| Peterborough Panthers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track address | East of England Showground Peterborough | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | peterborough-speedway | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colours | Red and Black | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track size | 337 Metres | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track record time | 57.2 seconds | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track record date | 19 July 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Dan Bewley | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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ThePeterborough Panthers were a Britishmotorcycle speedway team based inPeterborough, England from 1970 to 2023. They were three timeschampions of the United Kingdom, winning the highest level league in 1999, 2006 and 2021.
Speedway in Peterborough began in 1970, following a failed attempt to race at thePeterborough Greyhound Stadium[1] and a subsequent successful application by Allied Presentations (headed by Maurice Littlechild) to race at theEast of England Showground.[2] Despite receiving a licence, the team were initially refused entry to the league by the Speedway Control Board but then replacedPlymouth Devils for their inaugural season in the1970 British League Division Two.[3] The Panthers finished in 10th place.[4]
The Panthers remained in division 2 (the National League from 1975) and recorded a best placing of third in 1972, headed by ridersRichard Greer andJohn Davis. The next significant moment was winning the first silverware, after securing consecutiveFours championships in 1977 and 1978. OnlyNigel Flatman appeared in both of the fours finals.[5][6][7][8]
The Panthers continued in the National League during the 1980s, but the decade was one of mediocrity with a highest placing of 5th in 1987. The highlight of the decade was winning two more fours championships in 1988 and 1989. Three riders,Ian Barney,Craig Hodgson andMick Poole rode in both.[9][10]
After signing Australian'sJason Crump andStephen Davies to join fellow Aussie Mick Poole, the club's first major success arrived during the1992 British League Division Two season. The Panthers won the league and cup double in addition to the fours.[11]
Following 25 consecutive years in the second tier, the Panthers joined the newly merged1995 Premier League speedway season, meaning that the Panthers competed in the top division for the first time in their history. However, the team dropped down a division in 1998, which brought immediate success, winning theleague, pairs and fours. The following season they went up to the Elite League (Div 1) and completely rebuilt their team for the season. They brought in three Australians, the returning Jason Crump from Oxford,Ryan Sullivan from Poole andCraig Watson from Newport, in addition to recallingZdeněk Tesař.[12] Peterborough pipped Poole by one point and beat them in the cup final to achieve the league and cup double and the Craven Shield win. Crump won the Riders' Championship and topped the averages.[13]
Another Knockout Cup was added to the trophy cabinet in 2001 and the team won the league title during the2006 Elite League speedway season. Peterborough and Reading battled each other throughout the season finishing level on points in the regular season table before Peterborough edged Reading in the play off final. Peterborough had a strong all round squad and included Danish trio ofHans Andersen,Jesper Jensen andNiels Kristian Iversen, in addition to AustralianRyan Sullivan.[14]
The team continued to compete in the highest league despite problems leading up to the 2011 season. Following changes to the rules for rider averages made at the AGM of theBSPA, the Panthers andCoventry Bees walked out of the meeting.[15] As a result the BSPA omitted both teams from the 2011 Elite League for failing to declare their intent to compete.[16][17] The decision was the subject of a legal challenge by both clubs.[18] The BSPA offered a compromise which was initially rejected[19] before both teams confirmed their starting places.[20]
The team had a record Elite League victory on 23 August 2013, beatingCoventry Bees by 70 points to 20[21] The Panthers dropped to the second division from 2014 to 2018 but won the 2017 division 2 Knockout Cup and fours during the period. In 2019, the team rejoined the highest league called theSGB Premiership.[22]
After the leagues were cancelled in 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers won the highest league title for just the third time in their history in 2021. After finishing top of the regular season table by just one point, they overtook the long time leadersWolverhampton Wolves and by virtue of finishing top they elected to play Wolves in the play off semi finals, rather than the third or fourth placed teams Belle Vue and Sheffield.[23] Peterborough then deservedly won the playoffs by beating Wolverhampton in the semifinals and Belle Vue in the final.[24] The Peterborough team gained the nickname the 'Dad's Army' due to the fact that four of their riders were aged 40 or older.[25]
The 2023 season was the last season for Peterborough at the East of England Showground,[26] following the redevelopment of the Arena by owners Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG)[27] and the club were disbanded.
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Elite LeagueLeague Champions (2) – 1999, 2006, 2021.Play Off’s (6) – 2002, 2003 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2010.Knockout Cup Winners (2) – 1999 & 2001.Knockout Cup Runners Up (1) – 2002.Craven Shield Winners (1) – 1999.Craven Shield Runners Up (1) – 2001.Elite Shield Winners (1) – 2007.Premiership Runners Up (1) – 1997.4TT Champions (1) – 1997.Midland League Runners Up (1) – 2009.League Riders Champions (2) – J Crump 1999 & R Sullivan 2000.British Champions (1) – M Loram 2001.British U21 Champions (1) – D Howe 2000.
Premier League
League Champions (1) – 1998.League Runners Up (1) – 1996.KO Cup Runners Up (2) – 1996 & 1998.Young Shield Runners Up (1) – 1998.4TT Champions (1) – 1998.4TT Runners Up (2) – 1995 & 1996.League Riders Champion (2) – G Cunningham 1998;Ulrich Østergaard 2015.Pairs Champions (1) – G Cunningham & B Woodifield 1998.
British League (Div 2) – Seasons (9)
League Champions (1) – 1992.Ko Cup Winners (1) – 1992.Ko Cup Runners Up (1) – 1972.Premiership Winners (1) – 1993.4TT Champions (1) – 1992.
National League – Seasons (16)
4TT Champions (4) – 1977, 1978, 1988, 1989.Gold Cup Runners Up (1) – 1991.League Riders Champion (1) – I Barney 1984.
