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Leicester Lions
Leicester Lions are a speedway team which originally operated from 1968 until 1983 and again from 2011. The team race at the Beaumont Park Stadium (or Hydroscand Arena for sponsorship purposes). Since 2019, the club have also ran a junior side known as the Lion Cubs.
Speedway started at Leicester in 1928 at Leicester Stadium with the Leicester Stadium team entering the English Dirt Track League in 1929 finishing 5th but by 1931 the track, beset with problems, closed. Speedway was also staged at a track known as Leicester Super off Melton Road. After World War II, speedway returned in 1948. The team were nicknamed the Leicester Hunters and ran under that name until closure in 1962. In 1949 the team started in the National League Division Three and moved up over the years operating in the top flight for some time until the end of 1961.
Speedway returned to Leicester Stadium in 1968, when Reg Fearman and Ron Wilson moved the Long Eaton Archers team from Long Eaton Stadium. The team were renamed the Lions but the colours remained the same and they competed in the British League, the top division of British speedway at the time. The first season resulted in 12th place finish despite Anders Michanek recording a league average of 10.07. Michanek left in 1969 but Ray Wilson stepped up and helped the Lions to a 5th place finish.
The team finished fourth in 1970 before taking the runner-up place during the 1971 British League season. The consistency of good results was due to the riding of Ray Wilson, John Boulger and Graham Plant.
Dave Jessup joined in 1972, which led Leicester to win the Midland Cup, which was their first silverware since returning. Despite the loss of Boulger to rivals Cradley Heath in 1974, Leicester managed to win another Midland Cup crown.
The team's results began to slide and then Dave Jessup left in 1976. In 1977, Vic White took over from Wilson, the two acting as co-promoters until 1980. The Lions saw out the decade with some disappointing seasons, failing to make the top half of the table despite the best efforts of Ila Teromaa and John Titman.
In 1980, Martin Rogers took over the promoting and Leicester attempted to change their fortunes by signing Les Collins from Belle Vue for a club record fee. Collins won the Riders' championship but the Lions finished mid-table and then in 1982, the team finished 15th out of 16 during the 1981 British League season.
Speedway continued through the 1983 season with the knowledge that the Midland Sport Stadiums Ltd were selling the Blackbird Road stadium for housing development. The Lions finished 12th in their final season.
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Leicester Lions
Leicester Lions are a speedway team which originally operated from 1968 until 1983 and again from 2011. The team race at the Beaumont Park Stadium (or Hydroscand Arena for sponsorship purposes). Since 2019, the club have also ran a junior side known as the Lion Cubs.
Speedway started at Leicester in 1928 at Leicester Stadium with the Leicester Stadium team entering the English Dirt Track League in 1929 finishing 5th but by 1931 the track, beset with problems, closed. Speedway was also staged at a track known as Leicester Super off Melton Road. After World War II, speedway returned in 1948. The team were nicknamed the Leicester Hunters and ran under that name until closure in 1962. In 1949 the team started in the National League Division Three and moved up over the years operating in the top flight for some time until the end of 1961.
Speedway returned to Leicester Stadium in 1968, when Reg Fearman and Ron Wilson moved the Long Eaton Archers team from Long Eaton Stadium. The team were renamed the Lions but the colours remained the same and they competed in the British League, the top division of British speedway at the time. The first season resulted in 12th place finish despite Anders Michanek recording a league average of 10.07. Michanek left in 1969 but Ray Wilson stepped up and helped the Lions to a 5th place finish.
The team finished fourth in 1970 before taking the runner-up place during the 1971 British League season. The consistency of good results was due to the riding of Ray Wilson, John Boulger and Graham Plant.
Dave Jessup joined in 1972, which led Leicester to win the Midland Cup, which was their first silverware since returning. Despite the loss of Boulger to rivals Cradley Heath in 1974, Leicester managed to win another Midland Cup crown.
The team's results began to slide and then Dave Jessup left in 1976. In 1977, Vic White took over from Wilson, the two acting as co-promoters until 1980. The Lions saw out the decade with some disappointing seasons, failing to make the top half of the table despite the best efforts of Ila Teromaa and John Titman.
In 1980, Martin Rogers took over the promoting and Leicester attempted to change their fortunes by signing Les Collins from Belle Vue for a club record fee. Collins won the Riders' championship but the Lions finished mid-table and then in 1982, the team finished 15th out of 16 during the 1981 British League season.
Speedway continued through the 1983 season with the knowledge that the Midland Sport Stadiums Ltd were selling the Blackbird Road stadium for housing development. The Lions finished 12th in their final season.