NEWPORT WASPS
This site is not an official website for the track shown here and is neither approved or endorsed by the speedway team. |
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Speedway took place in the Newport area at a couple of venues from 1964. The initial meeting was held at the Somerton Park Stadium on 17th April 1964 when a crowd in excess of 10000 saw Newport lose to Cradley Heath by 40 to 38. They shared the ground with Newport County FC who were in the Football League for a prolonged period of time before loosing their League status in 1988. The speedway team entered the British League and Division One from 1965 until 1976 and the National League in 1977. The final meeting at the Somerton Park ground was a defeat to Eastbourne on 7th October 1977. | |||||
View an early programme | |||||
The team won the Knockout Cup in 1964 and National Premier Trophy winners in 1999. The team moved from Somerton Park to Haley Stadium and staged their first match at the new venue on 4th May 1997. Despite leading in the match by 24-18 they were denied victory when it had to be abandoned because of rain. At various times in their history they have been called the Dragons, the Wasps and the Mavericks. | |||||
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.newportwasps.co.uk
and for those wishing to read more widely we recommend a visit to http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwgreyhoundd-21 especially
by
Andrew Weltch ISBN-10: 0752427016
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To view a complete collection of badges choose the relevant link below: 1968-99 | |||||
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. 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 |