Ellesmere Port Gunners

The inaugural league season for the team was during the 1972 British League Division Two season in which they finished in 15th 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 first track record on the 424 yard track was 76.0 seconds, set by John Jackson on 2 May 1972. The team continued to operate from 1972 until 1982 continuously competing in Division Two for 11 years, with a best place finish of 2nd in 1976.{{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=1 September 2021}}

Ellesmere Port finished runner-up to Newcastle Diamonds during the 1976 National League season led by number 1 rider John Jackson. For the 1977 National League season, the Gunners were installed as favourites to win the league but the team managed by co-promoter Joe Shaw failed to live up to expectations and finished third.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19770315/438/0015 |title=Gunners have high hopes of new season |website=Liverpool Echo |date=15 March 1977 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 September 2024}}

A rider died on the Ellesmere Port track on 3 December 1977. Stuart Shirley lost his life on a Saturday morning training school after a collision.{{cite news |title=Fatal crash |work=Sunday Mirror |date=4 December 1977 |access-date=1 September 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19771204/264/0044| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

At the end of the 1978 season the Gunners sold their star rider Phil Collins to Cradley Heath for £15,000, which set a new British transfer record at the time.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790118/525/0024 |title=Jessup to smash transfer fee records |website=Reading Evening Post |date=18 January 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 March 2025 }}

In 1983 the Gunners dropped out of the league despite reaching the previous season's KO Cup final and assurances by promoter Richard Park that the team would continue racing at Thornton Road amidst rising costs.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005474/19821126/030/0030 |title=Gunners to continue |website=Liverpool Daily Post |date=26 November 1982 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 March 2025 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005474/19830222/032/0032 |title=Gunners to shut up shop |website=Liverpool Daily Post |date=22 February 1983 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 March 2025 }}

The club was resurrected for one season in 1985 and went on to win the title during the 1985 National League season. They won the title after beating Poole Pirates and Middlesbrough Tigers by just one point. The team also reached the final of the Knockout Cup but lost to Eastbourne Eagles.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=1 September 2021}} The eventual track record went twice on the same night during the Knock-Out Cup Final 1st-leg. Gordon Kennett of Eastbourne clocked 69.2 only to be beaten by The Gunners Louis Carr in the very next heat with a time of 69.1.{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Ellesmere%20Port%20Speedway.htm|title=Ellesmere Port Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=1 September 2021}}

The speedway track was replaced by a greyhound racing track in late 1987.{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}

File:The former Boston Speedway Track - geograph.org.uk - 1808345.jpg

{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/4920/ellesmere-port|title=Ellesmere Port|website=wwosbackup|access-date=1 September 2021}}

• Louis Carr
• Phil Collins
• Graham Drury
• Steve Finch
• Colin Goad
• John Jackson
• Eric Monaghan
• Dave Morton
• Joe Owen
• Chris Turner
• Paul Tyrer
• David Walsh

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Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom

Category:Sport in Ellesmere Port