Scunthorpe Scorpions

Last updated

Scunthorpe Scorpions
Scorpions speedw logo.png
Club information
Track address Eddie Wright Raceway
Normanby Road
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 8QZ
CountryEngland
Founded1972
PromoterRob Godfrey
Team manager David Howe
League SGB Championship
National Development League
Website scunthorpe-speedway.com
Club facts
ColoursWhite and Red
Track size285 metres (312 yd)
Track record time55.18 seconds
Track record date5 September 2014
Track record holder Nicolai Klindt
Current senior team
RiderCMA
Flag of England.svg Simon Lambert (capt)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jake Allen
Flag of Denmark.svg Michael Palm Toft
Flag of England.svg Kyle Howarth
Flag of England.svg Connor Mountain
Flag of England.svg Nathan Ablitt
Flag of England.svg Luke Harrison
Current junior team
RiderCMA
Flag of Scotland.svg Ace Pijper
Flag of England.svg Nathan Ablitt
Flag of England.svg Luke Harrison
Flag of England.svg Mickie Simpson
Flag of England.svg Kean Dicken
Flag of Scotland.svg Stene Pijper
Major team honours
Premier League Champions 2012
Championship KO Cup 2023
Conference League Champions 2006, 2007
Conference League KO Cup Winners2006, 2007
Conference Trophy Winners2006, 2007
Conference Shield Winners2006
Conference Fours Winners2007
Conference League Pairs Winners2006

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]

Contents

History

Origins and 1970s

Scunthorpe's first home, the Quibell Stadium Quibell Park, Scunthorpe (geograph 793104).jpg
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 contonued 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

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

Woffinden riding for Scunthorpe in 2007 2007 speedway Tai Woffinden riding for Scunthorpe.jpg
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

The new venue at Normanby Road Scunthorpe Speedway - geograph.org.uk - 476688.jpg
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. The team included Nick Morris, Josh Auty, Thomas Jørgensen, David Howe and Michael Palm Toft. In 20178, the Premier League became the SGB Championship.

2020s

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. [14]

Season summary (1st team)

Extended content
Year and leaguePositionNotes
1972 British League Division Two season 17thSaints
1973 British League Division Two season 16thSaints
1974 British League Division Two season 17thSaints
1975 New National League season 13thSaints
1976 National League season 17thSaints
1977 National League season 14thSaints
1978 National League season 19thSaints
1979 National League season 19thStags
1980 National League season 13thStags
1981 National League season 17thStags
1982 National League season 17thStags
1983 National League season 5thStags
1984 National League season 10thStags
2005 Speedway Conference League 8thScorpions
2006 Speedway Conference League 2ndScorpions, Champions (PO winners) & Knockout Cup winners
2007 Speedway Conference League 1stScorpions, Champions & Knockout Cup winners
2008 Premier League speedway season 10thScorpions
2009 Premier League speedway season 10thScorpions
2010 Premier League speedway season 9thScorpions
2011 Premier League speedway season 7thScorpions
2012 Premier League speedway season 2ndScorpions, Champions (PO winners)
2013 Premier League speedway season 8thScorpions
2014 Premier League speedway season 5thScorpions
2015 Premier League speedway season 11thScorpions
2016 Premier League speedway season 11thScorpions
SGB Championship 2017 9thScorpions
SGB Championship 2018 9thScorpions
SGB Championship 2019 7thScorpions
SGB Championship 2021 6thScorpions
SGB Championship 2022 7thScorpions
SGB Championship 2023 4thScorpions, Play offs & Knockout Cup winners

Season summary (junior team)

Extended content
Year and leaguePositionNotes
2008 Speedway Conference League 5thSaints
2009 National League speedway season 6thSaints
2010 National League speedway season 8thSaints
2011 National League speedway season 1stScunthorpe & Sheffield Saints, Champions
2012 National League speedway season 6thSaints
2014 National League speedway season 9thStags

Riders previous seasons

Extended content

2007 team

2008 team

2008 team (juniors)

2009 team

Also rode:

2009 team (juniors)

2010 team

Number eight rider:

2015 team

2016 team

Also rode:

2017 team

Also rode:

Replaced the injured Fritz Wallner

2019 team

2021 team

Also Rode:

2022 team

Also Rode:

2023 team

Also Rode:

Notable riders

Other honours

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References

  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. ↑ "Cup joy for Scorpions". British Speedway. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Scorpions sign Bergström". BSPA. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
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