Edinburgh Monarchs Explained

Clubname:Edinburgh Monarchs
Track:Armadale Stadium
Bathgate Road
Armadale
West Lothian
Country:Scotland
Promoter:Alex Harkess & John Campbell
Manager:Alex Harkess & John Campbell
League:SGB Championship
National Development League
Website:official website
Colours:Blue and gold
Tracksize:260m (850feet)
Track Record Time:54.0 seconds
Track Record Date:30 May 2014
Track Record Holder:Craig Cook
Rider1: Josh Pickering
Rider2: Lasse Fredriksen
Rider3: Paco Castagna
Rider4: Kye Thomson
Rider5: Justin Sedgmen
Rider6: Connor Coles
Rider1j: Connor Coles
Rider3j: Dayle Wood
Rider4j: Mark Parker
Rider5j: Max Perry
Rider6j: Mason Watson
Rider7j: Kyran Lyden
Year1:2003, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015
Honour2:Knockout Cup (tier 2)
Year2:1981, 1997, 1999, 2014
Year3:2014, 2015
Year4:2008
Year5:1981, 1993, 2013, 2015
Honour6:Pairs Championship (tier 2)
Year6:1986, 2014
Honour7:Scottish Cup
Year7:2018
Honour8:Queens Cup
Year8:1953

The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish speedway team based in Armadale. They compete in the SGB Championship, racing on Friday nights during the speedway season. The club is run by a board of directors, chaired by Alex Harkess and also runs a National Development League team called the Monarchs Academy.[1] [2]

History

Origins

Speedway in Edinburgh began on 19 May 1928, with an open meeting organised by the Scottish Dirt Track Motor Racing Club at Marine Gardens in Portobello.[3] Several team challenge matches were staged during 1929, including visits to London and Newcastle.[4]

1930s

The team joined Northern League for the 1930 season.[5] Several open meetings were held in 1931 but speedway ceased. The Greyhound Racing Association secured a lease on New Year's Day 1931, which resulted in the disappearance of speedway for seven years until March 1938, when J. W. Fraser brought it back.[6] In 1939, the team raced in multiple challenge matches and the Union Cup before the season ended early due to the outbreak of war.

1940s

Marine Gardens was used for military purposes during the war and never re-opened as a sports venue but the potential of Old Meadowbank, then the home of Leith Athletic F.C., was said to have been spotted by Ian Hoskins. The Monarchs (Meadowbank Monarchs) were re-established in 1948 by a consortium including Frank Varey, ex-rider and Sheffield promoter, and R.L.Rae, a local Edinburgh businessman. They applied to the Speedway Control Board to participate in the 1948 Speedway National League Division Two[7] but finished bottom of the league that season. They did however improve to 5th place after Jack Young was signed to support Dick Campbell. Young would become twice world champion in 1951 ad 1952, the first of those titles was won as an Edinburgh rider.

1950s

The team continued to operate at Old Meadowbank in the National League Second Division, securing a 3rd place finish in 1951, with Jack Young setting the league's leading average.[8] Mid-way through the 1954 season the club withdrew from the league citing financial losses and Frank Varey also resigned.[9] Old Meadowbank Stadium had been purchased by the City of Edinburgh Council from Leith Athletic in 1956 and the track was used for practice sessions between 1957 and 1959.[10]

1960s

With the creation of the new Provincial League in 1960, Edinburgh Monarchs returned to action under the new promotion of Ian Hoskins, following a six-year absence.[11] New riders for 1960 included the Templeton brothers Doug and Willie, and George Hunter, joined in later seasons by Bert Harkins and Bill Landels.

Five years of Provincial league speedway brought little success but George Hunter did top the league averages during the 1963 season[8] and the team retained the practice of employing primarily Scottish riders. The Monarchs raced in and were founder members of the newly created British League from 1965. The league was the highest division of speedway in the United Kingdom and the it was first time that Edinburgh had competed in the top tier. The Monarchs struggled somewhat in the division but did achieve a very respectable fourth in 1967 led by Swede Bernt Persson.

In August 1966, Edinburgh won the bid to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games, which included plans to redevelop the site of the stadium and surrounding area. The Monarchs were evicted as speedway was not incorporated into the new Meadowbank Stadium plans due to the government of the day refusing to fund stadia which would be used by professional sports. The Monarchs moved en bloc to a new track at Cliftonhill, Coatbridge (nearer to Glasgow than Edinburgh) and operated as the Coatbridge Monarchs for the 1968 and 1969 seasons before the track licence was sold to Wembley by B.R. Cottrell and Trevor Redman.[12]

1970s

Speedway returned to Edinburgh in 1977, with the Monarchs finding a home at Powderhall Stadium. The return after missing another seven years required significant changes to the greyhound racing venue and Mike Parker spent £30,000 on renovation. Bert Harkins returned as captain of the club[13]

1980s

George Hunter came back to the club in 1980 and Neil Collins was signed which led to a 5th place finish. The following season in 1981, the long wait for silverware ended when the team won the Knockout Cup[14] and fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 26 July.[15] [16] Unfortunately, the only other success during the decade was winning the pairs championship in 1986, with Doug Wyer and new signing Les Collins.[17] [18]

1990s

The Monarchs enjoyed a better start of the 1990s with a 4th place finish in 1991 and a third in 1994. In-between the team of Les Collins, Kenny McKinna, Michael Coles and Scott Lamb won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 25 July.[19]

During the 1995 season, the company operating Powderhall ran into financial difficulty, and the stadium was sold to a housing company for redevelopment.[20] This meant the Monarchs were again evicted. In 1996, the Monarchs' rivals Glasgow Tigers closed down, so with a stadium not in use in Glasgow, and the Monarchs without a home in Edinburgh, the Monarchs' moved to Shawfield Stadium, Glasgow to form the Scottish Monarchs. Many Tigers fans refused to support what they saw as a team of old rivals, and although Monarchs fans initially travelled through to Glasgow, crowd numbers soon fell.

A fresh start arrived in 1997 when the Monarchs left Glasgow after gaining permission to operate at Armadale Stadium.[10] The club signed Peter Carr and retained Kenny McKinna and Robert Eriksson, finishing 3rd in the league.

2000s

The Monarchs experienced a period of success, starting by winning the Premier League in 2003 with relative ease.[21] Led by Frede Schött and Peter Carr, the team won with a nine point cushion from Sheffield Tigers.

Another Premier Division title arrived in 2008,[22] which resulted in the Monarchs taking part in the first promotion/relegation play-off when they faced Wolverhampton.[23] Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers and William Lawson starred during the season.

2010s

Edinburgh secured another Premier League title in the 2010 season, their third in seven years.[24] They later won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, held on 14 July 2013, at the East of England Arena[25]

The 2014 season was Monarchs best season to date, led by Craig Cook and Sam Masters the team won the treble of League, Knockout Cup and League Cup,[26] while going on a 27 match unbeaten run. Masters and Max Fricke also won the Premier Pairs.[27] [28]

The success continued in 2015, when the Monarchs became the first team to win consecutive Premier League titles, by beating the Glasgow Tigers in the Grand Final. The Tigers held a 7-point lead after the first leg at Ashfield, but the Monarchs won 14 of the 15 heats in the second leg at Armadale, winning 99–80 on aggregate.[29] It was one of three titles won by the Monarchs in 2015; in the Premier League Cup, the Monarchs beat the Tigers again,[30] while the quartet of Cook, Masters, Erik Riss and Justin Sedgmen won the Premier League Fours.[31] Changes due to points/averages restrictions resulted in a much quieter period for the team from 2016 to 2019.

2020s

Following a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Monarchs reached the final of the 2021 Knockout Cup and Sam Masters topped the 2022 league averages but issues surrounding their home venue surfaced.[32] However, the team continued to race at Armadale in 2023 and 2024.[33]

Season summary (1st team)

width=350Year and leaguewidth=50Positionwidth=350Notes
8th rode as the Thistles
9th
5th
8th
3rd
6th
5th
N/A withdrew, results expunged
8th
6th
5th
8th
5th
17th
12th
4th
8th rode as Coatbridge Monarchs
11th rode as Coatbridge Monarchs
15th
15th
17th
5th
4th Knockout Cup, fours
14th
9th
16th
19th
9th pairs
10th
11th
8th
13th
4th
7th
5th fours
3rd
9th
12th rodes as the Scottish Monarchs
3rd Knockout Cup winners
9th
3rd Knockout Cup winners
6th
8th
9th
1st champions
12th
5th
12th
13th
1st
2nd PO winners
1stPO semi finals
11th
5th
4th fours
1st champions, Knockout Cup, League Cup, pairs
1st champions, League Cup, fours
4th
3rd
6th
8th
5th PO semi final
5th PO semi final
6th PO

Season summary (juniors)

width=350Year and leaguewidth=50Positionwidth=350Notes
N/A Armadale Devils, Cup semi final
4th Armadale Dale Devils
5th Armadale Dale Devils
6th Armadale Devils
8th Armadale Devils
5thMonarchs Academy

Previous riders by season

2006 team

2007 team

Also Rode

2008 team

2009 team

Also rode:

2010 team

Also Rode:

2011 team

Also rode

2012 team

Also Rode

2013 team

Also rode

Signed but failed to obtain necessary paperwork

2014 team

2015 team

2016 team

Also rode

2017 team

2018 team

Also Rode

2019 team

Also Rode

2021 team

2022 team

Notable riders

Team honours

Individual Honours

Championships won while an Edinburgh Monarchs rider.

World Championship

Premier League Riders' Championship

Scottish Championship

Australian champion

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Edinburgh Monarchs Academy enter NDL . British Speedway . 19 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Armdale Enter National Development League . 16 December 2019. Edinburgh Monarchs.
  3. News: A 100% Thrill . Edinburgh Evening News . 21 April 1928 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  4. Web site: 1929 fixtures and results . Speedway Researcher . 21 April 2024.
  5. News: Marine Gardens in Northern League Section . Edinburgh Evening News . 8 March 1930 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  6. News: Opening of Speedway . Musselburgh News . 4 March 1938 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. News: Plan for 17 New Speedway Tracks . Gloucestershire Echo . 10 January 1948 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  8. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 21 April 2024.
  9. News: Meadowbank closing down . Edinburgh Evening News . 5 July 1954 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  10. Book: Henry, J.. Moultray, I.. Speedway in Scotland . Tempus Publishing. 2001. 0-7524-2229-4 . registration .
  11. News: Speedway stage set . The Scotsman . 13 April 1960 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  12. News: Keeter may not return to Lions . Leicester Daily Mercury . 23 January 1970 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  13. News: KWhre speedway is out on front . The Scotsman . 13 April 1977 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  14. Web site: 1981 KO cup final. Speedway Researcher. 27 September 2021.
  15. News: Tigers miss the boat in four teams final . Cambridge Daily News . 27 July 1981 . 23 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  16. Web site: 1981 full season results . Speedway Researcher . 23 May 2023.
  17. Web site: 1986 fixtures . Speedway Researcher . 25 May 2023.
  18. News: Speedway Pairs Out . Newcastle Journal . 14 July 1986 . 25 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  19. News: Invaders can't take the heat . Derby Evening Telegraph . 26 July 1993 . 13 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  20. News: Speedway Special . Daily Record . 6 October 1995 . 21 April 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  21. Web site: Campbell hails his 'dream team'. The Scotsman. 6 October 2003. https://archive.today/20130201220618/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1106972003. dead. 1 February 2013. 6 November 2007.
  22. Web site: Monarchs handed the title as Rebels fail at Birmingham. 25 September 2006. Edinburgh Evening News. 2 October 2008.
  23. Web site: Edinburgh Monarchs | Official Club Website . Edinburghspeedway.com . 24 October 2008 . 10 September 2010 .
  24. Web site: Match Centre . Edinburgh Monarchs . 19 January 2023.
  25. Web site: 2013 fixtures and results . Speedway Researcher . 8 July 2023.
  26. Web site: 2014 Statistics . Edinburgh Monarchs . 21 April 2024.
  27. Web site: 2014 fixtures . Speedway Researcher . 30 May 2023.
  28. Web site: IT'S SAM AND MAX FOR THE PAIRS . Edinburgh Speedway . 30 May 2023.
  29. News: Edinburgh Monarchs retain speedway title. BBC Sport. BBC. 17 October 2015. 22 November 2015.
  30. News: Edinburgh Monarchs cruise to League Cup Final victory. David. Kinvig. Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. 27 September 2015. 22 November 2015.
  31. News: Ipswich Witches finish third as Edinburgh Monarchs win Premier League Fours title. Chris. Brammer. Ipswich Star. Archant. 2 October 2015. 22 November 2015.
  32. Web site: MONARCHS REIGN SET TO CONTINUE WITH ARMADALE STADIUM REPRIEVE . Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway . 5 November 2022.
  33. Web site: STELLAR MONARCHS TO ROAR INTO 2024 . Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway . 19 November 2023.
  34. Web site: Edinburgh Monarchs | Official Club Website . Edinburghspeedway.com . 21 August 2009 . 10 September 2010 .
  35. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing.