Hull Vikings

Speedway in Hull began in 1948 when a corporation backed application was lodged with the Speedway Control Board. The team was managed by Fred Archer and the team wore the crest of the city's coat-of-arms (3 golden crowns on a blue shield and yellow background).{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003359/19480118/137/0007 |title=Eighteen applications |website=Weekly Dispatch (London) |date=18 January 1948 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 September 2024}} The team were based at Hedon Stadium in Hedon on the outskirts of Hull.{{cite web | title = Hull Speedway (Hedon) | work = Defunct Speedway Tracks|url = http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Hull%20(Hedon).htm | access-date = 25 August 2021 }} Their inaugural league season was in the 1948 Speedway National League Division Three where they finished 9th.{{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=25 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=25 August 2021}}

On 27 August 1949, the Angels raced their last match at home to Liverpool Chads and then after one more away match they withdrew from the league to be replaced by Swindon Robins.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1949fixtures.pdf |title=1949 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=4 January 2024}}{{cite news |title=Hull Speedway |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=3 September 1949 |access-date=4 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19490903/111/0006 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The speedway promotion applied, without success, to Hull City FC to see if they could use their old Anlaby Road ground.{{cite news |title=Grimsby will miss Hull Speedway |work=Grimsby Daily Telegraph |date=5 September 1949 |access-date=4 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001121/19490905/003/0003 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

File:The Boulevard rugby league ground Hull.jpg

In 1971, promoter Ian Thomas brought speedway back to Hull, when the Vikings began to race at the Boulevard Stadium, a {{convert|380|m|yd|abbr=off}} circumference track. The initial plan to call the team the Hull Kestrels was scrapped.{{cite news |title=Speedway team will be Hull Kestrels |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=23 January 1971 |access-date=4 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19710123/008/0008 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The Vikings raced during the 1971 British League Division Two 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 Boulevard was famous as the long time home of Rugby Football League team Hull FC. During the years of racing at The Boulevard, the Vikings had the dubious distinction of being the last league speedway team ever to appear at the famous West Ham Stadium, on 23 May 1972, when they beat the closing West Ham Hammers 40–38.

After three seasons in division 2 they applied for and gained division 1 status for the 1974 British League season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19740114/011/0011 |title=Hull Vikings get division 1 status |website=Hull Daily Mail |date=14 January 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 September 2024}} The team struggled from 1974 to 1977 despite riders over the four seasons including the likes of Joe Owen, Scots pair Jim McMillan and Bobby Beaton and former multiple world champion Barry Briggs. In 1978 they signed the legendary New Zealander Ivan Mauger, a five times world champion at the time and a young American rider Kelly Moran and the team finished third in the league during 1978.{{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=25 August 2021}}

The Vikings just missed out on becoming British champions during the 1979 British League season, led by Mauger and with solid contributions from Beaton, Moran, Owen, Dennis Sigalos, Graham Drury and Frank Auffret, the team lost by just two point from Coventry Bees. The 1979 season also saw Mauger become the world champion for a record sixth time.{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|page=22|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}}

A sudden decline in form and attendances during 1980 and 1981 was overshadowed when Hull FC announced that they were revoking the Boulevard's speedway licence, leaving promoters Ian Thomas and Brian Larner without a track.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19811017/021/0021 |title=Speedway battle is destined for courts |website=Hull Daily Mail |date=17 October 1981 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 September 2024}}

File:Tour of Sewell Group Craven Park West Stand from South 02.jpg

In 1995, a speedway track was constructed at Craven Park, the home of the city's other rugby league team, Hull Kingston Rovers.{{cite book|last1=Bamford |first1=R. |last2=Jarvis |first2=J. |year=2001 |title=Homes of British Speedway |publisher=History Press Limited |isbn=0-7524-2210-3}} The {{convert|346|m|yd|abbr=off}} long speedway track built by Glyn Taylor ran inside the greyhound racing track. The stadium had opened only six years previous and the Vikings signed Paul Thorp and Jan Stæchmann to spearhead the team. On on 5 April 1995, the first race took place.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003600/19950110/031/0031 |title=Vikings edge closer to the starting gates |website=Hull Daily Mail |date=10 January 1995 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 September 2024}}

When the Elite League was introduced in 1997, Hull chose to compete in the second tier of British speedway for the 1997 and 1998 seasons before competing in the top division during the 1999 Elite League speedway season.

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|File:Speedway Hull Vikings vs Isle of Wight Islanders May 2005, Paul Thorp of the Vikings.png

|Paul Thorp

|File:Garry stead 06-04-05.jpg

|Garry Stead

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Major changes took place for the 2000 season, with the Vikings choosing to drop back down to the Premier League. Paul Thorp was well supported by Garry Stead as the team competed for the league title before finally finishing 3rd. The following season the Vikings finished runner-up to Newcastle Diamonds and won the Knockout Cup.

In 2004, Paul Hodder took over the club from Nigel Wordsworth{{cite web |url=https://www.crash.net/speedway/news/100196/1/hull-changes-hands |title=Hull changes hands |website=Crash.net |access-date=21 September 2024 }} and the Vikings signed Magnus Karlsson to support Thorp and Stead. The team swept the board by winning the Premier League title, Knockout Cup and Young Shield.

However, just one year later in 2005, the club were told by landords Hull Kingston Rovers that they would have to pay £75,000 in order to move the speedway track in order for the rugby pitch to be widened.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2005/07/13/hull_vikings_feature.shtml |title=Vikings' cash concerns | website=BBC |access-date=25 June 2024}} This and other financial issues ultimately resulted in the Vikings being disbanded after the 2005 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Hull%20(Craven%20Park).htm |title=Hull Speedway (New Craven Park) | website=Defunct Speedway |access-date=25 June 2024}}

File:Speedway start 1.jpg

The prospect of speedway returning to Hull would require a new venue to be built as The Boulevard was closed in 2009 and demolished, while in 2010 while Craven Park was redeveloped after the Vikings departure, with the speedway track removed and the ground becoming a rectangular sports venue suited to rugby league.

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{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• {{flagicon|SCO}} Bobby Beaton
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Barry Briggs
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Graham Drury
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Magnus Karlsson
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jim McMillan
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Ivan Mauger
• {{flagicon|USA}} Kelly Moran
• {{flagicon|USA}} Shawn Moran
• {{flagicon|FRG}} Egon Müller
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Owen
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Billy Sanders
• {{flagicon|USA}} Dennis Sigalos
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Garry Stead
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Thorp
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Reg Wilson

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{{Reflist}}

{{Sport in Hull}}

{{Speedway Premier League}}

Category:Sport in Kingston upon Hull

Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom