Ellesmere Port Gunners

Ellesmere Port Gunners were an English speedway team in Ellesmere Port, Wirral, which operated at the Ellesmere Port Stadium from 1972 until their closure in 1985.[1]

Ellesmere Port Gunners
Club information
Track addressEllesmere Port Stadium
Thornton Road
Ellesmere Port
Wirral
CountryEngland
Founded1972
Closed1985
Team managerIan Thomas, Joe Shaw
Team captainSteve Finch
John Jackson
Eric Monaghan
LeagueBritish League Division Two
National League
Club facts
ColoursRed and Yellow
Track size389 metres (425 yd)
Major team honours
National League Champions1985
National League Best Pairs Champions1976, 1978, 1985
National League Fours Champions1979

History

The inaugural league season for the team was during the 1972 British League Division Two season in which they finished in 15th place.[2] The first track record on the 424 yard track was 76.0 seconds, set by John Jackson on 2 May 1972. The team continued to operate from 1972 until 1982 continuously competing in Division Two for 11 years, with a best place finish of 2nd in 1976.[3]

A rider died on the Ellesmere Port track on 3 December 1977. Stuart Shirley lost his life on a Saturday morning training school after a collision.[4]

The club was resurrected for one season in 1985 and went on to win the title during the 1985 National League season. They won the title after beating Poole Pirates and Middlesbrough Tigers by just one point. The team also reached the final of the Knockout Cup but lost to Eastbourne Eagles.[5] The eventual track record went twice on the same night during the Knock-Out Cup Final 1st-leg. Gordon Kennett of Eastbourne clocked 69.2 only to be beaten by The Gunners Louis Carr in the very next heat with a time of 69.1.[6]

The speedway track was replaced by a greyhound racing track in late 1987.[7]

Notable riders

[8]

Season summary

References
  1. Bamford, Robert (20 June 2008). Homes of British Speedway. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3.
  2. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  3. "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. "Fatal crash". Sunday Mirror. 4 December 1977. Retrieved 1 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. "Ellesmere Port Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  8. "Ellesmere Port". wwosbackup. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
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