BRADFORD DUKES

This site is not an official website for the track shown here and is neither approved or endorsed by the speedway team.

SP Case.JPG (5768 bytes) Speedway racing is known to have taken place in at least 5 venues spread across Bradford, most notably at the Odsal Stadium, home of the more famous Rugby League team the Bradford Bulls. It was at another venue, Fronby Avenue, that the first recorded meeting took place on 19th May 1928. In that same year, but on 7th July at Greenfield Autodrome, the home of Bradford Northern Rugby League team, that another dirt-track meeting took place. SP Lees.JPG (24030 bytes)
BR1972.JPG (14070 bytes) BR1974.JPG (14703 bytes) BR1987.JPG (28150 bytes) BR1992.JPG (38699 bytes)

The team won the Knockout Cup in four of the five years from 1992 to 1995, missing out in the year it won the Premiership title in 1994.

View an early programme

SP Farndon.JPG (17647 bytes) The first meeting at Odsal Stadium took place on 23rd June 1945 which was witnessed by a crowd in excess of 20000. After that first year, when crowds remained high, the Club joined the National League and remained in it until 1956. It joined the British League Division 1 in 1991, the Premier League in 1995 and finally made the Elite League in 1997.

View an early Liam Devlin Trade Card of ARTHUR FORREST

The club have had a number of nicknames throughout its time, including the Boomerangs, the Panthers, the Barons, the Dukes, the Flying Foxes, the Badgers and the Northern.

SP Pymar.JPG (26265 bytes)
This section gives a comprehensive picture of the badges produced for the team throughout the ages, but only provides the briefest of glimpses of its history. For those wishing to undertake further research we can recommend a visit to www.bradfordspeedway.co.uk

and for those wishing to read more widely we recommend a visit to

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwgreyhoundd-21   especially

Complete History of the British League: Speedway

by Peter Oakes  ISBN-10: 0948882077

To view a complete collection of badges choose the relevant link below:

1960-2021

More detailed information is available from "Homes of British Speedway' by Robert Bamford & John Jarvis

A further great source of information is provided on John Skinner's excellent website on Defunct Speedway tracks, with a link given below.
http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Bradford%20Greenfield.htm
http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Bradford%201.htm

For all Speedway enthusiasts, John Somerville’s website should always be your first port of call:-https://www.skidmarks1928.com/v/photos/john-somerville-collection
or email johnwslusar@gmail.com for inclusion of your comments and photos of speedway on this website.

1959