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{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = Wimbledon Dons
|clubname = Wimbledon Dons
|image = [[File:Wimbledon Dons Speedway logo AI generated.png|100px]]
|image = Captains Handshake.jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption =
⚫
|track = [[Wimbledon Stadium]]<br />Plough Lane<br />[[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]]<br />London
⚫
|caption = Wimbledon Dons captain Barry Briggs (centre) shaking hands with [[Oxford Rebels]] captain Gordon Kennett in 1975
⚫
|track = [[Wimbledon Stadium]]<br />Plough Lane<br />[[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]]<br />[[London]]
|country = England
|country = England
|founded = 1928
|founded = 1928
Line 32: Line 31:
}}
}}


The '''Wimbledon Dons''' were a professional [[motorcycle speedway]] team who operated from the [[Wimbledon Stadium]], Plough Lane in London.<ref>Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}</ref><ref>Jacobs, N. ''Speedway in London'', {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref>
The '''Wimbledon Dons''' were a professional [[motorcycle speedway]] team who operated from the [[Wimbledon Stadium]], Plough Lane in London from 1929 until 1991.<ref>Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}</ref><ref>Jacobs, N. ''Speedway in London'', {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref> The team were seven times champions of Britain.


== History ==
The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their reopening in 1946 there were 42,000 people in attendance with an estimated 10,000 more locked outside. The club were very successful at the highest level of British speedway during the 1950s and 1960s, and attracted numerous famous riders.
=== Origins ===
The speedway track opened at Wimbledon Stadium during the pioneer days of speedway in the United Kingdom on the Bank holiday of 26 May 1928 with an open meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1928record.pdf |title=1928 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> The stadium had been opened one year previous for greyhound racing and the speedway track was constructed inside the greyhound track.<ref>{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 90|year=1981|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=07207-1106-1}}</ref>


The Wimbledon Dons were founder members of the [[1929 Speedway Southern League]] and held their first home league fixture on 6 May against [[Birmingham Brummies|Birmingham Perry Barr]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003213/19290507/297/0015 |title=On the Speedway |website=Daily News (London) |date=7 May 1929 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref>
⚫
Having been defunct for eleven years, the team was reopened again in 2002 by Steve Ribbons & David Croucher in the [[Conference League (speedway)|Conference League]]<ref name="tel">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/speedway/3026991/Speedway-Rebirth-of-glory-club.html|title=Speedway: Rebirth of glory club|last=Findon|first=Ben|date=1 May 2002|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=1 October 2008}}</ref> but were forced to close in 2005, with Ian Perkin, Dingle Brown & Perry Attwood being joint owners of the club, when the stadium owners insisted on dramatically increasing the rent paid by the team to the stadium.<ref name="Almanac">.


=== 1930s ===
{{cite book
The Dons improved to a fourth place finish in 1930 and then finished 5th in 1931, struggling to match fellow London team, the [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] who dominated the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-29.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1929-1934 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=23 September 2024 }}</ref> Wimbledon signed some of the sports early stars, such as [[Jim Kempster]], [[Dicky Case]], [[Billy Lamont (speedway rider)|Billy Lamont]], [[Ray Tauscher]], [[Vic Huxley]] and [[Claude Rye]]. Wimbledon were founder members of the [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] in 1932 and achieved a runner-up spot behind [[Belle Vue Aces]] in the [[1933 Speedway National League]].
| last = Oakes
| first = P
| title = Speedway Star Almanac
| publisher = Pinegen Ltd
| date = 2006
| isbn = 0-9552376-1-0}}</ref>


Following a woeful 1937 season team changes were made, with [[Benny Kaufman]] being brought in to support fellow American [[Wilbur Lamoreaux]] and Australian [[Eric Collins (speedway rider)|Eric Collins]]. The changes helped the Dons secure the club's first silverware with a [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1938ntresults.pdf|title=1938 National Trophy|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref> and [[London Cup (speedway)|London Cup]] double.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway win for Wimbledon |work=Daily Herald |date=11 October 1938 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19381011/261/0016 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=16 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Wimbledon were competing for the 1939 title and won the 1939 London Cup,<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway Comedy in Dons Cup Win |work=Daily Herald |date=11 July 1939 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19390711/227/0013 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=16 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> but the season was suspended due to the outbreak of [[World War II|war]].
==Honours==


===National League===
=== 1940s ===
Wimbledon Stadium was closed during the Second World War but upon their reopening a record crowd of 28,000 attended<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19460420/093/0004 |title=Speedway results|website=Daily Herald |date=20 April 1946 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> and this was soon followed by new records, culminating in 42,000 with an estimated 10,000 more locked outside. Rider [[Norman Parker (speedway rider)|Norman Parker]] starred for the Dons, averaging over 10 in 1946 and 1947 and topping the Dons team averages every season from 1946 to 1949.<ref name=SRA>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>
⚫
Champions: [[1954 Speedway National League|1954]], [[1955 Speedway National League|1955]], [[1956 Speedway National League|1956]], [[1958 Speedway National League|1958]], [[1959 Speedway National League|1959]], [[1960 Speedway National League|1960]], [[1961 Speedway National League|1961]]


===National Trophy===
=== 1950s ===
{{gallery
⚫
Winners: [[1938 Speedway National League|1938]], [[1950 Speedway National League|1950]], [[1951 Speedway National League|1951]], [[1953 Speedway National League|1953]], [[1956 Speedway National League|1956]], [[1959 Speedway National League|1959]], [[1960 Speedway National League|1960]], [[1962 Speedway National League|1962]]
|width=160 | height=170
|align=right
|File:Barry Briggs.JPG
|Barry Briggs
|File:Ronnie Moore (cropped).jpg
|Ronnie Moore
}}
The 1950s began well with the Dons winning their second National Trophy. [[Alec Statham]], [[Cyril Brine]] and new signing [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]] also helped Wimbledon improve in the league. They repeated the success in 1951 but tragedy hit the 1952 season, when the Dons American rider [[Ernie Roccio]] was killed in a crash at [[West Ham Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Speed Track Star Dies |work=Western Daily Press |date=23 July 1952 |access-date=5 July 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19520723/040/0003| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>


After bouncing back with another National Trophy success in 1953, the team finally won the league title in 1954.<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}}</ref> Ronnie Moore and fellow New Zealanders, [[Geoff Mardon]] and [[Barry Briggs]] were almost unbeatable as a trio and despite losing Mardon in 1955 the Dons successfully defended their title.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-52.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1952-1957 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref> The golden era continued in 1956, as Wimbledon then achieved a third straight championship success and claimed the double by winning the National Trophy. Briggs, Ronnie Moore, [[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]], [[Ron How]] and Brine all contributed with significant averages.<ref name=SRA/>
===KO Cup (formerly National League Trophy)===
⚫
Winners: [[1968 British League season|1968]], [[1969 British League season|1969]], [[1970 British League season|1970]]


Wimbledon were the envy of the other clubs during the 1950s and would claim two more titles (the first of four in a row) in 1958 and 1959.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}</ref> Despite such success promoter Ronnie Greene struggled to make a profit because attendances had decreased by 1959.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004076/19590814/111/0007 |title=Because |website=Streatham News |date=14 August 1959 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>
===London Cup===
⚫
Winners: 1938, 1939, 1961, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985


===RAC Cup===
=== 1960s ===
The [[1960 Speedway National League]] was a second successive double season and in 1961 Wimbledon won a fourth consecutive league title. Ronnie Moore, Brine and How remained at the club and were being supported by riders such as [[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]], [[Gerry Jackson]] and [[Cyril Maidment]].
Winners: 1954

The 1961 title would be the last time that the Dons would win the league but the club would win a National Trophy (1962), a London Cup (1964) and two Knockout Cups, the new name for the National Trophy (1968, 1969). The Dons number 1 riders during the period included [[Göte Nordin]], [[Olle Nygren]] and [[Trevor Hedge]]. A major competition called the [[Wimbledon Internationale]] became a permanent fixture at the stadium from 1962.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004076/19620615/147/0011 |title=Fundin zips to victory |website=Streatham News |date=15 June 1962 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>

=== 1970s ===
⚫
[[File:Captains Handshake.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wimbledon Dons captain Barry Briggs (centre) shaking hands with [[Oxford Rebels]] captain Gordon Kennett in 1975]]
The 1970s began brightly with the team securing a Knockout Cup and London Cup double, in addition to a second place finish in the league behind [[Belle Vue Aces]]. After 34 years in charge, Promoter Ronnie Greene retired after the 1970 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19701020/211/0025 |title=Goodbye, Mr Wimbledon |website=Daily Mirror |date=20 October 1970 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>

Unfortunately, following the retirement of Moore, the club began to decline and the success of the late 50s and early 60s was long forgotten. The best finish was a 4th place finish in 1978 and London Cup wins were now little compensation due to the lack of speedway teams left in the capital. On the rider front Barry Briggs returned but was past his best and the dynamic Swede [[Tommy Jansson]] was killed in a crash in 1976.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19760522/364/0031 |title=Fundin to target for sad Dons |website=Daily Mirror |date=22 May 1976 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> Pole [[Edward Jancarz]] was brought in to replace Jansson in 1977 to support [[Larry Ross (speedway rider)|Larry Ross]] and [[Roger Johns]].
{{clear}}
=== 1980s ===
{{gallery
|width=160 | height=170
|align=right
|File:Edward Jancarz w barwach Wimbledon Dons.jpg
|Jancarz in Dons colours
|File:L Reg Luckhurst colourised.jpg
|Reg Luckhurst in Dons colours
}}
During the early 1980s Wimbledon found it hard to compete with the financial power of clubs such as [[Cradley Heath Heathens]], despite recruiting riders [[Malcolm Simmons (speedway rider)|Malcom Simmons]] and [[Dave Jessup]] and after the 1984 season the Dons dropped to the second tier National League for the first time in the club's history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19850115/026/0026 |title=Klatt ponders Tigers rise |website=Cambridge Daily News |date=15 January 1985 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>


Roger Johns returned to the club for 1985 and Zimbabwean [[Mike Ferreira]] signed up but Wimbledon failed to live up to their favourites tag finishing 4th. Similar seasons ensued before the team managed a runner-up spot in 1989 behind [[Poole Pirates]]. Riders claiming the number 1 spot included [[Kevin Jolly (speedway rider)|Kevin Jolly]], [[Ray Morton]] and [[Todd Wiltshire]].
⚫
===Britannia Shield===
Winner: 1959


===Gauntlet Spring Gold Cup===
=== 1990s ===
[[Andy Grahame]] won the [[British League Division Two Riders Championship|Riders' Championship]] as a Wimbledon rider in 1990 but the team could only finish 7th.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grahame's title |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=17 September 1990 |access-date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19900917/222/0023 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The following season in 1991, it was announced that the Dons would return to the top tier of British speedway. They retained Grahame and brought in a new team including former rider [[John Davis (speedway rider)|John Davis]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003772/19910320/015/0015 |title=General Round-up |website=Leatherhead Advertiser |date=20 March 1991 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> However, mid-way through the season attendance income failed to cover operating costs forcing co-promoter Don Scarff to relocate the team to Eastbourne.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002512/19910705/018/0018 |title=Dons say farewell to Wimbledon Stadium |website=Harrow Observer |date=5 July 1991 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>
Winners: 1979


===Conference Pairs Champions===
=== 2000s ===
⚫
Having been defunct for eleven years, the team was reopened again in 2002 by Steve Ribbons & David Croucher in the third tier [[Conference League (speedway)|Conference League]].<ref name="tel">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/speedway/3026991/Speedway-Rebirth-of-glory-club.html|title=Speedway: Rebirth of glory club|last=Findon|first=Ben|date=1 May 2002|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=1 October 2008}}</ref> The Dons ran for four seasons, culminating in the runner-up spot in the [[2005 Speedway Conference League]] and winning the [[List of United Kingdom Speedway Pairs champions|pairs]] for the second consecutive season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/2005fixtures.pdf |title=2005 fixtures & results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 July 2023}}</ref> However, afer the 2005 season, with Ian Perkin, Dingle Brown & Perry Attwood being joint promoters of the club, they were forced to close when Clive Feltham, the Managing Director of the stadium owners [[Greyhound Racing Association]] insisted on dramatically increasing the rent paid by the team to the stadium.<ref name="Almanac">{{cite book | last = Oakes| first = P| title = Speedway Star Almanac| publisher = Pinegen Ltd | date = 2006 | isbn = 0-9552376-1-0}}</ref>
Winners: 2004, 2005


==Notable riders==
== Notable riders ==
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Brine]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Brine]]}}
*{{player||New Zealand|[[Barry Briggs]]}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Barry Briggs]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Dicky Case]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Dicky Case]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Billy Dallison]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Billy Dallison]]}}
Line 81: Line 102:
*{{player||AUS|[[Vic Duggan]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Vic Duggan]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Andy Grahame]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Andy Grahame]]}}
⚫
*{{player||SCO|[[Bert Harkins]]}}
*{{player||NOR|[[Sverre Harrfeldt]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Oliver Hart (speedway rider)|Oliver Hart]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Oliver Hart (speedway rider)|Oliver Hart]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Trevor Hedge]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Trevor Hedge]]}}
Line 88: Line 107:
*{{player||AUS|[[Vic Huxley]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Vic Huxley]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Gerry Jackson]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Gerry Jackson]]}}
*{{player||Poland|[[Edward Jancarz]]}}
*{{player||POL|[[Edward Jancarz]]}}
*{{player||SWE|[[Tommy Jansson]]}}
*{{player||SWE|[[Tommy Jansson]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Dave Jessup]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Dave Jessup]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Roger Johns]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Roger Johns]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Gordon Kennett]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Kevin Jolly (speedway rider)|Kevin Jolly]]}}
⚫
*{{player||USA|[[Benny Kaufman]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Jim Kempster]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Jim Kempster]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Gus Kuhn]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Gus Kuhn]]}}
Line 99: Line 119:
*{{player||ENG|[[Reg Luckhurst]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Reg Luckhurst]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Maidment]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Maidment]]}}
*{{player||New Zealand|[[Geoff Mardon]]}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Geoff Mardon]]}}
*{{player||New Zealand|[[Ivan Mauger]]}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Ivan Mauger]]}}
*{{player||New Zealand|[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]]}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Ray Morton]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Ray Morton]]}}
*{{player||Finland|[[Kai Niemi]]}}
*{{player||Finland|[[Kai Niemi]]}}
Line 110: Line 131:
*{{player||ENG|[[Geoff Pymar]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Geoff Pymar]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Colin Richardson (speedway rider)|Colin Richardson]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Colin Richardson (speedway rider)|Colin Richardson]]}}
*{{player||New Zealand|[[Larry Ross (speedway rider)|Larry Ross]]}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Larry Ross (speedway rider)|Larry Ross]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Claude Rye]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Claude Rye]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Kelvin Tatum]]}}
*{{player||USA|[[Ray Tauscher]]}}
*{{player||USA|[[Ray Tauscher]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Roy Trigg]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Todd Wiltshire]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Todd Wiltshire]]}}
{{colend}}
{{colend}}


==Season summary==
== Season summary ==
{{collapse top}}
{{collapse top}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 252: Line 271:
{{collapse bottom}}
{{collapse bottom}}


==References==
== Honours ==
⚫
*National League champions: [[1954 Speedway National League|1954]], [[1955 Speedway National League|1955]], [[1956 Speedway National League|1956]], [[1958 Speedway National League|1958]], [[1959 Speedway National League|1959]], [[1960 Speedway National League|1960]], [[1961 Speedway National League|1961]]
⚫
*National Trophy winners: [[1938 Speedway National League|1938]], [[1950 Speedway National League|1950]], [[1951 Speedway National League|1951]], [[1953 Speedway National League|1953]], [[1956 Speedway National League|1956]], [[1959 Speedway National League|1959]], [[1960 Speedway National League|1960]], [[1962 Speedway National League|1962]]
⚫
*KO Cup winners: [[1968 British League season|1968]], [[1969 British League season|1969]], [[1970 British League season|1970]]
⚫
*London Cup winners: 1938, 1939, 1961, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985
*RAC Cup winners: 1954
⚫
*Britannia Shield winners: 1959
*Gauntlet Spring Gold Cup winners: 1979
*Conference Pairs champions: 2004, 2005

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


Latest revision as of 16:35, 15 October 2024

Wimbledon Dons
Club information
Track addressWimbledon Stadium
Plough Lane
Wimbledon
London
CountryEngland
Founded1928
Closed2005
Club facts
ColoursYellow Star on Red
Track size355 yards (325 m)
Major team honours
National League Champions1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
National Trophy Winners1938, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962
KO Cup Winners1968, 1969, 1970
London Cup Winners1938, 1939, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985
RAC Cup1954
Britannia Shield1959
Gauntlet Spring Gold Cup Winners1979

The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London from 1929 until 1991.[1][2] The team were seven times champions of Britain.

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]

The speedway track opened at Wimbledon Stadium during the pioneer days of speedway in the United Kingdom on the Bank holiday of 26 May 1928 with an open meeting.[3] The stadium had been opened one year previous for greyhound racing and the speedway track was constructed inside the greyhound track.[4]

The Wimbledon Dons were founder members of the 1929 Speedway Southern League and held their first home league fixture on 6 May against Birmingham Perry Barr.[5]

1930s

[edit]

The Dons improved to a fourth place finish in 1930 and then finished 5th in 1931, struggling to match fellow London team, the Wembley Lions who dominated the league.[6] Wimbledon signed some of the sports early stars, such as Jim Kempster, Dicky Case, Billy Lamont, Ray Tauscher, Vic Huxley and Claude Rye. Wimbledon were founder members of the National League in 1932 and achieved a runner-up spot behind Belle Vue Aces in the 1933 Speedway National League.

Following a woeful 1937 season team changes were made, with Benny Kaufman being brought in to support fellow American Wilbur Lamoreaux and Australian Eric Collins. The changes helped the Dons secure the club's first silverware with a National Trophy[7] and London Cup double.[8] Wimbledon were competing for the 1939 title and won the 1939 London Cup,[9] but the season was suspended due to the outbreak of war.

1940s

[edit]

Wimbledon Stadium was closed during the Second World War but upon their reopening a record crowd of 28,000 attended[10] and this was soon followed by new records, culminating in 42,000 with an estimated 10,000 more locked outside. Rider Norman Parker starred for the Dons, averaging over 10 in 1946 and 1947 and topping the Dons team averages every season from 1946 to 1949.[11]

1950s

[edit]
  • Barry Briggs
    Barry Briggs
  • Ronnie Moore
    Ronnie Moore

The 1950s began well with the Dons winning their second National Trophy. Alec Statham, Cyril Brine and new signing Ronnie Moore also helped Wimbledon improve in the league. They repeated the success in 1951 but tragedy hit the 1952 season, when the Dons American rider Ernie Roccio was killed in a crash at West Ham Stadium.[12]

After bouncing back with another National Trophy success in 1953, the team finally won the league title in 1954.[13] Ronnie Moore and fellow New Zealanders, Geoff Mardon and Barry Briggs were almost unbeatable as a trio and despite losing Mardon in 1955 the Dons successfully defended their title.[14] The golden era continued in 1956, as Wimbledon then achieved a third straight championship success and claimed the double by winning the National Trophy. Briggs, Ronnie Moore, Peter Moore, Ron How and Brine all contributed with significant averages.[11]

Wimbledon were the envy of the other clubs during the 1950s and would claim two more titles (the first of four in a row) in 1958 and 1959.[15] Despite such success promoter Ronnie Greene struggled to make a profit because attendances had decreased by 1959.[16]

1960s

[edit]

The 1960 Speedway National League was a second successive double season and in 1961 Wimbledon won a fourth consecutive league title. Ronnie Moore, Brine and How remained at the club and were being supported by riders such as Bob Andrews, Gerry Jackson and Cyril Maidment.

The 1961 title would be the last time that the Dons would win the league but the club would win a National Trophy (1962), a London Cup (1964) and two Knockout Cups, the new name for the National Trophy (1968, 1969). The Dons number 1 riders during the period included Göte Nordin, Olle Nygren and Trevor Hedge. A major competition called the Wimbledon Internationale became a permanent fixture at the stadium from 1962.[17]

1970s

[edit]
Wimbledon Dons captain Barry Briggs (centre) shaking hands with Oxford Rebels captain Gordon Kennett in 1975

The 1970s began brightly with the team securing a Knockout Cup and London Cup double, in addition to a second place finish in the league behind Belle Vue Aces. After 34 years in charge, Promoter Ronnie Greene retired after the 1970 season.[18]

Unfortunately, following the retirement of Moore, the club began to decline and the success of the late 50s and early 60s was long forgotten. The best finish was a 4th place finish in 1978 and London Cup wins were now little compensation due to the lack of speedway teams left in the capital. On the rider front Barry Briggs returned but was past his best and the dynamic Swede Tommy Jansson was killed in a crash in 1976.[19] Pole Edward Jancarz was brought in to replace Jansson in 1977 to support Larry Ross and Roger Johns.

1980s

[edit]
  • Jancarz in Dons colours
    Jancarz in Dons colours
  • Reg Luckhurst in Dons colours
    Reg Luckhurst in Dons colours

During the early 1980s Wimbledon found it hard to compete with the financial power of clubs such as Cradley Heath Heathens, despite recruiting riders Malcom Simmons and Dave Jessup and after the 1984 season the Dons dropped to the second tier National League for the first time in the club's history.[20]

Roger Johns returned to the club for 1985 and Zimbabwean Mike Ferreira signed up but Wimbledon failed to live up to their favourites tag finishing 4th. Similar seasons ensued before the team managed a runner-up spot in 1989 behind Poole Pirates. Riders claiming the number 1 spot included Kevin Jolly, Ray Morton and Todd Wiltshire.

1990s

[edit]

Andy Grahame won the Riders' Championship as a Wimbledon rider in 1990 but the team could only finish 7th.[21] The following season in 1991, it was announced that the Dons would return to the top tier of British speedway. They retained Grahame and brought in a new team including former rider John Davis.[22] However, mid-way through the season attendance income failed to cover operating costs forcing co-promoter Don Scarff to relocate the team to Eastbourne.[23]

2000s

[edit]

Having been defunct for eleven years, the team was reopened again in 2002 by Steve Ribbons & David Croucher in the third tier Conference League.[24] The Dons ran for four seasons, culminating in the runner-up spot in the 2005 Speedway Conference League and winning the pairs for the second consecutive season.[25] However, afer the 2005 season, with Ian Perkin, Dingle Brown & Perry Attwood being joint promoters of the club, they were forced to close when Clive Feltham, the Managing Director of the stadium owners Greyhound Racing Association insisted on dramatically increasing the rent paid by the team to the stadium.[26]

Notable riders

[edit]

Season summary

[edit]
Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1929 Speedway Southern League 11th
1930 Speedway Southern League 4th
1931 Speedway Southern League 5th
1932 Speedway National League 5th
1933 Speedway National League 2nd
1934 Speedway National League 5th
1935 Speedway National League 7th
1936 Speedway National League 4th
1937 Speedway National League 7th
1938 Speedway National League 4th National Trophy winner, London Cup
1939 Speedway National League 2nd+ London Cup
1946 Speedway National League 4th
1947 Speedway National League 3rd
1948 Speedway National League 6th
1949 Speedway National League 8th
1950 Speedway National League 3rd National Trophy winner
1951 Speedway National League 3rd National Trophy winner
1952 Speedway National League 5th
1953 Speedway National League 5th National Trophy winner
1954 Speedway National League 1st champions
1955 Speedway National League 1st champions
1956 Speedway National League 1st champions & National Trophy winner
1957 Speedway National League 3rd
1958 Speedway National League 1st champions
1959 Speedway National League 1st champions & National Trophy winner
1960 Speedway National League 1st champions & National Trophy winner
1961 Speedway National League 1st champions
1962 Speedway National League 2nd National Trophy winner
1963 Speedway National League 3rd
1964 Speedway National League 6th London Cup
1965 British League season 2nd
1966 British League season 4th
1967 British League season 11th
1968 British League season 9th Knockout Cup winners, London Cup
1969 British League season 3rd Knockout Cup winners, London Cup
1970 British League season 2nd Knockout Cup winners, London Cup
1971 British League season 10th
1972 British League season 13th
1973 British League season 12th
1974 British League season 8th London Cup
1975 British League season 9th London Cup
1976 British League season 16th
1977 British League season 9th
1978 British League season 4th London Cup
1979 British League season 9th
1980 British League season 13th London Cup
1981 British League season 16th
1982 British League season 11th
1983 British League season 6th London Cup
1984 British League season 7th
1985 National League season 4th London Cup
1986 National League season 6th
1987 National League season 7th
1988 National League season 4th
1989 National League season 2nd
1990 National League season 7th
1991 British League season N/A fixtures taken over by Eastbourne Eagles
2002 Speedway Conference League 11th
2003 Speedway Conference League 9th
2004 Speedway Conference League 7th
2005 Speedway Conference League 2nd

+2nd when league was suspended

Honours

[edit]
  • National League champions: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
  • National Trophy winners: 1938, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962
  • KO Cup winners: 1968, 1969, 1970
  • London Cup winners: 1938, 1939, 1961, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985
  • RAC Cup winners: 1954
  • Britannia Shield winners: 1959
  • Gauntlet Spring Gold Cup winners: 1979
  • Conference Pairs champions: 2004, 2005

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. ^ Jacobs, N. Speedway in London, ISBN 0-7524-2221-9
  3. ^ "1928 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 90. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  5. ^ "On the Speedway". Daily News (London). 7 May 1929. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Speedway Teams UK 1929-1934". Cyber Motorcycle. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ "1938 National Trophy" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Speedway win for Wimbledon". Daily Herald. 11 October 1938. Retrieved 16 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Speedway Comedy in Dons Cup Win". Daily Herald. 11 July 1939. Retrieved 16 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Speedway results". Daily Herald. 20 April 1946. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ a b "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Speed Track Star Dies". Western Daily Press. 23 July 1952. Retrieved 5 July 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 978-0904584509.
  14. ^ "Speedway Teams UK 1952-1957". Cyber Motorcycle. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  15. ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  16. ^ "Because". Streatham News. 14 August 1959. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Fundin zips to victory". Streatham News. 15 June 1962. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Goodbye, Mr Wimbledon". Daily Mirror. 20 October 1970. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "Fundin to target for sad Dons". Daily Mirror. 22 May 1976. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "Klatt ponders Tigers rise". Cambridge Daily News. 15 January 1985. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Grahame's title". Staffordshire Sentinel. 17 September 1990. Retrieved 22 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "General Round-up". Leatherhead Advertiser. 20 March 1991. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Dons say farewell to Wimbledon Stadium". Harrow Observer. 5 July 1991. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ Findon, Ben (1 May 2002). "Speedway: Rebirth of glory club". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  25. ^ "2005 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  26. ^ Oakes, P (2006). Speedway Star Almanac. Pinegen Ltd. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0.
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