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
LeagueNational League (II)
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 team operated from 1972 until 1982 continuously. The club was resurrected for one season in 1985 and went on to win the National League Championship.[2] The speedway track was replaced by a greyhound racing track in late 1987.[3]

The first track record on the 424 yard track was 76.0 seconds, set by John Jackson on 2 May 1972. The eventual track record went twice on the same night during the Knock-Out Cup Final 1st-leg in 1985. Gordon Kennett of Eastbourne Eagles clocked 69.2 only to be beaten by The Gunners Louis Carr in the very next heat with a time of 69.1.

Riders

Riders from the 1970s included Paul Tyrer, Robbie Gardener, Wayne Hughes, Colin Goad, Barry Booth, Graham Drury, John Jackson, Gerald Smitherman, Geoff Pusey, Steve Finch, Chris Turner, Ian Gills, Roger Austin, Duncan Meredeth, Steve Taylor, Steve Casey, Nigel Wasley, Chris Morton, Louis Carr, Peter Carr, Phil Collins, Neil Collins, Eric Monahan, Pete Ellams, Paul Embley, Robert Craven, as well as Paul O'Neil from New Zealand and Cliff Anderson from Australia,

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 with Kenny Carter.

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References
  1. Bamford, Robert (20 June 2008). Homes of British Speedway. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3.
  2. "Ellesmere Port Speedway". Defunct Speedway Tracks.
  3. Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.


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