Birmingham Brummies

Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team, who competed in the Elite League from 2011 until they folded part way through the 2014 season, and re-entered in 2015 in the National League. After 4 years in the National League, in 2019 they moved up to the SGB Championship. The team was originally formed in 1928 until they closed for the first time in 1986. Then in 2006 the club was brought back into British Speedway.

Birmingham Brummies
Club information
Track addressPerry Barr Stadium
Birmingham
CountryEngland
Founded1928
2006 (re-founded)
2015 (reformed)
Closed1986-2006
2014
Team managerLaurence Rogers
Team captainJames Shanes
LeagueSGB Championship
Websitewww.birmingham-speedway.com
Club facts
ColoursYellow and Red
Track size292 metres (319 yd)
Track record time56.6
Track record date25 June 2008, 2 July 2008
Track record holderJason Lyons & Kevin Doolan
Current team
Rider CMA
Chris Harris 8.48
Jason Garrity 7.05
Valentin Grobauer 5.38
Ashley Morris 5.32
James Shanes 5.18
Paco Castanga 4.93
Jack Thomas 2.43
Total 38.77
Major team honours
Div 2 Anniversary Cup Winners1948
Div 2 National Trophy Winners1948
Midland Cup1953/54/55
British League Div 2 Champions1974
British League Div 2 KO Cup1974
New National League Champions1975
Midland Shield2007
Premier League Pairs2009
Premier League Fours2010
National League Fours2015
National League Champions2015, 2016
National Trophy Winners2016

History

1928–1986

Birmingham had two teams in the Southern League of the inaugural season of British speedway in 1929. One was based at Perry Barr Stadium and the other was based at Hall Green Stadium. The Hall Green team, known during their time as Birmingham Bulldogs, closed in 1938. Speedway continued at Perry Barr Stadium until 1953. The Brummies reopened in 1971 at Perry Barr before closing at the end of 1983. The Brummies then opened at the Wheels Project at Bordesley Green in 1985 racing for two seasons in the National League before closing in 1986.[1] Although Birmingham did win trophies during their initial spell in Speedway these achievements were often dwarfed by the success of fellow West Midlands Speedway teams, the Wolverhampton Wolves, Coventry Bees and Cradley Heathens.

2006-Present

After 20 years away from the sport Birmingham were reformed in 2006 and then accepted into the Premier League in 2007. The first meeting of the new era, the Alan Hunt Memorial, took place on 21 March 2007. In a successful first season the team finished in second place in the league table, and runner-up in both the Premier Trophy and the Young Shield, despite having only two members of their own team actually fit to ride. During the majority of their time in the Premier League they were captained by Australian Jason Lyons who went on to become extremely popular at the club and is now a member of the club's Hall of Fame. The club when re founded was sponsored by Richard Meredith of Mercom Water Products

Birmingham were accepted into the Elite League for 2011 and finished their first season in ninth place out of ten. Ahead of their second season in the top flight they retained the services of the previous season's star performers Danny King and Ben Barker as well as adding Speedway Grand Prix star Bjarne Pedersen. Although Pedersen's time at Birmingham was an unhappy one the team made a big improvement on their first season in the Elite League, finishing in 3rd place and achieving a spot in the play-offs. The 2013 season was filled with success, with the Brummies finishing in 1st place in the Elite League and achieving a place in the Elite League Grand Final.[2] They found themselves outclassed in the final, losing out on aggregate 104-79 to the Poole Pirates, who were inspired by Greg Hancock.[3]

Despite the success of the 2013 season there were regular reports of turmoil behind the scenes at the club, and at the end of the season team manager Phil Morris walked away from the club. The off season was a difficult time for the club, with captain Danny King handing in a transfer request, although he was later convinced to stay. Once the season began the troubles only intensified, and on 14 July 2014 it was announced that the club would cease to operate.[4] The team was taken over later that year by Tony Mole and entered into the National League for 2015. Under the stewardship of Mole and Drury The Brummies would crown a superb season back on track by winning the National League title. The Brummies defended their National League title in 2016, beating Eastbourne in a two leg play off, the play off system having been controversially introduced for this season. they would also win the National Trophy to crown a superb double.

Ahead of the 2017 season owner Tony Mole announced that he will be walking away from the sport after the 2017 season, after 31 years promoting in the sport. The Birmingham Brummies had their future secured when they were bought by David and Peter Mason toward the end of the 2017 season.

Perry Barr Stadium

Perry Barr Stadium (also known as Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium) is the home track of the Birmingham Brummies, located on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, Birmingham. The stadium was originally constructed for an athletics club, the Birchfield Harriers. Since then its facilities have also been used by the Birchfield Cycling Club and also Aston Villa Football Club, whose second and third teams would train at the stadium in the 1930s and 1940s.

During World War II the stadium was requisitioned by the government and used by the Home Guard. And it was soon after the conclusion of the war that Birmingham Brummies rode at the stadium for the first time. The club initially rode on a Saturday evening, which resulted in Floodlights having to be added to the stadium.

Having been reformed in 2006 Birmingham returned to the stadium, which at this time is now primarily being used for greyhound racing on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Riders

2019 team

Previous seasons
Extended content

2018 team

  • Tom Bacon
  • Mitchell Davey
  • Danyon Hume
  • Callum Walker
  • Layne Cupitt
  • Leon Flint
  • Arran Butcher

2017 team

  • Jack Parkinson-Blackburn
  • Layne Cupitt
  • David Mason
  • Tom Bacon
  • Liam Carr
  • Kyle Roberts
  • Taylor Hampshire

Also rode

  • Danyon Hume
  • Darryl Ritchings
  • Chris Hay
  • Macauley Leek
  • Kean Dicken

2016 team

2015 team

Also rode

2014 team

Also rode

2013 team

2012 team

Also rode

2011 team

Also rode

2010 team

Also rode

2009 team

Also rode

2008 team

Also rode

2007 team

Also rode

Club honours
  • Division 2 Anniversary Cup Winners - 1948
  • Division 2 National Trophy Winners - 1948
  • Midland Cup - 1953, 1954, 1955
  • British League Division 2 Champions - 1974
  • British League Division 2 Knock-Out Cup - 1974
  • National League Champions - 1975
  • Midland Shield - 2007
  • Premier League Pairs - 2009
  • Premier League Fours - 2010
  • National League Fours - 2015
  • National League Champions - 2015, 2016
  • National Trophy Winners - 2016

Notable riders

References
  1. http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Birmingham%20Hall%20Green.htm
  2. "Elite League Table 2013". Speedway365.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  3. "Elite League Grand Final: Poole Pirates complete thrashing of Birmingham Brummies". Skysports.com. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. http://www.birminghambrummies.co/news.php?extend.1973
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.