Guest Donsking Posted September 2, 2006 (edited) I was having a conversation about speedway with a work colleague earlier today, and we got on to the subject of nicknames. This got me thinking about those teams that are now gone and seem to be hard to research, so I was wondering if it would be possible to pick the brains of the members of this forum and produce a list of those teams and nicknames that are now gone, but not necessarily forgotten. To begin: BOSTON BARRACUDAS NORWICH STARS MILDENHALL (FEN) TIGERS CANTERBURY CRUSADERS MILTON KEYNES KNIGHTS WEST HAM HAMMERS LIVERPOOL CHADS ROMFORD BOMBERS WIMBLEDON DONS WEMBLEY LIONS NEW CROSS RANGERS HACKNEY HAWKS OXFORD REBELS RAYLEIGH ROCKETS READING RACERS BRISTOL BULLDOGS EXETER FALCONS CRAYFORD KESTRELS (?) SOUTHAMPTON SAINTS I've included Oxford and Reading because they are the nicks as I remember them! Edited September 2, 2006 by Donsking Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Killer Cat from Mars 16 Posted September 2, 2006 Here's a few more: HARRINGAY RACERS / TIGERS / CANARIES. FLEETWOOD FLYERS / KNIGHTS. LEEDS LIONS ELLESMERE PORT GUNNERS WIGAN WARRIORS / PANTHERS. HASTINGS SAXONS CARDIFF DRAGONS NEWTON HEATH HEATHENS NOTTINGHAM LACEMEN SHELBOURNE TIGERS ROCHDALE HORNETS RINGWOOD TURFS LEA BRIDGE SAINTS / CUBS Those are a few off the top of my head, so to speak, hope they help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Third Man 2,217 Posted September 2, 2006 Doncaster Stallions / Dragons Castleford Kings Sheffield Tars Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AmberCelt 0 Posted September 2, 2006 Doncaster Stallions / DragonsCastleford Kings Sheffield Tars <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Neath Dragons Newport Dragons - bit of a cursed name (tip for any new team - say NO to Dragons!) Skegness Braves St Austell Gulls Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
south coast robin 0 Posted September 2, 2006 ALDERSHOT SHOTS/POPPIES BARROW BOMBERS/HAPPY FACES !!/FURNESS FLYERS/BLACKHAWKS BIRMINGHAM BRUMMIES BRADFORD BOOMERANGS/TUDORS/PANTHERS/NORTHERN/BARONS/DUKES BRAFIELD FLYING FOXES/BADGERS CALIFORNIA POPPIES COATBRIDGE MONARCHS/TIGERS COWDENBEATH LIONS CRADLEY HEATH HEATHENS/UNITED CRAYFORD HIGHWAYMEN/KESTRELS CREWE KINGS/LOCOS CRYSTAL PALACE GLAZIERS DONCASTER STALLIONS/DRAGONS HALIFAX DUKES SUNDERLAND SAINTS/STARS/GLADIATORS HULL ANGELS/VIKINGS STAMFORD BRIDGE PENSIONERS LEICESTER HUNTERS/LIONS LINLITHGOW LIGHTNING LIVERPOOL MERSEYSIDERS/EAGLES/PIRATES LONDON REBELS LONG EATON ARCHERS/RANGERS/OUTLAWS/INVADERS/ MIDDLESBORO' BEARS/TEESIDERS/TIGERS MOTHERWELL EAGLES NEATH WELSH DRAGONS NELSON ADMIRALS PAISLEY LIONS PRESTON ??? ST.AUSTELL PIXIES/BADGERS/GULLS/DRAGONS TRELAWNEY TIGERS SALFORD ??? SKEGNESS BRAVES SMALLFORD STAGS TAMWORTH HOUNDS/TAMMIES WALTHAMSTOW WOLVES WARRINGTON ??? WEST HAM BOMBERS WOMBWELL COLLIERS YARMOUTH BLOATERS CARMARTHEN DRAGONS OXFORD SILVER MACHINE There are also clubs that did not race in a league but just ran under an open licence i.e. Dublin Eagles Saints Tigers Lizods Falcons . It's a long sad list really . Hawk..who were Shelbourne Tigers ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobMcCaffery 2,752 Posted September 2, 2006 I'll tackle those from my time about in the sport. Sorry if some of these coincide with lists from others but I don't have time to cross-check, going roughly north to south: Motherwell Golden Eagles Newtongrange Saints Paisley Lions Coatbridge Monarchs/Tigers Barrow Happy Faces/Bombers/Blackhawks Workington Tigers Ashington Saints Sunderland Saints/Gladiators Middlesbrough Bears/Teessiders/Tigers Teesside Teessiders/Tigers Bradford Northern/Barons/Dukes Nelson Admirals Ellesmere Port Gunners Crewe Kings Halifax Dukes Castleford Kings Long Eaton Rangers/Invaders Nottingham Outlaws Scunthorpe Saints/Stags Chesterton Potters Boston Barracudas Norwich Stars Rye House Roosters/Red Devils Milton Keynes Kinights Leicester Lions Birmingham Brummies Cradley Heath Heathens Newport (no nickname - 1973-6) Exeter Falcons Weymouth Eagles/Wizards Southampton Saints Canterbury Crusaders Rochester Bombers Crayford Highwaymen/Budgies (sorry, Kestrels) Hackney Hawks/Kestrels West Ham Hammers/Bombers Romford Bombers Wimbledon Dons Wembley Lions White City Rebels I'm sure there are some glaring omissions but it's just off the top of the head. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Killer Cat from Mars 16 Posted September 2, 2006 Shelbourne Tigers rode in Dublin from 1950-54, 1961 and 1970-71. They rode open meetings at the Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium, still sometimes seen on Sky TV when the greyhounds are running. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shazzybird 10 Posted September 2, 2006 Rye House Roosters/Red Devils/INFRADEX ROCKETS <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donsking Posted September 2, 2006 (edited) BARROW HAPPY FACES !! STAMFORD BRIDGE PENSIONERS <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I knew this would throw up a few oddities, but who would seriously race as the Happy Faces? (race jacket = ) And did Stamford win league titles just to prove wrong what everyone would've naturally assumed?! White City Rebels I'm sure there are some glaring omissions but it's just off the top of the head. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for that one rmc, I thought I remembered a reformed White City wearing rebel flags turning up at Plough Lane at some point in the 70s, but have never found reference to them; was starting to think I was losing the plot! Were they based at Oxford? Edited September 2, 2006 by Donsking Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frigbo 524 Posted September 2, 2006 White City were based at..er White City funnily enough. They did take O*ford's place and most of the team in Div 1 in 1976. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crumpy 0 Posted September 2, 2006 I knew this would throw up a few oddities, but who would seriously race as the Happy Faces? (race jacket = ) And did Stamford win league titles just to prove wrong what everyone would've naturally assumed?! Thanks for that one rmc, I thought I remembered a reformed White City wearing rebel flags turning up at Plough Lane at some point in the 70s, but have never found reference to them; was starting to think I was losing the plot! Were they based at Oxford? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No of course not. White City Rebels raced at London White City Stadium from 1976 to 1978 winning the league in 1977. Oxford were potentially going to be homeless at the end of 1975 so the promotion moved the operation to White City. Oxford Stadium was saved and they carried on in the National League as the Cheetahs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AmberCelt 0 Posted September 2, 2006 Ashington Saints Thought it was Ashington Arrows? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobMcCaffery 2,752 Posted September 2, 2006 (edited) Barrow were called Happy Faces for one season, 1972. They had a sponsorship deal with Duckhams whose logo was a Q. With the smiley being newly in fashion then they put inside the Q - and the Happy Faces entered our sport. I think it was a late change from "Boys" - I seem to remember seeing an away programme with that name in it, just before they took over the West Ham place in the BL2. Yes, an open licence side did get away bookings back then. I expect I was wrong about Ashington. Did the team actually race? I remember an opening meeting in 72 but little more. Picking up on shazzybird's point about Infradex Rockets I didn't realise we were including sponsorships. If so we will need a larger forum. Edited September 2, 2006 by rmc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donsking Posted September 2, 2006 No of course not. White City Rebels raced at London White City Stadium from 1976 to 1978 winning the league in 1977. Oxford were potentially going to be homeless at the end of 1975 so the promotion moved the operation to White City. Oxford Stadium was saved and they carried on in the National League as the Cheetahs. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry, but I was only 10! Obviously I wasn't too far out with the Oxford connection though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shazzybird 10 Posted September 2, 2006 Picking up on shazzybird's point about Infradex Rockets I didn't realise we were including sponsorships. If so we will need a larger forum. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Rob was merely picking up on the fact you never mentioned Rockets Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
