Sittingbourne Crusaders
{{Short description|British speedway team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = Sittingbourne Crusaders
|image =
|track = Iwade Speedway
Old Ferry Road
Iwade
Kent
|country = England
|founded = 1971
|closed = 2008
|league = Conference League
|colours = Blue and Yellow
|tracksize = 251 metres
|track record time=
|track record date=
|track record holder=
|honour1 =
|year1 =
}}
The Sittingbourne Crusaders formerly the Iwade Kent Crusaders were a British speedway team based in Iwade, Kent. England who raced in the Conference League.{{cite book| last = Bamford|first = Robert|title = Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007| publisher = NPI Media Group| date = 2007-03-01| location =| pages =| url =| doi =| id =| isbn = 978-0-7524-4250-1}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Sittingbourne.htm|title=Iwade Speedway Sittingbourne|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=2 September 2021}}
History
The Iwade training track was initially built in 1971 by Ivor Thomas and his brother, former Hackney Hawks rider Barry Thomas, whilst he was still a rider for the Canterbury Crusaders, the team whose colours and name Sittingbourne represented.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}
When the Canterbury Crusaders closed in 1987, the supporters club remained active in attempts to bring back speedway to Kent. In late 1993, they helped improve the Iwade training track to league standards.{{cite news |title=Speedway hopes are not dead |work=Kentish Gazette |date=24 September 1993 |access-date=1 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005421/19930924/203/0021 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} A team called the Iwade Kent Crusaders were one of four news clubs to enter the 1994 British League Division Three season.{{cite news |title=Track all set to host races |work=Sheerness Times Guardian |date=17 March 1994 |access-date=29 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004048/19940317/462/0054 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} They were led by promoter Terry Whibberley who spent over £80,000 in improving the track{{cite news |title=Crusaders are set to come roaring back |work=Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury |date=14 April 1994 |access-date=29 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004233/19940414/445/0048 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} but at the end of July, Whibberley pulled out due to poor health and put the track up for sale, resulting in the team withdrawing from the league.{{cite news |title=Speedway Track up for sale |work=Maidstone Telegraph |date=29 July 1994 |access-date=1 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19940729/349/0028 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
The circuit was bought by a consortium that included Graham Arnold and Peter Mason{{cite news |title=Speedway Returns |work=Maidstone Telegraph |date=4 November 1994 |access-date=1 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19941104/438/0042 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} and the team lined up for the 1995 Academy League season, under the new team name of Sittingbourne Crusaders and recorded a respectable fourth place finish.{{cite news |title=Ready for the Off |work=Sheerness Times Guardian |date=6 April 1995 |access-date=1 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004048/19950406/664/0062 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} A poor 1996 season then saw the club suffer problems when Swale Council stated that the planning permission given in 1971 was a 25 year temporary agreement. Graham Arnold applied for a lawful development certificate.{{cite news |title=The News in Brief |work=East Kent Gazette |date=8 April 1998 |access-date=1 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002521/19980408/005/0005 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
Seven years later, during the 2004 Speedway Conference League the team returned, initially only participating in the Knockout Cup but a full season followed in 2005, albeit with a woeful campaign of results. The club missed the 2006 season and finished bottom of the league in 2007 and 2008 before folding.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1991-present|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=2 September 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=2 September 2021}}
Season summary
| class="wikitable" | ||
| width=350|Year and league
!width=50|Position !width=350|Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| align=center
|align="left"| 1994 British League Division Three | N/A | Iwade Kent Crusaders, withdrew from league |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1995 Academy League | 4th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1996 Speedway Conference League | 13th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2004 Speedway Conference League | N/A | Knockout Cup only |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2005 Speedway Conference League | 12th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2007 Speedway Conference League | 10th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 2008 Speedway Conference League | 8th |