Crayford Kestrels

Last updated

Crayford Kestrels
Crayford kestrels.jpg
Crayford Kestrels Badge
Club information
Track address Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium
Stadium Road
Crayford
Kent
Country England
Founded1968
Closed1983
Club facts
ColoursRed, Black and Gold
Track size242 metres (265 yd)
Major team honours
National League Fours Champions 1980

The Crayford Kestrels were a Speedway team which operated from 1968 until their closure in 1983. They were based at Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium in Crayford. [1]

Contents

History

Crayford away at Oxford Crayford pair hold off B Leonard.jpg
Crayford away at Oxford

Crayford were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968 and finished in sixth place in its inaugural season. [2]

The team were known as the Crayford Highwaymen from 1968 until 1970 but were disbanded after the 1970 season. Speedway returned to the stadium in 1975 with a team nicknamed the Kestrels. They competed for nine years, with their most successful season being the third place finish during the 1983 National League season although they did win the Four-Team Championship in 1980. [3] [4]

The team were forced to relocate for the 1984 season as the stadium was sold for redevelopment [5] and for the 1984 season the team transferred the promotion to Hackney and ran a team called the Hackney Kestrels. [6]

Notable riders

Season summary

Year and leaguePositionNotes
1968 British League Division Two season 6throde as the Highwaymen
1969 British League Division Two season 4throde as the Highwaymen
1970 British League Division Two season 14throde as the Highwaymen
1975 New National League season 8th
1976 National League season 6th
1977 National League season 10th
1978 National League season 10th
1979 National League season 12th
1980 National League season 9th Four-Team Championship winners
1981 National League season 10th
1982 National League season 15th
1983 National League season 3rd

See also

List of defunct motorcycle speedway teams in the United Kingdom

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References

  1. "Crayford Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
  3. "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  5. Jacobs, N. Speedway in the South East. ISBN   0-7524-2725-3
  6. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN   0-7524-2210-3