Scunthorpe Scorpions

British motorcycle speedway team

Scunthorpe Scorpions

Club information
Track address| Eddie Wright Raceway
Normanby Road
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 8QZ
Country| England
Founded| 1972
Promoter| Rob Godfrey
Team manager| David Howe
Team captain| Simon Lambert
League| SGB Championship
National Development League
Website| scunthorpe-speedway.com
Club facts
Colours| White and Red
Track size| 285 metres (312 yd)
Track record time| 55.18 seconds
Track record date| 5 September 2014
Track record holder| Nicolai Klindt
Current senior team
| Rider  | CMA

|

Simon Lambert |
Jake Allen |
Steve Worrall |
Connor Mountain |
Zaine Kennedy |
Declan Kennedy |
Luke Harrison |
Current junior team
| Rider  | CMA

|

Major team honours
| Premier League Champions| 2012

|

Championship KO Cup| 2023
Conference League Champions| 2006, 2007
Conference League KO Cup Winners| 2006, 2007
Conference Trophy Winners| 2006, 2007
Conference Shield Winners| 2006
Conference Fours Winners| 2007
Conference League Pairs Winners| 2006

The Scunthorpe Scorpions are a motorcycle speedway team in the British SGB Championship. They have raced at various times since 1971, at three different venues.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Origins and 1970s

[edit]

Scunthorpe's first home, the Quibell Stadium

Speedway in Scunthorpe began on 3 May 1971 at the Quibell Park Stadium (an athletics stadium and velodrome).[2] The inaugural season consisted primarily of a team known as the Scunthorpe Saints, who raced a series of challenge meetings at the stadium.[3]

The following year in 1972, the team joined the British league system, when they competed in the 1972 British League Division Two season but finished bottom of the table.[4] Changes were made for 1973, with promoter Brian Osborn bringing in multiple new signings including Ken McKinlay.[5] The Saints continued to race in the second tier of British speedway, which from 1975 was known as the National League. However, the seasons were disappointing with the team struggling at the foot of the table.

Major changes took place during 1979, the first being a change of venue to Ashby Ville Stadium.[6] Promoter Brian Osborn was forced to find a new home following issues with the athletics club and North Lincolnshire council over track conditions.[7] In conjunction with the move, the Saints also changed their name from the Saints to the Stags.[8]

### 1980s

[edit]

The team continued to compete in the second division and continued to produce moderate results, only managing a best finish of 5th place during the 1983 National League season. Riders came and went and in the Summer of 1984 the promotion was taken over by Tony Nicholls, who had plans to expand Ashby Ville.[9]

For the start of the 1985 season, Eric Boothroyd was brought in as the new team manager. Events began to deteriorate when the captain Rob Woffinden was injured and the team suffered heavy losses. Tony Nicholls then revealed financial losses[10] and the team were disbanded in May 1985.[11][12]

### 2000s

[edit]

Woffinden riding for Scunthorpe in 2007

A team known as the Scunthorpe Scorpions appeared in a couple of fixtures during 2003, which subsequently led to a search for a track.[13] The North Lincolnshire Council offered a 10-acre plot of land on Normanby Road and work began on creating a new venue. Promoters Rob Godfrey and Norman Beeney opened the track for practice in 2004 before the first meeting was held on 27 March 2005, ending a twenty-year absence. The Scorpions took their place in division 3 (the 2005 Speedway Conference League).

The following season the Scorpions signed Tai Woffinden and Josh Auty and the Scorpions won their first silverware, winning the playoffs after finishing second in the regular season table. The team also won the Knockout Cup to win the double, in addition to the Conference Trophy and pairs championship. The 2007 Speedway Conference League resulted in a second successive league and cup double, the Conference Trophy and fours event. The team was inspired by Tai Woffinden, who would later become a three times world champion.

After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into the Premier League (division 2) for 2008, but lost Tai Woffinden to Rye House. However they did achieve a mid-table finish in 2008 and 2009. The club also introduced a junior side called the Saints (after the original name of the club) who would continue riding in the Conference League and later the National League with the main aim to develop riders for the Premier League side.

### 2010s

[edit]

The new venue at Normanby Road

In 2012, the Scorpions won their highest honour to date, winning the 2012 Premier League after defeating the Somerset Rebels 92-91 on aggregate in the play off final.[14] The team included Nick Morris, Josh Auty, Thomas Jørgensen, David Howe and Michael Palm Toft. In 2017, the Premier League became the SGB Championship.

### 2020s

[edit]

Following a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scorpions continued to race in the second tier Championship, entering their 15th season in the division in 2023.

In 2023, spearheaded by Ryan Douglas, the Scorpions created a shock by winning the SGB Championship Knockout Cup, defeating favourites Poole Pirates 92-88 on aggregate in the final.[15]

## Season summary (1st team)

[edit]

Extended content

| Year and league  | Position  | Notes

|
|

1972 British League Division Two season | 17th | Saints
1973 British League Division Two season | 16th | Saints
1974 British League Division Two season | 17th | Saints
1975 New National League season | 13th | Saints
1976 National League season | 17th | Saints
1977 National League season | 14th | Saints
1978 National League season | 19th | Saints
1979 National League season | 19th | Stags
1980 National League season | 13th | Stags
1981 National League season | 17th | Stags
1982 National League season | 17th | Stags
1983 National League season | 5th | Stags
1984 National League season | 10th | Stags
2005 Speedway Conference League | 8th | Scorpions
2006 Speedway Conference League | 2nd | Scorpions, Champions (PO winners) & Knockout Cup winners
2007 Speedway Conference League | 1st | Scorpions, Champions & Knockout Cup winners
2008 Premier League speedway season | 10th | Scorpions
2009 Premier League speedway season | 10th | Scorpions
2010 Premier League speedway season | 9th | Scorpions
2011 Premier League speedway season | 7th | Scorpions
2012 Premier League speedway season | 2nd | Scorpions, Champions (PO winners)
2013 Premier League speedway season | 8th | Scorpions
2014 Premier League speedway season | 5th | Scorpions
2015 Premier League speedway season | 11th | Scorpions
2016 Premier League speedway season | 11th | Scorpions
SGB Championship 2017 | 9th | Scorpions
SGB Championship 2018 | 9th | Scorpions
SGB Championship 2019 | 7th | Scorpions
SGB Championship 2021 | 6th | Scorpions
SGB Championship 2022 | 7th | Scorpions
SGB Championship 2023 | 4th | Scorpions, Play offs & Knockout Cup winners
SGB Championship 2024 | 3rd | Scorpions

## Season summary (junior team)

[edit]

Extended content

| Year and league  | Position  | Notes

|
|

2008 Speedway Conference League | 5th | Saints
2009 National League speedway season | 6th | Saints
2010 National League speedway season | 8th | Saints
2011 National League speedway season | 1st | Scunthorpe & Sheffield Saints, Champions
2012 National League speedway season | 6th | Saints
2014 National League speedway season | 9th | Stags
2024 National Development League speedway season | 5th | Scunthorpe/Sheffield

## Riders previous seasons

[edit]

Extended content

2007 team

*   * Richie Dennis
*   * Josh Auty
*   * Tai Woffinden
*   * Andrew Tully
*   * Benji Compton
*   * Byron Bekker
*   * Scott Richardson
*   * Joe Haines
*   * Scott Anderson
*   * James Cockle

2008 team

*   * Viktor Bergström[16]
*   * Richard Hall
*   * Magnus Karlsson
*   * Byron Bekker
*   * Carl Wilkinson
*   * Benji Compton
*   * Andrew Moore
*   * Ben Powell
*   * Emiliano Sanchez

2008 team (juniors)

*   * Byron Bekker
*   * Scott Richardson
*   * Scott Anderson
*   * Jonathan Bethell
*   * Gary Irving
*   * Adam Wrathall
*   * Michael Pickering
*   * Ricky Scarboro
*   * Stuart Parnaby
*   * Ben Hopwood

2009 team

*   * David Howe
*   * Magnus Karlsson
*   * Carl Wilkinson
*   * Simon Lambert
*   * Viktor Bergström
*   * Ritchie Hawkins
*   * Jerran Hart

Also rode:

*   * Byron Bekker
*   * Nick Simmons
*   * Adam Allott

2009 team (juniors)

*   * Byron Bekker
*   * Adam Wrathall
*   * Gary Irving
*   * James Sarjeant
*   * Richard Franklin
*   * Scott Richardson
*   * Kyle Howarth
*   * Ashley Morris
*   * Stuart Parnaby

2010 team

*   * David Howe
*   * Magnus Karlsson
*   * Carl Wilkinson
*   * Joel Parsons
*   * Viktor Bergström
*   * Simon Lambert
*   * Jerran Hart

Number eight rider:

*   * Gary Irving

2015 team

*   * Zdenek Holub
*   * Andreas Lyager
*   * Carl Wilkinson
*   * Theo Pijper
*   * Leigh Lanham
*   * Alex Davies
*   * Nike Lunna

2016 team

*   * Ryan Douglas
*   * Josh Auty
*   * Carl Wilkinson
*   * Michael Palm Toft
*   * Lewis Kerr
*   * Fritz Wallner
*   * Josh Bailey

Also rode:

*   * Nicolai Klindt
*   * Zdenek Holub
*   * Alex Davies
*   * Andreas Lyager
*   * Ashley Morris

2017 team

*   * Ryan Douglas
*   * Josh Auty
*   * Carl Wilkinson
*   * Michael Palm Toft
*   * Lewis Kerr
*   * Fritz Wallner
*   * Josh Bailey

Also rode:

*   * Stefan Nielsen

Replaced the injured Fritz Wallner

2019 team

* Josh Auty
* Jake Allen
* Ben Barker
* Danny Ayres
* Stefan Nielsen
* Simon Lambert
* Ryan Kinsley

2021 team

*   * Jake Allen
*   * Ryan Douglas
*   * Simon Lambert (C)
*   * Jordan Palin
*   * Adam Roynon
*   * Anders Rowe
*   * James Wright

Also Rode:

*   * Tero Aarnio
*   * Connor Coles
*   * Zaine Kennedy
*   * Ryan Kinsley

2022 team

*   * Jake Allen
*   * Ryan Douglas
*   * Simon Lambert (C)
*   * Jordan Palin
*   * Adam Roynon
*   * Anders Rowe
*   * James Wright

Also Rode:

*   * Tero Aarnio
*   * Connor Coles
*   * Zaine Kennedy
*   * Ryan Kinsley

2023 team

*   * Nathan Ablitt
*   * Jake Allen
*   * Ryan Douglas
*   * Drew Kemp
*   * Simon Lambert (C)
*   * Connor Mountain
*   * Michael Palm Toft

Also Rode:

*   * Max Clegg
*   * Zaine Kennedy
*   * Joe Thompson

## Notable riders

[edit]

*   * Josh Auty
*   * Ryan Douglas
*   * David Howe
*   * Michael Palm Toft
*   * Rob Woffinden
*   * Tai Woffinden

## Other honours

[edit]

* Lincolnshire Cup Winners: 2005, 2006 & 2007
* Easter Cup Winners: 2006
* Humber Bridge Trophy Winners: 2005

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
2. ^ "Speedway Racing". Gainsborough Evening News. 20 April 1971. Retrieved 3 May 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
3. ^ "1973 fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
4. ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129\. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
5. ^ "Saints still out for new riders". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 10 May 1973. Retrieved 3 May 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
6. ^ "Brewery boost for Stadium". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 16 February 1978. Retrieved 3 May 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
7. ^ "Speedway Ashby Ville". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
8. ^ "Stags look to be out of the hunt". Chester Chronicle. 20 July 1979. Retrieved 3 May 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
9. ^ "£150,000 Stadium Planned". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 8 January 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ "New crisis for speedway". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 9 May 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
11. ^ "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
12. ^ "1985 fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
13. ^ "History". Scunthorpe Speedway. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
14. ^ "2012 Play-off Final…. In Words and pictures". Scunthorpe Scorpions speedway club. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
15. ^ "Cup joy for Scorpions". British Speedway. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
16. ^ "Scorpions sign Bergström". BSPA. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.

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