Eastbourne Eagles

During 1928 the Eastbourne Motorcycle Sports Club purchased a field in Arlington for the purposes of dirt track racing.{{cite web |url=https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/90-years-of-eastbourne-speedway/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127163623/https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/90-years-of-eastbourne-speedway/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=27 November 2020 |title=90 years of Eastbourne Speedway |website=Eastbourne Speedway |access-date=6 August 2023}} Practice sessions took place before the official opening on 5 August 1929 by the Arlington Motor Sports Club.{{cite news |title=Arlington Motor Sports Club |work=Eastbourne Gazette |date=7 August 1929|access-date=22 April 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001928/19290807/079/0009 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}

Over the following years the race meetings continued at regular intervals but there was still no team formed to compete in the British league system. However the Hailsham Cup was the main prize available and large attendances frequented the track. In 1937, George Newton broke the track record, which lasted until 1955. In 1938, a team was formed to compete in the Sunday Amateur Dirt Track League. The team included Tiger Hart, Bob Lovell, Danny Lee, Charlie Dugard, Stan Johns, Charlie Page and Jack Collins. Activity at Arlington ended during 1939 due to the outbreak of World War II but did return for a one off meeting in March 1940.{{cite news |title=Speedway meeting to-morrow |work=Eastbourne Herald |date=23 March 1940 |access-date=14 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002017/19400323/034/0005 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

After the war, Charlie Dugard bought the track and it underwent extensive repairs before opening again on 14 July 1946. The following season the team joined the 1947 Speedway National League Division Three and led by captain Ken Tidbury and top scorer Wally Green, they became champions. Despite winning the title at their first attempt they were forced to close down due to a petrol ban enforced at their Arlington Stadium. They decided to transfer their team to Hastings Saxons and at the beginning of 1948 the Speedway Control Board granted a licence to Hastings to stage speedway. Eastbourne would not compete again in the league until they joined the Southern Area League in 1954, although challenge matches were held during 1950 and 1953.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=23 August 2021}}

The team returned to compete in the Southern Area League and struggled until Leo McAuliffe and Jimmy Heard helped lift them to second place in 1956. McAuliffe won the Southern Area League Riders' Championship the same year. Another second place in 1957 was followed by a season of challenge matches in 1958. In 1959, they won the 1959 Southern Area League, which was the second division league.{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-58.htm |title=1958 to 1963 |website=Cyber Morotcycles |access-date=14 May 2024}}

In 1960, the club were refused entry to the new Provincial league but continued to hold challenge meetings util 1964, when they joined the Metropolitan League. However, after 1964 the club closed for four years. The Eagles returned for the 1969 British League Division Two season.{{cite news |title=Speedway rise in popularity |work=Rugby Advertiser |date=24 January 1969 |access-date=14 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001934/19690124/455/0023| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

File:Eastbourne Eagles.jpg

In 1971, the Eagles won silverware, winning the 1971 British League Division Two. Despite losing their leading rider Dave Jessup to division 1, Eastbourne triumphed by bringing in new signing Malcolm Ballard to support the Kennett brothers Gordon and Dave.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=23 August 2021}}

The club remained in division 2 until it was renamed the National League and they won their first Knockout Cups in 1975.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}} They were National League champions in 1977 and won two more knockout Cups in 1977 and 1978 respectively.{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980 |publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}} In 1979, the team stepped up to compete in the top division for the first time.

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|Colin Richardson

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|Gordon Kennett

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After competing in the top division for six years, the Eagles dropped back down to the National League. Eastbourne achieved the 'double double' by winning the National League and Cup double in both 1986 and 1987. The team was spearheaded by Gordon Kennett, Martin Dugard and Colin Richardson.

In 1991, the team returned to the top league and in 1994 they won their sixth Knockout Cup (but first in the top flight). The following season in 1995, Eastbourne won their first highest league title, after they won the 1995 Premier League speedway season. The gulf in quality of teams was evident after the merging of the two leagues, with the Eagles winning the title 56 points clear of bottom club Exeter Falcons.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=HISTORY ARCHIVE|website=British Speedway|access-date=4 July 2021}} Eastbourne had been an easy runner-up the previous year to runaway winners Poole Pirates and retained four of their riders, Martin Dugard, Dean Barker, Stefan Dannö and Stefan Andersson, which provided enough firepower to seal the Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1995.php|title=1995 league tables|publisher=Speedway GB}}

After a second place finish and another top tier Knockout Cup win in 1997, the Eagles finished the decade with two mid-table finishes.

File:2007 Oxford v Eastbourne speedway.jpg

The Eagles became the British champions for the second time after winning the 2000 Speedway Elite League, with Martin Dugard once again being the star for the team. They then topped the table in 2002 but lost the play off final, although consolation was gained by becoming Elite League Knockout Cup winners in 2002.

{{cite book | last = Bamford | first = Robert | title = Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2004 | publisher = NPI Media Group | date = January 2004 | isbn = 0-7524-2915-9 }}

The Eagles continued to compete in the Elite League and won their fourth highest division Knockout Cup win in 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12268_4408444,00.html|title=Eagles seal KO Cup shock|date=2008-10-27|publisher=Skysports|access-date=2008-10-28}}

The Eagles competed in the top league for 24 consecutive seasons until the end of the 2014 season.

In 2015, the team joined the National League and gained success for four consecutive years, winning the third tier Knockout Cup four years running and winning the 2018 league title. The Eagles moved up to the second tier in 2019.

After the leagues were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eagles competed in the SGB Championship 2021 (division 2) but withdrew from the league on 26 August because of financial problems. Their results were expunged as were the NDL results of their junior side called the Eastbourne Seagulls.{{cite web |url=https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/other-sport/eastbourne-speedway-withdraw-from-2021-season-3360113|title=Eastbourne Speedway withdraw from 2021 season|website=Eastbourne Herald|access-date=1 September 2021}} The last match was held on 31 July 2021.

As of 2023, a consortium continued to search for a new venue to bring back speedway to Eastbourne{{cite magazine |author= |title=Eastbourne Search |url=|magazine=Speedway Star |page=4 |location= |publisher= |date=10 June 2023 |access-date=}} and in 2024 the Arlington Staduium's owners (the Dugards) were approached to race NORA meetings.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Eagles need promoting figurehead |url=|magazine=Speedway Star |page=3 |location= |publisher= |date=6 July 2024 |access-date=}}

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• {{flagicon|SWE}} Stefan Andersson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Malcolm Ballard
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Barker
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Stefan Dannö
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Dugard
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Gachet
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Gilbertson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Gooddy
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Grahame
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Wally Green
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jock Grierson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Jessup
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Gordon Kennett
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Loram
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Leo McAuliffe
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Middleditch
• {{flagicon|USA}} Kelly Moran
• {{flagicon|ENG}} David Norris
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Nicki Pedersen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Richardson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Screen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Weatherley

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2021 season

the Seagulls were formed in February 2021 and disbanded in August 2021. This was the junior side of the Eagles.{{cite web|title=National Development League Details|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38635 |publisher=Speedway GB |date=2021-02-24 |accessdate=2021-03-14}}

The Seagulls' first two signings for the season were Jake Knight and Richard Andrews, both returning to Arlington having ridden for the Eagles when they were in the National League.{{cite web|title=Knight back for Seagulls|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38651 |publisher=Speedway GB |date=2021-03-01 |accessdate=2021-03-14}}{{cite web|title=Andrews joins Seagulls|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38665 |publisher=Speedway GB |date=2021-03-06 |accessdate=2021-03-14}} Club asset, and local youngster, Nathan Ablitt was then confirmed as one of the Seagulls' reserves starting on a 3.00 average.{{cite web|title=Ablitt is our latest Seagull|url=https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/ablitt-is-our-latest-seagull/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308094548/https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/ablitt-is-our-latest-seagull/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=8 March 2021 |publisher=Eastbourne Eagles |date=2021-03-08 |accessdate=2021-03-14}} The Seagulls then completed the signings of Chad Wirtzfeld and Connor King, who both had previous National League experience with the Isle of Wight Warriors.{{cite web|title=Eastbourne welcomes Chad Wirtzfeld|url=https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/eastbourne-welcomes-chad-wirtzfeld/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312230007/https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/eastbourne-welcomes-chad-wirtzfeld/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=12 March 2021 |publisher=Eastbourne Eagles |date=2021-03-11 |accessdate=2021-03-14}}{{cite web|title=Connor King announced as the fifth Seagull|url=https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/connor-king-announced-as-the-fifth-seagull/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315090712/https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/connor-king-announced-as-the-fifth-seagull/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 March 2021 |publisher=Eastbourne Eagles |date=2021-03-15 |accessdate=2021-03-15}} Henry Atkins became the Seagulls' sixth signing, he raced for the Seagulls alongside riding for his SGB Championship team, the Plymouth Gladiators.{{cite web|title=Atkins joins Seagulls NDL squad|url=https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/atkins-joins-seagulls-ndl-squad/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316120054/https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/atkins-joins-seagulls-ndl-squad/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 March 2021 |publisher=Eastbourne Eagles |date=2021-03-16 |accessdate=2021-03-16}} Another local rider, Nick Laurence, was named as the Seagulls' second reserve and their final signing.{{cite web|title=Laurence completes Seagulls|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38686 |publisher=Speedway GB |date=2021-03-23 |accessdate=2021-03-25}}

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2021 team

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Lawson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Edward Kennett
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Lewis Kerr
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Brennan
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Kyle Newman
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Drew Kemp
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Nathan Ablitt

2019 team

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Edward Kennett
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Lawson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Lewis Kerr
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Kyle Newman
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Georgie Wood
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Alfie Bowtell
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Edwards
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Brennan {{efn|Tom Brennan was replaced in the team by Kyle Newman on 21 May 2019.}}
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Morley {{efn|Ben Morley was replaced in the team by Jason Edwards on 16 July 2019.}}

2018 team

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Georgie Wood
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Baseby
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Brennan
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Edwards
• {{flagicon|GER}} Ethan Spiller
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Charley Powell
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Charlie Brooks
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Kelsey Dugard {{efn|Kelsey Dugard was replaced in the team by Ethan Spiller on 27 July 2018.}}

2017 team

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Bailey
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Jake Knight
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Georgie Wood
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Brennan
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Charley Powell
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Mattie Bates
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Charlie Saunders
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Kelsey Dugard Kelsey Dugard and Connor Coles were replaced in the team by Matt Saul and Jake Knight on 2 June 2017.
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Connor Coles Kelsey Dugard and Connor Coles were replaced in the team by Matt Saul and Jake Knight on 2 June 2017.
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Matt Saul {{efn|Matt Saul was replaced in the team by Charlie Saunders on 3 August 2017.}}
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Baseby {{efn|Mark Baseby was replaced in the team by Josh Bailey on 23 August 2017.}}

2016 team

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Adam Ellis
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Jake Knight
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ellis Perks
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Georgie Wood
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Gary Cottham
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Charley Powell
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Harris

2015 team

• {{flagicon|NZL}} Bradley Wilson-Dean
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Hopwood
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Marc Owen
• {{flagicon|GER}} Daniel Spiller
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Georgie Wood
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Andrews
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Kelsey Dugard

2014 team

• {{flagicon|DEN}} Bjarne Pedersen
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Cameron Woodward
• {{flagicon|FIN}} Joonas Kylmäkorpi
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Mikkel Michelsen
• {{flagicon|FIN}} Timo Lahti
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Lewis Blackbird
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Halsey

2013 team

• {{flagicon|DEN}} Bjarne Pedersen
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Cameron Woodward
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Lukáš Dryml
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Kim Nilsson
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Simon Gustafsson
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Mikkel Michelsen
• {{flagicon|FIN}} Timo Lahti

2012 team

• {{flagicon|FIN}} Joonas Kylmäkorpi
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Simon Gustafsson
• {{flagicon|FIN}} Timo Lahti
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Lewis Bridger
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Cameron Woodward
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Lukáš Dryml
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Denis Gizatullin

Notes

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• Hastings Saxons

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Eastbourne Eagles riders}}

Category:Speedway Elite League teams

Category:SGB Championship teams

Category:National League speedway teams

Category:Sport in Eastbourne