Wolverhampton Wolves
Encyclopedia
The Wolverhampton Wolves are a British
Speedway
team based in Wolverhampton
, England
. They are sponsored by Parry's International Travel, and have signed a new deal with owner Dave Parry (previous speedway
rider for the Wolverhampton Wolves) for the 2008 season onwards. The team is managed by Peter Adams and the promoter of the club is Chris Van Straaten. They were the Sky Sports Elite League
Champions in 2002. The Wolverhmapton Wolves regained the Champion status in the 2009 season, beating the Swindon Robins
95-90 on aggregate in the 2009 play-offs.
, and after a brief flirtation with speedway, saw its last pre-war meeting in 1930. It was 20 years later that the sport
returned to the town.
During 1948 and the post-war optimism, record crowds were attending speedway events up and down the country. With towns keen to cash in on the boom, Wolverhampton's
stadium owners applied to the local council for a track to be re-built at the original site
. Australian Arthur Simcock set the ball rolling and was granted permission to promote speedway in Wolverhampton
and finally his dream came true on 14 October 1950. The first to test the new track were some visiting Norwich riders, enroute to a meeting. They declared themselves satisfied. Officially once again founded in 1951, known as the Wolverhampton Wasps, the racing keen fans saw a Wolverhampton team defeat Sheffield 58-26 (old 14-heat formula). With all parties happy, Wolverhampton were admitted into Division Three of the National League of the same year.
However the winter of 1952/3 was a tumultuous one for speedway in the Black Country
. Cradley Heath
had endured a tough season in the Second Division, but meanwhile Wolverhampton
had enjoyed a solid Third Division campaign. Due to the events at Cradley, a merger took place between the two promotions and saw a new formed team racing in the Second Division at Monmore Green. (Dudley Wood closed and didn't hear the roar of speedway bikes until 1959). Wolverhampton were pleased with this 'promotion' and saw the only meeting where supporters
had been 'locked out'. It was reported 12,000 fans turned up with many more scaling the walls. The first meeting against Stoke
in their new form saw the Potters demolished 52-32.
This was however short lived and the side was thumped home and away in the early part of the 1954 season. A decision was made by the promotion and in early May of the same year, Wolverhampton closed its doors to speedway. It wasn't until 1961 when the sport returned to the venue again. Since 1965 Wolverhampton have competed in the top tier of British speedway with the exception of 1981 (second tier) and 1982/3 (inactive). Today, they race in the Elite League
with a 15-heat formula.
‡ ‡
‡
‡ Doubling-up between Premier and Elite League.
AS Covering for Adam Skornicki.
----
Also Rode: (No.8) †
‡ Doubling-up between Premier and Elite League.
† Sustained a neck injury during an individual event in May 2009.
----
Also Rode:
----
Also Rode:
----
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team based in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They are sponsored by Parry's International Travel, and have signed a new deal with owner Dave Parry (previous speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider for the Wolverhampton Wolves) for the 2008 season onwards. The team is managed by Peter Adams and the promoter of the club is Chris Van Straaten. They were the Sky Sports Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
Champions in 2002. The Wolverhmapton Wolves regained the Champion status in the 2009 season, beating the Swindon Robins
Swindon Robins
The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League....
95-90 on aggregate in the 2009 play-offs.
History
The club was founded in 1928 racing at Monmore GreenMonmore Green
Monmore Green is an area of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is situated about one mile to the south-east of the city centre, in the East Park ward....
, and after a brief flirtation with speedway, saw its last pre-war meeting in 1930. It was 20 years later that the sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
returned to the town.
During 1948 and the post-war optimism, record crowds were attending speedway events up and down the country. With towns keen to cash in on the boom, Wolverhampton's
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
stadium owners applied to the local council for a track to be re-built at the original site
Monmore Green
Monmore Green is an area of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is situated about one mile to the south-east of the city centre, in the East Park ward....
. Australian Arthur Simcock set the ball rolling and was granted permission to promote speedway in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
and finally his dream came true on 14 October 1950. The first to test the new track were some visiting Norwich riders, enroute to a meeting. They declared themselves satisfied. Officially once again founded in 1951, known as the Wolverhampton Wasps, the racing keen fans saw a Wolverhampton team defeat Sheffield 58-26 (old 14-heat formula). With all parties happy, Wolverhampton were admitted into Division Three of the National League of the same year.
However the winter of 1952/3 was a tumultuous one for speedway in the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
. Cradley Heath
Cradley Heath
Cradley Heath is a town in the Black Country, located in Sandwell metropolitan borough, England. The name is usually pronounced "Craid-ley", not "Crad-ley", but in the Black Country accent, it may even sound like "Craig-ley Aith"...
had endured a tough season in the Second Division, but meanwhile Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
had enjoyed a solid Third Division campaign. Due to the events at Cradley, a merger took place between the two promotions and saw a new formed team racing in the Second Division at Monmore Green. (Dudley Wood closed and didn't hear the roar of speedway bikes until 1959). Wolverhampton were pleased with this 'promotion' and saw the only meeting where supporters
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
had been 'locked out'. It was reported 12,000 fans turned up with many more scaling the walls. The first meeting against Stoke
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters are a British Speedway team currently competing in the National League. The team races at Loomer Road Stadium.In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club was based in Sun Street in Hanley, and were originally known as the Hanley Potters when crowds of over 12,000...
in their new form saw the Potters demolished 52-32.
This was however short lived and the side was thumped home and away in the early part of the 1954 season. A decision was made by the promotion and in early May of the same year, Wolverhampton closed its doors to speedway. It wasn't until 1961 when the sport returned to the venue again. Since 1965 Wolverhampton have competed in the top tier of British speedway with the exception of 1981 (second tier) and 1982/3 (inactive). Today, they race in the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
with a 15-heat formula.
2010 Team
AS‡ ‡
‡
‡ Doubling-up between Premier and Elite League.
AS Covering for Adam Skornicki.
----
2009 Team
‡ ‡ (No.8)Also Rode: (No.8) †
‡ Doubling-up between Premier and Elite League.
† Sustained a neck injury during an individual event in May 2009.
----
2008 Team
(No.8)Also Rode:
----
2007 Team
(No.8)Also Rode:
----
2006 Team
Notable riders
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