Cradley Heathens Explained

Clubname:Cradley Heathens
Track:Dudley Wood Stadium (1947–1995)
Monmore Green Stadium (2010–2015)
Country:England
Founded:1947, 2010
Closed:1995, 2019[1]
Colours:Green, white and red
Year1:1981, 1983
Honour2:Knockout Cup (tier 1)
Year2:1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
Honour3:British League Cup (tier 1)
Year3:1982, 1984
Honour4:Pairs championship (tier 1)
Year4:1978
Honour5:Midland Cup (tier 1)
Year5:1980, 1983, 1984, 1987
Honour6:Fours championship (tier1)
Year6:1995
Honour7:Provincial KO Cup (tier 2)
Year7:1961, 1963
Honour8:Inter League KO Cup
Year8:1979
Honour9:Inter League Fours
Year9:1980
Honour10:National League (tier 3)
Year10:2013, 2014
Honour11:National League KO Cup (tier 3)
Year11:2013, 2014
Honour12:National Shield (tier 3)
Year12:2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Honour13:National League Fours (tier 3)
Year13:2011, 2013, 2014
Honour14:National League Pairs (tier 3)
Year14:2013

Cradley Heathens were a motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England. The team was founded in 1947 and competed primarily at the top level of British speedway at Dudley Wood Stadium until its closure in 1995. The team was revived as Dudley Heathens in 2010, competing in the National League, reverting to the Cradley Heathens name in 2013 but ceased operating after the 2019 season.

History

Origins & 1940s

In 1917, Cradley Heath St Lukes Football Club found farmland that was suitable for a pitch and constructed a basic football ground and stadium east of the Dudley Wood Road.[2] [3] Due to financial issues, members of the club formed Cradley Sports Enterprise, who constructed speedway and greyhound tracks around the pitch.[4]

The Cradley Heath speedway team was formed for the 1947 season, with the team name taken from Dudley Wood stadium's proximity to Cradley Heath town centre, though it lies in the borough of Dudley, centred about 3miles away. At the time of formation the two towns were in different counties - Staffordshire and Worcestershire, but both towns are now part of the county of West Midlands. Riding as the Cradley Heath Cubs they competed in their first match away to Hanley Potters on 8 May 1947.[5] They first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 against Wombwell Colliers.[6] The Cubs would finish runner-up in their inaugural league season to Eastbourne Eagles, only missing out on the title on points difference.[7] The team finished runner-up again in 1948 before a change in the club's nickname and division ensued for 1949. Having gained promotion from the National League Division Three to the National League Division Two, they adopted the name of Cradley Heathens.

1950s

The Heathens raced in division 2 from 1950 to 1952 before they were forced to disband following the withdrawal of the promoter Eli Sumner due to financial issues.[8] The track reopened seven years later in 1959 for one unlicensed meeting.

1960s

In 1960 the Heathens entered the newly formed Provincial League under the promotion of Morris Jephcott.[9] The club won their first major silverware in 1961, winning the Provincial League Knockout Cup (the second division cup). Watched by 10,000 in the home leg, they defeated Edinburgh Monarchs in the September two-legged final, with Ivor Brown and Harry Bastable scoring heavily.[10] [11]

Ivor Brown topped the league averages in 1962[12] before the team secured a second Knockout Cup title during the 1963 season, defeating Newcastle Diamonds in the final.[13] [14]

After one more season in division 2, the Heathens were founder members of the new British League (the top division of British speedway). The Heathens struggled for the next few years, managing a best placed finish of 7th in 1969.[15]

1970s

The Heathens continued to find the British League a challenge, continually finishing in the lower half of the league table despite the performances of Bernt Persson, Bob Andrews and Roy Trigg. From 1973 to 1976 they rode under the name Cradley United but results only marginally improved.[16]

The United name was dropped for the 1977 season and Cradley signed former world champion Anders Michanek. The season resulted in a much improved 7th place finish, which was then followed in 1978 by new signings; Bruce Penhall replacing Michanek at number 1 and Alan Grahame arriving from Birmingham. The Heathens won their first top division silverware in 1978 (jointly with Coventry Bees), winning the British League Pairs Championship held at Foxhall Stadium on 12 October. The meeting was abandoned after 14 heats due to fog but the result stood, with Steve Bastable and Penhall claiming the honours.[17] [18]

The decade ended with further success when the team won the 1979 Knockout Cup, a season which also saw the arrival of the 19-year-old Dane Erik Gundersen.

1980s

The golden years of Cradley speedway arrived during the 1980s, the club won two league titles (1981 and 1983),[19] a further seven Knockout Cups from 1980 to 1989[20] and four Midland Cups.[21] [22] [23]

Along with Oxford Cheetahs and Coventry Bees, the three teams dominated British speedway during the decade and several of the world's leading riders rode for Cradley, including Bruce Penhall, Erik Gundersen and Jan O. Pedersen and these were well supported by the likes of Alan Grahame, Phil Collins, Simon Wigg, Lance King and Simon Cross. The 1980s promotion teams consisted of Dan McCormick, followed by Peter Adams in 1981 and then he was replaced by former rider Colin Pratt, who joined in 1984.[24]

1990s

The club had operated continuously at top flight level from 1965 but the decade started without Gundersen, who had suffered a horrific accident on 17 September 1989, that left him paralysed.[25] The glory years began to fade despite the signings of American stars Greg Hancock in 1989 and Billy Hamill in 1990. Some success was experienced when in 1995, Hancock, Hamill, Cross and Scott Smith won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 6 August 1995, at the East of England Arena.[26]

Unfortunately after the 1995 season, the team were evicted by the new landlords, who had bought the stadium to redevelop into housing. The team survived for one additional year, competing at the Loomer Road Stadium in Stoke in 1996, under the name 'Cradley and Stoke' Heathens, following a merger with the Stoke Potters.

2010s

Supporters of the club continued to campaign to resurrect speedway in the local area and plans were submitted to Dudley Council for a new site in 2009. The Birmingham promoter, Tony Mole and Bob Edwards (on behalf of supporters group, CRASH – Cradley Raising Aid Saving Heathens) led the planning application[27] and an online petition to show support for the application which was linked from the Cradley Heath speedway website.[28]

The team returned in 2010 as the Dudley Heathens, competing in the third tier National League, with home meetings initially shared between two stadiums – Monmore Green (home track of Wolverhampton) and the Perry Bar Stadium (home track of Birmingham).[29] The team manager was Will Pottinger, and the club was promoted by Sky Sports speedway presenter Nigel Pearson, and then by Chris Van Straaten & Gary Patchett.

Between 2011 and 2014 home matches were solely at Monmore Green[30] and the team experienced considerable success as a third tier team, winning the league and cup double in both 2013 and 2014, in addition to various other trophies.[31] [32]

The Heathens raced at Perry Barr Stadium in Birmingham for the 2015 season[33] Monmore Green during 2016. Max Clegg won the Riders' Championship during the 2016 National League speedway season.

The team's final season was the 2019 National League speedway season, in which the Heathens finished in fourth place.

2020s

A team bearing the Heathens name has operated under the NORA umbrella on the Isle of Wight in 2021 and 2022 and in 2022 won the Michael Richardson Trophy.

Season summary

YearLeaguePositionTrophiesNotes
1947 1947 Speedway National League Division ThreeRunner-Uprode as Cubs
19481948 Speedway National League Division ThreeRunner-Up rode as Cubs
1949 1949 Speedway National League Division Two4th Midland Cup (2 teams)[34]
1950 1950 Speedway National League Division Two3rd Midland Cup (2 teams)
19511951 Speedway National League Division Two15th Central Shield
19521952 Speedway National League Division Two4th
- - closure - - --
1960 1960 Provincial Speedway League6th
1961 1960 Provincial Speedway League4th Provincial League KO Cup
1962 1962 Provincial Speedway League8th
1963 1963 Provincial Speedway League9th Provincial League KO Cup, Midland League
1964 1964 Provincial Speedway League10th All 12 tracks unlicensed by ACU
1965 1965 British League season16th top tier
1966 1966 British League season19th Wooden Spoon
1967 1967 British League season18th
1968 1968 British League season14th
1969 1969 British League season7th
1970 1970 British League season15th
1971 1971 British League season18th
1972 1972 British League season16th
1973 1973 British League season18th rode as United
1974 1974 British League season13th rode as United
1975 1975 British League season11th rode as United
1976 1976 British League season9th rode as United
1977 1977 British League season7th
1978 1978 British League season5th
1979 1979 British League season3rd Knockout Cup, Inter-League Cup
1980 1980 British League season5th Knockout Cup, Midland Cup
1981 1981 British League seasonWinner
1982 1982 British League seasonRunner-Up Knockout Cup, League Cup, Premiership
1983 1983 British League seasonWinner Knockout Cup, Midland Cup
1984 1984 British League season3rd League Cup, Midland Cup, Premiership
1985 1985 British League season7th Premiership
1986 1986 British League seasonRunner-Up Knockout Cup, League Cup
1987 1987 British League seasonRunner-Up Knockout Cup, Midland Cup, Brit Trophy
1988 1988 British League season3rd Knockout Cup, Premiership
1989 1989 British League season3rd Knockout Cup, Premiership
1990 1990 British League season7th Premiership
1991 1991 British League season3rd
1992 1992 British League season4th
1993 1993 British League season11th
1994 1994 British League season9th
1995 1995 Premier League speedway season3rd Premier League Fours
1996 1996 Premier League speedway season5th Operating from Chesterton, Stoke, rode as Cradley & Stoke Heathens
- - closure - - --
20102010 National League speedway season3rd Operating from Perry Barr and Monmore Green
20112011 National League speedway season7th National Shield, National League FoursOperating from Monmore Green
2012 2012 National League speedway season2ndNational ShieldOperating from Monmore Green, finished 1st in regular season table
2013 2013 National League speedway season1st National Shield, National League Pairs & Fours, National League Knockout CupOperating from Monmore Green
2014 2014 National League speedway season1st National League Fours, National League Knockout CupOperating from Monmore Green
2015 2015 National League speedway season3rd
2016 2016 National League speedway season4th
2017 2017 National League speedway season7th
2018 2018 National League speedway seasonN/aNational trophy only
2019 2019 National League speedway season4th

The club also operated a junior team in the British Junior League in the years 1986 to 1992 inclusive, being Runners-Up in 1986 and Winners in 1991.

Club honours

British League
Champions: 1981, 1983

Knockout Cup (Div 1)
Winners: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986+, 1987, 1988, 1989 (+shared with Oxford)

Knockout Cup (Div 2)
Winners: 1961, 1963

League Cup
Winners: 1982, 1984, 1986+ (+shared with Oxford)

Inter-League Cup
Winners: 1979

Premiership
A season-opening challenge match, held over two legs, between the previous year's League and KO Cup winners (similar to English football's Charity Shield).[35]

Winners: 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990

Inter-League Four Team Tournament
Winners: 1980

Premier League Four Team Tournament
Winners: 1995

Midland Cup/Lge/Shield
Winners: 1950, 1951, 1963, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987

National League

Individual honours

World Champion

Under-21 World Champion

Long Track World Champion

British Under-21 Champion

Intercontinental Champion

Overseas Champion

British League Riders Champion

National League Riders Champion

American Champion

Danish Champion

Swedish Champion

Scottish Open Champion

Australasian Champion

South Australian Champion

Western Australian Champion

Victorian Champion (Aust)

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NO GO FOR HEATHENS - British Speedway Official Website. speedwaygb.co.uk. 3 March 2017. 2019-12-23.
  2. News: Cradley and Old Hill . Sports Argus . 30 March 1959 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  3. Web site: OS County Series Staffordshire 1939. old-maps.co.uk.
  4. Web site: Book charts the rise and fall of Cradley St Lukes . Stourbridge News . 16 January 2014 . 15 June 2024.
  5. News: Hanley Speedway Thrills and Spills . Staffordshire Sentinel . 9 May 1947 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  6. News: Speedway racing . Evening Despatch . 19 June 1947 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. Web site: 1947 season . Speedway Researcher . 15 June 2024.
  8. News: Cradley Heath Speedway Closing . Evening Despatch . 10 February 1953 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  9. News: Speedway Nursery Planned . Wolverhampton Express and Star . 28 April 1962 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  10. News: Cradley Heath to take cup now? . Birmingham Weekly Mercury . 10 September 1961 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  11. News: Cradley Heath's Trophy . Birmingham Weekly Mercury . 24 September 1961 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  12. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 15 June 2024.
  13. News: Cradley Heath coast home to Cup victory . Birmingham Weekly Mercury . 13 October 1963 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  14. Web site: Cradley Heath Speedway 1963 Statistical Record . Speedway Researcher . 15 June 2024.
  15. Web site: 1964 to 1969 . Cyber Morotcycles . 15 June 2024.
  16. Book: Rogers, Martin. The Illustrated History of Speedway. 1978. 129. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. 0-904584-45-3.
  17. News: Sport in Brief . Birmingham Daily Post . 30 September 1977 . 17 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  18. Web site: 1978 Complete season records . Speedway Researcher . 16 May 2023.
  19. Book: Bamford, Reg . Speedway Yearbook . History Press Limited . 978-0-7524-2955-7.
  20. Book: Bamford, Robert . Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007 . History Press Limited . 978-0-7524-4250-1.
  21. News: Schwartz is a cup hit for Cradley . Sandwell Evening Mail . 10 October 1980 . British Newspaper Archive. 21 October 2023 . subscription .
  22. News: Cradley finish on high note . Birmingham Weekly Mercury . 28 October 1984 . British Newspaper Archive. 21 October 2023 . subscription .
  23. News: Speedway . Daily Mirror . 22 October 1987 . British Newspaper Archive. 21 October 2023 . subscription .
  24. News: Cradley lose again . Sandwell Evening Mail . 5 January 1984 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  25. Web site: Erik Gundersen reflects on Odsal horror crash 30 years on . Telegraph & Argus . 17 September 2019 . 15 June 2024.
  26. News: Speedway . Birmingham Daily Post . 7 August 1995 . 5 July 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  27. Web site: Cradley bid lodged . . 1 November 2007 . 2007-11-02 .
  28. Web site: Heathens plans given boost . . 10 August 2007 . 2007-11-02 .
  29. "Dudley Heathens given National League speedway go-ahead", BBC, 28 January 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2013
  30. "Dudley Heathens choose to race at Wolverhampton", BBC, 27 January 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2013
  31. Web site: 2015 Cradley Heathens . Cradley Speedway . 15 June 2024.
  32. Web site: Speedway: Max Clegg relishes Cradley Heathens captaincy . BBC Sport . 15 June 2024.
  33. Web site: Cradley Heathens Speedway: HEATHENS AT THE BARR! . www.cradleyheathens.co . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033546/http://www.cradleyheathens.co/news.php?extend.1165 . 2014-11-29.
  34. News: Cradley retain Speedway Trophy . Coventry Evening Telegraph . 8 August 1950 . 15 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  35. Book: Foster, Peter. Heathens: Cradley Heath Speedway 1977-1996. 58. 2003. Tempus Publishing Ltd. 07524-2738-5.
  36. "Mildenhall Speedway: Fen Tigers miss out on National Shield.", worldspeedway.com, 1 May 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013
  37. "British Speedway Roll of Honour 2013", speedwaygb.co, 31 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013