The Stamford Bridge Pensioners were a

speedway Speedway may refer to: Racing Race tracks *Daytona International Speedway, a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida. *Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, a former motor raceway in Edmonton, Alberta. *Indianapolis Motor Spe ...

team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1932.Bamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) ''Speedway - The Pre War Years'', Stroud: Tempus Publishing.

History

In 1928 the new sport known as dirt track arrived from Australia and a speedway track was constructed around the football pitch at the

Stamford Bridge Stadium Stamford Bridge () is a football stadium in Fulham, in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, in South West (London sub region), South West London. It is the home of Premier League club Chelsea F.C., Chelsea. With a capacity of 40,173, it is t ...

, home to Chelsea F.C. The first fixture was held on 5 May 1928. The following year a team was created known as the Stamford Bridge Pensioners. The team were one of the pioneers of British speedway, entering and winning the inaugural Southern League championship in 1929.Jacobs, N. (2003) ''Speedway in London'', Tempus Publishing Ltd. The track was made from black cinders and was also used as an athletics track, and after speedway finished it was used as a

greyhound racing Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around an oval track. The sport originates from Hare coursing, coursing. Track racing uses an artificial lure (usually a form of windsock) that travels ahead of th ...

track. The team became the first champions of the United Kingdom when they won the 1929 Speedway Southern League, alongside Leeds Lions who won the Northern League. The league winning team included their captain Gus Kuhn, one of the early stars. Four seasons of league speedway were held with riders such as Frank Arthur, Arthur Warwick, Dick Smythe and Wal Phillips impressing. The team disbanded after the 1932 Speedway National League season, when a greyhound racing track replaced it due to the profits being established by the totalisator takings at greyhound tracks.

History

Notable riders

Season summary

References