampton Saints and helped them finish runner-up in the Southern League, during cons ...

* Bill Holden *

Björn Knutsson Björn Knutsson (born 1938 in Sweden) is a former speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1965 and was a four-time winner of the World Team Cup. He gained the nickname 'The Crown Prince' for his speedway success. World Final ...

* Brian McKeown * Geoff Mardon *

Cordy Milne Corydon Clark Milne (April 14, 1914 – October 15, 1978) was an American international motorcycle speedway rider who finished third in the 1937 Speedway World Championship final, behind his brother Jack and second placed Wilbur Lamoreaux. Coryd ...

Olle Nygren Harald Olof "Olle" Ingemar Nygren (11 November 1929 – 13 February 2021) was a Swedish speedway rider who reached the finals of the Speedway World Championship five times. Nygren was Swedish Champion in 1949 and became Nordic Champion in 1960. ...

* Jack Parker * Ernie Rickman *

Cyril Roger Cyril Manners Roger (27 December 1921 - 26 May 2015) was a former international motorcycle speedway rider reached the final of Speedway World Championship five times.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championshi ...

Alec Statham Alec George Statham (30 May 1912 Coventry, England - 8 March 1977) was a Motorcycle speedway, Speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1949 whilst with the Wimbledon Dons, and also represented England many times.Belton, Brian (2 ...

Fred Strecker Frederick Strecker (1906–1976) was an international speedway rider from England. Speedway career In 1930, when riding for Nottingham Strecker represented England against Australia. In 1936, during the 1936 Provincial Speedway League seaso ...

* Chum Taylor

Season summary

+ 6th when league was suspended

References

{{Reflist Defunct British speedway teams Sport in Southampton