Barrow Bombers

Speedway arrived in Barrow during 1930 when a number of meetings were conducted at Holker Street, the home of Barrow A.F.C., the town's football club.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1930record.pdf |title=1930 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=26 October 2024}} Organised by the Northern Sports Club, the first meeting was held on 12 June 1930.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000728/19521014/126/0012 |title=Barrow Speedway Record |website=Lancashire Evening Post |date=13 June 1930 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 October 2024 }}

Racing moved to Little Park in Roose during 1931 but crowd levels were insufficient.Pavey, A. (2004) Speedway in the North-West, Tempus Publishing Ltd. {{ISBN|0-7524-3192-7}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19310602/349/0010 |title=Successful Opening Meeting |website=Lancashire Evening Post |date=2 June 1931 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 October 2024 }}

In 1972, speedway returned to Barrow after a 42-year absence. The former Romford Bombers promotion who started the season at the West Ham Stadium in London moved the team north to Holker Street, which had recently installed a circuit around the pitch.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000637/19720404/146/0011 |title=Reaction after tough week-end |website=Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail |date=4 April 1972 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 October 2024 }} The team were initially called the Barrow Happy Faces as their sponsor at the time was Duckhams Oil - its happy face logo was prominently displayed on the team's race jackets. The team finished 9th during the 1972 British League Division Two season.{{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}}

The team were renamed Barrow Bombers for the 1973 and 1974 seasons, where they finished 10th and 12th respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=31 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825113627/https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|url-status=dead}} Despite good crowds, a new home had to be found for the team after the end of the 1974 season, when problems with ground sharing became insurmountable.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}

Local businessman Cliff Hindle built a new stadium at Park Road, which opened halfway through the 1977 season for a short series of open meetings. In 1978 a team was entered under the name Barrow Furness Flyers, but they finished bottom of the National League. Crowds were poor and the track closed after only one season.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=31 August 2021}}

Speedway in Barrow was revived once again in 1984, under the promotion of ex-Barrow rider Chris Roynon. A series of challenge matches were held to gauge public support. Interest was such that a team was entered for the 1985 season under the name of the Barrow Blackhawks.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19850510/179/0021 |title=Dave leads charge on Army line-up |website=Kentish Express |date=10 May 1985 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 October 2024 }} After a disastrous start to the season with an understrength team, the Blackhawks were thrown out of the league. A number of challenge matches were held for the remainder of the season in front of low crowds before the track once again closed.

• Bob Coles
• Tom Owen
• Mike Sampson

• {{cat|Barrow Bombers riders}}
• List of defunct motorcycle speedway teams in the United Kingdom

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Category:Sport in Barrow-in-Furness

Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom