The Crewe Kings was a British Speedway team which operated in Crewe, Cheshire from 1969 until its closure in 1975.[1][2]
| Crewe Kings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Club information | |||||
| Track address | BR Sports Ground, Earle Street Crewe | ||||
| Country | England | ||||
| Founded | 1969 | ||||
| Closed | 1975 | ||||
| League | Div 2 / National League | ||||
| Club facts | |||||
| Colours | Red and White | ||||
| Track size | 399 metres (436 yd) | ||||
| Track record time | 68.0 | ||||
| Track record date | 12 August 1975 | ||||
| Track record holder | Dave Morton | ||||
| Major team honours | |||||
| |||||
History
editThe team first competed in 1969 promoted by Maury Littlechild for Allied Presentations who also promoted the Rayleigh Rockets, the Sunderland Stars and the Reading Racers. Littlechild died on 12 July 1972 - a year when the Kings achieved the League and Cup double and Phil Crump won the Division Two riders championship; Ken Adams took over until the end of the season.[3][4]
In 1973, Len Silver took over on behalf of Allied Presentations, continuing in that role until former Crewe rider Dave Parry took over in 1975. The Earle Street track established itself as the fastest track in the UK.[citation needed] Originally 470 yards long, it was feared by many riders but was shortened to 436 yards in 1971, both versions had their track records in the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest average speeds.[citation needed]
The team was renowned for developing young riding talent, giving early opportunities to Geoff Curtis, Phil Crump, Les Collins, John Jackson, Dave Morton, Ian Cartwright and Chris Turner.[5]
However, the club started to run into financial difficulties at the end of 1974 with Dave Parry taking over in 1975 before closing at the end of the season. Charles Scarbrough ran the training school for two more years.
A memorial plaque to Crewe Kings was unveiled in the nearby Kings Arms pub in September 2010.[6]
Crewe LMR
editThe speedway track also operated for a short time in the late 1920s / early 1930s. Previously also used as a cycling and athletics track, it encircled a cricket pitch that was used by Crewe Alexandra cricket club from 1898 (following its relocation from the Alexandra Recreation Ground on Nantwich Road),[7] and by its successor, Crewe LMR (London Midland Region) cricket club until 1975. The track's site is now the location of the Grand Junction retail park.[8]
Notable riders
editSeason summary
edit| Year and league | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 British League Division Two season | 7th | |
| 1970 British League Division Two season | 7th | |
| 1971 British League Division Two season | 7th | |
| 1972 British League Division Two season | 1st | Champions & Knockout Cup winners |
| 1973 British League Division Two season | 8th | |
| 1974 British League Division Two season | 5th | |
| 1975 New National League season | 16th |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
- ^ "Crewe Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
- ^ "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Crewe Kings rider seasons". wwosbackup. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Ryan, Belinda (22 September 2010). "Crewe speedway remembered with plaque unveiling". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Dyer, Liam; Day, Dave. The Industrial Middle Class and the Development of Sport in a Railway Town (PDF). Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Sandhu, Nathan (14 October 2015). "Retail hotspot was once home of the Crewe Alexandra Cricket Club". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 16 February 2021.