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Wembley Lions (speedway)
Encyclopedia
The Wembley Lions were a motorcycle speedway
team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. Their track was located at Wembley Stadium, London
.
The original stadium which hosted speedway has been redeveloped.
which they won at the first attempt. The Lions continued to compete in the National League until the outbreak of World War II
.
, the chairman of Wembley Stadium.
Many of the Wembley "home" meetings in 1948 were staged at Wimbledon as the Empire Stadium was used for the Olympic Games.
. Promoters Trevor Redmond
and Bernard Cottrell bought their licence and the contracts of some of the riders from the Edinburgh Monarchs
promoter Ian Hoskins who was operating at Coatbridge. The Lions only managed to stay in operation for two seasons due to the stadium not being able to support speedway at all times due to commitments to other events being held there.
continuously from 1936 to 1938 and then when it was re-introduced after World War II from 1949 to 1960. It went on to stage the championship a further nine times before its last appearance at Wembley in 1981. Lions riders won in 1936 (Lionel Van Praag), 1949 (Tommy Price), and 1950 and 1953 (Freddie Williams).
Wembley also hosted the British Riders' Championships Finals 1946 to 1948.
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 which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. Their track was located at Wembley Stadium, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The original stadium which hosted speedway has been redeveloped.
Pre-war
After opening in 1929, the Lions joined the Southern League, winning it in 1930 and 1931. The 1932 season saw them join the National LeagueSpeedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
which they won at the first attempt. The Lions continued to compete in the National League until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
1946-1957
After the war Wembley continued in the National League, winning the title in the opening season in 1946. The following season they retained their title. The Lions operated until the end of the 1956 season, winning the title a further five times (successive titles between 1949 and 1953) but in 1957 they withdrew from the league before the season started due to the death of Sir Arthur ElvinArthur Elvin
Sir Arthur Elvin MBE left school at the age of fourteen. After a few different jobs joined the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Elvin was shot down over France and was a prisoner of war for two years...
, the chairman of Wembley Stadium.
Many of the Wembley "home" meetings in 1948 were staged at Wimbledon as the Empire Stadium was used for the Olympic Games.
1970-1971
In 1970, Wembley speedway returned, entering the British LeagueSpeedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
. Promoters Trevor Redmond
Trevor Redmond
Trevor Redmond - died 1997) was a speedway rider who mainly rode for the Aldershot Shots, and the Wembley Lions. Redmond also opened a speedway track in Neath, Wales in 1962.-Rider:...
and Bernard Cottrell bought their licence and the contracts of some of the riders from the Edinburgh Monarchs
Edinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
promoter Ian Hoskins who was operating at Coatbridge. The Lions only managed to stay in operation for two seasons due to the stadium not being able to support speedway at all times due to commitments to other events being held there.
Big Events
Wembley staged the Speedway World Championship FinalSpeedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
continuously from 1936 to 1938 and then when it was re-introduced after World War II from 1949 to 1960. It went on to stage the championship a further nine times before its last appearance at Wembley in 1981. Lions riders won in 1936 (Lionel Van Praag), 1949 (Tommy Price), and 1950 and 1953 (Freddie Williams).
Wembley also hosted the British Riders' Championships Finals 1946 to 1948.