Crystal Palace Glaziers

{{Short description|British speedway team that existed from 1928 to 1939}}

{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team

|clubname = Crystal Palace Glaziers

|image = 125px

|track = Crystal Palace Exhibition Grounds
Sydenham
South London

|country = England

|founded = 1928

|closed = 1939

|manager =

|captain =

|league = Southern League
National League

|website =

|colours =

|tracksize =

|track record time=

|track record date=

|track record holder=

|honour1 = London Cup

|year1 = 1931

}}

Crystal Palace Glaziers were a British speedway team that existed from 1928 to 1939.{{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=14 August 2021}}

History

File:Crystal Palace circuit 2.jpg map]]

File:Crystal palace stadium from the air - geograph.org.uk - 6253921.jpg

Speedway at Crystal Palace was first held on 19 May 1928 during the pioneers days of the sport which had been brought over from Australia that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1928record.pdf |title=1928 fixtures and results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 November 2024 }} The track was constructed around the former football pitch, which was located in the grounds of The Crystal Palace in Sydenham and was famous for hosting FA Cup finals.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004604/19280504/223/0014 |title=Dirt Track Racing |website=Streatham News |date=4 May 1928 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 November 2024 }} Organised by the London Motor Sports Ltd, speedway fixtures were held throughout 1928 at Crystal Palace before the Southern League and Northern Leagues were inaugurated the following year in 1929.

A team known as the Glaziers (because of the glass buildings) were formed and they competed in the 1929 Speedway Southern League, which was the first season conssiting of a league system.{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Crystal%20Palace.htm|title=Crystal Palace Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=14 August 2021}} The Glaziers star riders included Joe Francis and Triss Sharp and the first home fixture took place on 4 May 1929 against Wimbledon Dons.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19290503/300/0029 |title=Crystal Palace Speedway |website=Daily Mirror |date=3 May 1929 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 November 2024 }}

The Glaziers continued to compete in the Southern League for the three seasons and won their first and only honours when winning the London Cup in 1931, beating Wembley Lions in the final.{{cite news |title=Wembley lose London Cup |work=Bayswater Chronicle |date=26 September 1931|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004546/19310926/068/0007 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=15 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }} Other rider to become stars at the track were Roger Frogley, Ron Johnson, Nobby Key and Tom Farndon.

In 1932, the league changed its format, becoming the National League following the merger with the Northern league. The Glaziers performed well and finished as the league runner-up behind Wembley.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}

At the end of the 1933 season under the promotion of Fred Mockford, the entire team relocated to New Cross speedway, with the reason being that Mockford believed attendances would be larger.{{cite web |url=http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Crystal%20Palace%20Glaziers.htm|title=CRYSTAL PALACE GLAZIERS|website=Greyhound Derby|access-date=14 August 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001034/19331015/245/0022 |title=New Track for London |website=Reynolds's Newspaper |date=15 October 1933 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 November 2024 }}

Crystal Palace open meetings were staged at various times in subsequent years until the Glaziers returned for the 1939 Speedway National League Division Two. However the team withdrew mid-season and had their records expunged.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=14 August 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004585/19390404/097/0004 |title=Crystal Palace Season |website=Lewisham Borough News |date=4 April 1939 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 November 2024 }}

The last speedway meeting at Crystal Palace was on Sunday, 13 May 1940 but did not involve the Glaziers.

Notable riders

{{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Farndon
{{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Francis
{{flagicon|ENG}} Roger Frogley
{{flagicon|AUS}} Ron Johnson
{{flagicon|ENG}} Nobby Key
{{flagicon|ENG}} George Newton
{{flagicon|ENG}} Triss Sharp
{{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Shepherd

Season summary

width=350\|Year and league !width=50\|Position !width=350\|Notes
class="wikitable"
align=center \|align="left"\| 1929 Speedway Southern League	4th
align=center \|align="left"\| 1930 Speedway Southern League	7th
align=center \|align="left"\| 1931 Speedway Southern League	4th	London Cup winners
align=center \|align="left"\| 1932 Speedway National League	2nd
align=center \|align="left"\| 1933 Speedway National League	4th
align=center \|align="left"\| 1939 Speedway National League	N/A	withdrew records expunged

Crystal Palace Glaziers

History

Notable riders

Season summary

See also

References

Further reading