{{about|the Yarmouth Bloaters speedway team|the smoked herring known as a Yarmouth Bloater|Bloater (herring)}} {{Short description|Defunct British speedway team}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use British English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox motorcycle speedway team |clubname = Yarmouth Bloaters |image = [[File:Yarmouth Bloaters motorcycle speedway logo.jpg|150px]] |track = [[Yarmouth Stadium]], [[Caister-on-Sea]], [[Norfolk]] |country = England |founded = 1948 |closed = 1962 |manager = |captain = |league = |website = |colours = Red, Black and Silver |tracksize = {{convert|325|yd|m}} |track record time= 69.2 seconds |track record date= 16 July 1957 |track record holder= [[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]] |honour1 = |year1 = }}
The '''Yarmouth Bloaters''' were a [[motorcycle speedway]] team who operated from [[Yarmouth Stadium]] in [[Caister-on-Sea]], near [[Great Yarmouth]], from 1948 to 1962.<ref name="defunct">{{cite web | title = Yarmouth Speedway | work = Defunct Speedway Tracks|url = http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Yarmouth.htm | access-date = 25 August 2021 }}</ref>
== History == In January 1948 the Speedway Control Board considered licence applications from 17 new tracks, one of which was from Yarmouth Stadium<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003286/19480110/146/0004 |title=17 New Speedway Tracks Planned |website=Evening News (London) |date=10 January 1948 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 February 2025 }}</ref>
The application was granted and the Yarmouth Bloaters speedway team was created and they joined the [[Speedway National League Division Three|National League Division Three]]. The original plan was to use the name Yarmouth Mariners, but the name was disliked by supporters and the name "[[Bloater (herring)|Bloaters]]" was chosen because of the town's connections with the fishing industry. It is also the [[nickname]] of the local football team, [[Great Yarmouth Town F.C.|Great Yarmouth Town]]. The team's race jackets consisted of red and black quarters, which then became red with a black cross adorned with an image of a silver bloater.<ref name="defunct"/> The team finished in 11th place in their inaugural league season.<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=25 August 2021}}</ref>
In [[1949 Speedway National League Division Three|1949]] the Bloaters finished joint top of Division Three with the [[Stoke Potters|Hanley Potters]], but the Potters' superior race points average meant that Yarmouth finished as runners up.<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> Rider [[Billy Bales]] recorded an impressive 10.60 average during the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=23 February 2025 }}</ref>
Yarmouth were offered promotion and moved up to the [[Speedway National League Division Two|National League Division Two]] for the 1950 season, where they spent four seasons in Division Two, with the last in 1953 being the best as the team finished in third place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref>
Yarmouth wanted to open the 1954 season several weeks late, but this wish was denied by the [[Speedway Control Board]] and the Bloaters were not issued a racing licence for that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003286/19540330/215/0008 |title=Speedway Deferment |website=Evening News (London) |date=30 March 1954 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 February 2025 }}</ref> The track remained closed until a consortium of local businessmen took over in 1957.<ref name="defunct"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003359/19570428/204/0013 |title=Speedway world title has an extra round |website=Weekly Dispatch (London) |date=28 April 1957 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 February 2025 }}</ref>
Yarmouth continued with a number of [[Exhibition game|open meetings]] before competing in the [[1959 Southern Area League]] and then becoming one of the founder members of the [[Speedway Provincial League|Provincial League]] in 1960. During the season the club lost money after several home meetings were cancelled due to bad weather, and they finished seventh out of ten teams.<ref name="defunct"/> The decision was taken not to enter the Provincial League for the 1961 season by the promoters<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19601221/151/0019 |title=It's a new speed set-up |website=Daily Mirror |date=21 December 1960 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 February 2025 }}</ref> and after taking part in several open meetings the Bloaters closed due to financial problems. The stadium now hosts [[greyhound racing|greyhound]] and [[stock car racing]], and the speedway track has been covered over with [[Tarmacadam|tarmac]].<ref name="defunct"/>
== Season summary == {| class="wikitable" |- !width=350|Year and league !width=50|Position !width=350|Notes |- align=center |align="left"| [[1948 Speedway National League Division Three]] || 11th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1949 Speedway National League Division Three]] ||2nd ||lost the title on points difference |- align=center |align="left"| [[1950 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 12th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1951 Speedway National League Division Two]] || 11th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1952 Speedway National League Division Two]] ||9th || |- align=center |align="left"| [[1953 Speedway National League Division Two]] ||3rd|| |- align=center |align="left"| [[1959 Southern Area League]] ||2nd|| |- align=center |align="left"| [[1960 Provincial Speedway League]] || 7th || |}
== Notable riders == *[[Billy Bales]] *[[Fred Brand]] *[[Reg Reeves]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Sport in Great Yarmouth]] [[Category:1948 establishments in England]] [[Category:1962 disestablishments in England]]