Preston (speedway)

Last updated

Preston
Club information
Track address Farringdon Park
New Hall Lane
Preston
Lancashire.
CountryEngland
Founded1929
Closed1932
LeagueEnglish Dirt Track League
Northern League
Major team honours
English Dirt Track Knockout Cup1929

Preston were a British speedway team that existed from 1929 to 1932 and raced at Farringdon Park.

Contents

History

From 18 September 1924, Farringdon Park was leased by Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C. [1] and in 1929 the club agreed a six-year sub-tenancy with Preston Speedways Ltd, and a dirt track was constructed around the perimeter of the rugby pitch. [2]

The speedway, run by Preston Speedways Ltd, [3] was very popular with regular crowds of 14,000 fans. [4] George Formby won a race at the stadium on a two stroke machine. The track marshall was Norman Jackson and the team raced for three years. [5] The track was one of the most dangerous circuits in the country with three fatalities within 14 months. John Proctor Stockdale died on 18 May 1929, [6] John Seith was killed on 18 August 1929 [7] and on 24 July 1930, James Carnie became the third racing death. [8]

They team first competed in the English Dirt Track League (effectively the Northern League) in 1929 when they were runners-up to Leeds Lions. [9] [10] In the same season they won the English Dirt Track Knockout Cup beating Halifax in the final.

The team raced for the 1930 Speedway Northern League [11] but Preston Speedways Ltd was wound up in December 1930. [12] However, Oswald 'Ossie' Wade took over a three year sub-lease and installed Norman Jackman as manager for the 1931 season. The speedway ended for good at the end of the 1931 season. [5]

The location today is Farringdon Crescent. [5] [13]

Notable riders

Season summary

Year and leaguePositionNotes
1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League 2nd
1930 Speedway Northern League 4th
1931 Speedway Northern League 5th

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References

  1. ↑ "Rugby Union" . Lancashire Evening Post. 19 September 1924. Retrieved 27 November 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ↑ "Club History 1900 – 1930". PGRF. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "New Companies registered" . Liverpool Daily Post. 5 February 1929. Retrieved 27 November 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Fast and furious world of Preston's speedway racers". Lancashire Post. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "Preston Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "A fatal track ride" . Morecambe Guardian. 18 May 1929. Retrieved 27 November 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Dirt Track Rider Dies" . Leicester Evening Mail. 19 August 1929. Retrieved 31 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Speedway rider killed" . Daily Herald. 25 July 1930. Retrieved 1 March 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ↑ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
  12. ↑ "Preston Speedways Ltd" . Lancashire Evening Post. 16 December 1930. Retrieved 1 March 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ "1900 – 1930". PGRF. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
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