Stoke Potters


The Stoke Potters previously the Hanley Potters were a British speedway team. As Hanley Potters they raced at the Sun Street Stadium from 1929 to 1963 and as Stoke, the team raced at Loomer Road Stadium in Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1973 to 2019.

History

Origins & 1920s

In March 1929, British Speedways Ltd agreed a season lease with Northern Greyhound Racers Ltd for the introduction of speedway during 1929. Hanley were named as inaugural members of the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League and hosted their first home league match against Burnley on 18 May. However, they withdrew before the end of the season and their results were expunged.

1930s

Ten years after the last appearance of speedway in Stoke, a team re-surfaced at the Sun Street stadium. The Stoke team with the nickname 'Potters' being used for the first time, joined the 1939 Speedway National League Division Two, under the promotion of the stadium owners. Unfortunately once again the team failed to end the season, withdrawing in early July 1939.

1940s

Following an eight year absence, the speedway returned on 8 May 1947 and the Hanley Potters finally completed a campaign, finishing 6th in the eight team third division. Just two years later in 1949, Hanley won the double of National League Division Three and Div 3 National Trophy. The Potters were led by riders such as Vic Pitcher, Les Jenkins and Ken Adams and the club attracted crowds of over 12,000.

1950s

Hanley struggled in the second division during 1950 before returning to division 3 in 1951. The team raced as Stoke instead of Hanley during the years 1952 and 1953, which saw a poor run of results. The promoters Miles and Galloway subsequently closed the team down, continuing the trend of the club's history of being unable to compete in league speedway on a regular basis.

1960s

With the creation of the Provincial League in 1960, the Potters returned under the promotion of Reg Fearman and Mike Parker. Fearman also rode for the club and Ken Adams returned during a period when Stoke enjoyed a solid four year spell from 1960 to 1963, culminating with the runner-up position behind Wolverhampton Wolves in 1963. Riders Colin Pratt and Peter Jarman starred in 1963.
However, the Sun Street track closed in 1963, because the greyhound stadium owners sold the site to a garage business and the speedway was shut down for the fourth time in club's history.

1970s

In late 1971, Midlands' businessman Russell Bragg applied for and received planning permission from the Newcastle Borough Council for the construction of a new Loomer Road Stadium in Chesterton, at a cost of £200,000. The first speedway match at the track took place on 11 April 1973 in front of 6,500 supporters. The team were known as the Chesterton Potters for the 1973 season.
The club finally experienced continuity and would feature in the National League for a prolonged period. The 1970s saw contrasting fortunes for the Potters and number one riders included Mike Broadbank, Alan Molyneux, Les Collins and Ian Gledhill, the latter winning the 1979 Riders' Championship.

1980s

The Potters struggled in the league from 1980 to 1983 but finished 3rd in 1984 after signing Nigel Crabtree and Paul Thorp to support Tom Owen. Crabtree and Owen went on to win the National League Pairs held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 30 June.
The remainder of the decade resulted in much improved seasons, with the Potters competing well. Successes included Paul Thorp winning the 1986 Riders' Championship, Graham Jones and Steve Bastable winning the 1988 National League Pairs and Crabtree and Eric Monaghan winning the 1989 Pairs.

1990s

The 1990s began well with the Potters team of Monaghan, Crabtree, Louis Carr and Chris Cobby, claiming the Fours championship final, held at the East of England Showground on 22 July.
After two more seasons in the second division from 1991 to 1992, the Potters folded after promoter Dave Tattum failed to gain funding for the 1993 season. The team rejoined the third tier in 1994.
In 1996, the team rode as the Cradley & Stoke Heathens in the merged top division called the Premier League. Cradley Heath had been displaced from their base at Dudley Wood Stadium. From 1997 to 1999, Stoke raced as a single club and returned to the second tier, which retained the Premier League name.

2000s

The new millennium started a full decade of Premier League speedway, with the Potters reaching a best position of fourth in 2004. However, the decade was underwhelming with the team failing to achieve any notable success.

2010s

In November 2010, a major decision was taken by the club's promotion. The team withdrew from Premier League racing to drop a division and compete in the National League, speedway's third tier. The club had been struggling financially for the last couple of seasons and the move was made in order to stabilise finances.
The 2011 season saw the club top the National League table by seven points but injuries struck key riders and Stoke were beaten in the play-off semi finals. Some consolation was taken when Tim Webster and Simon Lambert won the National League Pairs Championship. From 2012 to 2018, the Potters continued to race in the National League and Ben Wilson and Jon Armstrong won the 2014 Pairs Championship.
The 2019 season ended with the Potters winning the fours championship at Loomer Road but it would be the last speedway season at Loomer Road because the site was sold, the team disbanded after the season and the stadium was demolished during June 2022.

Season summary

Year and leaguePositionNotes
1929 Speedway English Dirt Track LeagueN/Awithdrew, results expunged
1939 Speedway National League6thwithdrew, fixtures taken over by Belle Vue Aces reserves
1947 Speedway National League Division Three6th
1948 Speedway National League Division Three5th
1949 Speedway National League Division Three1stchampions and National Trophy winners
1950 Speedway National League Division Two14th
1951 Speedway National League Division Two9th
1952 Speedway National League Division Two10th
1953 Speedway National League Division Two9th
1960 Provincial Speedway League5th
1961 Provincial Speedway League3rd
1962 Provincial Speedway League4th
1963 Provincial Speedway League2nd
1973 British League Division Two season13throde as Chesterton Potters
1974 British League Division Two season13th
1975 New National League season3rd
1976 National League season11th
1977 National League season19th
1978 National League season8th
1979 National League season13th
1980 National League season16th
1981 National League season15th
1982 National League season18th
1983 National League season17th
1984 National League season3rdNL Pairs
1985 National League season8th
1986 National League season5th
1987 National League season4th
1988 National League season7thNL Pairs
1989 National League season10thNL Pairs
1990 National League season8thNL Fours
1991 British League Division Two season10th
1992 British League Division Two season8th
1994 British League Division Three3rd
1995 Academy League2nd
1996 Premier League speedway season5throde as Cradley & Stoke Heathens
1997 Premier League speedway season12th
1998 Premier League speedway season13th
1999 Premier League speedway season10th
2000 Premier League speedway season7th
2001 Premier League speedway season11th
2002 Premier League speedway season7th
2003 Premier League speedway season15th
2004 Premier League speedway season4th
2005 Premier League speedway season14th
2006 Premier League speedway season10th
2007 Premier League speedway season11th
2008 Premier League speedway season13th
2009 Premier League speedway season11th
2010 Premier League speedway season12th
2011 National League speedway season1stPO semi final, NL pairs
2012 National League speedway season4th
2013 National League speedway season8th
2014 National League speedway season6thNL pairs
2015 National League speedway season9th
2016 National League speedway season11th
2017 National League speedway season9th
2018 National League speedway season9th
2019 National Development League speedway season7th