Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track address | Poole Stadium Wimborne Road Poole Dorset | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Founded | 1948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Promoter | Matt & Danny Ford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team manager | Neil Middleditch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team captain | Ben Cook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
League | SGB Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club facts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colours | Blue and white | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track size | 299.1M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track record time | 56.91 seconds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track record date | 14 June 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track record holder | Antonio Lindbäck | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Major team honours | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Poole Pirates (also known as Poole Speedway) are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the SGB Championship. The club have been the champions of the United Kingdom on ten occasions.
Poole Speedway is promoted by local businessman Matt Ford and son Danny Ford,
Stadium
Poole Stadium (also known as Wimborne Road Stadium), has been the Pirates' home track since the club was created in 1948. It is situated near to the town centre and is owned by Poole Borough Council.[2] The stadium's capacity was limited to 5,500 people in 2008 for safety reasons.[3] Prior to 1948, the stadium had been used as a cycle track and had been home to Poole Town Football Club since 1933.[4] There is an all seater grandstand on the home straight, and a glass fronted grandstand on the back straight. The viewing areas on the track bends are un-sheltered and standing only.[5]
At the start of 1948 the tarmac cycle track was dug up and replaced with a 384 metres (420 yd) speedway track. A steel safety fence was erected around the outside of the track and the
In 2004, Poole Stadium was chosen to host the Speedway World Cup final by organiser Benfield Sports International (BSI).[7] Poole hosted the race-off on 5 August, in which Sweden and Poland progressed to the final. The final took place on 7 August with Sweden becoming World Champions, defeating Great Britain into second place by one point. Temporary stands were erected around the corners of the track to provide 2,200 extra seats. The official attendance figure at the stadium for the final was 7,131.[8]
History
1947–1964
In 1947,
In 1955, the Pirates again won the Division Two Championship and were allowed promotion to Division One of the National League, becoming the only club to ever have won promotion from the bottom league to the top tier.[10] However, by the end of the 1956 season, the Poole promoters closed the club, blaming poor attendances and the introduction of fuel rationing due to the Suez Crisis.[10] Despite losing their league status, Poole Stadium continued to stage meetings during 1957, including two National League meetings. Rayleigh Rockets promoter Vic Gooden took over the promoting rights of Poole at the end of the year and Poole rejoined the National League in 1958.[10]
1965–1996
Following a power struggle between the
Major changes in personnel took place in 1974, with the arrival of riders such as
The club was rescued by the then
1997–2019
Poole initially struggled in the Elite League and were sold to local businessmen Matt Ford and Mike Golding in 1998.[10] In a clear out at the club, only Magnus Zetterström remained from the 1998 season and Neil Street was replaced as manager by former rider Neil Middleditch. Craig Boyce left for Oxford, Lee Richardson was signed from Reading, Gary Havelock was brought in as Captain and Mark Loram was signed from Wolverhampton. Loram was to become the first Pirate to lift the World Championship title with his success in 2000.[10]
Poole finished as Elite League runners up in 1999 and 2001.
The success of Poole continued with a Knockout Cup win in 2012 and being crowned champions in three successive years during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons. The team won their tenth highest league title after winning the SGB Premiership 2018.[15]
2020–Present
In 2020, the leagues were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Pirates did not make their expected debut in the SGB Championship (second division).[16][17] The following season in 2021, the Pirates finished top of the regular season table and secured a place in the playoff semi finals.[18] Poole duly won their playoff semi final against Leicester and met Glasgow in the final. Shortly afterwards the Pirates won the division 2 Knockout Cup for the third time in their history and then completed the league and cup double by winning the Play off final.[19][20] The following season in 2022, the success continued as the team dominated again, winning the SGB Championship and Knockout Cup 'double double'.[21][22]
The success continued as the Pirates won the BSN Series during the SGB Championship 2023.[23]
Season summary
Season Summary (Juniors)
Extended content
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Honours[24]
League
- FIM World Speedway League
- Runners Up (1): 2014
- National League Division Three
- Winners (1): 1951
- National Trophy/National League Knockout Cup/SGB Championship Knockout Cup
- British League Cup
- Winners (1): 2003
- Elite Shield/Premiership Shield
- Winners (6): 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019
- Elite League Pairs Championship
- Winners (3): 2007, 2009 & 2011
World Champions
Mark Loram was the first Poole rider to win the Speedway World Championship with his success in 2000. Tony Rickardsson joined Poole in 2001 following Loram's departure to Peterborough, and won the World Championship in 2001 and 2002 while riding for the Pirates.[13] Chris Holder is the latest World Champion to ride for the Pirates securing his first Speedway Grand Prix title in October 2012.
Notable former riders
The following riders have been voted into the Pirates
- Craig Boyce
- Krzysztof Cegielski
- Brian Crutcher
- John Davis
- Odd Fossengen
- Lars Gunnestad
- Charlie Hayden
- Bill Holden
- Chris Holder
- Ticker James
- Tony Lewis
- Christer Löfqvist
- Mark Loram
- Ken Middleditch
- Neil Middleditch
- Geoff Mudge
- Tony Rickardsson
- Alun Rossiter
- Steve Schofield
- Malcolm Simmons
- Terry Small
- Kevin Smith
- Pete Smith
- Norman Strachan
- Darcy Ward
- Martin Yeates
Testimonial riders
Seven Poole riders have received testimonials at the club, usually for being a Poole asset for 10 years or more.
- 1976 Pete Smith
- 1984 Neil Middleditch
- 1995 Steve Schofield
- 2000 Alun Rossiter
- 2001 Lars Gunnestad
- 2003 Craig Boyce
- 2005 Magnus Zetterström
- 2009 Bjarne Pedersen
- 2011 Davey Watt
References
- ^ "New Pirates promoter Danny Ford is taking it one step at a time". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Stadium Sale Denied". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
- ^ "Stands ruled out due to cost". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
- ISBN 0-9553103-0-X.
- ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
- ^ Burford, Brian (8 March 2008). "Happy 60th, Pirates!". Speedway Star Volume 56 Number 51. Pinegen. pp. 6–7.
- ^ "World Cup Coup". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2008. [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sweden Win World Cup". Benfield Sports International. 2004. Archived from the original on 1 September 2005. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
- ^ Burford, Brian (8 March 2008). "Happy 60th, Pirates!". Speedway Star. 56 (51). Pinegen: 6–7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "History of Poole". Poole Speedway Ltd. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
- ^ Burford, Brian (8 March 2008). "Happy 60th, Pirates!". Speedway Star Volume 56 Number 51. pp. 6–7.
- ISBN 0-7524-3257-5.
- ^ a b c
Oakes, P (2006). Speedway Star Almanac. Pinegen Ltd. p. 85. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0.
- ^ "Poole crowned champions". Sky Sports. 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
The Pirates have also won the 2010 Knock out cup competition by beating Eastborne Eagles 95-90 on aggregate
2014 ended perfectly for the Pirates as they managed to overcome Coventry in the Grand Final over two legs with Maciej Janowski winning the decisive heat to seal the title. - ^ "2015 league tables". Speedway GB.
- ^ "Professional league speedway in the UK cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic". Bournemouth Echo.
- ^ "PIRATES HAPPY TO MOVE - British Speedway Official Website". www.speedwaygb.co.uk. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "GRAND PIRATES CONFIRM TOP SPOT". Poole Speedway. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Poole v Edinburgh - Cup Final 2nd Leg". Poole Speedway. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Pirates are Champions". British Speedway website. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Pirates are Cup Kings". British Speedway. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Pirates Clinch League Title". British Speedway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "BSN Series Final". British Speedway. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Poole Pirates Speedway Website (Official)".
- ^ "Club marks 60th with 'Hall of Fame'". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008. [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Poole Pirates Speedway Website (Official)". www.poole-speedway.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.