Rayleigh Rockets
{{Short description|Former British speedway team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = Rayleigh Rockets
|image = 150px
|track = Rayleigh Weir Stadium
Southend Arterial Road
Rayleigh
Essex
|country = England
|founded = 1949
|closed = 1973
|manager =
|captain =
|league =
|website =
|colours = Blue and Yellow
|tracksize = {{convert|365|yd|m}}
|track record time=
|track record date=
|track record holder=
|honour1 = Southern League Champions
|year1 = 1952, 1953
|honour2 = Provincial League Champions
|year2 = 1960
}}
The Rayleigh Rockets were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1973 from the Rayleigh Weir Stadium in Rayleigh, Essex .Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/rayleigh.htm|title=Rayleigh Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=25 August 2021}}
History
= Origins and 1940s =
In June 1948, the Speedway Control Board granted a permit for speedway to be held at the recently constructed Rayleigh Weir Stadium.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19480605/057/0004 |title=A Parker thriller |website=Daily News (London) |date=5 June 1948 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }} The first was a challenge match on 17 July 1948.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1948fixtures.pdf |title=1948 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 February 2025 }} The following season the club organised a training school for novices{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000516/19490107/020/0004 |title=8,000 of these were Sweater Girls|website=Chelmsford Chronicle |date=7 January 1949 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }} and Messrs. Greavey and Rundle entered a team (the Rockets) into the 1949 Speedway National League Division Three.{{cite news |title=League speedway reaches Central Essex |work=Essex Newsman |date=18 March 1949 |access-date=14 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000530/19490318/021/0004 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
During the Rockets inaugural league season they finished in 12th 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}}
= 1950s =
After two more seasons in Division Three (1950 and 1951) they joined the Southern League (which was a new name for the third division). The club became champions of the league during the 1952 Speedway Southern League season,{{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}} with riders Jack Unstead, Gerry Jackson and New Zealander Peter Clark all averaging over 9 and the team winning the league title by ten clear points.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 February 2025 }}
Despite the loss of Jack Unstead to Bristol Bulldogs, the Rockets retained their league title during the 1953 Speedway Southern League season, with Jackson and Clark particularly prominent.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}} In 1954 Rayleigh were in division 2 and they struggled, finishing last but improved dramatically to 3rd the following season with largely the same riders.{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-52.htm|title=Speedway Teams UK 1952-1957 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=20 February 2025 }}
Another strong season resulted in 1956 but in 1957 the leagues were re-organised and Rayleigh found themselves in the top division for the first time. The team failed to strengthen sufficiently and only managed five wins that season.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}} The following season, promoter Vic Gooden decided to take over the promotion at Poole Pirates and transferred the entire team, leaving Rayleigh with no speedway.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000844/19580105/202/0021 |title=Speedway |website=Sunday Mirror |date=5 January 1958 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }}
= 1960s =
The Rockets re-opened again in 1960{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19591222/194/0019 |title=A Great New Year for Speedway|website=Daily Mirror |date=22 December 1959 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }} under the promotion of Wally Mawdsley and rider Pete Lansdale.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003286/19600225/085/0003 |title=Speedway coming back, contract signed |website=Evening News (London) |date=25 February 1960 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }} The team entered the Provincial League (the second division of speedway at the time). The Rockets top two riders, Reg Reeves and Alan Smith were instrumental in helping Rayleigh win their third piece of silverware, after winning the 1960 Provincial Speedway League title.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=25 August 2021}} After a fifth place finish in 1961, speedway ended again because of falling gates and rider wage demands.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19611207/451/0020 |title=Speed Track closes |website=Daily Express |date=7 December 1961 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }}
In 1964, the Rockets entered a regional Metropolitan League but this was the last league racing seen until 1968,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19640315/483/0039 |title=Speedway Team for Paisley |website=Sunday Mirror |date=15 March 1964 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 February 2025 }} when Len Silver took over as promoter. The team returned for the 1968 British League Division Two season, finishing 5th in both 1968 and 1969, the latter season saw New Zealander Graeme Smith star.
= 1970s =
The Rockets rode at the stadium until the end of the 1973 season, when it was announced that the stadium had been sold to developers and the Rockets would need to find a new home. Len Silver moved the promotion to Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire to start the 1974 season as a new team called the Rye House Rockets.Jacobs, N. Speedway in East Anglia, {{ISBN|0-7524-1882-3}}
The former site of Rayleigh Stadium is now a retail park. Many former Rayleigh fans supported the Essex speedway team, the Lakeside Hammers, who raced at the Arena Essex Raceway, next to the Lakeside Shopping Centre, until their closure in 2018.
Season summary
Notable riders
- {{flagicon|NZL}} Peter Clark
- {{flagicon|ENG}} Gerry Jackson
- {{flagicon|ENG}} Pete Lansdale
- {{flagicon|ENG}} Les McGillivray
- {{flagicon|ENG}} Reg Reeves
- {{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Smith
- {{flagicon|NZL}} Graeme Smith
- {{flagicon|ENG}} Jack Unstead