Fleetwood Flyers
Encyclopedia
Fleetwood Flyers were a speedway
team in Fleetwood
, England
which operated from 1948 until 1952. Home meetings were raced at Highbury Stadium
stadium, Park Avenue in Fleetwood.
in 1948
when they replaced Wigan Warriors after three matches. They competed in Division Two in 1949
, 1950
and 1951
.
In 1952 they dropped out of the league and operated on an open licence riding challenge matches as Fleetwood Knights.
on 14 April, which they lost 35-49 with Norman Hargreaves top scoring on ten points. The track had been made available for practice on the afternoon prior to the meeting and the Monarchs took advantage of the session whilst the home riders did not. The track record race time was set as 70.4 seconds in the second heat by Jack Gordon. The track record was broken at the next home meeting in at 68.8 seconds set by Sheffield Tigers
rider Jack Bibby. The Flyers first victory came in an away meeting over Birmingham Brummies
on 24 April. On 27 April Norwich Stars
rider Syd Littlewood set a new track record of 66.8 seconds. In the 44-39 win over Newcastle Diamonds
on 18 May the track record was again broken, by Wilf Plant at 65.4 seconds. As results gradually improved the track record was broken in the 48-36 win over Glasgow Tigers
on 1 June, set by Dick Geary at 65.0 seconds. Bristol Bulldogs
rider Fred Tuck broke the track record again on 15 June in a cup meeting at 64.8 seconds and he broke it again a week later in a National Trophy meeting at 64.6 seconds. On 29 June Flyers rider Dick Geary broke the track record for a second time, setting a new record of 63.8 seconds.
who rode in one meeting in 1951. The riders who made the most appearances for the Flyers were -
visited the speedway at Fleetwood when he spent some of his summer holidays with a cousin who lived in the town. For many years a feature of the Highbury stadium was the 'setback' on the west side of the ground where part of the speedway track used to be. Both the main stand and the long covered standing area known as the Scratching Shed were set back from the pitch by a large gap, where there was formerly one corner of the track. This was the legacy of the speedway years. In 2008 when a new West Stand was built, it was constructed over the set back area, close to the pitch. To construct the stand, the builders had to clear about 5,000 tonnes of cinder and ash still left over from the speedway track.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team in Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
which operated from 1948 until 1952. Home meetings were raced at Highbury Stadium
Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood
Highbury Stadium is a football stadium in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England with Wyre Borough Council as the landlords. It is the home ground of Fleetwood Town and is also used for home matches by Blackpool F.C. reserves. As of the opening of the new Parkside Stand on 16 April 2011, the ground has a...
stadium, Park Avenue in Fleetwood.
Seasons
The Flyers first competed in the National League Division TwoSpeedway National League Division Two
The National League Division Two was the second tier of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom. The competition was founded in 1938 following a competition named "The National Provincial League". Following World War II the second tier of racing was entitled "The Northern League" in 1946...
in 1948
1948 Speedway National League Division Two
-Final table:* Wigan Warriors were replaced by Fleetwood Flyers after 3 away matches...
when they replaced Wigan Warriors after three matches. They competed in Division Two in 1949
1949 Speedway National League Division Two
-Final table:...
, 1950
1950 Speedway National League Division Two
-Final table:...
and 1951
1951 Speedway National League Division Two
-Final table:...
.
In 1952 they dropped out of the league and operated on an open licence riding challenge matches as Fleetwood Knights.
1948 season
The first three meetings of the season were run by Wigan Warriors. As the Warriors they lost two and won one meetings. The first meeting at home was against Edinburgh MonarchsEdinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
on 14 April, which they lost 35-49 with Norman Hargreaves top scoring on ten points. The track had been made available for practice on the afternoon prior to the meeting and the Monarchs took advantage of the session whilst the home riders did not. The track record race time was set as 70.4 seconds in the second heat by Jack Gordon. The track record was broken at the next home meeting in at 68.8 seconds set by Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
rider Jack Bibby. The Flyers first victory came in an away meeting over Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team, who were reformed in 2006 and then accepted into the Premier League in 2007. The club race at Perry Barr Stadium ....
on 24 April. On 27 April Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.-History:Speedway racing was staged in Norwich both before and after World War II at The Firs Stadium in Aylsham Road, Hellesdon. Pre-War Norwich were members of the National...
rider Syd Littlewood set a new track record of 66.8 seconds. In the 44-39 win over Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Premier League. The club has a reputation of importing young foreign talent and have given starts to the British careers of six times World Champion Ivan Mauger, three times World Champion Ole Olsen, 1974 World Champion...
on 18 May the track record was again broken, by Wilf Plant at 65.4 seconds. As results gradually improved the track record was broken in the 48-36 win over Glasgow Tigers
Glasgow Tigers (speedway)
The Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British Premier League...
on 1 June, set by Dick Geary at 65.0 seconds. Bristol Bulldogs
Bristol Bulldogs
The Bristol Bulldogs were a British motorcycle speedway team based in the Knowle Stadium, Bristol, England.The club was formed prior to World War II. The track operated a season of challenge matches in 1946 with the team known as Ex-Bristol. They competed in the National League Division Two from 1947...
rider Fred Tuck broke the track record again on 15 June in a cup meeting at 64.8 seconds and he broke it again a week later in a National Trophy meeting at 64.6 seconds. On 29 June Flyers rider Dick Geary broke the track record for a second time, setting a new record of 63.8 seconds.
League results
- Norwich StarsNorwich StarsNorwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.-History:Speedway racing was staged in Norwich both before and after World War II at The Firs Stadium in Aylsham Road, Hellesdon. Pre-War Norwich were members of the National...
45 Wigan Warriors 37 (Firs Stadium, NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
27 March) - Newcastle Diamonds 38 Wigan Warriors 45 (Brough Park Stadium, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 5 April)
- Glasgow Tigers 49 Wigan Warriors 34 (White City Stadium, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
7 April) - Fleetwood Flyers 35 Edinburgh Monarchs 49 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 14 April)
- Sheffield Tigers 48 Fleetwood Flyers 36 (Owlerton StadiumOwlerton StadiumOwlerton Stadium, sometimes referred to as Sheffield Sports Stadium, is a greyhound racing track in Owlerton near Hillsborough in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The stadium is also home to the Sheffield Tigers Speedway team and hosts BriSCA Formula One stock car racing events. It is operated...
, SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
15 April) - Fleetwood Flyers 39 Sheffield Tigers 49 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 20 April)
- Birmingham Brummies 40 Fleetwood Flyers 44 (Alexander Stadium, BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
24 April) - Fleetwood Flyers 31 Norwich Stars 53 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 27 April)
- Middlesbrough BearsMiddlesbrough BearsThe Middlesbrough Bears were a British speedway team which operated under various names from 1939 until their closure in 1996.-Brief history:The team was initially nicknamed the Bears in 1939...
63 Fleetwood Flyers 19 (Cleveland Park, MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
29 April) - Fleetwood Flyers 38 Birmingham Brummies 46 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 4 May)
- Edinburgh Monarchs 45 Fleetwood Flyers 39 (Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh 8 May)
- Fleetwood Flyers 41 Bristol Bulldogs 42 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 11 May)
- Fleetwood Flyers 37 Middlesbrough Bears 47 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 17 May)
- Fleetwood Flyers 44 Newcastle Diamonds 39 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 18 May)
- Norwich Stars 53 Fleetwood Flyers 30 (Firs Stadium, Norwich 22 May)
- Fleetwood Flyers 48 Middlesbrough Bears 36 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 25 May)
- Fleetwood Flyers 48 Glasgow Tigers 36 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 1 June)
- Bristol Bulldogs 49 Fleetwood Flyers 35 (Knowle Stadium, BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
4 June) - Edinburgh Monarchs 42 Fleetwood Flyers 41 (Old Meadowbank, EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
3 July) - Fleetwood Flyers 40 Glasgow Tigers 44 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 3 August)
- Sheffield Tigers 54 Fleetwood Flyers 30 (Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield 12 August)
- Birmingham Brummies 62 Fleetwood Flyers 22 (Alexander Stadium, Birmingham 28 August)
- Middlesbrough Bears 51 Fleetwood Flyers 33 (Cleveland Park, Middlesbrough 2 September)
- Fleetwood Flyers 53 Sheffield Tigers 31 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 7 September)
- Fleetwood Flyers 51 Bristol Bulldogs 3 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 14 September)
- Fleetwood Flyers 40 Birmingham Brummies 44 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 21 September)
- Fleetwood Flyers 53 Norwich Stars 31 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 28 September)
- Newcastle Diamonds 43 Fleetwood Flyers 41 (Brough Park Stadium, Newcastle 4 October)
- Fleetwood Flyers 50 Edinburgh Monarchs 34 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 5 October)
- Glasgow Tigers 42 Wigan Warriors 42 (White City Stadium, Glasgow 6 October)
- Fleetwood Flyers 52 Newcastle Diamonds 32 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 12 October)
- Bristol Bulldogs 57 Fleetwood Flyers 27 (Knowle Stadium, Bristol 15 October)
Cup
- Newcastle Diamonds 54 Fleetwood Flyers 42 (Brough Park Stadium, Newcastle 19 April)
- Norwich Stars 47 Wigan Warriors 57 (Firs Stadium, Norwich 1 May)
- Sheffield Tigers 55 Fleetwood Flyers 41 (Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield 20 May)
- Birmingham Brummies 51 Fleetwood Flyers 45 (Alexander Stadium, Birmingham 29 May)
- Fleetwood Flyers 47 Birmingham Brummies 49 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 8 June)
- Fleetwood Flyers 51 Bristol Bulldogs 45 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 15 June)
- Fleetwood Flyers 62 Glasgow Tigers 34 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 29 June)
- Fleetwood Flyers 54 Edinburgh Monarchs 42 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 20 July)
- Fleetwood Flyers 59 Newcastle Diamonds 37 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 27 July)
- Glasgow Tigers 68 Wigan Warriors 28 (White City Stadium, Glasgow 28 July)
- Fleetwood Flyers 69 Middlesbrough Bears 27 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 10 August)
- Edinburgh Monarchs 58 Fleetwood Flyers 38 (Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh 14 August)
- Fleetwood Flyers 56 Sheffield Tigers 40 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 17 August)
- Middlesbrough Bears 51 Fleetwood Flyers 45 (Cleveland Park, Middlesbrough 19 August)
- Fleetwood Flyers 55 Norwich Stars 41 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 24 August)
- Bristol Bulldogs 56 Fleetwood Flyers 40 (Knowle Stadium, Bristol 17 September)
National Trophy
- Bristol Bulldogs 65 Fleetwood Flyers 43 (Knowle Stadium, Bristol 18 June)
- Fleetwood Flyers 69 Bristol Bulldogs 39 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 22 June)
- Fleetwood Flyers 39 Birmingham Brummies 59 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 13 July)
- Birmingham Brummies 75 Fleetwood Flyers 33 (Alexander Stadium, Birmingham 19 July)
Challenge meetings
- Fleetwood Flyers 52 Stoke PottersStoke PottersThe Stoke Potters are a British Speedway team currently competing in the National League. The team races at Loomer Road Stadium.In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club was based in Sun Street in Hanley, and were originally known as the Hanley Potters when crowds of over 12,000...
31 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 2 August) - Fleetwood Flyers 48 Sheffield Tigers 36 (Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood 16 October)
1952 season
In 1952 a number of open meeings were held with the team re-named the Fleetwood Knights.Riders
The most notable rider who rode for the Flyers was Peter CravenPeter Craven
Peter Theodore Craven was an English motorcycle racer. He was a finalist in each FIM Speedway World Championship from 1954 to 1963 and he won the title twice . He was British Champion in 1962-63....
who rode in one meeting in 1951. The riders who made the most appearances for the Flyers were -
- Norman Hargreaves - 107 meetings (1948 - 28, 1949 - 27, 1950 - 24, 1951 - 28)
- Don Potter - 71 meetings (1949 - 19, 1950 - 24, 1951 - 28)
- Wilf Plant - 67 meetings (1948 - 23, 1949 - 20, 1950 - 24)
- Alf Parker - 52 meetings (1950 - 24, 1951 - 28)
- Ron Hart - 51 meetings (1948 - 28, 1949 - 14, 1950 - 2, 1952 - 7)
- Dick Geary - 44 meetings (1948 - 27, 1950 - 17)
- Wilf Jay - 43 meetings (1951 - 28, 1952 - 15)
- Jeff Crawford - 42 meetings (1951 - 27, 1952 - 15)
- Ernie Appleby - 39 meetings (1948 - 15, 1949 - 18, 1951 - 6)
- Ray Harker - 38 meetings (1951 - 26, 1952 - 12)
- Frank Malouf - 34 meetings (1948 - 1, 1949 - 28, 1950 - 2, 1951 - 1)
- Reg Lambourne - 28 meetings (1948 - 28)
- George Newton - 28 meetings (1949 - 27, 1950 - 1)
- Angus McGure - 24 meetings (1950 - 3, 1951 - 21)
- Jack Gordon - 23 meetings (1948 - 23)
- Graham William - 21 meetings (1950 - 21)
- Geoff Culshaw - 20 meetings (1950 - 19, 1952 - 1)
Highbury stadium
A young John LennonJohn Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
visited the speedway at Fleetwood when he spent some of his summer holidays with a cousin who lived in the town. For many years a feature of the Highbury stadium was the 'setback' on the west side of the ground where part of the speedway track used to be. Both the main stand and the long covered standing area known as the Scratching Shed were set back from the pitch by a large gap, where there was formerly one corner of the track. This was the legacy of the speedway years. In 2008 when a new West Stand was built, it was constructed over the set back area, close to the pitch. To construct the stand, the builders had to clear about 5,000 tonnes of cinder and ash still left over from the speedway track.