imported>MaugerFundin at 15:46, 22 February 2025

2025-02-22T15:46:27Z

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{{Short description|Speedway team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = Walthamstow Wolves
|image =[[File:Walthamstow_Wolves_motorcycle_speedway_badge.jpg|150px]]
|track = [[Walthamstow Stadium]]<br />Chingford Road<br />[[Walthamstow]]<br />London, England
|country = England
|founded = 1934
|closed = 1951
|manager =
|captain =
|league = [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]]
|website =
|colours = Red, black and white
|tracksize = {{convert|282|yd|m}}
|track record time=
|track record date=
|track record holder=
|honour1 =
|year1 =
}}

The '''Walthamstow Wolves''' were a [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] team which operated from 1934 and again from 1949 until their closure in 1951.<ref>Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}</ref>

== History ==
The club opened in 1934 competing in the [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]], when [[Lea Bridge (speedway)|Lea Bridge]] were forced to find a new venue after their licence was revoked by the Speedway Control Board in late July.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19340728/264/0012 |title=Track at Lea Bridge closed |website=Daily Express |date=28 July 1934 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 January 2025 }}</ref> Walthamstow Wolves took on their last ten fixtures.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19340801/265/0013 |title=Speedway Race Control |website=Daily News (London) |date=1 August 1934 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Walthamstow.htm|title=Walthamstow Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref> They finished ninth in the [[1934 Speedway National League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref><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><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1929-1939|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>

After the 1934 season the Wolves were forced to relocate due to noise complaints and subsequent court proceedings. They moved to the [[Hackney Wick Stadium]] as the [[Hackney Hawks|Hackney Wick Wolves]].<ref>Jacobs, N. ''Speedway in London'', {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000771/19341207/001/0001 |title=Woman's Diary of Noises |website=Liverpool Evening Express |date=7 December 1934 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>

League speedway returned to Wathamstow for the [[1949 Speedway National League Division Two]] and the promotion spent a considerable sum signing riders. Wilf Jay was signed from [[Newcastle Diamonds|Newcastle]] for £1,000 and Dick Geary joined from [[Fleetwood Flyers|Fleetwood]] for £1,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003286/19490104/123/0004 |title=Mr. H. Bury |website=Evening News (London) |date=4 January 1949 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 February 2025 }}</ref> Despite the new signings the team struggled to attract good crowds due to being situated between Division one tracks at [[West Ham Hammers|West Ham]] and [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay]].

The Wolves finished 6th that season and this was followed by two 5th place finishes in 1950 and 1951,<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}}</ref> before they finally closed in 1951 due to declining attendance and complaints of noise from local residents.<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=20 August 2021}}</ref>

The track was later covered in tarmac for easier maintenance of the [[greyhound racing]] track. The stadium was sold in August 2008 and demolished to make way for a housing development.

== Season summary ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=350|Year and league
!width=50|Position
!width=350|Notes
|- align=center
|align="left"| [[1934 Speedway National League]] ||9th || replaced [[Lea Bridge (speedway)|Lea Bridge]] mid-season
|- align=center
|align="left"| [[1949 Speedway National League Division Two]] ||6th ||
|- align=center
|align="left"| [[1950 Speedway National League Division Two]] ||5th ||
|- align=center
|align="left"| [[1951 Speedway National League Division Two]] ||5th ||
|}

== Notable riders ==
*{{player||ENG|[[Jim Boyd (speedway rider)|Jim Boyd]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Squib Burton]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Dicky Case]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Harry Edwards (speedway rider)|Harry Edwards]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Dusty Haigh]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Pete Lansdale]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[George Newton (speedway rider)|George Newton]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Archie Windmill]]}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Speedway teams in London]]
[[Category:Walthamstow]]

Walthamstow Wolves - Revision history

imported>MaugerFundin at 15:46, 22 February 2025