Berwick Bandits

Berwick Bandits are a speedway team based at Shielfield Park, Berwick upon Tweed, the club competes in the British SGB Championship.[1][2]

Berwick Bandits
Club information
Track addressShielfield Park
Tweedmouth
Berwick-On-Tweed
CountryEngland
Founded1968 (1968)
Team managerScott Courtney
Team captainAaron Summers
LeagueSGB Championship
Websitewww.berwickspeedway.com
Club facts
ColoursBlack and Gold
Track size368 metres (402 yd)
Track record time62.8 seconds
Track record date15 August 2015
Track record holderCraig Cook
Current team
Rider CMA
Aaron Summers 7.51
Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 7.46
Jye Etheridge 6.84
Dany Gappmaier 6.32
Fernando Garcia 4.95
Kyle Bickley 3.70
Leon Flint 3.33
Total 40.11
Major team honours
National League KO Cup Winners1980, 1989
Div 1 Gold Cup winners1991
Conference League1994, 1995
Premier Four-Team Championship2002, 2012
Conference League KO Cup Winners1995

History

Berwick have been operational in consecutive seasons from 1968 through to the present day. For such a small club, Berwick have had relative success. They were Division 2 Knock-out cup winners in 1980 and 1989, and The Gold Cup, in their only top flight season in 1991 whilst owned by Entrepreneur Terry Lindon. To add to this there were two national league riders championships for Wayne Brown (1980), Steve McDerrmott (1983) and a CRC win for Nick Morris in 2017.

In 1980 Berwick left Shielfield Park after a disagreement with the landlords Berwick Rangers FC. They raced their remaining fixtures as 'Nomads' including racing the second leg of the KO cup final at Brough Park Newcastle.

In 1981 the Bandits were still homeless and carried on riding home fixtures at Barrow, Workington and Glasgow before being forced to quit NL racing after a protest from Edinburgh boss Mike Parker. The Bandits were, however, allowed to defend their KO Cup, reaching the final against Edinburgh, which the Monarchs won.

Between 1982 and 1995, Berwick Bandits were based at the Berrington Lough track near Ancroft, Northumberland. The last meeting staged at Berrington Lough was the Academy League KO Cup Final 1st Leg v Stoke Potters on the 21st of October 1995; the final race was won by Glyn Taylor after Kevin Little's bike packed up whilst leading.

On 9 July 1995, bikes returned to Shielfield Park for the first time in 15 years so that council officials could carry out noise tests, and on 17 August 1996, the Bandits returned to Shielfield Park for their second spell at the Tweedmouth track.

Berwick won the Premier League Four-Team Championship in 2002. In 2005, Berwick enjoyed one of their most successful seasons ever; they were 2nd in the Premier League, semi-finalists of the Knock-out cup, semi-finalists of the Young Shield and had a series of impressive away wins, the highlight being the 53-38 away win over the Exeter Falcons.[3] In 2008, the Bandits made the final of the Young Shield, losing out to Workington Comets in what turned out to be promoter Peter Waite's last meeting in charge.

In 2009, a new promotion came in, spearheaded by longtime supporter and North Berwick butcher John Anderson, with Cornhill shopkeeper Linda Waite (no relation to Peter) joining John and his sons.

On 26 July 2010, the Berwick promotion announced that there had been a change in ownership. Lynda Waite stepped down from her role to concentrate on the family business at Cornhill Village Shop, but she stated that she would be proud to sponsor the 2010 Bordernapolis event so that her link with Berwick speedway would continue. After her departure, John Anderson announced the new investor was George Hepburn, owner of Berwick building contractor George Hepburn and Son Ltd., a long-term supporter of the Bandits and sponsor of rider Lee Complin. Following the announcement of George Hepburn's investment, it was then announced that Dave Peet (team manager, late-2008 to mid-2010) had departed from the club and had been replaced by the track curator and staff manager Ian Rae. Rae's association with speedway in Berwick-upon-Tweed extended back to his role as stadium manager at their Berrington Lough Stadium, followed by several years – up until 2001 – as team manager.

Berwick won the Premier League Four-Team Championship for a second time in 2012.

In 2015, the Bandits owner John Anderson announced mid-season, amid a run of poor results[4] and dwindling attendances, that it was time for new blood to come aboard, either in the form of a takeover, or by an input of new ideas and capital investment.[5] The other option available was the closure of the club and the liquidation of the club's assets. After some months of apparent inactivity and inertia, three new associate directors came aboard, and the Bandits declared their intention to continue in advance of the Speedway Promoters Annual Meeting. The Associate Directors were a trio of Berwick-based businessmen, with successful enterprises and connections in the Berwick community, something that had been identified as a weakness in the previous management structure. The trio consisted of Michael Mullan of Castle Blinds, Dennis Hush of Ideal Carpets, and property investor Darren Amers.

In August 2016 it was announced that the trio of Hush, Mullan and Amers had resigned their positions citing the incumbent owner's reluctance to change. On 4 September 2016, Berwick Speedway issued a statement from Bandits promoter and owner John Anderson, on behalf of his fellow directors Ryan Anderson and George Hepburn, that the 2016 season was to be their last in charge and the club was up for sale as a going concern and they were ready to talk to interested parties.[6] On 21 October 2016, the club announced it had new owners: 2016 team manager Scott Courtney, his younger Brother Jamie Courtney and 1992 World Champion Gary Havelock.[7][8] In January 2018, it was revealed in Companies House returns that Havelock had left the club, and was no longer a director, and on 5 November 2018, a statement was issued saying that Scott and Jamie Courtney were putting the club up for sale. However, on 19 November 2018, Jamie Courtney announced the club would run in 2019. Scott Courtney took a 'back-seat role' in the club, leaving his brother Jamie, along with new co-promoters Gary Flint and Steven Dews. Dennis McCleary, who was co-promoter with Scott Courtney, stepped down from his role for the 2019 season.

In 2019, Berwick narrowly missed out on a play-off spot for the second season running.[9]

Riders

2019 team

Previous seasons
Extended content

2016 team

also rode

2015 team

Also rode

2014 team

Also rode

2013 team

Also rode

2012 team

Also rode

2011 team

Also Rode

2010 team

Also Rode

2009 team

Also rode

2008 team

Also Rode:

2007 team

Also rode

2006 team

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References
  1. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway.ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. Berwick Advertiser
  3. Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0
  4. "BANDITS ISSUE APOLOGY - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  5. "BANDITS CLARIFY FUTURE - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  6. "BANDITS FOR SALE - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  7. "BANDITS FIGHT ON - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  8. "BANDITS BACKING NEW PLANS - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  9. "British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
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