Smallbrook Stadium

Smallbrook Stadium
LocationAshey Road
Ryde
Isle of Wight PO33 4BH
Coordinates50°42′38″N 1°09′52″W / 50.71056°N 1.16444°W / 50.71056; -1.16444
Openedc.1990

Smallbrook Stadium is a multi-use sports venue on the east side of the Ashey Road, south of Ryde. It currently hosts two football teams and motorcycle speedway run by Island Speedway (Iow) Limited.

Football

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The ground hosts Ryde Saints, who play in the Isle of Wight leagues.[1] Newport (IOW) F.C. who play in the Wessex Football League played at the stadium from 2022 until 2023 and the defunct Ryde Sports F.C. also played at the stadium.[2]

Speedway

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A Scooter rally on the speedway track during 2017.

The venue was the home of the Isle of Wight Warriors, who competed in the British speedway leagues from 2009 until 2019.[3] In 2021, the club announced they would not be competing during the 2021 season[4] but various speedway challenge matches still take place at the stadium.[3]

History

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The stadium is named after the existing Smallbrook Heath.[5] In 1990, Ryde Sports F.C. moved into the newly built stadium and they were elected to the Wessex League that year.

In 1996, a 396 metres speedway track was built around the football pitch and the a team called Ryde Wight Wizards competed in the newly formed Conference League, under the co-promotion of Gareth Rogers.[6][7]

In January 2022, the stadium flooded due to a burst water main.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SMALLBROOK STADIUM". Football Ground Map. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Uncertain future for groundless Newport after Gold Cup defeat". Island Echo. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "2023 fixtures". Warriors Speedway. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Warriors withdraw from National League". Warriors Speedway. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sheet XCI". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  6. ^ "More variety for the Tigers". Cambridge Daily News. 15 March 1996. Retrieved 14 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Talk". Hull Daily Mail. 11 May 1996. Retrieved 14 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Burst water main causes Smallbrook stadium flood". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2023.