| Crewe Kings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club information | |||||
| Track address | BR Sports Ground, Earle Street Crewe | ||||
| Country | England | ||||
| Founded | 1969 | ||||
| Closed | 1975 | ||||
| League | Div 2 / National League | ||||
| Club facts | |||||
| Colours | Red and White | ||||
| Track size | 399 metres (436 yd) | ||||
| Track record time | 68.0 | ||||
| Track record date | 12 August 1975 | ||||
| Track record holder | Dave Morton | ||||
| Major team honours | |||||
| |||||
The Crewe Kings was a British Speedway team which operated in Crewe, Cheshire from 1969 until its closure in 1975. [1] [2]
The team first competed in 1969 promoted by Maury Littlechild for Allied Presentations who also promoted the Rayleigh Rockets, the Sunderland Stars and the Reading Racers. Littlechild died on 12 July 1972 - a year when the Kings achieved the League and Cup double and Phil Crump won the Division Two riders championship; Ken Adams took over until the end of the season. [3] [4]
In 1973, Len Silver took over on behalf of Allied Presentations, continuing in that role until former Crewe rider Dave Parry took over in 1975. The Earle Street track established itself as the fastest track in the UK.[ citation needed ] Originally 470 yards long, it was feared by many riders but was shortened to 436 yards in 1971, both versions had their track records in the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest average speeds.[ citation needed ]
The team was renowned for developing young riding talent, giving early opportunities to Geoff Curtis, Phil Crump, Les Collins, John Jackson, Dave Morton, Ian Cartwright and Chris Turner. [5]
However, the club started to run into financial difficulties at the end of 1974 with Dave Parry taking over in 1975 before closing at the end of the season. Charles Scarbrough ran the training school for two more years.
A memorial plaque to Crewe Kings was unveiled in the nearby Kings Arms pub in September 2010. [6]
The speedway track also operated for a short time in the late 1920s / early 1930s. Previously also used as a cycling and athletics track, it encircled a cricket pitch that was used by Crewe Alexandra cricket club from 1898 (following its relocation from the Alexandra Recreation Ground on Nantwich Road), [7] and by its successor, Crewe LMR (London Midland Region) cricket club until 1975. The track's site is now the location of the Grand Junction retail park. [8]
| Year and league | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 British League Division Two season | 7th | |
| 1970 British League Division Two season | 7th | |
| 1971 British League Division Two season | 7th | |
| 1972 British League Division Two season | 1st | Champions & Knockout Cup winners |
| 1973 British League Division Two season | 8th | |
| 1974 British League Division Two season | 5th | |
| 1975 New National League season | 16th |
Crewe is a railway town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East in Cheshire, England. The civil parish of Crewe had a population of 55,318 in the 2021 census. The larger Crewe built-up area, which also covers parts of the adjacent civil parishes of Willaston, Shavington cum Gresty and Wistaston, had a total population of 76,437 in 2021.
Christopher John Morton, MBE is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England. He rode bikes from a young age at the farm of Peter Collins' parents.
Jason Philip Crump is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.
Len Silver is a former motorcycle speedway rider and is former promoter of the Rye House Rockets.
Wolverhampton Wolves are a British speedway team based in Wolverhampton, England. They are sponsored by Parry's International Travel, and signed a deal with owner Dave Parry for the 2008 season onwards. The team is managed by Peter Adams and the promoter of the club is Chris Van Straaten.
Newport Wasps were a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales from 1964 to 2012. They were the 1999 Conference League champions. The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport.
Sydney Showground Speedway, originally known as the Speedway Royal and later the Speedway Royale but often referred to as just The Royale or The Showground, was a dirt Dirt track racing venue at the old Sydney Showground used from 1926 until 1996.
Philip John Crump in Mildura, Victoria is a former Motorcycle speedway rider from Australia who attained third place in the 1976 World Championship. He also won the 1976 Speedway World Team Cup with Australia in the same year.
Leslie Collins is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England. He finished runner-up in the 1982 Speedway World Championship as well as winning the Intercontinental Final in 1982, the British Under-21 Championship in 1977 and the British League Riders' Championship in 1980.
David James Morton is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from England. who started his career with the Crewe Kings. He represented England at test level. His brother Chris Morton was also a speedway rider.
The 1972 British League season was the 38th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the eighth season of the British League.
The 1975 Gulf Oil British League season was the 41st season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 11th season known as the British League.
The 1976 Gulf British League season was the 42nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 12th season known as the British League.
The 1977 Gulf British League season was the 43rd season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 13th season known as the British League.
The 1969 British League Division Two season was the second season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
The 1971 British League Division Two season was the second tier/division motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
The 1972 British League Division Two season was the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
The 1973 British League Division Two season was the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
Dennis Clifford Dunton was an English international motorcycle speedway rider and promoter who reached the final of the Speedway World Championship in 1950, achieving 12th place with 5 points. As well as riding, Dunton promoted Peterborough Panthers and co-promoted Oxford Cheetahs, then Oxford Rebels and finally White City Rebels.
The Alexandra Recreation Ground, also known as Nantwich Road, was a multi-sport venue in Crewe in England. It was the home ground of Crewe Alexandra, and also hosted an FA Cup semi-final and the 1886-87 Welsh Cup final, both in 1887, and an England home match in 1888.
