Leicester Lions (speedway)

Infobox Speedway team
clubname = Leicester Lions


track = The Stadium
Blackbird Road
Leicester
country = England
founded = 1949
closed = 1983
manager =
captain =
league =
website = [http://www.leicester-speedway.co.uk/ Leicester Speedway]
colours = Red and Yellow
tracksize = 380 yards
track record time=
track record date=
track record holder=
teamhonour =None
teamyear = The Leicester Lions were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1983. [Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). "Homes of British Speedway". ISBN 0-7524-2210-3]

Track History

Hunters

Speedway started in 1930 when the track was known as Leicester Stadium. However, beset with problems, the track closed quickly. After World War Two, it was planned for Leicester speedway to open in 1948 but it was delayed for a year due to an appeal by local residents to the Town and Country Planning Committee over noise pollution. The team were originally nicknamed the Hunters and ran under that name until they closed in 1962. The team started in the National League Division Three the moved up over the years and operated in the top flight for some time until the end of 1961. In 1962 the Hunters raced in the Provincial League.

Speedway was also staged at a track known as Leicester Super in Melton Road.

Lions

Speedway returned in 1968, the team now nicknamed the Lions, when Reg Fearman and Ron Wilson moved in the Long Eaton team who had lost their home in 1967. Speedway continued until 1983 when the stadium was suddenly sold for housing development leaving the Lions homeless. Notable riders include Ken McKinlay, Ray Wilson, Anders Michanek, Dave Jessup, and John Boulger.

The Future

A group of fans from the Leicester Speedway Supporters Club are in discussions with various local bodies about the return of Speedway to the Leicester area.

References

External links

* [http://www.leicester-speedway.co.uk/ Leicester Speedway]
* [http://www.leicester-lions.co.uk/ Leicester Lions Speedway Scrapbook]
* [http://www.leicesterspeedway.co.uk/ Leicester Speedway News & History]
* [http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=132384&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232711&home=yes&more_nodeId1=132401&contentPK=18067801 Leicester Mercury - News of Lions £2m revival plan]