Ellesmere Port Gunners were an English speedway team in Ellesmere Port, Wirral, which operated at the Ellesmere Port Stadium from 1972 until their closure in 1985.[1]
| Ellesmere Port Gunners | |||||||
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| Club information | |||||||
| Track address | Ellesmere Port Stadium Thornton Road Ellesmere Port Wirral | ||||||
| Country | England | ||||||
| Founded | 1972 | ||||||
| Closed | 1985 | ||||||
| Team manager | Ian Thomas, Joe Shaw | ||||||
| Team captain | Steve Finch John Jackson Eric Monaghan | ||||||
| League | British League Division Two National League | ||||||
| Club facts | |||||||
| Colours | Red and Yellow | ||||||
| Track size | 389 metres (425 yd) | ||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||
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History
editThe inaugural league season for the team was during the 1972 British League Division Two season in which they finished in 15th place.[2] The first track record on the 424 yard track was 76.0 seconds, set by John Jackson on 2 May 1972. The team continued to operate from 1972 until 1982 continuously competing in Division Two for 11 years, with a best place finish of 2nd in 1976.[3]
Ellesmere Port finished runner-up to Newcastle Diamonds during the 1976 National League season led by number 1 rider John Jackson. For the 1977 National League season, the Gunners were installed as favourites to win the league but the team managed by co-promoter Joe Shaw failed to live up to expectations and finished third.[4] A rider died on the Ellesmere Port track on 3 December 1977. Stuart Shirley lost his life on a Saturday morning training school after a collision.[5]
The club was resurrected for one season in 1985 and went on to win the title during the 1985 National League season. They won the title after beating Poole Pirates and Middlesbrough Tigers by just one point. The team also reached the final of the Knockout Cup but lost to Eastbourne Eagles.[6] The eventual track record went twice on the same night during the Knock-Out Cup Final 1st-leg. Gordon Kennett of Eastbourne clocked 69.2 only to be beaten by The Gunners Louis Carr in the very next heat with a time of 69.1.[7]
The speedway track was replaced by a greyhound racing track in late 1987.[8]
Notable riders
editSeason summary
editExtended content
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References
edit- ^ Bamford, Robert (20 June 2008). Homes of British Speedway. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3.
- ^ 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 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Gunners have high hopes of new season". Liverpool Echo. 15 March 1977. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Fatal crash". Sunday Mirror. 4 December 1977. Retrieved 1 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Ellesmere Port Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "Ellesmere Port". wwosbackup. Retrieved 1 September 2021.