Crayford Kestrels

File:Crayford pair hold off B Leonard.jpg

Speedway meetings in Crayford were first held during 1935 and 1936 but soon ended and the sport would not return for over 30 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/crayford.html |title=Crayford |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=2 November 2024 }}

In 1967 a speedway circuit was constructed inside the greyhound track at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium and promoter Johnnie Hoskins planned to bring the speedway team from Edinburgh to Crayford because Old Meadowbank had closed.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19671014/658/0054 |title=Only track |website=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=14 October 1967 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 November 2024 }} However, the Edinburgh team moved to Coatbridge and Hoskins turned his attention to Canterbury. Bill Bridgett and Mike Parker of the Wolverhampton Wolves stepped in to promote the Crayford speedway{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003546/19680503/263/0015 |title=Speedway comes to Kent |website=Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph |date=3 May 1968 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 November 2024 }} Crayford were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968. The first signings were Mick Handley and Dave Parry (Wolves riders on loan){{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003546/19680524/293/0020 |title=Speedway club makes signings |website=Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph |date=24 May 1968 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 November 2024 }} and the team finished in sixth place during its inaugural 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 known as the Crayford Highwaymen continued to race throughout the 1969 and 1970 seasons. Geoff Ambrose starred in 1969 when the team finished fourth in the league.{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-64.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1964-1969 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=2 November 2024 }} However, after the 1970 season the team were disbanded with the promoters citing not being able to afford the new rider pay rates.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19710303/251/0027 |title=Crayford killed by cash crisis |website=Daily Mirror |date=3 March 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 November 2024 }}

Speedway returned to the stadium in 1975 with a team nicknamed the Kestrels under the co-promotion of Peter Thorogood and Len Silver.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19750110/210/0013 |title=Riders set for Kestrels take-off |website=Kentish Express |date=10 January 1975 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 November 2024 }} The Kestrels would compete for nine years from 1975 to 1983.

The Kestrels won the Four-Team Championship, held at the East of England Arena on 27 July 1980; the team was Paul Woods, Les Rumsey, Steve Naylor, Alan Sage and Laurie Etheridge.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Mirror |date=28 July 1980 |access-date=10 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19800728/144/0027 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |page= 69 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}} However, arguably their most successful season was the third place finish during the 1983 National League season.{{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=29 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=29 August 2021}}

The team were forced to relocate for the 1984 season as the stadium was sold for redevelopmentJacobs, N. Speedway in the South East. {{ISBN|0-7524-2725-3}} and for the 1984 season the team transferred the promotion to Hackney and ran a team called the Hackney Kestrels.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003223/19840209/251/0031 |title=West Row Opener |website=Newmarket Journal |date=9 February 1984 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}

• Geoff Ambrose
• Mick Handley
• Les Rumsey
• Barry Thomas
• Paul Woods

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

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Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom

Category:Sport in Kent

Category:Crayford