Wolverhampton Wolves

For the football club, see Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

Wolverhampton Wolves
Club information
Track address	Monmore Green Stadium Wolverhampton
Country	England
Founded	1928/1951
Closed	2023
Team manager	Peter Adams
Website	www.wolverhampton-speedway.com
Club facts
Colours	Old Gold and Black
Track size	264 metres (288.7 yd)
Track record time	52.69
Track record date	29 August 2016
Track record holder	Niels Kristian Iversen
Major team honours
UK League Champions 1991, 1996, 2002 2009, 2016 KO Cup Winners 1996 Div 2 League Champions 1963 Midland Cup 1973

Wolverhampton Wolves were a British motorcycle speedway team based in Wolverhampton, England. They were five times champions of the United Kingdom and raced at Monmore Green Stadium from 1928 to 2023.

History

1928–1930

Speedway (known as Dirt Track racing at the time) was first held at Monmore Green Stadium on 30 May 1928, arranged by the Birmingham Motor Cycle Club the meeting consisted of several feature races. ^[1] The first meeting to feature the Wolverhampton team name was an Inter–Town race against Manchester on 25 August. ^[2] After a series of challenge matches during 1929 and 1930, speedway would not return to Wolverhampton for twenty years.

1950–1954

During 1948 and the post-war optimism, record crowds were attending speedway events up and down the country. With towns keen to cash in on the boom, Wolverhampton's stadium owners applied to the local council for a track to be re-built at the original site. Australian Arthur Simcock set the ball rolling and was granted permission to promote speedway in Wolverhampton and finally his dream came true on 14 October 1950. The first to test the new track were some visiting Norwich riders, en route to a meeting followed by Wulfrunians defeating Sheffield 58-26. ^[3] Officially founded again in 1951, the team would ride as the Wolverhampton Wasps and they were admitted into the 1951 Speedway National League Division Three. ^[4]

The winter of 1952/3 was a tumultuous one for speedway in the Black Country when Cradley Heathens merged with the Wasps 1953 season. Wolverhampton were pleased with this 'promotion' and at one meeting supporters were 'locked out' after the capacity was reached. It was reported 12,000 fans turned up with many more scaling the walls. This was however short lived and the team enudred a series of poor results at the start of the 1954 season. A decision was made by the promotion and in early May of the same year, Wolverhampton closed its doors to speedway. ^[5]

1961–1990

George Hunter with Gary Peterson

Finn Thomsen and Ole Olsen

It wasn't until the 1961 Provincial Speedway League, that the sport returned to the venue again. Now called the Wolverhampton Wolves the team had two solid seasons before securing their first silverware, winning the 1963 Provincial Speedway League. ^[6] The 1963 team consisted of three new signings Maury Mattingley, Dave Hemus and Rick France, who joined heat leaders Tommy Sweetman and Graham Warren to produce consistent results and win the league by two points from Stoke Potters. ^[7]

From 1965, Wolverhampton competed in the top tier of British speedway with the exception of 1981 (second tier) and 1982/3 (inactive). ^[8] In 1973, led by Ole Olsen, the club won the Midland Cup ^[9] and the following year reached the final, but saw Gary Peterson killed in the home leg. ^[10]

1991–2000

Wolves won their first highest league title (and second ever title) in 1991, after winning the 1991 British League season. They were led by their American star Sam Ermolenko, who became the first rider to push former Wolves rider Hans Nielsen from the top of the averages after eight consecutive years at the top. The Wolves team relied on two more American riders, Ronnie Correy and Sam's younger brother Charles Ermolenko, in addition to Englishman Graham Jones to seal the title from Bradford. ^{[11] [12]} The Wolves won the title for the second time in six years in 1996, with Ronnie Correy being the sole survivor of the 1991 winning team. In a strange coincidence a new set of two brothers helped Wolves win the title, back in 1991 it was the Ermolenko brothers but now it was the Swedish Karlsson brothers. Peter Karlsson and Mikael Karlsson both scored heavily and ended the season with averages around the 10 mark. ^[13]

2001–2009

Sudden Sam Ermolenko

The Wolverhampton Wolves were the Sky Sports Elite League champions in 2002. Although they only finished 2nd in the regular season table they defeated Eastbourne Eagles in the play off final. It was Wolves third title success in 11 years and the Swedish Karlsson brothers, Peter and Mikael were once again integral to the Wolves team throughout the season. ^[14] After a play off final loss in 2004 they regained the champion status in the 2009 season, beating the Swindon Robins 95-90 on aggregate in the 2009 play-offs. ^[15] In 2008, Parry's International Travel signed a deal with owner Dave Parry (a former Wolves rider). The team was managed by Peter Adams and promoted by Chris Van Straaten.

2010–2019

On 10 August 2015, Swindon Robins rider Darcy Ward broke the track record time held by Tai Woffinden. Darcy's new record time 53.45 seconds. Then on 29 August 2016, Niels-Kristian Iversen broke the track record again with a time of 52.69 seconds. The team became UK champions for the fifth time in 2016, beating the top of the table finishing Belle Vue Aces. Led by Tai Woffinden and Freddie Lindgren, they won by an 18-point margin at home in the first leg by beating the Belle Vue Aces 54-36, the second leg was a win for Belle Vue of 50-42, meaning victory for the Wolves by a 10-point margin with the aggregate scores 96-86.

2020–2023

The team finished 2nd and 4th respectively in 2021 and 2022 but were beaten in the play offs. In 2023, it was announced by the Monmore Green Stadium owners Entain that the venue would only be used by greyhound racing during 2024. ^[16]

Season summary

Extended content

Year and league Position Notes 1951 Speedway National League Division Three 10th rode as the Wasps 1952 Speedway Southern League 4th rode as the Wasps 1953 Speedway National League Division Two 7th rode as the Wasps 1954 Speedway National League Division Two n/a withdrew 1961 Provincial Speedway League 9th 1962 Provincial Speedway League 10th 1963 Provincial Speedway League 1st Champions 1964 Provincial Speedway League 3rd 1965 British League season 7th 1966 British League season 9th 1967 British League season 8th 1968 British League season 16th 1969 British League season 16th 1970 British League season 9th 1971 British League season 12th 1972 British League season 9th 1973 British League season 7th 1974 British League season 11th 1975 British League season 13th 1976 British League season 11th 1977 British League season 15th 1978 British League season 17th 1979 British League season 11th 1980 British League season 15th 1981 National League season 13th 1984 British League season 10th 1985 British League season 10th 1986 British League season 3rd 1987 British League season 10th 1988 British League season 8th 1989 British League season 2nd 1990 British League season 2nd 1991 British League season 1st Champions 1992 British League season 5th 1993 British League season 2nd 1994 British League season 3rd 1995 Premier League speedway season 5th 1996 Premier League speedway season 1st Champions & Knockout Cup winners 1997 Elite League speedway season 7th 1998 Elite League speedway season 6th 1999 Elite League speedway season 10th 2000 Elite League speedway season 6th 2001 Elite League speedway season 8th 2002 Elite League speedway season 2nd Champions (won PO final) 2003 Elite League speedway season 5th 2004 Elite League speedway season 2nd PO final 2005 Elite League speedway season 8th 2006 Elite League speedway season 6th 2007 Elite League speedway season 6th 2008 Elite League speedway season 9th 2009 Elite League speedway season 2nd Champions (won PO final) 2010 Elite League speedway season 2nd PO final 2011 Elite League speedway season 8th 2012 Elite League speedway season 9th 2013 Elite League speedway season 3rd PO semi final 2014 Elite League speedway season 7th 2015 Elite League speedway season 7th 2016 Elite League 3rd Champions (won PO final) SGB Premiership 2017 2nd PO final SGB Premiership 2018 6th SGB Premiership 2019 3rd PO semi final SGB Premiership 2021 2nd PO semi final SGB Premiership 2022 4th PO semi finals SGB Premiership 2023 2nd PO semi finals

Riders previous seasons

Extended content

1975 team Ole Olsen Finn Thomsen George Hunter Colin Meredith Gary Peterson Malcolm Shakespeare 2004 team Mikael Max Simon Stead James Grieves David Howe Sam Ermolenko Daniel Nermark Adam Skornicki Fredrik Lindgren Chris Neath 2005 team Fredrik Lindgren David Howe Magnus Karlsson Krzystof Pecyna Mikael Max Ronnie Correy Steve Johnston 2006 team Peter Karlsson Fredrik Lindgren Billy Hamill Magnus Karlsson William Lawson Christian Hefenbrock Ronnie Correy Ben Wilson 2007 team Peter Karlsson Fredrik Lindgren Billy Hamill David Howe Magnus Karlsson Kenneth Hansen William Lawson Carl Wilkinson Chris Kerr (No.8) Also Rode: Theo Pijper James Grieves 2008 team Fredrik Lindgren Niels Kristian Iversen David Howe Jesper B. Monberg Morten Risager Ludvig Lindgren Nicolai Klindt Chris Neath (No.8) Also Rode: Christian Hefenbrock Kenneth Hansen Aleš Dryml, Jr. 2009 team Peter Karlsson Fredrik Lindgren Tai Woffinden Adam Skórnicki Nicolai Klindt Hynek Stichauer Chris Kerr ‡ Ty Proctor ‡ Jesper Kristiansen (No.8) Also Rode: Joe Haines (No.8) † ‡Doubling-up between Premier and Elite League. †Sustained a neck injury during an individual event in May 2009. 2010 team Fredrik Lindgren Tai Woffinden Nicolai Klindt Joe Screen AS Ludvig Lindgren Tyron Proctor Joe Haines ‡ Chris Kerr ‡ Richard Lawson (No.8) Adam Skornicki Matthew Wethers ‡ ‡Doubling-up between Premier and Elite League. ASCovering for Adam Skornicki. 2011 team Fredrik Lindgren Tai Woffinden Peter Karlsson Tyron Proctor Ludvig Lindgren Ricky Wells Tyson Burmeister 2012 team Fredrik Lindgren Ty Proctor Nicolai Klindt Ricky Wells Tai Woffinden Pontus Aspgren Jacob Thorssell 2013 team Fredrik Lindgren Ty Proctor Ricky Wells Adam Skórnicki Tai Woffinden Ludvig Lindgren Jacob Thorssell 2014 team Piotr Pawlicki Jr. Tai Woffinden Jacob Thorssell Peter Karlsson Lasse Bjerre Ricky Wells Ty Proctor Ashley Morris Tom Perry Joe Jacobs 2015 team Fredrik Lindgren Jacob Thorssell Peter Karlsson Ricky Wells Tobiasz Musielak Josh Bates Lewis Blackbird 2016 team Fredrik Lindgren Jacob Thorssell Sam Masters Kyle Howarth Max Clegg Tai Woffinden Joonas Kylmakorpi Mikkel Bech 2017 team Fredrik Lindgren Jacob Thorssell Sam Masters Kyle Howarth Max Clegg Adam Skórnicki Nathan Greaves Rory Schlein Mark Riss 2018 team Jacob Thorssell Kyle Howarth Cameron Heeps Sam Masters Rory Schlein Max Clegg Nathan Greaves Ashley Morris 2019 team Jacob Thorssell Kyle Howarth Sam Masters Rory Schlein Luke Becker Ashley Morris Nick Morris Scott Nicholls (Cover for Jacob Thorssell) 2021 team Tom Bacon Luke Becker Leon Flint Ryan Douglas Sam Masters Nick Morris Broc Nicol Rory Schlein 2022 team [17] Luke Becker Ryan Douglas Drew Kemp Sam Masters (C) Nick Morris Steve Worrall Leon Flint (Rising Star) Joe Thompson (Number 8)

Notable riders

• Jim Airey
• James Bond
• Ronnie Correy
• Bruce Cribb
• Sam Ermolenko
• Andy Grahame
• Billy Hamill
• Dave Hemus
• George Hunter
• Norman Hunter
• Peter Jarman
• Jesper B. Jensen Monberg
• Mikael Karlsson Max
• Peter Karlsson
• Fredrik Lindgren
• Dave Morton
• Hans Nielsen
• Ole Olsen
• Nicki Pedersen
• Gary Peterson
• Peter Ravn
• Bobby Schwartz
• Dennis Sigalos
• Jan Staechmann
• Tommy Sweetman
• Finn Thomsen
• Graham Warren
• Tai Woffinden

Olympique

Main article: Wolverhampton Olympique

Wolves hosted the Olympique annually.

References

1. "Dirt Track Motorcycle Racing" . Evening Despatch. 28 May 1928. Retrieved 25 October 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
2. "1928 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
3. "1950 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
4. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
5. "Speedway Club out of League" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 May 1954. Retrieved 25 October 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
7. "1963 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
8. "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
9. "Midland Speedway Cup" . Leicester Daily Mercury. 10 October 1973. Retrieved 21 October 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "Speedway rider Gary Peterson killed" . Reading Evening Post. 18 October 1975. Retrieved 21 October 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "1991 league tables". Speedway GB. 3 March 2017.
12. "1991 Season Review". Cradley Speedway.
13. "1996 league tables". Speedway GB. 3 March 2017.
14. "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
15. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN   978-0-7524-4250-1.
16. "Wolves bow out at Monmore". British Speedway. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
17. "Wolverhampton Wolves Speedway: 2022 WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES". Wolverhampton Wolves.