French
DeutschPreston (speedway)
| Preston | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club information | |||
| Track address | Farringdon Park New Hall Lane Preston Lancashire. | ||
| Country | England | ||
| Founded | 1929 | ||
| Closed | 1932 | ||
| League | English Dirt Track League Northern League | ||
| Major team honours | |||
| |||
Preston were a British speedway team that existed from 1929 to 1932 and raced at Farringdon Park.
History
[edit]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
[edit]Season summary
[edit]| Year and league | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League | 2nd | |
| 1930 Speedway Northern League | 4th | |
| 1931 Speedway Northern League | 5th |
References
[edit]- ^ "Rugby Union". Lancashire Evening Post. 19 September 1924. Retrieved 27 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Club History 1900 – 1930". PGRF. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "New Companies registered". Liverpool Daily Post. 5 February 1929. Retrieved 27 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Fast and furious world of Preston's speedway racers". Lancashire Post. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Preston Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "A fatal track ride". Morecambe Guardian. 18 May 1929. Retrieved 27 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Dirt Track Rider Dies". Leicester Evening Mail. 19 August 1929. Retrieved 31 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Speedway rider killed". Daily Herald. 25 July 1930. Retrieved 1 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
- ^ "Preston Speedways Ltd". Lancashire Evening Post. 16 December 1930. Retrieved 1 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1900 – 1930". PGRF. Retrieved 16 August 2021.