{{Short description|Defunct motorcycle speedway team in London}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox motorcycle speedway team |clubname = Hackney Speedway |image = [[File:Hackneyhawks.jpg|150px]] |track = [[Hackney Wick Stadium]]<br />Waterden Road<br />[[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]]<br />London |country = England |founded = 1935 |closed = 1996 |league = [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]]<br>[[Provincial League (speedway)|Provincial League]]<br>[[British League]]<br>[[Premier League (speedway)|Premier League]] |track record time= |track record date= |track record holder= |honour1 = [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|KO Cup]] tier 1 winners |year1 = 1971 |honour2 = [[Speedway British League Division Two|National League]] tier 2 champions |year2 = 1938, 1988 |honour3 = [[Premier League Knockout Cup|KO Cup]] tier 2 winners |year3 = 1984, 1988 |honour4 = [[London Cup (speedway)|London Cup]] |year4= 1936, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1989 |honour5 = [[British League Division Two Pairs Championship|Pairs championship]] |year5= 1991 }}
'''Hackney Speedway''' opened in 1935 at [[Hackney Wick Stadium]], Waterden Road, London, and operated until 1996.<ref>Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}</ref> The team raced under various names, known as '''Hackney Wick Wolves''', '''Hackney Hawks''', '''Hackney Kestrels''' and '''London Lions'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
== History == === Origins & 1930s === [[File:Hackney Greyhound Stadium January 1979.png|thumb|right|250px|Hackney Wick Stadium in 1979]] A turbulent 1935 season for [[Lea Bridge (speedway)|Lea Bridge]] and [[Walthamstow Wolves]] resulted in the relocation of the speedway into Hackney Stadium, with the team riding as the '''Hackney Wick Wolves'''.<ref name=sil>Jacobs, Norman (2001). ''Speedway in London''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref> The track measuring 310 metres, was granted a licence by the Speedway Control Board.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19350202/260/0027 |title=New speedway track |website=Daily Mirror |date=2 February 1935 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>
The first meeting was held on 26 April 1935, although the first official meeting was a week later on 3 May, when Hackney lost to the [[New Cross Lambs]] in the [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1935record.pdf |title=1935 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> Australian [[Dicky Case]] starred for the team that finished 5th in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-35.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1935-1939 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> The following season was overshadowed by the death of Hackney rider [[Dusty Haigh]] on 15 May 1936, he died from a broken skull in a crash at the track after falling whilst in the lead and being struck by another rider's machine.<ref name=hh>Fenn, C.(2003). ''Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2737-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=20,000 see Speedway Gladiator Killed|work=Daily Mirror |date=16 May 1936 |access-date=22 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19360516/004/0001| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Meanwhile, Dicky Case qualified for the first ever [[Speedway World Championship]] final at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] in [[1936 Individual Speedway World Championship|1936]],<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref> but decided to retire at the end of the 1937 season. Crowds were not large enough to support top level speedway so, in 1938, Hackney swapped licences with the [[Bristol Bulldogs]] and dropped down to the second tier.<ref name="hh"/> This meant the big name stars at the Wick went too. However, the Wolves won the [[1938 Speedway National League Division Two]] that season,<ref name="Rogers 1978 129">{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1929-1939|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref> led by their number 1 rider [[Frank Hodgson]] who averaged 10.06.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> The speedway ceased during 1939 following the suspension of the league due to the outbreak of [[World War II]].
=== 1960s === [[File:Hawk leads Rebels pair.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hackney Hawks at Oxford circa.1974]] Hackney Stadium did not host speedway again until 1963 when the '''Hackney Hawks''' were formed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Hackney.htm|title=Hackney Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> by promoters Mike Parker and [[Reg Fearman]], the team joined the [[Provincial League (speedway)|Provincial League]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19621107/215/0027 |title=Speedway at hackney Wick again |website=Daily Mirror |date=7 November 1962 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="Rogers">Rogers, Martin (1963) "Hackney Hawks Here to Stay?", ''[[Speedway Star]]'', 1 June 1963, p. 16</ref> and finished 10th in their debut season in the [[1963 Provincial Speedway League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> The promotion was then sold to rider/promoter [[Len Silver]] who was the club's promoter for the next twenty seasons.<ref name="Fenn, C. 2003">Fenn, C.(2003). ''Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2737-7}}</ref> The riders and track staff marched onto the track to the sound of the theme tune of the film [[The Magnificent Seven]] and that tune inspires more memories for Hackney Hawks fans than anything else. The Hawks were closely linked with sister track the [[Rayleigh Rockets]] and latterly the [[Rye House Rockets]].<ref>Jacobs, Norman (2001). ''Speedway in London''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref> The Hawks finished runner-up to [[Newcastle Diamonds]] in 1964 before becoming founder members of the new [[British League]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> Swede [[Bengt Jansson]] was brought into the club and together with [[Colin Pratt]] they nearly won the 1968 league title, only losing out on points difference to [[Coventry Bees]]. {{clear}}
=== 1970s === {{gallery |width=150 | height=150 |align=right |File:Dave Morton.jpg |Dave Morton |File:Zenon Plech 310376.jpg |Zenon Plech }} In 1971, Hackney won their first major honour when they beat [[Cradley Heath Heathens]] to win the [[British League Knockout Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19350202/260/0027 |title=Cradley crash at Hackney |website=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=9 October 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> The team also won the [[London Cup (speedway)|London Cup]] in 1971 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/hackney1971.pdf |title=Hackney 1971 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref> and 1973.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/hackney1973.pdf |title=Hackney 1973 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref>
The remainder of the decade was relatively average with a best finish of 7th in 1976. Riders leading the team during the period included [[Dag Lövaas]], [[Dave Morton]] and [[Zenon Plech]]. The decade ended tragically after popular rider [[Vic Harding]] was killed on 8 June 1979, whilst racing for the team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790609/465/0018 |title=Vic Harding killed |website=Reading Evening Post |date=9 June 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> A Vic Harding Memorial Trophy meeting was held in his memory in the seasons following his death.
=== 1980s === The team finished runner-up again during the [[1980 British League season]] with Danish duo [[Bo Petersen]] and [[Finn Thomsen]] adding valuable support to Plech. At the completion of the [[1983 British League season]] there was major disruption after [[Oxford Cheetahs]] bought Len Silver's division 1 licence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003580/19831118/028/0028 |title=Goodbye Marvyn |website=Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury |date=18 November 1983 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="Rogers 1978 129"/> This led to the [[Crayford Kestrels]] promotion transferring their licence to race at Hackney because their home at [[Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium]] had closed. The team became known as the '''Hackney Kestrels'''.<ref>Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003223/19840209/251/0031 |title=West Row Opener |website=Newmarket Journal |date=9 February 1984 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>
During their first season as the Kestrels in the [[1984 National League season]] and led by [[Barry Thomas (speedway rider)|Barry Thomas]] and [[Trevor Banks]], the team finished 4th and won the [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Knockout Cup (div 2)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref>
The Kestrels competed in the highest league for a one-off season in 1987 and signed [[Simon Wigg]] but dropped back down again in 1988. The decision proved to be wise as the Kestrels won the [[List of United Kingdom speedway league champions|Division 2 League Championship]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Bamford |first=Reg |title=Speedway Yearbook |year=2004 | publisher=Tempus Publishing, Stroud | isbn=978-0-7524-2955-7}}</ref> winning twenty-six of their thirty league matches and the Knockout Cup for the second time, beating the [[Wimbledon Dons]] on aggregate in the final. Young English riders [[Mark Loram]], [[Andy Galvin]] and [[Chris Louis]] starred.<ref name="Fenn, C. 2003"/><ref name="ReferenceA">Jacobs, N. ''Speedway in London''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref>
=== 1990s === A 5th-place finish in 1990 and a pairs success by [[Steve Schofield (speedway rider)|Steve Schofield]] and Andy Galvin<ref>{{cite news |title=Potters pairs bid comes unstuck |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=18 June 1990 |access-date=26 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19900618/239/0026 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> was followed by the team reverting to the Hawks nickname for the 1991 season. Unfortunately promoter Derek Howes withdrew the team from the league mid-season, citing injuries and the recession.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=3 July 1991 |access-date=28 September 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005014/19910703/049/0049 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Hackney Stadium underwent financial turmoil followed by significant development from 1991 to 1994, with a new £14 million scheme to develop the neglected stadium. The new stadium opened in October 1995 but went into receivership the same evening.<ref name="Betfair">{{cite web|url=https://betting.betfair.com/greyhound-racing/lost-tracks/bankrupt-on-the-first-night-th-311007.html|title=Bankrupt on the first night - the desperate story of the 'new' Hackney Wick|publisher=Betfair}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Paul|title=The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook|pages =205–208|year=1995|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=186054-010-4}}</ref> Under the receivers a new speedway promotion arrived when Ivan Henry and Terry Russell moved their [[Arena Essex Hammers]] team to Hackney and rode as the '''London Lions'''. Team manager for that season was former Hackney rider Colin Pratt.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The Lions finished the season in ninth place (out of nineteen),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1991-present|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> At the end of the 1996 season, there was no stadium owner and speedway was never seen at the stadium again.<ref name="Betfair"/>
=== 2010s === The Hackney Hawks name was revived again during the [[2011 National League speedway season]] (third-tier league), as a joint promotion between the promotions at Lakeside and Rye House with the Hawks home matches being divided between the two parent tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/sport/22948020.hawks-move-four-points-clear-top-national-league/ |title=Hawks move four points clear at top of National League |website=Hackney Gazette |date=21 July 2011 |access-date=29 September 2024 }}</ref>
== Season summary == {{collapse top}} {| class="wikitable" |- !width=350|Year and league !width=50|Position !width=350|Notes |- align=center |- align=center |align="left"| [[1935 Speedway National League]] || 5th || As the '''Hackney Wick Wolves''' |- align=center |align="left"| [[1936 Speedway National League]] || 5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1937 Speedway National League]] || 5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1938 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 1st || champions |- align=center |align="left"| [[1939 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 2nd+ || + when league was suspended |- align=center |align="left"| [[1963 Provincial Speedway League]] || 10th || As the '''Hackney Hawks''' |- align=center |align="left"| [[1964 Provincial Speedway League]] || 2nd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1965 British League season]] || 8th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1966 British League season]] || 14th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1967 British League season]] || 5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1968 British League season]] || 2nd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1969 British League season]] ||19th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1970 British League season]] || 11th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1971 British League season]] || 7th ||[[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Knockout Cup]] winners |- align=center |align="left"| [[1972 British League season]] || 8th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1973 British League season]] || 16th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1974 British League season]] || 9th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1975 British League season]] || 17th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1976 British League season]] || 7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1977 British League season]] || 16th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1978 British League season]] || 19th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1979 British League season]] || 18th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1980 British League season]] || 2nd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1981 British League season]] || 8th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1982 British League season]] || 7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1983 British League season]] || 7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1984 National League season]] || 4th || As'''Hackney Kestrels''' [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Knockout Cup]] winners |- align=center |align="left"| [[1985 National League season]] ||5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1986 National League season]] || 13th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1987 British League season]] || 9th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1988 National League season]] || 1st || [[List of United Kingdom speedway league champions|Champions]] & [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Knockout Cup]] winners |- align=center |align="left"| [[1989 National League season]] || 6th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1990 National League season]] || 5th ||[[British League Division Two Pairs Championship|Pairs Championship]] |- align=center |align="left"| [[1996 Premier League speedway season]] || 9th ||As '''London Lions''' |- align=center |align="left"| [[2011 National League speedway season]] || 5th || Raced at Lakeside and Rye House only |} {{collapse bottom}}
== Notable riders == {{columns-list|colwidth=22em| *{{player||AUS|[[Leigh Adams]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Trevor Banks]]}} *{{player||AUS|[[Dicky Case]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Andy Galvin]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Dusty Haigh]]}} *{{player||DEN|[[Morian Hansen]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Vic Harding]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Frank Hodgson]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Norman Hunter (speedway rider)|Norman Hunter]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Gerry Jackson]]}} *{{player||SWE|[[Bengt Jansson]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Mark Loram]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Chris Louis]]}} *{{player||NOR|[[Dag Lövaas]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Les McGillivray]]}} *{{player||AUS|[[Garry Middleton]]}} *{{player||USA|[[Cordy Milne]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Dave Morton]]}} *{{player||DEN|[[Bo Petersen]]}} *{{player||POL|[[Zenon Plech]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Colin Pratt]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Steve Schofield (speedway rider)|Steve Schofield]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Len Silver]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Barry Thomas (speedway rider)|Barry Thomas]]}} *{{player||DEN|[[Finn Thomsen]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Roy Trigg]]}} *{{player||ENG|[[Simon Wigg]]}} }}
== References == {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Sport in the London Borough of Hackney]] [[Category:History of the London Borough of Hackney]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1935]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1935]] [[Category:Speedway teams in London]] [[Category:Hackney Wick]] [[Category:Hackney, London]] [[Category:Speedway National League teams]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1996]]