1987 British League season

Coventry Bees comfortably won the league finishing 16 points clear of Cradley Heath. The same five main riders who made up the 1986 team rode through the 1987 season but crucially four of them improved on their 1986 averages. Tommy Knudsen and Kelvin Tatum both hit over 10, while Rick Miller and David Bargh both improved by about 2 points on average. John Jørgensen also remained consistent for the Bees. Coventry also won the League Cup but lost to Cradley in the final of the Knockout Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1987.php|title=1987 league tables|publisher=Speedway GB}} The double defending champions Oxford Cheetahs were forced to release Simon Wigg to Hackney and Per Sorensen because of the 45 point limit. They finished second from bottom despite Hans Nielsen topping the averages once again.{{cite book|last=Bamford/Shailes|first=Robert/Glynn|title=The Story of Oxford Speedway|year=2007|pages=137–138|publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-7524-4161-0}}

The second leg replay of the League Cup final was the last ever meeting held at Hyde Road.

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BV|team2=BRA|team3=COV|team4=CH|team5=HAC|team6=IPS|team7=KL|team8=OX|team9=RR|team10=SHE|team11=SWI|team12=WOL

|name_BV=Belle Vue

|match_BV_BRA=46–32

|match_BV_COV=39–39

|match_BV_CH=37–41

|match_BV_HAC=45–33

|match_BV_IPS=43–35

|match_BV_KL=42–36

|match_BV_OX=42–36

|match_BV_RR=41–37

|match_BV_SHE=44–34

|match_BV_SWI=41–36

|match_BV_WOL=38–40

|name_BRA=Bradford

|match_BRA_BV=53–25

|match_BRA_COV=29–49

|match_BRA_CH=42–36

|match_BRA_HAC=49–29

|match_BRA_IPS=39–39

|match_BRA_KL=46–32

|match_BRA_OX=52–26

|match_BRA_RR=47–31

|match_BRA_SHE=47–31

|match_BRA_SWI=44–34

|match_BRA_WOL=53–24

|name_COV=Coventry

|match_COV_BV=46–32

|match_COV_BRA=53–25

|match_COV_CH=44–34

|match_COV_HAC=50–28

|match_COV_IPS=44–34

|match_COV_KL=50–28

|match_COV_OX=44–34

|match_COV_RR=42–36

|match_COV_SHE=48–30

|match_COV_SWI=42–36

|match_COV_WOL=45–33

|name_CH=Cradley Heath

|match_CH_BV=47–31

|match_CH_BRA=39–39

|match_CH_COV=38–40

|match_CH_HAC=43–35

|match_CH_IPS=44–34

|match_CH_KL=43–35

|match_CH_OX=43–35

|match_CH_RR=41–37

|match_CH_SHE=45–32

|match_CH_SWI=50–27

|match_CH_WOL=52–26

|name_HAC=Hackney

|match_HAC_BV=35–43

|match_HAC_BRA=39–39

|match_HAC_COV=34–44

|match_HAC_CH=41–36

|match_HAC_IPS=38–38

|match_HAC_KL=43–35

|match_HAC_OX=40–38

|match_HAC_RR=40–38

|match_HAC_SHE=37–40

|match_HAC_SWI=40–38

|match_HAC_WOL=45–33

|name_IPS=Ipswich

|match_IPS_BV=38–40

|match_IPS_BRA=42–36

|match_IPS_COV=39–39

|match_IPS_CH=41–37

|match_IPS_HAC=50–28

|match_IPS_KL=50–27

|match_IPS_OX=42–36

|match_IPS_RR=46–32

|match_IPS_SHE=33–45

|match_IPS_SWI=37–41

|match_IPS_WOL=43–35

|name_KL=King's Lynn

|match_KL_BV=46–32

|match_KL_BRA=42–36

|match_KL_COV=34–44

|match_KL_CH=29–49

|match_KL_HAC=44–34

|match_KL_IPS=36–42

|match_KL_OX=43–35

|match_KL_RR=35–43

|match_KL_SHE=34–44

|match_KL_SWI=23–55

|match_KL_WOL=39–39

|name_OX=Oxford

|match_OX_BV=43–35

|match_OX_BRA=41–37

|match_OX_COV=35–43

|match_OX_CH=40–38

|match_OX_HAC=35–43

|match_OX_IPS=38–40

|match_OX_KL=44–34

|match_OX_RR=36–42

|match_OX_SHE=40–38

|match_OX_SWI=38–40

|match_OX_WOL=47–31

|name_RR=Reading

|match_RR_BV=40–38

|match_RR_BRA=49–29

|match_RR_COV=39–39

|match_RR_CH=40–38

|match_RR_HAC=51–27

|match_RR_IPS=41–37

|match_RR_KL=53–25

|match_RR_OX=40–38

|match_RR_SHE=40–38

|match_RR_SWI=36.5–41.5

|match_RR_WOL=41–37

|name_SHE=Sheffield

|match_SHE_BV=42–36

|match_SHE_BRA=42–36

|match_SHE_COV=36–42

|match_SHE_CH=41–37

|match_SHE_HAC=46–32

|match_SHE_IPS=46–32

|match_SHE_KL=42–36

|match_SHE_OX=43–35

|match_SHE_RR=40–37

|match_SHE_SWI=42–36

|match_SHE_WOL=55–23

|name_SWI=Swindon

|match_SWI_BV=41–37

|match_SWI_BRA=48–30

|match_SWI_COV=36–42

|match_SWI_CH=36–42

|match_SWI_HAC=39–39

|match_SWI_IPS=41–37

|match_SWI_KL=48–30

|match_SWI_OX=42–36

|match_SWI_RR=39–39

|match_SWI_SHE=48–29

|match_SWI_WOL=40–38

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton

|match_WOL_BV=42–36

|match_WOL_BRA=35–42

|match_WOL_COV=37–41

|match_WOL_CH=34–44

|match_WOL_HAC=43–35

|match_WOL_IPS=33–45

|match_WOL_KL=44–34

|match_WOL_OX=39–39

|match_WOL_RR=46–32

|match_WOL_SHE=42–35

|match_WOL_SWI=36–42

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1987.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1987 fixtures & results |access-date=30 April 2025 }}

}}

The 1987 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 49th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Cradley Heath Heathens were the winners for the second successive year if including the tied 1986 final.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/11/british-league-ko-cup-1987.html|title=1987 British League Knockout Cup|publisher=Speedway archive}}

First round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg

{{football box

|date = 20 October 1987

|team1 =Coventry Bees
Tommy Knudsen 17
John Jørgensen 8
David Bargh 8
David Clarke 6
Wayne Broadhurst 3
Rick Miller 3
Kelvin Tatum 0 (inj)

|score = 45 - 45

|report = {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/coventry1987.pdf|title=Coventry Bees 1987 season|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=25 June 2021}}

|team2 = Cradley Heath
David Walsh 12
Erik Gundersen 11
Jan O. Pedersen 11
Simon Cross 8
Jan Jakobsen 2
Paul Fry 1
Nigel Leaver 0

|stadium = Brandon Stadium

}}

Second leg

{{football box

|date = 21 October 1987

|team1 =Cradley Heath
Erik Gundersen 11
Jan O. Pedersen 11
David Walsh 11
Simon Cross 9
Paul Fry 4
Jan Jakobsen 2
Nigel Leaver 1

|score = 49 - 41

|report =

|team2 = Coventry Bees
Tommy Knudsen 16
Kelly Moran (guest) 7
David Bargh 7
John Jørgensen 5
David Clarke 3
Rick Miller 3
Wayne Broadhurst 3

|stadium = Dudley Wood Stadium

}}

Cradley Heath were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 94-86.

The League Cup was contested as a league format. Coventry Bees won the final over two legs defeating Belle Vue Aces 84–72 on aggregrate. It was the last time that the competition was contested.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/coventry1987.pdf|title=Coventry Bees results|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=3 July 2021}}

Qualifying table

Results

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BV|team2=BRA|team3=COV|team4=CH|team5=HAC|team6=IPS|team7=KL|team8=OX|team9=RR|team10=SHE|team11=SWI|team12=WOL

|name_BV=Belle Vue

|match_BV_BRA=51–27

|match_BV_COV=43–34

|match_BV_CH=41–37

|match_BV_HAC=49–29

|match_BV_IPS=44–34

|match_BV_KL=50–28

|match_BV_OX=41–37

|match_BV_RR=50–28

|match_BV_SHE=39–39

|match_BV_SWI=45–33

|match_BV_WOL=60–18

|name_BRA=Bradford

|match_BRA_BV=38–40

|match_BRA_COV=41–37

|match_BRA_CH=37–41

|match_BRA_HAC=38–40

|match_BRA_IPS=48–30

|match_BRA_KL=44–34

|match_BRA_OX=48–30

|match_BRA_RR=37–41

|match_BRA_SHE=39–39

|match_BRA_SWI=42–36

|match_BRA_WOL=42–36

|name_COV=Coventry

|match_COV_BV=43–35

|match_COV_BRA=50–28

|match_COV_CH=52–26

|match_COV_HAC=47–31

|match_COV_IPS=54–24

|match_COV_KL=53–25

|match_COV_OX=44–34

|match_COV_RR=43–35

|match_COV_SHE=47–31

|match_COV_SWI=40–38

|match_COV_WOL=47–31

|name_CH=Cradley Heath

|match_CH_BV=40–38

|match_CH_BRA=43–35

|match_CH_COV=38–40

|match_CH_HAC=52–26

|match_CH_IPS=47–31

|match_CH_KL=44–34

|match_CH_OX=37–41

|match_CH_RR=41–37

|match_CH_SHE=44–34

|match_CH_SWI=40–38

|match_CH_WOL=48–30

|name_HAC=Hackney

|match_HAC_BV=33–45

|match_HAC_BRA=39–39

|match_HAC_COV=39–39

|match_HAC_CH=43–35

|match_HAC_IPS=39–38

|match_HAC_KL=51–27

|match_HAC_OX=38–40

|match_HAC_RR=38–40

|match_HAC_SHE=35–43

|match_HAC_SWI=40–38

|match_HAC_WOL=43–35

|name_IPS=Ipswich

|match_IPS_BV=38–40

|match_IPS_BRA=38–39

|match_IPS_COV=40–38

|match_IPS_CH=38–40

|match_IPS_HAC=50–28

|match_IPS_KL=38–39

|match_IPS_OX=43–35

|match_IPS_RR=37–41

|match_IPS_SHE=38–40

|match_IPS_SWI=41–37

|match_IPS_WOL=39–39

|name_KL=King's Lynn

|match_KL_BV=37–41

|match_KL_BRA=42–36

|match_KL_COV=36–42

|match_KL_CH=37–41

|match_KL_HAC=41–37

|match_KL_IPS=43–34

|match_KL_OX=39–39

|match_KL_RR=36–42

|match_KL_SHE=27–50

|match_KL_SWI=33–45

|match_KL_WOL=50–28

|name_OX=Oxford

|match_OX_BV=45–33

|match_OX_BRA=42–36

|match_OX_COV=37–41

|match_OX_CH=40–38

|match_OX_HAC=43–35

|match_OX_IPS=48–30

|match_OX_KL=43–35

|match_OX_RR=44–34

|match_OX_SHE=42–36

|match_OX_SWI=40–38

|match_OX_WOL=44–34

|name_RR=Reading

|match_RR_BV=45–33

|match_RR_BRA=45–32

|match_RR_COV=34–44

|match_RR_CH=41–37

|match_RR_HAC=43–35

|match_RR_IPS=48–30

|match_RR_KL=47–30

|match_RR_OX=33–45

|match_RR_SHE=38–40

|match_RR_SWI=41–37

|match_RR_WOL=51–27

|name_SHE=Sheffield

|match_SHE_BV=45–31

|match_SHE_BRA=38–40

|match_SHE_COV=44–34

|match_SHE_CH=38–40

|match_SHE_HAC=45–33

|match_SHE_IPS=45–32

|match_SHE_KL=45–33

|match_SHE_OX=42–36

|match_SHE_RR=43–35

|match_SHE_SWI=43–35

|match_SHE_WOL=43–34

|name_SWI=Swindon

|match_SWI_BV=42–36

|match_SWI_BRA=45–33

|match_SWI_COV=36–42

|match_SWI_CH=40–38

|match_SWI_HAC=44–34

|match_SWI_IPS=44–34

|match_SWI_KL=46–32

|match_SWI_OX=39–39

|match_SWI_RR=39–39

|match_SWI_SHE=45–33

|match_SWI_WOL=45–33

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton

|match_WOL_BV=42–36

|match_WOL_BRA=48–30

|match_WOL_COV=46–32

|match_WOL_CH=37–41

|match_WOL_HAC=42–35

|match_WOL_IPS=45–33

|match_WOL_KL=51–27

|match_WOL_OX=38–40

|match_WOL_RR=49–29

|match_WOL_SHE=45–33

|match_WOL_SWI=40–38

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1987.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1987 fixtures & results |access-date=30 April 2025 }}

}}

Semi-finals

Final

Replay first leg

{{football box

|date = 24 October 1987

|team1 =Coventry Bees
Tommy Knudsen 11
Kelvin Tatum 11
Rick Miller 8
David Bargh 7
John Jørgensen 6
David Clarke 3
Wayne Broadhurst 0

|score = 46 - 32

|report =

|team2 = Belle Vue
Peter Ravn 11
Paul Thorp 7
Andy Smith 5
Chris Morton 4
Kenny McKinna 4
Glen Hornby 1
David Blackburn 0

|stadium = Brandon Stadium

}}

Replay second leg

{{football box

|date = 1 November 1987

|team1 =Belle Vue
Chris Morton 14
Peter Ravn 11
Kenny McKinna 8
Richard Knight 4
Glen Hornby 2
David Blackburn 1
Bernie Collier 0

|score = 40 - 38

|report =

|team2 = Coventry Bees
David Bargh 10
Tommy Knudsen 8
Kelvin Tatum 8
Rick Miller 5
John Jørgensen 4
David Clarke 3
Wayne Broadhurst 0

|stadium = Hyde Road

}}

Coventry were declared League Cup winners, winning on aggregate 84-72.

Hans Nielsen won the British League Riders' Championship for the second successive year. It was the held at Hyde Road on 12 October, shortly before the venue closed for good.{{cite news |title=Nielsen retains title after scare |work=Sandwell Evening Mail |date=12 October 1987 |access-date=5 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002487/19871012/458/0029 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

• ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired

The British League Pairs Championship was held at Smallmead Stadium on 12 July and was won by Oxford for the third consecutive year.{{cite news |title=Oxford Wins Hans Down |work=Reading Evening Post |date=13 July 1987 |access-date=18 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19870713/197/0013 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

{{col-3}}

{{col-3}}

{{col-end}}

Final

In the final Nilsen fell and was excluded and Shirra touched the tapes and was excluded, leaving Nielsen and Grahame to complete a 7-0 (pts) uncontested heat.

Cradley Heath won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of six teams.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Mirror |date=22 October 1987 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19871022/298/0039 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}

First round

Semi final round

Because of cancellations due to bad weather the final of the competition doubled up as the Knockout Cup final (see above for details).

Belle Vue

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Chris Morton}} 8.92
• {{player||ENG|Paul Thorp}} 8.41
• {{player||DEN|Peter Ravn}} 8.38
• {{player||ENG|Andy Smith}} 6.35
• {{player||SCO|Kenny McKinna}} 5.82
• {{player||ENG|Carl Blackbird}} 5.55
• {{player||ENG|David Blackburn}} 3.92
• {{player||ENG|Glenn Hornby}} 2.65

{{div col end}}

Bradford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Neil Evitts}} 8.58
• {{player||USA|Lance King}} 8.47
• {{player||ENG|Sean Willmott}} 7.35
• {{player||ENG|Gary Havelock}} 7.31
• {{player||ENG|Steve Bastable}} 5.73
• {{player||USA|Randy Green}} 5.71
• {{player||ENG|Michael Graves}} 4.97
• {{player||ENG|Anthony Hulme}} 1.48

{{div col end}}

Coventry

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||DEN|Tommy Knudsen}} 10.25
• {{player||ENG|Kelvin Tatum}} 10.06
• {{player||USA|Rick Miller}} 8.20
• {{player||DEN|John Jørgensen}} 7.80
• {{player||NZL|David Bargh}} 7.46
• {{player||ENG|David Clarke}} 3.44
• {{player||ENG|Andy Hackett}} 2.58
• {{player||ENG|Wayne Broadhurst}} 2.18
• {{player||ENG|Darren Slater}} 2.13

{{div col end}}

Cradley Heath

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||DEN|Erik Gundersen}} 10.44
• {{player||DEN|Jan O. Pedersen}} 9.60
• {{player||ENG|Simon Cross}} 9.33
• {{player||ENG|David Walsh}} 5.10
• {{player||ENG|Alan Grahame}} 4.94
• {{player||DEN|Jan Jakobsen}} 3.94
• {{player||ENG|Dean Barker}} 3.79
• {{player||ENG|Paul Fry}} 3.47
• {{player||ENG|Wayne Garratt}} 1.18

{{div col end}}

Hackney

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Simon Wigg}} 9.38
• {{player||SWE|Roland Danno}} 7.03
• {{player||ENG|Andy Galvin}} 6.10
• {{player||DEN|Allan Johansen}} 5.60
• {{player||ENG|Malcolm Simmons}} 5.40
• {{player||ENG|Alan Mogridge}} 5.22
• {{player||ENG|Barry Thomas}} 5.20
• {{player||ENG|Mark Loram}} 5.08

{{div col end}}

Ipswich

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Jeremy Doncaster}} 9.67
• {{player||ITA|Armando Castagna}} 8.00
• {{player||FIN|Kai Niemi}} 7.61
• {{player||GER|Gerd Riss}} 6.39
• {{player||ENG|Andy Hines}} 5.03
• {{player||ENG|Louis Carr}} 4.58
• {{player||ENG|Martin Hagon}} 4.05
• {{player||ENG|Robbie Fuller}} 3.97
• {{player||ENG|Jamie Luckhurst}} 2.20

{{div col end}}

King's Lynn

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Richard Knight}} 8.35
• {{player||USA|John Cook}} 6.67
• {{player||AUS|Steve Regeling}} 6.42
• {{player||ENG|Ian Barney}} 6.25
• {{player||ENG|Andy Campbell}} 5.34
• {{player||AUS|Stephen Davies}} 5.27
• {{player||NOR|Einar Kyllingstad}} 4.94
• {{player||AUS|Mick Poole}} 4.93
• {{player||ENG|Ray Morton}} 4.39

{{div col end}}

Oxford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||DEN|Hans Nielsen}} 11.38
• {{player||ENG|Marvyn Cox}} 8.53
• {{player||ENG|Andy Grahame}} 7.87
• {{player||DEN|Jens Rasmussen}} 5.68
• {{player||ENG|Nigel De'ath}} 4.39
• {{player||ENG|Kevin Smart}} 3.72
• {{player||ENG|Alastair Stevens}} 3.63
• {{player||ENG|Jon Surman}} 3.04

{{div col end}}

Reading

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||SWE|Per Jonsson}} 9.34
• {{player||SWE|Jan Andersson}} 8.99
• {{player||ENG|John Davis}} 6.95
• {{player||SWE|Tony Olsson}} 6.60
• {{player||DEN|Peter Glanz}} 6.45
• {{player||ENG|Malcolm Holloway}} 6.02
• {{player||ENG|Gary Tagg}} 2.57
• {{player||ENG|Rodney Payne}} 1.33

{{div col end}}

Sheffield

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||USA|Shawn Moran}} 9.47
• {{player||USA|Kelly Moran}} 9.23
• {{player||ENG|Neil Collins}} 7.59
• {{player||ENG|Peter Carr}} 7.26
• {{player||ENG|Sean Wilson}} 5.50
• {{player||ENG|Ian M Stead}} 4.72
• {{player||ENG|Adrian Stevens}} 3.88

{{div col end}}

Swindon

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||SWE|Jimmy Nilsen}} 9.61
• {{player||NZL|Mitch Shirra}} 9.36
• {{player||ENG|Andrew Silver}} 7.35
• {{player||SWE|Richard Hellsen}} 6.73
• {{player||DEN|Brian Karger}} 6.55
• {{player||ENG|Alun Rossiter}} 6.37
• {{player||SWE|Conny Ivarsson}} 5.73
• {{player||ENG|Matthew Cross}} 1.54
• {{player||NZL|Stephen Rose}} 0.63

{{div col end}}

Wolverhampton

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||USA|Sam Ermolenko}} 9.86
• {{player||DEN|Preben Eriksen}} 7.28
• {{player||USA|Ronnie Correy}} 6.33
• {{player||DEN|Jan Stæchmann}} 6.01
• {{player||DEN|Lars Munkedal}} 5.48
• {{player||ENG|Andy Phillips}} 4.74
• {{player||ENG|Chris Cobby}} 3.20
• {{player||ENG|Andy Sumner}} 1.26
• {{player||DEN|Torben Hansen}} 0.40

{{div col end}}

• List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
• Knockout Cup (speedway)

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}

{{British Speedway League seasons}}

Category:British League

Category:1987 in British motorsport

Category:1987 in speedway