Long Eaton Speedway

Defunct Long Eaton motorcycle speedway teams

Long Eaton Speedway

Club information
Track address| Long Eaton Stadium
Station Road
Long Eaton
Derbyshire
Country| England
Founded| 1950
Closed| 1997 (revived 2011–2016)
Club facts
Colours| Red, white and blue
Track size| 336 metres (367 yd)
Major team honours
| National league champions| 1984

|

Premier League fours| 1997
Midland Development League| 2011

Long Eaton motorcycle speedway teams operated from 1950 until 1997 in Long Eaton, England. Teams have raced at the Long Eaton Stadium as the Long Eaton Archers, Long Eaton Rangers, Nottingham Outlaws and the Long Eaton Invaders. The team briefly returned between 2011 and 2016 but raced in Leicester.[citation needed]

## History

[edit]

### Origins

[edit]

In April 1929, it was announced that a speedway track under the supervision of F. Hatton, would be constructed inside the greyhound track at Long Eaton Stadium.[1] The first meeting was held on 18 May 1929.[2] The Derby Evening Telegraph described the oval circuit as having four laps to the mile, with straights 35 ft wide (11 m) and the bends 50 ft wide (15 m) 'to allow broadsiding at 60 mph'. After only two meetings the track required additional alterations[3] and did not return to action until 26 October.[4]

Only one meeting took place in 1930,[5] with a special Nottingham versus Leicester fixture on 10 June.[6][7][8]

### 1950s

[edit]

In the Summer of 1949 the Long Eaton Urban Council supported a new scheme to bring speedway back to the stadium. Mr S. Saunders and Arthur Sherlock, directors of Long Eaton Stadium Ltd., stated that facilities could be provided for 15,000 people[9] and the team would be called the "Long Eaton Archers".[10]

Racing returned to Long Eaton on 25 May 1950, with the team racing a series of challenge matches throughout the season. The Archers entered the league system for 1951 and competed in the 1951 Speedway National League Division Three.[11] The following season, the Archers started in the 1952 Speedway Southern League but ran into financial difficulties, with MD Stan Lish needing to raise £1,000 to survive.[12] They closed down after their 31 July fixture.[13]

### 1960s

[edit]

Eleven years after the last speedway in Long Eaton the "Archers" name was again used when the track re-opened in 1963, with Reg Fearman entering the team in the Provincial League.[14][15] The team finally completed two entire seasons in 1963 and 1964 before joining the new British League in 1965 but the team struggled in the league finishing last. The 1966 season started with signing of multiple world champion Ove Fundin and the emergence of Ray Wilson as a top rider but problems and a subsequent suspension of Fundin hampered the season.[16] Fearman and fellow promoter Ron Wilson continued to attempt to make the Archers a leading team with the signings of Anders Michanek, Jim Lightfoot and John Boulger but results were not great again. Even worse ensued in 1968 when Wilson and Fearman moved the speedway licence to Leicester Stadium because of concerns over increased stock car events damaging the speedway track.[17]

In 1969 a new promoter and former Leicester rider Ivor Brown re-opened the speedway with a new team name "Long Eaton Rangers", who competed in division 2.[18]

### 1970s

[edit]

Long Eaton Archers 1974

Despite a solid finish the previous season, the Rangers finished last in 1970 despite the efforts of Malcolm Shakespeare. Slightly better years were experienced from 1971 to 1974 but still with little success. The team reverted to the Archers name in 1974 and number 1 rider Geoff Bouchard's riding provided the highlight of another moderate season. After the season the speedway ceased again, with co-promoter Tony Allsopp quoting poor attendances as the reason for the closure.[19]

The track opened again in 1979 under the promotion of Dan McCormick and his decision to call the team the "Nottingham Outlaws" upset the supporters club.[20][21] Dave Perks and Mike Sampson starred in their comeback season.

### 1980s

[edit]

The BSPA refused an application by promoter Maurice Jones to run during 1981[22] but another revival under Jones, John Turner and stadium leaseholder Keith Barber followed in 1982 as the team was again re-branded, but this time as the "Long Eaton Invaders" – the name was chosen due to the popularity of the Space Invaders arcade game at that time.[21] Riders Alan Molyneux and Dave Perks both returned to the club but results remained poor and the Invaders finished last again in 1983.

The Invaders won the National League Championship in 1984.

### 1990s

[edit]

The team won the Premier League Four-Team Championship in 1997. In early 1998 it was announced that the stadium was to be sold for housing development and the club would have to vacate immediately. The proposed development never took place, and there was an unsuccessful attempt to reopen the site for speedway racing in 2005.[23]

The site of Long Eaton Speedway Stadium in 2008

The site was later approved for a residential development with public open spaces by Erewash Borough Council, and is now a housing estate.[24]

The Long Eaton Invaders returned in 2011, competing in the amateur status Midland League, sharing the Leicester Lions' new track in Beaumont Park Stadium for home matches. They ended the 2011 season as Midland League champions.[25] They continued to compete in the junior leagues until 2016.

## Season summary

[edit]

Extended content

| Year and league  | Position  | Notes

|
|

1951 Speedway National League Division Three | 9th | Archers
1952 Speedway Southern League | N/A | Archers - withdrew, results expunged
1963 Provincial Speedway League | 12th | Archers
1964 Provincial Speedway League | 11th | Archers
1965 British League season | 18th | Archers
1966 British League season | 18th | Archers
1967 British League season | 17th | Archers
1969 British League Division Two season | 10th | Rangers
1970 British League Division Two season | 17th | Rangers
1971 British League Division Two season | 10th | Rangers
1972 British League Division Two season | 16th | Rangers
1973 British League Division Two season | 9th | Rangers
1974 British League Division Two season | 15th | Archers
1979 National League season | 14th | Nottingham Outlaws
1980 National League season | 14th | Nottingham Outlaws
1982 National League season | 7th | Invaders
1983 National League season | 18th | Invaders
1984 National League season | 1st | Invaders, champions
1985 National League season | 18th | Invaders
1986 National League season | 20th | Invaders
1987 National League season | 15th | Invaders
1988 National League season | 16th | Invaders
1989 National League season | 17th | Invaders
1990 National League season | 16th | Invaders
1991 British League Division Two season | 6th | Invaders
1992 British League Division Two season | 9th | Invaders
1993 British League Division Two season | 2nd | Invaders
1994 British League Division Two season | 2nd | Invaders
1995 Premier League speedway season | 18th | Invaders
1996 Premier League speedway season | 17th | Invaders
1997 Premier League speedway season | 2nd | Invaders, Premier League Four-Team Championship winners

## Notable riders

[edit]

* Geoff Bouchard
* Ove Fundin
* Dave Perks
* Mike Sampson
* Malcolm Shakespeare
* Ray Wilson

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Dirt Track Racing in a few weeks". Nottingham Journal. 6 April 1929. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
2. ^ "Dirt-Track thrills". Derby Daily Telegraph. 20 May 1929. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
3. ^ "Long Eaton Track". Nottingham Journal. 25 May 1929. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
4. ^ "1929 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
5. ^ "Cinderisms". Nottingham Evening Post. 5 June 1930. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
6. ^ Nottingham & Long Eaton Speedway. Philip Dalling. ISBN 978-0-7524-4163-4
7. ^ "Speedway in Derbyshire". Derby Evening Telegraph. 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
8. ^ "1930 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
9. ^ "Council agrees to track scheme". Derby Daily Telegraph. 11 June 1949. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ "Long Eaton Council Sanctions Speedway Racing". South Notts Echo. 25 May 1929. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
11. ^ "Speedway Teams UK 1946-1951". Cyber Motorcycle. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
12. ^ "Long Eaton speedway's £10,000 loss". Leicester Evening Mail. 18 July 1952. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ "Long Eaton Speedway to close". Nottingham Evening Post. 1 August 1952. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
14. ^ ATV news archive Archived 2012-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, ATC, MACE Archive, accessed October 2011
15. ^ "Speedway again at Long Eaton". Daily Mirror. 29 January 1963. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
16. ^ "Archers' team is named". Nottingham Evening Post. 4 March 1966. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
17. ^ "Speedway at Long Eaton in danger". Nottingham Evening Post. 21 February 1968. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
18. ^ "Brown waits for speedway decision". Long Eaton Advertiser. 24 January 1969. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
19. ^ "Poor support track closure reason for". Derby Daily Telegraph. 15 February 1975. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
20. ^ "Speedway one of the greatest". Stapleford & Sandiacre News. 1 March 1979. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
21. ^ a b "A History of Long Eaton Speedway". Speedway Plus. 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
22. ^ "Hopes of racing at Long Eaton dim to flicker". Long Eaton Advertiser. 19 February 1981. Retrieved 22 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
23. ^ "Speedway: could make a comeback". BBC News. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
24. ^ "Details on Planning Application ERE/0710/0009". Erewash Borough Council. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
25. ^ "Long Eaton Invaders news". Official British Speedway website. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Long Eaton Invaders official website

* v
* t
* e

Premier League

2016 Teams|

* Berwick Bandits
* Edinburgh Monarchs
* Glasgow Tigers
* Ipswich Witches
* Newcastle Diamonds
* Peterborough Panthers
* Plymouth Devils
* Redcar Bears
* Rye House Rockets
* Scunthorpe Scorpions
* Sheffield Tigers
* Somerset Rebels
* Workington Comets

Former Teams|

* Arena Essex Hammers
* Birmingham Brummies
* Cradley Heathens
* Exeter Falcons
* Hull Vikings
* Isle of Wight Islanders
* Kings Lynn Stars
* Leicester Lions
* Long Eaton Invaders
* Mildenhall Fen Tigers
* Newport Wasps
* Oxford Cheetahs
* Reading Racers
* Stoke Potters
* Swindon Robins
* Trelawny Tigers

Seasons|

* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016

Domestic Cups|

* Premier League Knockout Cup
* Premier League Riders' Championship
* Premier League Pairs Championship
* Premier League Four-Team Championship
* Young Shield
* Premier League Cup

52°53′56″N 1°15′41″W﻿ / ﻿52.89889°N 1.26139°W﻿ / 52.89889; -1.26139
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template