The Stoke Potters previously the Hanley Potters were a British

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 competing in 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 ...

. As Stoke, the team raced at

Loomer Road Stadium Loomer Road Stadium is a former sports stadium situated in Chesterton, Staffordshire. The building had considerable parking facilities, covered terracing and a bar with a view of the track. It had a capacity of 5,000. The stadium was construct ...

in Newcastle-under-Lyme. As Hanley Potters they raced from 1929 to 1963.

History

Hanley Potters were inaugural members of the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League but withdrew during the season and their results were expunged. They rode at the Sun Street Stadium in Hanley. In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club attracted crowds of over 12,000. Hanley won the National League Division Three and Div 3 National Trophy in 1949. The Sun Street track closed in 1963 after the greyhound stadium owners sold the site to a garage business. The team returned in 1972 riding at a new venue the

; they were known for one season as Chesterton Potters. From 1973 to 1995 they competed mainly in the National League. In 1996, The team rode as the Cradley & Stoke Heathens, after the Cradley Heath team were displaced from their base at Dudley Wood Stadium, Cradley Heath. November 2010 saw a major decision taken by the club's promotion. The team were to withdraw from

Premier League The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Foo ...

racing to drop a division and compete in the National League, speedway's third tier. The club had been struggling financially for the last couple of seasons and the move was made in order to stabilise finances and hopefully get on a sure footing to make a return to the Premier League later. 2011 saw the club top the National League table by seven points. Injuries struck key riders and this affected their final matches in which they were beaten in the play-off semi finals by the

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 ...

who also beat them in the final of the National League Knockout Cup. Since the 2011 campaign the Potters have continued to race in the National League with little success and they ended 2015 season's National League table with only

Kent Kings The Kent Royals (formerly Kings) are a British speedway team formed in 2013. Through 2021 they competed in the SGB Championship but also run a junior team in the National League. They were based at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne, with a t ...

below them. On 13 July 2019, Stoke won the National League Fours for the second time.

Season summary

Season summary (juniors)

Previous seasons (riders)

2010 team * * * * * * * * 2009 team * * * * * * 2008 team * * * * * * * Also Rode: * * 2007 team * * * * * * * Also Rode * * * * (Garry suffered horrific injuries in a crash at Somerset.) 2006 team * * * * * * * * *

Notable riders

* * * * * * * * *

References

{{Stoke-on-Trent National League speedway teams Sport in Staffordshire Sport in Stoke-on-Trent