The Crayford Kestrels were a Speedway team which operated from 1968 until their closure in 1983. They were based at Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium in Crayford.
History
Speedway meetings in Crayford were first held during 1935 and 1936 but soon ended and the sport would not return for over 30 years.
In 1967 a speedway circuit was constructed inside the greyhound track at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium and promoter Johnnie Hoskins planned to bring the speedway team from Edinburgh to Crayford because Old Meadowbank had closed. However, the Edinburgh team moved to Coatbridge and Hoskins turned his attention to Canterbury. Bill Bridgett and Mike Parker of the Wolverhampton Wolves stepped in to promote the Crayford speedway Crayford were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968. The first signings were Mick Handley and Dave Parry (Wolves riders on loan) and the team finished in sixth place during its inaugural season.
The team known as the Crayford Highwaymen continued to race throughout the 1969 and 1970 seasons. Geoff Ambrose starred in 1969 when the team finished fourth in the league. However, after the 1970 season the team were disbanded with the promoters citing not being able to afford the new rider pay rates.
Speedway returned to the stadium in 1975 with a team nicknamed the Kestrels under the co-promotion of Peter Thorogood and Len Silver. The Kestrels would compete for nine years from 1975 to 1983.
The Kestrels won the Four-Team Championship, held at the East of England Arena on 27 July 1980; the team was Paul Woods, Les Rumsey, Steve Naylor, Alan Sage and Laurie Etheridge. However, arguably their most successful season was the third place finish during the 1983 National League season.
The team were forced to relocate for the 1984 season as the stadium was sold for redevelopmentJacobs, N. Speedway in the South East. and for the 1984 season the team transferred the promotion to Hackney and ran a team called the Hackney Kestrels.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway.
Notable riders Geoff Ambrose Mick Handley Les Rumsey Barry Thomas Paul Woods
Season summary Year and leaguePositionNotes 1968 British League Division Two season 6th rode as the Highwaymen 1969 British League Division Two season 4th rode as the Highwaymen 1970 British League Division Two season 14th rode as the Highwaymen 1975 New National League season 8th 1976 National League season 6th 1977 National League season 10th 1978 National League season 10th 1979 National League season 12th 1980 National League season 9th Four-Team Championship winners 1981 National League season 10th 1982 National League season 15th 1983 National League season 3rd
See also
List of defunct motorcycle speedway teams in the United Kingdom
References