Peterborough Panthers

History

Origins and 1970s

Speedway in Peterborough began in 1970, following a failed attempt to race at the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium and a subsequent successful application by Allied Presentations (headed by Maurice Littlechild) to race at the East of England Showground. Despite receiving a licence, the team were initially refused entry to the league by the Speedway Control Board but then replaced Plymouth Devils for their inaugural season in the 1970 British League Division Two. The Panthers finished in 10th place.

The Panthers remained in division 2 (the National League from 1975) and recorded a best placing of third in 1972, headed by riders Richard Greer and John Davis. The next significant moment was winning the first silverware, after securing consecutive Fours championships in 1977 and 1978. Only Nigel Flatman appeared in both of the fours finals.

1980s

The Panthers continued in the National League during the 1980s, but the decade was one of mediocrity with a highest placing of 5th in 1987. The highlight of the decade was winning two more fours championships in 1988 and 1989. Three riders, Ian Barney, Craig Hodgson and Mick Poole rode in both.

1990s

|File:Brian Clark.jpg |Brian Clark rode for the Panthers for ten years |File:Jason Crump01.jpg |Jason Crump helped the Panthers win their first league title in 1992

After signing Australian's Jason Crump and Stephen Davies to join fellow Aussie Mick Poole, the club's first major success arrived during the 1992 British League Division Two season. The Panthers won the league and cup double in addition to the fours.

Following 25 consecutive years in the second tier, the Panthers joined the newly merged 1995 Premier League speedway season, meaning that the Panthers competed in the top division for the first time in their history. However, the team dropped down a division in 1998, which brought immediate success, winning the league, pairs and fours. The following season they went up to the Elite League (Div 1) and completely rebuilt their team for the season. They brought in three Australians, the returning Jason Crump from Oxford, Ryan Sullivan from Poole and Craig Watson from Newport, in addition to recalling Zdeněk Tesař. Peterborough pipped Poole by one point and beat them in the cup final to achieve the league and cup double and the Craven Shield win. Crump won the Riders' Championship and topped the averages.

2000s

Another Knockout Cup was added to the trophy cabinet in 2001 and the team won the league title during the 2006 Elite League speedway season. Peterborough and Reading battled each other throughout the season finishing level on points in the regular season table before Peterborough edged Reading in the play off final. Peterborough had a strong all round squad and included Danish trio of Hans Andersen, Jesper Jensen and Niels Kristian Iversen, in addition to Australian Ryan Sullivan.

2010s

The team continued to compete in the highest league despite problems leading up to the 2011 season. Following changes to the rules for rider averages made at the AGM of the BSPA, the Panthers and Coventry Bees walked out of the meeting.{{cite news

The team had a record Elite League victory on 23 August 2013, beating Coventry Bees by 70 points to 20 The Panthers dropped to the second division from 2014 to 2018 but won the 2017 division 2 Knockout Cup and fours during the period. In 2019, the team rejoined the highest league called the SGB Premiership.

2020s

After the leagues were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers won the highest league title for just the third time in their history in 2021. After finishing top of the regular season table by just one point, they overtook the long time leaders Wolverhampton Wolves and by virtue of finishing top they elected to play Wolves in the play off semi finals, rather than the third or fourth placed teams Belle Vue and Sheffield. Peterborough then deservedly won the playoffs by beating Wolverhampton in the semifinals and Belle Vue in the final. The Peterborough team gained the nickname the 'Dad's Army' due to the fact that four of their riders were aged 40 or older.

The 2023 season was the last season for Peterborough at the East of England Showground, following the redevelopment of the Arena by owners Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG) and the club were disbanded.

Season summary

Season summary (juniors)

Notable riders

Honours

Elite League League Champions (2) – 1999, 2006, 2021. Play Off’s (6) – 2002, 2003 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2010. Knockout Cup Winners (2) – 1999 & 2001. Knockout Cup Runners Up (1) – 2002. Craven Shield Winners (1) – 1999. Craven Shield Runners Up (1) – 2001. Elite Shield Winners (1) – 2007. Premiership Runners Up (1) – 1997. 4TT Champions (1) – 1997. Midland League Runners Up (1) – 2009. League Riders Champions (2) – J Crump 1999 & R Sullivan 2000. British Champions (1) – M Loram 2001. British U21 Champions (1) – D Howe 2000.

Premier League

League Champions (1) – 1998. League Runners Up (1) – 1996. KO Cup Runners Up (2) – 1996 & 1998. Young Shield Runners Up (1) – 1998. 4TT Champions (1) – 1998. 4TT Runners Up (2) – 1995 & 1996. League Riders Champion (2) – G Cunningham 1998; Ulrich Østergaard 2015. Pairs Champions (1) – G Cunningham & B Woodifield 1998.

British League (Div 2) – Seasons (9)

League Champions (1) – 1992. Ko Cup Winners (1) – 1992. Ko Cup Runners Up (1) – 1972. Premiership Winners (1) – 1993. 4TT Champions (1) – 1992.

National League – Seasons (16)

4TT Champions (4) – 1977, 1978, 1988, 1989. Gold Cup Runners Up (1) – 1991. League Riders Champion (1) – I Barney 1984.

References

References

1. (21 November 1969). "Brown determined to carry on". Derby Daily Telegraph.
2. (13 January 1970). "Boost for Long Eaton Rangers". Derby Daily Telegraph.
3. (10 April 1970). "fans decide future". Derby Daily Telegraph.
4. Rogers, Martin. (1978). "The Illustrated History of Speedway". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
5. (9 August 1977). "Speedway". Lincolnshire Free Press.
6. Oakes, Peter. (1978). "1978 Speedway Yearbook". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
7. (31 July 1978). "Speedway". Daily Mirror.
8. "1978 full season results".
9. (8 August 1988). "Speedway". Cambridge Daily News.
10. Oakes, Peter. (1990). "Speedway Yearbook 1990". Front Page Books.
11. "British League Tables – British League Era (1965-1990)".
12. (3 March 2017). "HISTORY ARCHIVE".
13. "1999 league tables". Speedway GB.
14. "Speedway riders, history and results".
15. (27 November 2010). "British Speedway Statement". British Speedway Promoters' Association.
16. (29 November 2010). "Coventry Bees' Elite League exit confirmed by BSPA". BBC Sport.
17. (2 December 2010). "Bees and Panthers launch legal challenge". BBC Sport.
18. "British Speedway Statement". British Speedway Promoters' Association.
19. (8 April 2011). "BSPA confirm return of Coventry Bees and Peterborough". BBC Sport.
20. "[http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.22225 Panthers Power to Record Win]", speedwaygb.co, 24 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013
21. "[https://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.32946 Fours Glory for Panthers]", speedwaygb.co, 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017
22. "PANTHERS FACE WOLVES IN PLAY-OFFS".
23. "PANTHERS CROWNED PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS".
24. "Peterborough Panthers all conquering 'Dad’s Army' are back for 2022 and they’ve enlisted a hot young recruit".
25. "What next for Peterborough Panthers' speedway track?". BBC Sport.
26. . (24 September 2022). "Eastern Promise".