Canterbury Crusaders (speedway)

Last updated

Canterbury Crusaders
Oxford v Canterbury 1977.jpg
Crusaders away at Oxford
Club information
Track address Kingsmead Stadium
Kingsmead Road
Canterbury
Kent
Country England
Founded1968
Closed1987
Website Canterbury Crusaders
Club facts
ColoursBlue and Gold
Track size360 metres (390 yd)
Major team honours
National League Champions1978
British League Div Two Champions1970
British League Div Two KO Cup Winners1968
National League Pairs Champions1981

The Canterbury Crusaders were a motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Kingsmead Stadium, Kingsmead Road, Canterbury from 1968 to 1987. [1] For all of their 20-year existence, the Crusaders operated at the second level of British league speedway, in British League Division Two and the National League. [2]

Contents

History

Canterbury were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968. [3] The first meeting at Kingsmead, on 18 May 1968, saw the Crusaders narrowly lose a British League Division Two fixture 38–39 to Belle Vue Colts. The Colts and the Crusaders had contested the first ever Division Two fixture ten days previously at Belle Vue on 8 May, when the Colts won 55–23. [4]

The Crusaders' first league title was won in 1970, and a second championship was to follow in 1978. [5] In 1977 the promoters Johnnie Hoskins and Wally Mawdsley had to go to court in order to keep the Kingsmead track open after complaints of noise from local residents. However, the team were forced to disband in 1987 when the Canterbury Council refused to renew the lease.

The final Crusaders fixture took place at Kingsmead on 31 October 1987, when Canterbury defeated Rye House Rockets 49–29 in the second leg of the Kent/Herts Trophy. [4] Greyhound racing continued at Kingsmead until 1999 but the site is now a housing estate. [6]

Notable riders

The longest serving rider was Barney Kennett who rode for the Crusaders from 1971 until 1984. Barney is the brother of riders Gordon Kennett and Dave Kennett and is uncle to Edward Kennett.

Teams

1977

Season summary

Extended content
Year and leaguePositionNotes
1968 British League Division Two season 7th
1969 British League Division Two season 6th
1970 British League Division Two season 1st Champions
1971 British League Division Two season 14th
1972 British League Division Two season 13th
1973 British League Division Two season 15th
1974 British League Division Two season 10th
1975 New National League season 10th
1976 National League season 4th
1977 National League season 4th
1978 National League season 1st Champions
1979 National League season 10th
1980 National League season 18th
1981 National League season 14th
1982 National League season 16th
1983 National League season 15th
1984 National League season 12th
1985 National League season 16th
1986 National League season 15th
1987 National League season 13th

See also

List of defunct motorcycle speedway teams in the United Kingdom

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References

  1. ↑ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN   0-7524-2210-3
  2. ↑ "Canterbury Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
  4. 1 2 "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  6. ↑ Jacobs, N. Speedway in the South East. ISBN   0-7524-2725-3
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