Scunthorpe Scorpions#Notable riders

File:Quibell Park, Scunthorpe (geograph 793104).jpg

Speedway in Scunthorpe began on 3 May 1971 at the Quibell Park Stadium (an athletics stadium and velodrome).{{cite news |title=Speedway Racing |work=Gainsborough Evening News |date=20 April 1971 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005303/19710420/031/0002 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The inaugural season consisted primarily of a team known as the Scunthorpe Saints, who raced a series of challenge meetings at the stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971record.pdf |title=1973 fixtures and results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 May 2024}}

The following year in 1972, the team joined the British league system, when they competed in the 1972 British League Division Two season but finished bottom of the table.{{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}} Changes were made for 1973, with promoter Brian Osborn bringing in multiple new signings including Ken McKinlay.{{cite news |title=Saints still out for new riders |work=Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph |date=10 May 1973 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001336/19730510/016/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The Saints continued to race in the second tier of British speedway, which from 1975 was known as the National League. However, the seasons were disappointing with the team struggling at the foot of the table.

Major changes took place during 1979, the first being a change of venue to Ashby Ville Stadium.{{cite news |title=Brewery boost for Stadium |work=Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph |date=16 February 1978 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001336/19780216/016/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} Promoter Brian Osborn was forced to find a new home following issues with the athletics club and North Lincolnshire council over track conditions.{{cite web|url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Scunthorpe%20(Ashby%20Ville).htm |title=Speedway Ashby Ville |website=Defunct Speedway |access-date=3 May 2024}} In conjunction with the move, the Saints also changed their name from the Saints to the Stags.{{cite news |title=Stags look to be out of the hunt |work=Chester Chronicle |date=20 July 1979 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004979/19790720/039/0039 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

The team continued to compete in the second division and continued to produce moderate results, only managing a best finish of 5th place during the 1983 National League season. Riders came and went and in the Summer of 1984 the promotion was taken over by Tony Nicholls, who had plans to expand Ashby Ville.{{cite news |title=£150,000 Stadium Planned |work=Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph |date=8 January 1985 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001336/19850108/001/0001 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

For the start of the 1985 season, Eric Boothroyd was brought in as the new team manager. Events began to deteriorate when the captain Rob Woffinden was injured and the team suffered heavy losses. Tony Nicholls then revealed financial losses{{cite news |title=New crisis for speedway |work=Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph |date=9 May 1985 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001336/19850509/014/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} and the team were disbanded in May 1985.{{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=31 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1985fixtures.pdf |title=1985 fixtures and results |website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=14 February 2023}}

File:2007 speedway Tai Woffinden riding for Scunthorpe.jpg

A team known as the Scunthorpe Scorpions appeared in a couple of fixtures during 2003, which subsequently led to a search for a track.{{cite web |url=http://scunthorpe-speedway.com/?page_id=80 |title=History |website=Scunthorpe Speedway |access-date=3 May 2024}} The North Lincolnshire Council offered a 10-acre plot of land on Normanby Road and work began on creating a new venue. Promoters Rob Godfrey and Norman Beeney opened the track for practice in 2004 before the first meeting was held on 27 March 2005, ending a twenty-year absence. The Scorpions took their place in division 3 (the 2005 Speedway Conference League).

The following season the Scorpions signed Tai Woffinden and Josh Auty and the Scorpions won their first silverware, winning the playoffs after finishing second in the regular season table. The team also won the Knockout Cup to win the double, in addition to the Conference Trophy and pairs championship. The 2007 Speedway Conference League resulted in a second successive league and cup double, the Conference Trophy and fours event. The team was inspired by Tai Woffinden, who would later become a three times world champion.

After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into the Premier League (division 2) for 2008, but lost Tai Woffinden to Rye House. However they did achieve a mid-table finish in 2008 and 2009. The club also introduced a junior side called the Saints (after the original name of the club) who would continue riding in the Conference League and later the National League with the main aim to develop riders for the Premier League side.

File:Scunthorpe Speedway - geograph.org.uk - 476688.jpg

In 2012, the Scorpions won their highest honour to date, winning the 2012 Premier League after defeating the Somerset Rebels 92-91 on aggregate in the play off final.{{cite web |url=http://scunthorpe-speedway.com/?page_id=2965 |title=2012 Play-off Final…. In Words and pictures |website=Scunthorpe Scorpions speedway club |access-date=18 May 2024}} The team included Nick Morris, Josh Auty, Thomas Jørgensen, David Howe and Michael Palm Toft. In 2017, the Premier League became the SGB Championship.

Following a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scorpions continued to race in the second tier Championship, entering their 15th season in the division in 2023.

In 2023, spearheaded by Ryan Douglas, the Scorpions created a shock by winning the SGB Championship Knockout Cup, defeating favourites Poole Pirates 92-88 on aggregate in the final.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/cab-direct-championship/cup-joy-for-scorpions/ |title=Cup joy for Scorpions |website=British Speedway |access-date=23 October 2023}}

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2007 team

• {{player||ENG|Richie Dennis}}
• {{player||ENG|Josh Auty}}
• {{player||ENG|Tai Woffinden}}
• {{player||SCO|Andrew Tully}}
• {{player||ENG|Benji Compton}}
• {{player||RSA|Byron Bekker}}
• {{player||ENG|Scott Richardson}}
• {{player||ENG|Joe Haines}}
• {{player||ENG|Scott Anderson}}
• {{player||ENG|James Cockle}}

2008 team

• {{player||SWE|Viktor Bergström}}

{{cite web | last = | first = | author-link = | title = Scorpions sign Bergström | publisher = BSPA | date = 12 November 2007 | url = http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.1052 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-12 }}

• {{player||ENG|Richard Hall}}
• {{player||SWE|Magnus Karlsson}}
• {{player||RSA|Byron Bekker}}
• {{player||ENG|Carl Wilkinson}}
• {{player||ENG|Benji Compton}}
• {{player||ENG|Andrew Moore}}
• {{player||AUS|Ben Powell}}
• {{player||ARG|Emiliano Sanchez}}

2008 team (juniors)

• {{player||RSA|Byron Bekker}}
• {{player||ENG|Scott Richardson}}
• {{player||ENG|Scott Anderson}}
• {{player||ENG|Jonathan Bethell}}
• {{player||ENG|Gary Irving}}
• {{player||ENG|Adam Wrathall}}
• {{player||ENG|Michael Pickering}}
• {{player||ENG|Ricky Scarboro}}
• {{player||ENG|Stuart Parnaby}}
• {{player||ENG|Ben Hopwood}}

2009 team

• {{player||ENG|David Howe}}
• {{player||SWE|Magnus Karlsson}}
• {{player||ENG|Carl Wilkinson}}
• {{player||ENG|Simon Lambert}}
• {{player||SWE|Viktor Bergström}}
• {{player||ENG|Ritchie Hawkins}}
• {{player||ENG|Jerran Hart}}

Also rode:

• {{player||RSA|Byron Bekker}}
• {{player||ENG|Nick Simmons}}
• {{player||ENG|Adam Allott}}

2009 team (juniors)

• {{player||RSA|Byron Bekker}}
• {{player||ENG|Adam Wrathall}}
• {{player||ENG|Gary Irving}}
• {{player||ENG|James Sarjeant}}
• {{player||ENG|Richard Franklin}}
• {{player||ENG|Scott Richardson}}
• {{player||ENG|Kyle Howarth}}
• {{player||ENG|Ashley Morris}}
• {{player||ENG|Stuart Parnaby}}

2010 team

• {{player||ENG|David Howe}}
• {{player||SWE|Magnus Karlsson}}
• {{player||ENG|Carl Wilkinson}}
• {{player||AUS|Joel Parsons}}
• {{player||SWE|Viktor Bergström}}
• {{player||ENG|Simon Lambert}}
• {{player||ENG|Jerran Hart}}

Number eight rider:

• {{player||ENG|Gary Irving}}

2015 team

• {{player||CZE|Zdenek Holub}}
• {{player||SWE|Andreas Lyager}}
• {{player||ENG|Carl Wilkinson}}
• {{player||NED|Theo Pijper}}
• {{player||ENG|Leigh Lanham}}
• {{player||AUS|Alex Davies}}
• {{player||FIN|Nike Lunna}}

2016 team

• {{player||AUS|Ryan Douglas}}
• {{player||ENG|Josh Auty}}
• {{player||ENG|Carl Wilkinson}}
• {{player||DEN|Michael Palm Toft}}
• {{player||ENG|Lewis Kerr}}
• {{player||AUT|Fritz Wallner}}
• {{player||ENG|Josh Bailey}}

Also rode:

• {{player||DEN|Nicolai Klindt}}
• {{player||CZE|Zdenek Holub}}
• {{player||AUS|Alex Davies}}
• {{player||SWE|Andreas Lyager}}
• {{player||ENG|Ashley Morris}}

2017 team

• {{player||AUS|Ryan Douglas}}
• {{player||ENG|Josh Auty}}
• {{player||ENG|Carl Wilkinson}}
• {{player||DEN|Michael Palm Toft}}
• {{player||ENG|Lewis Kerr}}
• {{player||AUT|Fritz Wallner}}
• {{player||ENG|Josh Bailey}}

Also rode:

• {{player||ENG|Stefan Nielsen}}

Replaced the injured Fritz Wallner

2019 team

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Auty
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Jake Allen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Barker
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Ayres
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Stefan Nielsen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Lambert
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ryan Kinsley

2021 team

• {{player||AUS|Jake Allen}}
• {{player||AUS|Ryan Douglas}}
• {{player||ENG|Simon Lambert}} (C)
• {{player||ENG|Jordan Palin}}
• {{player||ENG|Adam Roynon}}
• {{player||ENG|Anders Rowe}}
• {{player||ENG|James Wright}}

Also Rode:

• {{player||FIN|Tero Aarnio}}
• {{player||ENG|Connor Coles}}
• {{player||AUS|Zaine Kennedy}}
• {{player||ENG|Ryan Kinsley}}

2022 team

• {{player||AUS|Jake Allen}}
• {{player||AUS|Ryan Douglas}}
• {{player||ENG|Simon Lambert}} (C)
• {{player||ENG|Jordan Palin}}
• {{player||ENG|Adam Roynon}}
• {{player||ENG|Anders Rowe}}
• {{player||ENG|James Wright}}

Also Rode:

• {{player||FIN|Tero Aarnio}}
• {{player||ENG|Connor Coles}}
• {{player||AUS|Zaine Kennedy}}
• {{player||ENG|Ryan Kinsley}}

2023 team

• {{player||ENG|Nathan Ablitt}}
• {{player||AUS|Jake Allen}}
• {{player||AUS|Ryan Douglas}}
• {{player||ENG|Drew Kemp}}
• {{player||ENG|Simon Lambert}} (C)
• {{player||ENG|Connor Mountain}}
• {{player||DEN|Michael Palm Toft}}

Also Rode:

• {{player||ENG|Max Clegg}}
• {{player||AUS|Zaine Kennedy}}
• {{player||ENG|Joe Thompson}}

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• {{player||ENG|Josh Auty}}
• {{player||AUS|Ryan Douglas}}
• {{player||ENG|David Howe}}
• {{player||DEN|Michael Palm Toft}}
• {{player||ENG|Rob Woffinden}}
• {{player||ENG|Tai Woffinden}}

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• Lincolnshire Cup Winners: 2005, 2006 & 2007
• Easter Cup Winners: 2006
• Humber Bridge Trophy Winners: 2005

{{Reflist}}

{{SGB Championship}}

{{Speedway National League}}

Category:Speedway Premier League teams

Category:SGB Championship teams

Category:Sport in Scunthorpe