Linlithgow Lightning were a British speedway team based in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. They raced at Heathersfield Stadium.[1][2][3]
| Linlithgow Lightning | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club information | |||||
| Track address | Heathersfield Stadium Myrehead Farm Whitecross Linlithgow West Lothian | ||||
| Country | Scotland | ||||
| Founded | 1994 | ||||
| Closed | 1999 | ||||
| Major team honours | |||||
| |||||
History
editPlans for holding speedway in Linlithgow started in October 1988, when the Edinburgh Monarchs manager Alan Robertson revealed that a circuit would be built to enable younger riders to use it as a training circuit.[4] The site would be known as Heathersfield Stadium and the location was on Myrehead Farm in Whitecross (55°58′46″N 3°39′32″W / 55.97944°N 3.65889°W). The stadium was used a training track up until 1994, when Linlithgow Lightning (managed by Alan Robertson) joined the 1994 British League Division Three.[5] The first fixture took place on 26 June 1994.[6][7] In 1995, they raced in the 1995 Academy League but experienced financial issues during a troubled season.[8][9]
During their third season, led by Barry Campbell, Blair Scott and Peter Scully, the team won the 1996 Speedway Conference League and the Conference League Knockout Cup.[10][11]
The following season most of the league winning team moved up to the Premier League before they competed in the 1997 Speedway Conference League as Lathallan Lightning.[12]
Alan Robertson did not enter a side during 1998 but he was joined by Edinburgh promoter John Campbell for the 1999 season and they managed a team for one more season during the 1999 Speedway Conference League season.[3]
In September 1999, Linlithgow Lightning were told that by the landowner that he was selling and that the team would have to move out.[13] The club folded in 1999 and the venue closed in October 1999.[14]
Season summary
edit| Year and league | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 British League Division Three | 4th | |
| 1995 Academy League | 6th | |
| 1996 Speedway Conference League | 1st | Champions & Knockout Cup winners |
| 1997 Speedway Conference League | 11th | rode as Lathallan Lightning |
| 1999 Speedway Conference League | 6th |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Linlithgow - Heathersfield Stadium". Speedway Museum Online.
- ^ "Linlithgow Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ a b "The Linlithgow Story". Speedway Plus. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Tigers hunt ends in Spain". Daily Record. 21 October 1988. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Linlithgow - Heathersfield Stadium". Speedway Plus. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "New track". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 25 June 1994. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1994 tables". Speedway GB.
- ^ "1995 tables". Speedway GB.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Major League Competitions". Speedway Archive.
- ^ "1996 Tables". Speedway GB.com.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Speedway". Daily Record. 30 September 1999. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Linlithgow Story". Speedway Plus.