Boston Barracudas
{{Short description|British speedway team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = Boston Barracudas
|image = 150px
|track = Boston Sports Stadium (1970–1987)
King's Lynn Stadium (2000–2008)
|country = England
|founded = 1970
|closed = 2008
|colours = Blue and White
|tracksize = 342 metres
|track record time=
|track record date=
|track record holder=
|honour1 = BL Div. 2
|year1 = 1973
|honour2 = BL Div. 2 KO Cup
|year2 = 1973
|honour3 = NL Pairs
|year3 = 1977
|honour4 = Conference League KO Cup
|year4 = 2000
|honour5 = Conference League Pairs
|year5 = 2007, 2008
}}
The Boston Barracudas were a speedway team that competed from 1970 to 1987 and again from 2000 to 2008. the team were based at Boston Sports Stadium in New Hammond Beck Road, Boston, Lincolnshire.{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Boston.htm|title=Boston Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=31 August 2021}}
History
= Origins and 1970s =
File:Boston team March 1976.jpg
The Boston Barracudas were founded mid-season in 1970 by promoters Cyril Crane and Gordon Perkins. Planning permission was received to construct a track at the Boston Sports Stadium and the promoters bought the second tier team known as the King's Lynn Starlets from Maurice Littlechild.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19700614/218/0030 |title=Battling Boston get the go-ahead |website=Sunday Mirror |date=14 June 1970 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}} The Barracudas first home fixture was an inter-counties cup match against Peterborough Panthers on 16 August.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1970record.pdf |title=1970 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=29 September 2024}} The team fulfilled the remaining King's Lynn fixtures and finished the season in 13th place.{{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 continued to compete in the second division and during the 1973 British League Division Two season completed the league and cup double by finishing 1st in the league table and winning the Knockout Cup.{{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}}{{cite book| last = Oakes| first = P| author-link =| title = Speedway Star Almanac| publisher = Pinegen Ltd| date = 2006| location =| pages =| url =| doi =| id =| isbn = 0-9552376-1-0}} The team led by Arthur Price was backed up by Carl Glover, who had improved his average significantly to 9.62 and six other riders who posted averages from 8.42 to 6.88.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=29 September 2024}}
The remainder of the decade was less successful and from 1975 they competed in the National League (the new name for division 2). Also in 1975, the Barracudas signed 16-year-old Michael Lee on loan from King's Lynn. Lee would be a world champion just 5 years later.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005169/19750207/483/0020 |title=Teenager joins 'Cudas |website=Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian |date=7 February 1975 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}} With no Price, Glover or Lee, the team could only record a best finish of 7th in 1977.
= 1980s =
File:The former Boston Speedway Track - geograph.org.uk - 1808345.jpg
With riders such as David Gagen and Rob Hollingworth, Boston were consistent but were unable to challenge for honours. In late 1984 promoter Cyril Crane was unhappy over new rules and wanted to sell his promotion rights.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005170/19841220/01134/0045 |title=Speedway boss plans takeover talks |website=Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian |date=20 December 1984 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}} Despite signing riders for 1985, the club withdrew from the league just days before the start of the season, when Crane relinquished his interests.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005170/19850228/536/0040 |title=Cudas' future hangs in balance |website=Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian |date=28 February 1985 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}
The team soon returned for the 1986 season, under a new promotion team of Richard Green, David Cox and Glen Norton.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005190/19851206/403/0035 |title=Cudas back in action |website=Skegness Standard |date=6 December 1985 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}} However, after just one season the team entered 1987 and suffered heavy defeats and financial issues. This resulted in the Barracudas withdrawing mid-season with the last fixture being a heavy home defeat to Eastbourne on 1 August 1987, the Barracudas results were expunged.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=31 August 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005383/19870813/238/0022 |title=Speedway shutdown |website=Sleaford Standard |date=13 August 1987 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}
= 2000s =
File:Speedway 2007 Oxford v Boston.jpg
In 2000 the club was reformed and entered the third tier Conference League but riding at King's Lynn Stadium because the Boston Sports Stadium had closed in 1987. During the 2000 Speedway Conference League the team finished 4th and won the Conference League Knockout Cup defeating Rye House Rockets in the final.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005569/20001024/557/0063 |title=Speedway |website=Shropshire Star |date=24 October 2000 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/11/cup-competition-for-third-level-teams.html|title=Conference League Knockout Cup Winners|publisher=Speedway Archive}}
The team won the 2003 Conference Trophy riding as the Boston Barracuda-Braves and competed up to the end of the 2008 Speedway Conference League season. The last honours for the club were two consecutive Pairs Championship wins in 2007, won by Paul Cooper and Simon Lambert{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/2007fixtures.pdf |title=2007 fixtures & results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 July 2023}} and 2008, when won by James Cockle and Lambert.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/2008fixtures.pdf |title=2008 fixtures & results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 July 2023}}
Season summary
{{collapse top}}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| width=350|Year and league
!width=50|Position !width=350|Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| align=center
|align="left"| 1970 British League Division Two season | 13th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1971 British League Division Two season | 4th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1972 British League Division Two season | 2nd | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1973 British League Division Two season | 1st | Champions & Knockout Cup winners |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1974 British League Division Two season | 3rd | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1975 New National League season | 5th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1976 National League season | 12th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1977 National League season | 7th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1978 National League season | 17th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1979 National League season | 16th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1980 National League season | 6th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1981 National League season | 6th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1982 National League season | 8th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1983 National League season | 16th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1984 National League season | 6th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1986 National League season | 12th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1987 National League season | N/A | withdrew, results expunged |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2000 Speedway Conference League | 4th | Knockout Cup winners |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2001 Speedway Conference League | 3rd | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2002 Speedway Conference League | 6th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2003 Speedway Conference League | 4th | rode as Barracuda-Braves |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2004 Speedway Conference League | 5th | rode as Barracuda-Braves |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2005 Speedway Conference League | 9th | rode as Barracuda-Braves |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2006 Speedway Conference League | 5th | rode as Barracuda-Braves |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2007 Speedway Conference League | 4th | Pairs winners |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2008 Speedway Conference League | 2nd | rode as Barracuda-Braves, pairs winners |
{{collapse bottom}}
Notable riders
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|James Cockle}}
- {{player||ENG|Paul Cooper}}
- {{player||ENG|David Gagen}}
- {{player||ENG|Carl Glover}}
- {{player||ENG|Rob Hollingworth}}
- {{player||ENG|Simon Lambert}}
- {{player||ENG|Michael Lee}}
- {{player||ENG|Arthur Price}}
{{colend}}
See also
- {{cat|Boston Barracudas riders}}
- List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
- Knockout Cup (speedway)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}
{{Speedway Conference League}}
Category:Speedway Conference League teams