Stoke Potters
| Stoke Potters | |||||||||||||
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| Club information | |||||||||||||
| Track address | Sun Street Stadium(1929–1963) Loomer Road Stadium(1973–2019) | ||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||
| Founded | 1929 | ||||||||||||
| Closed | 2019[1] | ||||||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||||||
| Colours | Red and White | ||||||||||||
| Track size | 312 metres (341 yd) | ||||||||||||
| Track record time | 60.5s | ||||||||||||
| Track record date | 8 August 2009, 26 September 2009 | ||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Ty Proctor, Steve Johnston | ||||||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||||||
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TheStoke Potterspreviously theHanley Potterswere a Britishspeedwayteam. As Hanley Potters they raced at theSun Street Stadiumfrom 1929 to 1963 and as Stoke, the team raced atLoomer Road StadiuminNewcastle-under-Lymefrom 1973 to 2019.[2]
History
[edit]Origins & 1920s
[edit]In March 1929, British Speedways Ltd agreed a season lease with Northern Greyhound Racers (Hanley) Ltd (the owners of the recently constructed Sun Street Stadium inHanley) for the introduction of speedway during 1929.[3]Hanley were named as inaugural members of the1929 Speedway English Dirt Track Leagueand hosted their first home league match against Burnley on 18 May.[4]However, they withdrew before the end of the season and their results were expunged.[5][6]
1930s
[edit]Ten years after the last appearance of speedway in Stoke, a team re-surfaced at the Sun Street stadium. The Stoke team with the nickname 'Potters' being used for the first time, joined the1939 Speedway National League Division Two,under the promotion of the stadium owners.[7]Unfortunately once again the team failed to end the season, withdrawing in early July 1939.
1940s
[edit]Following an eight year absence, the speedway returned on 8 May 1947[8]and the Hanley Potters finally completed a campaign, finishing 6th in the eight team third division.[9]Just two years later in 1949, Hanley won the double ofNational League Division ThreeandDiv 3 National Trophy.[10][11][12]The Potters were led by riders such as Vic Pitcher, Les Jenkins andKen Adamsand the club attracted crowds of over 12,000.
1950s
[edit]Hanley struggled in the second division during 1950 before returning to division 3 in 1951. The team raced as Stoke instead of Hanley during the years 1952 and 1953, which saw a poor run of results.[13]The promoters Miles and Galloway subsequently closed the team down, continuing the trend of the club's history of being unable to compete in league speedway on a regular basis.
1960s
[edit]With the creation of theProvincial Leaguein 1960, the Potters returned under the promotion ofReg Fearmanand Mike Parker.[14]Fearman also rode for the club and Ken Adams returned during a period when Stoke enjoyed a solid four year spell from 1960 to 1963, culminating with the runner-up position behindWolverhampton Wolvesin 1963. RidersColin PrattandPeter Jarmanstarred in 1963.[15]
However, the Sun Street track closed in 1963, because the greyhound stadium owners sold the site to a garage business[16]and the speedway was shut down for the fourth time in club's history.
1970s
[edit]
In late 1971, Midlands' businessman Russell Bragg applied for and received planning permission from the Newcastle Borough Council for the construction of a newLoomer Road Stadiumin Chesterton, at a cost of £200,000.[17][18][19]The first speedway match at the track took place on 11 April 1973 in front of 6,500 supporters.[20]The team were known as theChesterton Pottersfor the 1973 season.[21]
The club finally experienced continuity and would feature in the National League for a prolonged period. The 1970s saw contrasting fortunes for the Potters and number one riders includedMike Broadbank,Alan Molyneux,Les CollinsandIan Gledhill,the latter winning the1979 Riders' Championship.[22]
1980s
[edit]
The Potters struggled in the league from 1980 to 1983 but finished 3rd in 1984 after signing Nigel Crabtree andPaul Thorpto supportTom Owen.Crabtree and Owen went on to win theNational League Pairsheld atHackney Wick Stadiumon 30 June.[23][24]
The remainder of the decade resulted in much improved seasons, with the Potters competing well. Successes included Paul Thorp winning the 1986 Riders' Championship,Graham JonesandSteve Bastablewinning the 1988 National League Pairs[25][26]and Crabtree andEric Monaghanwinning the 1989 Pairs.[27]
1990s
[edit]The 1990s began well with the Potters team of Monaghan, Crabtree,Louis Carrand Chris Cobby, claiming theFours championshipfinal, held at theEast of England Showgroundon 22 July.[28]
After two more seasons in the second division from 1991 to 1992, the Potters folded after promoter Dave Tattum failed to gain funding for the 1993 season.[29]The team rejoined the third tier in 1994.
In 1996, the team rode as the Cradley & Stoke Heathens in the merged top division called thePremier League.Cradley Heath had been displaced from their base atDudley Wood Stadium.[11]From 1997 to 1999, Stoke raced as a single club and returned to the second tier, which retained the Premier League name.
2000s
[edit]The new millennium started a full decade of Premier League speedway, with the Potters reaching a best position of fourth in 2004. However, the decade was underwhelming with the team failing to achieve any notable success.
2010s
[edit]In November 2010, a major decision was taken by the club's promotion. The team withdrew from Premier League racing to drop a division and compete in the National League, speedway's third tier.[30]The club had been struggling financially for the last couple of seasons and the move was made in order to stabilise finances.
The2011 seasonsaw the club top the National League table by seven points[31]but injuries struck key riders and Stoke were beaten in the play-off semi finals. Some consolation was taken when Tim Webster andSimon Lambertwon theNational League Pairs Championship.From 2012 to 2018, the Potters continued to race in the National League[32]andBen WilsonandJon Armstrongwon the 2014 Pairs Championship.[33][34]
The2019 seasonended with the Potters winning the fours championship at Loomer Road[35]but it would be the last speedway season at Loomer Road because the site was sold, the team disbanded after the season and the stadium was demolished during June 2022.[36][37]
Season summary
[edit]Season summary (juniors)
[edit]Extended content
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Notable riders
[edit]
Previous seasons (riders)
[edit]Extended content
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2010 team
2009 team 2008 team Also Rode: 2007 team Also Rode
2006 team
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References
[edit]- ^"FINAL CALL FOR POTTERS - British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved23 December2019.
- ^Bamford, R & Jarvis, J.(2001).Homes of British Speedway.ISBN0-7524-2210-3
- ^"Dirt Track Racing in Hanley".Staffordshire Sentinel.18 March 1929.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"1929 results"(PDF).Speedway Researcher.Retrieved7 June2024.
- ^"BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)".Official British Speedway website.Retrieved16 August2021.
- ^"Stoke Speedway Hanley".Defunct Speedway.Retrieved18 August2021.
- ^"Potteries Speedway Plans".Staffordshire Sentinel.2 February 1939.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Hanley Speedway Thrills and Spills".Staffordshire Sentinel.9 May 1947.Retrieved15 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"1946 to 1951".Cyber Morotcycles.Retrieved7 June2024.
- ^"Year by Year".Speedway Researcher.Retrieved18 August2021.
- ^ab"Official Stoke Potters Speedway: BRIEF HISTORY OF STOKE SPEEDWAY".stoke-speedway.Retrieved23 December2019.
- ^"BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)".Official British Speedway website.Retrieved16 August2021.
- ^Oakes, Peter (1981).1981 Speedway Yearbook.Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.ISBN0-86215-017-5.
- ^"Speedway".Staffordshire Sentinel.19 January 1960.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Rider averages 1929 to 2009"(PDF).Speedway Researcher.Retrieved7 June2024.
- ^Barnes, Julia (1988).Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File.Ringpress Books. p. 423.ISBN0-948955-15-5.
- ^"Wembley of North plan for Chesterton speedway track".Staffordshire Sentinel.3 January 1972.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Promoters veto Stoke speedway".Wolverhampton Express and Star.17 January 1972.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Newest short-circuit motor racing track".Staffordshire Sentinel.10 February 1973.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Chesterton aim at an opening win".Staffordshire Sentinel.11 April 1973.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^Rogers, Martin (1978).The Illustrated History of Speedway.Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129.ISBN0-904584-45-3.
- ^"Outlaw's Crash".Derby Daily Telegraph.1 October 1979.Retrieved20 June2023– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"1984 fixture list"(PDF).Speedway Researcher.Retrieved24 May2023.
- ^"Stoke stars take title".Sunday Sun (Newcastle).1 July 1984.Retrieved24 May2023– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"1988 fixtures"(PDF).Speedway Researcher.Retrieved25 May2023.
- ^"Stokespeedway pair triumph".Staffordshire Sentinel.24 August 1988.Retrieved25 May2023– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^Oakes, Peter (1990).Speedway Yearbook 1990.Front Page Books. p. 59.ISBN0-948882-15-8.
- ^"Potters capture fours title for the first time".Staffordshire Sentinel.6 August 1990.Retrieved8 May2023– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Speedway rider dies after crash in race".Cambridge Daily News.5 February 1993.Retrieved7 June2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"POTTERS JOIN NL - British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved23 December2019.
- ^"British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved23 December2019.
- ^"British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved23 December2019.
- ^"STOKE CROWNED NL FOURS CHAMPIONS - British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved23 December2019.
- ^"National League Pairs"(PDF).British Speedway.Retrieved2 July2023.
- ^"Potters' Fours Glory".Speedway GB. 14 July 2019.
- ^"Stoke Speedway to close after 90 years following stadium sale".stokesentinel.co.uk.The Sentinel.
- ^"Developers demolish abandoned Stoke Speedway stadium to leave it looking like this".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved7 June2024.
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