Walthamstow Wolves
{{Short description|Speedway team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = Walthamstow Wolves
|image =150px
|track = Walthamstow Stadium
Chingford Road
Walthamstow
London, England
|country = England
|founded = 1934
|closed = 1951
|manager =
|captain =
|league = National League
|website =
|colours = Red, black and white
|tracksize = {{convert|282|yd|m}}
|track record time=
|track record date=
|track record holder=
|honour1 =
|year1 =
}}
The Walthamstow Wolves were a speedway team which operated from 1934 and again from 1949 until their closure in 1951.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}
History
The club opened in 1934 competing in the National League, when Lea Bridge were forced to find a new venue after their licence was revoked by the Speedway Control Board in late July.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19340728/264/0012 |title=Track at Lea Bridge closed |website=Daily Express |date=28 July 1934 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 January 2025 }} Walthamstow Wolves took on their last ten fixtures.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19340801/265/0013 |title=Speedway Race Control |website=Daily News (London) |date=1 August 1934 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Walthamstow.htm|title=Walthamstow Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=20 August 2021}} They finished ninth in the 1934 Speedway National League.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=20 August 2021}}{{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}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1929-1939|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}}
After the 1934 season the Wolves were forced to relocate due to noise complaints and subsequent court proceedings. They moved to the Hackney Wick Stadium as the Hackney Wick Wolves.Jacobs, N. Speedway in London, {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000771/19341207/001/0001 |title=Woman's Diary of Noises |website=Liverpool Evening Express |date=7 December 1934 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}
League speedway returned to Wathamstow for the 1949 Speedway National League Division Two and the promotion spent a considerable sum signing riders. Wilf Jay was signed from Newcastle for £1,000 and Dick Geary joined from Fleetwood for £1,000.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003286/19490104/123/0004 |title=Mr. H. Bury |website=Evening News (London) |date=4 January 1949 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 February 2025 }} Despite the new signings the team struggled to attract good crowds due to being situated between Division one tracks at West Ham and Harringay.
The Wolves finished 6th that season and this was followed by two 5th place finishes in 1950 and 1951,{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}} before they finally closed in 1951 due to declining attendance and complaints of noise from local residents.{{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=20 August 2021}}
The track was later covered in tarmac for easier maintenance of the greyhound racing track. The stadium was sold in August 2008 and demolished to make way for a housing development.
Season summary
| class="wikitable" | ||
| width=350|Year and league
!width=50|Position !width=350|Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| align=center
|align="left"| 1934 Speedway National League | 9th | replaced Lea Bridge mid-season |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1949 Speedway National League Division Two | 6th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1950 Speedway National League Division Two | 5th | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1951 Speedway National League Division Two | 5th |
Notable riders
- {{player||ENG|Jim Boyd}}
- {{player||ENG|Squib Burton}}
- {{player||AUS|Dicky Case}}
- {{player||ENG|Harry Edwards}}
- {{player||ENG|Dusty Haigh}}
- {{player||ENG|Pete Lansdale}}
- {{player||ENG|George Newton}}
- {{player||ENG|Archie Windmill}}