{{Short description|Former British motorcycle speedway team}} {{About|the speedway team|the football team|Southampton F.C.|the women's football club|Southampton Saints L.F.C.}} {{Use British English|date=December 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox motorcycle speedway team |clubname = Southampton Saints |image =[[File:Southampton Saints motorcycle speedway logo.jpg|150px]] |track = [[Banister Court Stadium]]<br>[[Southampton]]<br>[[Hampshire]] |country = England |founded = 1928 |closed = 1963 |colours = Red and White stripes |tracksize = {{convert|333|yd|m}} |track record time= |track record date= |track record holder= |honour1 = [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] champions |year1 = 1962 |honour2 = [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]] Winners |year2 = 1961 |honour3 = [[Provincial League (1936–1937)|Provincial League]] champions |year3 = 1936 |honour4 = Provincial Trophy Winners |year4 = 1936 |honour5 = [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Div 2 National Trophy winners]] |year5 = 1936, 1937, 1956 |honour6 = [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Div 3 National Trophy winners]] |year6 = 1948 }} '''Southampton Saints''' were a [[motorcycle speedway]] team which operated from 1928 until its closure in 1963. Its track was located at [[Banister Court Stadium]] in [[Southampton]], [[Hampshire]], England.
== History == === Origins and 1920s === [[File:Bill Holden2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Speedway at Banister Court in 1958, Southampton vs Poole. Bill Holden (Poole) leads against his former team]]
Speedway arrived in Southampton in 1928, the inaugural year of the new dirt-track racing sport that had arrived from Australia. The first event was held at the Banister Court Stadium on 6 October 1928, with an individual meeting won by [[Sprouts Elder]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1928fixtures.pdf |title=1928 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> who set up the track records at the track.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003142/19281020/216/0009 |title=Sprouts Elder |website=Hampshire Advertiser |date= 20 October 1928 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref>
Southampton were founder members of the [[1929 Speedway Southern League]], one of two leagues that came into existence that year (the other being the [[1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League]] or Northern league). The team finished runner-up to [[Stamford Bridge Pensioners|Stamford Bridge]] in the league standings.<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}}</ref>
=== 1930s === Elder, Vic Collins, [[Arnie Hansen]] and [[Frank Goulden]] were all members of the 1930 team that finished second again during the [[1930 Speedway Southern League]], this time behind [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-29.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1929-1934 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> In 1931 the Parker brothers [[Jack Parker (speedway rider)|Jack]] and [[Norman Parker (speedway rider)|Norman]] were signed and the following year Southampton were one of the founder members of the new [[National League (1932–64)|National league]] (a merger of the Southern and Northern leagues). However, in May 1932 and halfway through the 1932 National Association Trophy, the Southampton promotion left Banister Court Stadium to take over the licence at Lea Bridge in London, with the team becoming the [[Clapton Saints]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000337/19320521/060/0003 |title=Speedway Racing |website=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=21 May 1932 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 January 2025 }}</ref>
In 1936, the [[Provincial League (1936–37)|Provincial League]] was formed as the second tier of British speedway. A new promotion stepped in to bring back speedway to Banister Court, initially with a challenge match in 1935,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003142/19351005/251/0010 |title=Speedway Racing |website=Hampshire Advertiser |date=5 October 1935 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> before trials for riders were held to select a team for the [[1936 Provincial Speedway League]] campaign.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003142/19360411/099/0006 |title=Starts on Good Friday |website=Hampshire Advertiser |date=11 April 1936 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> Rider Frank Goulden returned and was joined by others such as [[Fred Strecker]], [[Billy Dallison]] and [[Syd Griffiths]], all of whom produced good averages that season<ref name=RA>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> and saw the Saints crowned champions and complete a treble winning season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Southampton%20Saints.htm|title=Southampton Saints|website=Greyhound Derby|access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref>
The Saints continued to perform well finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in 1937 and 1938 before six years were lost to [[World War II]].
=== 1940s === Southampton returned in 1947 in [[1947 Speedway National League Division Three|division 3]] and [[Peter Robinson (speedway rider)|Peter Robinson]] led the team to a third-place finish, only losing the title to [[Eastbourne Eagles]] by one point.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}</ref> The following season the Saints won the [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|division 3 National Trophy]] defeating [[Hanley Potters]] in the final. [[Alf Bottoms]], [[Bob Oakley]] and [[Jimmy Squibb]] all scored heavily in both legs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway Defeat |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=26 May 1948|access-date=30 October 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19480526/077/0004| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/southampton1948.pdf|title=Southampton 1948 results|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref> The team stepped up to division 2 for the [[1949 Speedway National League Division Two]] season.
=== 1950s === The Saints finished 7th in 1950 before resigning mid-way through 1951, largely due to 45% entertainment duty imposed by the government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19510608/055/0004 |title=Tracks Tax |website=Portsmouth Evening News |date=8 June 1951 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> Jimmy Baxter Director of Southern Speedways withdrew the team from the league<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000764/19510614/008/0008 |title=Southampton out of speedway league |website=Bristol Evening Post |date=14 June 1951 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref> and they had their results expunged.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/19510705/198/0006 |title=Well Rewarded |website=Edinburgh Evening News |date=5 July 1951 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 February 2025 }}</ref>
The Saints returned to the rebranded [[1952 Speedway Southern League]] and experienced two tough seasons before they moved up to division 2 in [[1954 Speedway National League Division Two|1954]]. Improvement followed in 1955 after signing [[Dick Bradley]], and then [[Bill Holden (speedway rider)|Bill Holden]] returned to the club in 1956, a season in which the Saints won the division 2 National Trophy and finish runner-up behind [[Swindon Robins]] in the league.<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19560623/390/0009 |title=Hunters' Draw was not enough:Exit | website=Leicester Evening Mail |date=23 June 1956 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 October 2024 }}</ref>
In 1957, Southampton returned to the top division of UK speedway, competing in the [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] and proceeded to finish 6th, 3rd and 5th respectively over the next three seasons. [[Brian Crutcher]] stood out as the leading rider for the Saints.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bamford |first=Reg |title=Speedway Yearbook |year=2004| publisher=Tempus Publishing, Stroud | isbn=978-0-7524-2955-7}}</ref>
=== 1960s === Swedish duo [[Björn Knutson]] and [[Olle Nygren]] starred in 1960 before double world champion [[Barry Briggs]] was signed for 1961. The Saints ended up runners up in 1961 behind [[Wimbledon Dons]], with both Knutson and Briggs recording 10+ averages.<ref name=RA/>
The club's finest moment came in 1962 when they became [[List of United Kingdom speedway league champions|champions of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bamford |first=Robert |title=Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007 |year=2007| publisher=Tempus Publishing, Stroud | isbn=978-0-7524-4250-1}}</ref> Knutson and Briggs led a team that consistently averaged high, [[Cyril Roger]], [[Alby Golden]], [[Peter Vandenberg]], [[Reg Luckhurst]] and Dick Bradley all recorded no lower than 6.37.<ref name=RA/>
The club closed in 1963 when the promoter, [[Charles Knott]], sold the stadium to developers.<ref>{{cite web | title = Hopes that speedway will one day return to city | work = [[Southern Daily Echo]] | year = 2008 | url = http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/generalsport/display.var.2136103.0.hopes_that_speedway_will_one_day_return_to_city.php | accessdate =14 April 2008}}<br>- {{cite web | title = Happy memories of Southampton speedway in print | website = Southern Daily Echo | date=22 May 2002 | url = https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5607973.happy-memories-of-southampton-speedway-in-print/ | accessdate =10 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{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=13 August 2021}}</ref>
== Notable riders == {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alf Bottoms]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dick Bradley]] *{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Barry Briggs]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Brian Crutcher]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Billy Dallison]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sprouts Elder]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Frank Goulden]] *{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Syd Griffiths]] *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Arnie Hansen]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bill Holden (speedway rider)|Bill Holden]] *{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Björn Knutson]] *{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Brian McKeown (speedway rider)|Brian McKeown]] *{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Geoff Mardon]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Cordy Milne]] *{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Olle Nygren]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bob Oakley]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Parker (speedway rider)|Jack Parker]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ernie Rickman]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Robinson (speedway rider)|Peter Robinson]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Cyril Roger]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy Squibb]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alec Statham]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Fred Strecker]] *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Chum Taylor]] }}
== Season summary == {| class="wikitable" |- !width=350|Year and league !width=50|Position !width=350|Notes |- align=center |align="left"| [[1929 Speedway Southern League]] || 2nd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1930 Speedway Southern League]] || 2nd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1931 Speedway Southern League]] ||7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1936 Provincial Speedway League]] || 1st || Champions, PL Trophy & NL Trophy winners |- align=center |align="left"| [[1937 Provincial Speedway League]] || 2nd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1938 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 3rd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1939 Speedway National League]] || 6th+ || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1947 Speedway National League Division Three]] || 3rd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1948 Speedway National League Division Three]] ||3rd || Div 3 National Trophy Winners |- align=center |align="left"| [[1949 Speedway National League Division Two]] ||7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1950 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1951 Speedway National League Division Two]] || N/A || resigned record expunged |- align=center |align="left"| [[1952 Speedway Southern League]] || 9th|| |- align=center |align="left"| [[1953 Speedway Southern League]] || 5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1954 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 9th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1955 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1956 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 2nd || Div 2 National Trophy Winners |- align=center |align="left"| [[1957 Speedway National League]] || 6th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1958 Speedway National League]] || 3rd || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1959 Speedway National League]] || 5th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1960 Speedway National League]] || 7th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1961 Speedway National League]] || 2nd ||[[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]] champions |- align=center |align="left"| [[1962 Speedway National League]] || 1st || Champions |- align=center |align="left"| [[1963 Speedway National League]] || 6th || |} + 6th when league was suspended
== References == {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Sport in Southampton]] [[Category:1928 establishments in England]]