Oxford Cheetahs

The Oxford Motorcycle Speedway Club moved to Oxford Stadium in 1939 from a grass circuit in Sandford-on-Thames. The Secretary Ted Mander orchestrated the move and the first individual meeting was held on Easter Saturday 8 April 1939 won by Roy Duke. The club contested team meetings against Smallford, Wisbech, High Beech and Reading.{{cite book|last=Bamford/Shailes|first=Robert/Glynn|title=The History of Oxford Speedway|year=2007|publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-7524-4161-0}}

Racing resumed on 28 April 1940, with guest teams racing. This was followed by just two meetings in 1941 before Mander announced that racing would be suspended for the duration of the World War II. Despite the war ending in 1945 there was no racing from 1942 to 1948. However, during 1948 the stadium owner Leslie Calcutt unsuccessfully applied to the Speedway Control Board for a licence to race in the Third Division.

Following major track renovations in 1949, the club joined the 1949 Speedway National League Division Three. The club took the nickname 'Cheetahs' following a competition for the general public, held by the local Oxford Mail newspaper. The team manager was Ron Bear and the club colours were dark blue and yellow, with the first match being an away fixture at Exeter on 18 April 1949. Oxford lost heavily 60-24 and three days later lost to Hastings 47–37 in their first home fixture. The Cheetahs finished in last place during their inaugural season and used 24 different riders.

The Cheetahs went from finishing last in 1949 to winning the division 3 league and cup double in 1950 and were subsequently promoted to Division two in 1951. Pat Clark was the team's number 1 rider, hitting a season average of 9.99.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=19 April 2024}}

After finishing bottom of the division two in 1952 they rode in the third division called the Southern League in 1953 but following a league restructure, which included the signing of Ronnie Genz,{{cite news |title=Bulldogs rout Oxford |work=Bristol Evening Post |date=5 June 1954 |access-date=19 April 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000764/19540605/014/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} the Cheetahs returned to division two in 1954.{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaychampions.com/league-champions.php|title=UK Speedway Champions|publisher=Speedway Champions}}

Following a league merger the Cheetahs rode in the top tier for the first time in 1957. The team continued to race in the top tier but did not manage to gain any notable success.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1957fixtures.pdf |title=1957 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=19 April 2024}}

File:OP Ht 5 Bob Kilby, Colin Gooddy 080874.jpg

The Cheetahs headed Arne Pander record a third place finish in 1960 and then after struggling in the top division for several years they dramatically won the top-tier league for the first time in 1964{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9302467.SPEEDWAY__Former_Cheetahs_star_How_dies_at_81/|title=SPEEDWAY: Former Cheetahs star How dies at 81|publisher=Oxford Mail}} despite finishing last the season before with many of the same riders. The winning team consisted of Ron How, Arne Pander, Jimmy Gooch, Ronnie Genz, Colin Gooddy, Jack Geran, Colin McKee, Eddie Reeves and John Bishop. They also completed a treble by winning the National Trophy and Britannia Shield.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |page=65 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}

The team failed to emulate the success in the following season, primarily due to the creation of the British League and a division of 18 teams, which forced members of the team to depart under the Speedway Control Board rules. The results suffered and towards the end of the sixties, the team struggled.

File:Oxford Rebels team 1975.jpg

In 1972, the club was rebranded, the Cheetahs became the Oxford Rebels and the stadium renamed as Cowley Stadium.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Reading Evening Post |date=21 April 1972 |access-date=19 April 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19720421/662/0028 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The takeover was by a new consortium, which included former riders Bob Dugard and Danny Dunton, Dave Lanning and the famous musician Acker Bilk. The team under performed badly, finishing 17th from 18 teams despite the new image and failed to make any impact in subsequent seasons.

In what was to be the final year for the Rebels in 1975, the team did win the Midland Cup against Wolverhampton Wolves under the captainship of Dag Lovaas.{{cite news |title=Speedway rider Gary Peterson killed |work=Reading Evening Post |date=18 October 1975 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19751018/394/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }} Following the threat of track closureLawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. {{ISBN| 978-0-244-99725-0}} the promoters started a new team at White City Stadium called the White City Rebels leaving Oxford with no team or riders.

A new Oxford team were formed after a committee of fans had created a "Save Our Stadium" campaign over the previous winter and entered the 1976 National League season (tier 2).Lawson,K (2018) “The Cheetahs – The Resurrection”. {{ISBN| 978-0-244-69934-5}} The club dumped the unpopular name of Rebels and reverted back to the Cheetahs under new promoters Harry Bastable and Tony Allsop and the venue was known again as Oxford Stadium.{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=P|title=Speedway Star Almanac|publisher=Pinegen Ltd|year=2006|isbn = 0-9552376-1-0}} In 1977, Oxford Stadium was purchased by David Hawkins' Northern Sports for £250,000, ending the concern about permanent closure.{{cite web|url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/file/112/oxford-stadium-conservation-area-appraisal |title=Oxford Stadium Conservation Area Appraisal |website=Oxford City Council |access-date=19 April 2024}} The team continued to compete in the second division and saw the number riders include the likes of Martin Yeates and George Hunter.

File:Speedway at Oxford Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 1808350.jpg

File:Hans Nielsen Danish speedway rider 1992.png

Dave Perks topped the league averages in 1980 but the team failed to finish any higher than 12th from 1980 to 1983. Then in 1984, Oxford Cheetahs changed the face of British speedway. Northern Sports invested heavily into the stadium with a £1.5 million three tier grandstand restaurant and sports centre. David Hawkins installed Bernard Crapper and John Payne as speedway co-promoters and the team were entered for the 1984 British League season (the top league tier).{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003580/19831118/028/0028 |title=Goodbye Marvyn |website=Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury |date=18 November 1983 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}} The Cheetahs broke all transfer fee records by signing Danish international Hans Nielsen from Birmingham for a record £30,000, Simon Wigg from Cradley Heath for £25,000,{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.11609|title=Oxford Cheetahs issue rallying call|date=3 March 2017|publisher=Speedway Great Britain}} Marvyn Cox for £15,000 from Rye House, Melvyn Taylor for £12,000 from King's Lynn and Dane Jens Rasmussen.

After a moderate 1984 campaign the team won four trophies in 1985. They won the league, Knockout Cup,{{cite book |last=Bamford |first=Reg |title=Speedway Yearbook |year=2004 | publisher=Tempus Publishing, Stroud | isbn=978-0-7524-2955-7}} Midland Cup{{cite news |title=Grahame's glory |work=Birmingham Mail |date=1 November 1985 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002139/19851101/044/0044 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }} and pairs. The Oxford City council gave the team a civic reception and parade through Oxford on an open top bus.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/2226999.SPEEDWAY__Nielsen_regret_at_Oxford/|title=SPEEDWAY: Nielsen regret at Oxford|publisher=Oxford Mail}}

The following season, the team won a clean sweep of five trophies, winning the league, KO Cup, League Cup, Midland Cup and pairs.{{cite news |title=Bees:We had fight |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=30 October 1986 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19861030/048/0048 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }} Hans Nielsen, was arguably the world's leading rider during the period, topping the league averages a remarkable seven consecutive seasons and being crowned world champion three times in 1986, 1987 and 1989. The Cheetahs won a third league championship in 1989, with Martin Dugard supporting Nielsen and Wigg in the averages.

Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow began to run into financial trouble and the team suffered lack of investment, Hans Nielsen left and the team applied to and raced in division two in 1993. They won the division two fours championship in 1994.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9198965.stm|title=Former Oxford Cheetahs promoter Bernard Crapper dies|work=BBC News|date=17 November 2010}} Northern Sports were later liquidated, meaning the team was not financed by the stadium owners. Additionally in 1995 and 1996 there was only one division of British speedway meaning the Oxford Cheetahs returned to the top division under independent promoters. In 1997, another league restructure resulted in a new Elite League, with the Premier League becoming division two, Oxford competed in the latter.

The team competed in the Elite League under new promotion from 1998 and signed Todd Wiltshire as their number 1.{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6639691.aussie-ace-todd-join-cheetahs/ |title=Aussie Ace to join Oxford |website=Oxford Mail |access-date=9 February 2023}}

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|Steve Johnston

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Promoter Steve Purchase signed Australian Leigh Adams for the 2001 season and supported by Wiltshire, Brian Andersen, Steve Johnston and the Dryml brothers Lukáš and Aleš, the Cheetahs became champions of Britain for the fifth time.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/4939/oxford|title=Oxford|website=wwosbackup|access-date=31 July 2021}}

The Oxford Cheetahs were renamed for three seasons as the Oxford Silver Machine from 2003 to 2005, under the promotion of Nigel Wagstaff. Again the renaming was not popular with the fans but number 1 rider Greg Hancock was.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6582013.Get_set_for_the_Oxford__Silver_Machine_/|title=Get set for the Oxford 'Silver Machine'|publisher=Oxford Mail}} However, in 2006 they reverted to their original name, which was apt because it would be their final full season as a top tier speedway team for 18 years.

Until 30 May 2007, the Cheetahs rode in the Elite League and operated a junior side known as the Oxford Lions which competed in the Conference League. In a statement issued by the British Speedway Promoters Association on 31 May 2007, their owner Colin Horton closed the club as a result of poor attendances and financial losses.{{cite web| title = Oxford Closure - Full Statement | publisher = British Speedway Promoters' Association | date = 31 May 2007 | url = http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.653 | access-date = 2007-10-28 }} In June 2007, businessman Allen Trump invested in the club (also sponsoring the club via LCD Publishing) to secure the lease on the track and the Cheetahs completed the 2007 season in the Conference League, replacing the Lions.{{cite web| title = Oxford Saved | publisher = British Speedway Promoters' Association | date = 9 June 2007| url = http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.681 | access-date = 2007-10-28 }}

After the 2007 season, owner Allen Trump planned to bring the Cheetahs back into the Premier League for 2008.{{cite web | title = Cheetahs to return to Premier League? | publisher = WorldSpeedway.com | date = 1 December 2007 | url = http://www.worldspeedway.com/artman/publish/article_4717.shtml | access-date = 2008-04-11 }} However, Trump was unable to secure a deal with landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) to continue speedway racing at the Cowley and handed the promotion back to the BSPA.{{cite web | title = Oxford Speedway: Allen Trump tells why | publisher = WorldSpeedway.com | date = 16 December 2007 | url = http://www.worldspeedway.com/artman/publish/article_4803.shtml | access-date = 2008-04-11 }}{{cite web | title = Major blow for Cheetahs | publisher = British Speedway Promoters' Association | date = 24 January 2008 | url = http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.1227.1 | access-date = 2008-04-11 }} Further negotiations with the GRA were unsuccessful and Oxford had no speedway for 14 years.{{Cite web |url=http://oxfordspeedway.ossc.me.uk/ |title=Oxford Speedway - Home of the Oxford TFSuccess.com Cheetahs |access-date=6 April 2009 |archive-date=23 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423044736/http://oxfordspeedway.ossc.me.uk/ |url-status=dead }} A number of committed fans keen to see the return of speedway to Oxford remained active. Two supporters groups, the Oxford Speedway Supporters Club (OSSC) and Save Oxford Speedway (SOS) held regular events and trips for Oxford fans and actively campaigned for the return of speedway to Oxford.[http://www.ossc.me.uk Oxford Speedway Supporters Club website]

On 11 November 2021, it was confirmed that the Cheetahs would return for the 2022 season in the SGB Championship, after a 14-year absence from British Speedway. The stadium had been leased to Kevin Boothby, who was keen to bring back the sport.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/59246564|title=Oxford Cheetahs: Speedway side set for British Championship return in 2022|publisher=BBC Sport}} Jamie Courtney would be the team promoter.{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19708360.speedway-oxford-cheetahs-set-return-oxford-stadium/|title=Speedway and Oxford Cheetahs set to return to Oxford Stadium|website=Oxford Mail|access-date=18 November 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/59246564|title=Oxford Cheetahs: Speedway side set for British Championship return in 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 November 2021}} The Cheetahs also ran a junior side called the Chargers for the 2022 NDL season{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.39962|title=Jenkins leads the Chargers|website=Official British Speedway|date=3 March 2017|access-date=14 January 2022}} and 2023 NDL season, winning the league title during the latter.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/ndl/chargers-title-joy/ |title=Chargers' win title |website=British Speedway |access-date=5 November 2023}}

In 2024, Oxford named three teams to compete in all three tiers of British speedway (the first time that a club had a team in each of the three leagues). The Cheetahs remained in the Championship, the Spires into the Premiership, and the Chargers remained in the NDL. The Cheetahs reached the play off and knockout cup finals.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwylw7e63n4o |title=Poole Pirates crowned speedway champions |website=BBC Sport |access-date=10 October 2024}}

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{{cite web | title = Rider Averages | url = http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/rideraverages.pdf | access-date = 20 May 2018 | archive-date = 29 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170729172614/http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/rideraverages.pdf | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/extras/tables/tables.php?12.|title=2006 Elite League Greensheet Averages|date=3 March 2017|publisher=Speedway Great Britain}}{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/elgreensheets05|title=2005 Elite League Greensheet Averages|date=3 March 2017|publisher=Speedway Great Britain}}

+ Elite League side withdrew from league

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First team

Season summary (juniors)

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{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|DEN}} Brian Andersen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Pat Clark
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Marvyn Cox
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Todd Wiltshire
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Aleš Dryml Jr.
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Dugard
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie Genz
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Gooddy
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Grahame
• {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Hancock
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ron How
• {{flagicon|SCO}} George Hunter
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Steve Johnston
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Gordon Kennett
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Scott Nicholls
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Hans Nielsen
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Arne Pander
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Perks
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Jens Rasmussen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Sparshott
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Melvyn Taylor
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Rick Timmo
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Wigg
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Todd Wiltshire
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Yeates

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• List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
• Knockout Cup (speedway)

• The Story of Oxford Speedway. (Robert Bamford and Glynn Shailes, 2007) {{ISBN|978-0-7524-4161-0}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}

{{SGB Premiership}}

{{SGB Championship}}

{{Speedway National League}}

Category:Sport in Oxford

Category:Organisations based in Oxford

Category:SGB Premiership teams

Category:SGB Championship teams

Category:1939 establishments in England