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1950s
1950s
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=== 1940s ===
=== 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>{{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>
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>


=== 1950s ===
=== 1950s ===
The 1950s began well with the Dons winning their second National Trophy. [[Alec Statham]], [[Cyril Brine]] and new New Zealand 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 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>
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>
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 achived 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/>

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>


===1960s ===
===1960s ===
The [[1960 Speedway National League]] was a second successive double season and in 1961 Wimbledon won a fourth consecutive league title.


=== 1970s ====
=== 1970s ====
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*{{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]]}}

Revision as of 18:43, 25 September 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

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.[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

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

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

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 achived 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]

1960s

The 1960 Speedway National League was a second successive double season and in 1961 Wimbledon won a fourth consecutive league title.

1970s =

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

The club were very successful at the highest level of British speedway during the 1950s and 1960s, and attracted numerous famous riders.

Having been defunct for eleven years, the team was reopened again in 2002 by Steve Ribbons & David Croucher in the Conference League.[16] However, in 2005, 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.[17]

Honours

  • 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

Notable riders

Season summary

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

References

  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. ^ Findon, Ben (1 May 2002). "Speedway: Rebirth of glory club". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  17. ^ Oakes, P (2006). Speedway Star Almanac. Pinegen Ltd. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0.