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Sheffield Tigers

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Sheffield Tigers
Club information
Track addressOwlerton Stadium
Penistone Road
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Founded1929
PromoterDamien Bates, Julie Reading & Peter Mole
Team managerSimon Stead
Team captainKyle Howarth
LeagueSGB Premiership
National Development League
Websitewww.sheffield-speedway.com
Club facts
ColoursYellow and Blue
Track size361 metres (395 yd)
Track record time58.92 seconds (57.86 mph / 84 ft per second)
Track record date30 May 2024
Track record holderJack Holder
Current senior team
Rider CMA
Australia Jack Holder
England Tai Woffinden
Australia Chris Holder
England Kyle Howarth
Australia Josh Pickering
England Jason Edwards
England Dan Gilkes
Current junior team
Rider CMA
Scotland Ace Pijper
England Nathan Ablitt
England Luke Harrison
England Mickie Simpson
England Kean Dicken
Scotland Stene Pijper
Major team honours
United Kingdom Champions2023
Div 1 Knockout Cup1974, 2024
Div 1 League Cup2022
Div 2 Champions1999, 2002, 2017
Division 2 Knockout Cup1939, 2002
Div 2 Pairs Champions2010, 2017, 2018
Div 2 Fours Champions1999, 2000
Premier Trophy Winners2001
Div 2 British Speedway Cup1947
Div 3 Champions2000, 2001, 2011
Northern Trophy1974, 1979
Provincial Northern League1962, 1963, 1964

The Sheffield Tigers (sponsored by Tru Plant) are a motorcycle speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British SGB Premiership, and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium. They were founded in 1929[1] and were champions of Britain, in 2023.

The Tigers traditionally hold their race nights on Thursdays between March and October.[2]

History

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Origins & 1930s

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Owlerton opened in 1929.

In 1929 construction began on a 20-acre freehold site to build a new stadium in Owlerton. The Provincial Dirt Tracks (Sheffield) Co. Ltd under the chaimanship of Edgar W. Hart[3] opened the purpose-built Owlerton Stadium on 30 March 1929.[4] The team known simply as Sheffield at the time were inaugural members of the English Dirt Track League and Northern League the following season. In 1930, they rode as the Sheffield Blades but soon adopted the name Tigers.[5] The early stars of the team included Dusty Haigh, Clem Beckett, Broncho Dixon and Squib Burton.

1940s

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The team re-opened for a short spell in 1945, following the disruption caused by World War II before returning to league action in 1946. The team operated in the Northern League of 1946 and in the National League Division Two between 1947 and 1950. The team spearheaded by Stan Williams and Tommy Bateman won their first trophy in 1947, after winning the British Speedway Cup (Div 2).[6]

1950s

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The 1950s started with the unpopular decision to name the team the Tars[7] and matters got worse despite the team reverting to the name Tigers at the end of the 1950 season because the team withdrew from the league part way through 1951.

1960s

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The track re-opened in 1960, with the Tigers participating in the Provincial League.[8] The team continued to ride in the Provincial League until 1964, when they moved up to the highest tier, known as the National League at the time before it was renamed the British League in 1965.[9] The sixties brought little success with the best performances being a fourth place finish in 1960, 1963 and 1968. Notable riders during the decade were Clive Featherby, Jack Kitchen, John Dews, Billy Bales, Arnold Haley and Bob Paulson.

1970s

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Sheffield had signed Jim Airey the Australian champion in 1969[10] and he led Sheffield into the seventies. In 1970, he finished third in the league averages and then steered Sheffield to a fourth place finish in 1971, when well supported by Haley and Bengt Larsson.

Despite the loss of Airey for 1972, the team rode well finishing fourth again before taking runner-up spot in 1973. Silverware finally arrived in 1974 when the Tigers won the Knockout Cup, easily defeating Ipswich Witches in the final. Bob Valentine recorded 22 points over the two legs and with heavy scoring from Haley and Doug Wyer, the Tigers won by a 25 point margin.[11]

By the mid-seventies Reg Wilson was becoming an important rider for the club, topping the team's averages in 1975 and 1979 and establishing himself as one of two main riders alongside Doug Wyer.[12]

1980s

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The eighties started badly with a last place finish in 1980, but in 1981 the club signed American rising star Shawn Moran. He would spend eight seasons at Owlerton, developing into a world class rider and a fan's favourite.[13]

In 1984, the Collins brothers Neil and Les arrived and in 1985, Peter Carr was signed, with the team only being denied the league title by the big spending Oxford Cheetahs. The following season, Reg Wilson retired after making a club record 470 appearances and Shawn Moran's older brother Kelly Moran was signed. Sheffield enjoyed large attendances throughout the 1980s but after the 1988 season, the landlords increased the rent and manager Eric Boocock was forced to disband the team and sell the riders.[14]

1990s

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Sean Wilson helped the Tigers win their first league title.

Division 2 speedway returned to Owlerton in 1991 under the promotion of Cliff Carr and following the signing of a lease with the city council.[15] Neil Evitts was number 1 before being replaced by Roman Matoušek, although it was not until 1999 that Sheffield experienced the taste of success again.

Inspired by Sean Wilson, Sheffield won the Premier League (speedway's second division) during the 1999 Premier League speedway season.[16]

2000s

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The club's junior side the Sheffield Prowlers won more silverware, winning the Conference League in 2000 and 2001 and the Tigers won the league and Knockout Cup in 2002 to complete the double, during the 2002 Premier League speedway season. Sean Wilson and Simon Stead both had great seasons and when Sean Wilson would retire in 2005, he was the Tigers all-time leading point scorer, with 4246 points.[17]

The Tigers later recorded a second place finish in 2006 and a play off final appearance in 2007.

2010s

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Sheffield Tigers 2016

The Tigers reached another play off final during the 2010 Premier League speedway season, the same season that Ricky Ashworth and Josh Auty won the pairs championship.[18]

The SGB Championship 2017 season was the 21st consecutive season that the Sheffield Tigers competed in division 2. The Tigers finished in 1st place having beaten Ipswich Witches in the two leg play off final 99–81. Josh Grajczonek headed the team averages, supported by Kyle Howarth and Lasse Bjerre, the latter two also winning the championship pairs.

2020s

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Following a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic the team stepped up to the highest division for the first time since the 1995/1996 merged division. Jack Holder and Adam Ellis were signed, with the team finishing 4th but following the signing of Tobiasz Musielak the club topped the SGB Premiership 2022 table but controversially lost in the play off final to Belle Vue Aces, which foiled the chance for the club to win their first ever top-tier league title. However, they did gain compensation by winning the League Cup.[19]

In 2023, the Tigers signed two former world champions in Tai Woffinden and Chris Holder and after finishing third in the SGB Premiership 2023 league standings, they went on to defeat Wolverhampton Wolves in the semi finals and then Ipswich Witches in the final. This was the first time in the club's history that were crowned champions of the United Kingdom. The success somewhat atoned for the final defeat the season before.[20]

A track record that had stood for 4976 days (from 15 October 2010) was beaten on 30 May 2024. Ricky Ashworth's time of 59.1 seconds was bettered by Jack Holder, with a time of 58.92 seconds.[21] Sheffield's success continued in 2024 with the club winning the Knockout Cup.

Club honours

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Full seasons summary

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Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League 9th
1930 Speedway Northern League 7th as the Blades
1931 Speedway Northern League 3rd
1933 Speedway National League 8th
1938 Speedway National League Division Two 7th
1939 Speedway National League 3rd+ +when season was suspended
1946 Speedway Northern League 2nd
1947 Speedway National League Division Two 2nd British Cup Div 2 winners
1948 Speedway National League Division Two 4th
1949 Speedway National League Division Two 2nd
1950 Speedway National League Division Two 10th as the Tars
1951 Speedway National League Division Two N/A withdrew, results expunged
1960 Provincial Speedway League 4th
1961 Provincial Speedway League 7th
1962 Provincial Speedway League 7th
1963 Provincial Speedway League 4th
1964 Speedway National League 8th
1965 British League season 11th
1966 British League season 11th
1967 British League season 9th
1968 British League season 4th
1969 British League season 6th
1970 British League season 7th
1971 British League season 4th
1972 British League season 4th
1973 British League season 2nd
1974 British League season 4th Knockout Cup winners
1975 British League season 5th
1976 British League season 17th
1977 British League season 13th
1978 British League season 8th
1979 British League season 13th
1980 British League season 17th
1981 British League season 10th
1982 British League season 5th
1983 British League season 10th
1984 British League season 5th
1985 British League season 2nd
1986 British League season 4th
1987 British League season 4th
1988 British League season 6th
1991 British League Division Two season 5th
1992 British League Division Two season 10th
1993 British League Division Two season 9th
1994 British League Division Two season 9th
1995 Premier League speedway season 14th
1996 Premier League speedway season 18th
1997 Premier League speedway season 10th
1998 Premier League speedway season 5th
1999 Premier League speedway season 1st champions
2000 Premier League speedway season 4th
2001 Premier League speedway season 3rd
2002 Premier League speedway season 1st champions & Knockout Cup winners
2003 Premier League speedway season 2nd
2004 Premier League speedway season 8th
2005 Premier League speedway season 3rd
2006 Premier League speedway season 2nd
2007 Premier League speedway season 4th PO final
2008 Premier League speedway season 8th
2009 Premier League speedway season 9th
2010 Premier League speedway season 4th PO final & Premier League Pairs
2011 Premier League speedway season 2nd
2012 Premier League speedway season 12th
2013 Premier League speedway season 12th
2014 Premier League speedway season 12th
2015 Premier League speedway season 5th
2016 Premier League speedway season 6th PO final
SGB Championship 2017 1st champions
SGB Championship 2018 11th
SGB Championship 2019 6th
SGB Premiership 2021 4th PO semi final
SGB Premiership 2022 2nd PO finalist, League Cup winners
SGB Premiership 2023 3rd Champions
SGB Premiership 2024 1st* *PO semi final, KO Cup winners

Season summary (juniors)

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Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1996 Speedway Conference League 10th Owlerton Prowlers
2000 Speedway Conference League 1st Prowlers, Champions
2001 Speedway Conference League 1st Prowlers, Champions
2002 Speedway Conference League 2nd Prowlers
2003 Speedway Conference League 8th Prowlers
2011 National League speedway season 1st Scunthorpe & Sheffield Saints, Champions
2024 National Development League speedway season 5th Scunthorpe/Sheffield

Notable riders

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Previous seasons

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References

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  1. ^ Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
  2. ^ "Potters Will Get Respect". Sheffield Tigers. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Sheffield track to open at Easter". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 19 January 1929. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "1947 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  5. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES – PRE-WAR ERA (1929–1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Speedway Gossip". Star Green 'un. 9 September 1950. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES – POST-WAR ERA (1946–1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  10. ^ "Airey debut will cause big interest". Star Green 'un. 5 April 1969. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Season 1974" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Shawn Moran". Speedway Bikes. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Cash blow closes Sheffield Speedway". The Scotsman. 16 February 1989. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Tigers roar again". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 13 March 1991. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Roll of Honour". Sheffield Tigers. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Hungry Tigers edge first leg of Play-Offs". Sheffield Star. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  18. ^ "BRUMMIES DUO LOSE OUT IN FINAL". Birmingham Speedway. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Tigers win League Cup". British Speedway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Tigers champions in Grand Final drama". British Speedway. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  21. ^ Kessen, David (30 May 2024). "Speedway: Owlerton track record broken by Jack Holder as Sheffield beat Birmingham to go second". The Star. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  22. ^ Oakes, P. (2006). Speedway Star Almanac. Pinegen Ltd. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0.