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Exeter Falcons

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Exeter Falcons
Club information
Track addressPlymouth Coliseum
Coypool Road
Plymouth
Devon
CountryEngland
Founded1929, 2015
Closed2005
Club facts
ColoursGreen and white
Major team honours
League champions1974
Div 2 champions2000
Div 3 champions1948
Knockout Cup (Div 2)1962, 1983
National Trophy (Div 3)1951
Spring Gold Cup1978
Young Shield1997
Premier Trophy2004

The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team based in the city of Exeter. The Falcons operated from 1947 to 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter.[1]

History

[edit]
An away meeting featuring Exeter and Swindon

In 1947, the Falcons competed in a league for the first time when they finished fourth during the 1947 Speedway National League Division Three. The following season they won the 1948 Speedway National League Division Three.[2] The next success came in 1951 when the club won the Division 3 National Trophy.[3]

After a five year absence the team returned to league action in the 1961 Provincial Speedway League, under the promotion of Wally Mawdsley and Pete Lansdale.[4] [5] The following year Exeter won the 1962 Provincial League Knockout Cup.[6]

In 1973, the club signed New Zealander Ivan Mauger, a multiple world champion who would lead the club from 1973 to 1977 and bring Exeter their greatest success to date, when winning the 1974 British League title.[7] In 1995 and 1996, the club ran a junior side called the Devon Demons. The Demons reappeared in 2014 as the junior side for the Plymouth Gladiators.[8]

The Exeter Falcons then had a long wait for silverware and it was not until 2000 that Exeter won the Division 2 title during the 2000 Premier League speedway season.[9]

Track

[edit]

The County Ground track was unique in as much that it had a solid sheet metal safety fence. The fence combined with the high speeds down the narrow track made the track unpopular with many riders, but riders who liked it thrived on it. The club were forced to close at the end of 2005 after the stadium owners, Exeter Rugby Union club, sold the stadium to developers.[10] The 396 metres (433 yd) track record time of 64.3 seconds was set by Mark Loram on 29 April 1996.

Speedway promoter Allen Trump received permission from Teignbridge council officials in 2008 to construct a new track at the Exeter Racecourse, Haldon. The new track was expected to open for the start of the 2009 speedway season, and Trump had applied to the British Speedway Promoters' Association for permission to enter a team for the 2009 Premier League.[11] However, the plans fell through.

Season summary (1st team)

[edit]
Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1947 Speedway National League Division Three 4th
1948 Speedway National League Division Three 1st champions
1949 Speedway National League Division Three 7th
1950 Speedway National League Division Three 7th
1951 Speedway National League Division Three 2nd National Trophy (Div 3 final)
1952 Speedway Southern League 5th
1953 Speedway Southern League 2nd
1954 Speedway National League Division Two 6th
1955 Speedway National League Division Two 9th
1961 Provincial Speedway League 8th
1962 Provincial Speedway League 3rd Provincial League Knockout Cup winners
1963 Provincial Speedway League 7th
1964 Provincial Speedway League 6th
1965 British League season 9th
1966 British League season 10th
1967 British League season 15th
1968 British League season 3rd
1969 British League season 12th
1970 British League season 10th
1971 British League season 15th
1972 British League season 11th
1973 British League season 8th
1974 British League season 1st champions
1975 British League season 4th
1976 British League season 3rd
1977 British League season 2nd
1978 British League season 7th
1979 British League season 5th
1980 National League season 12th
1981 National League season 7th
1982 National League season 10th
1983 National League season 10th Div 2 Knockout Cup winners
1984 British League season 15th
1985 National League season 12th
1986 National League season 16th
1987 National League season 14th
1988 National League season 12th
1989 National League season 5th
1990 National League season 9th
1991 British League Division Two season 7th
1992 British League Division Two season 6th
1993 British League Division Two season 10th
1994 British League Division Two season 10th
1995 Premier League speedway season 21st
1996 Premier League speedway season 15th
1997 Premier League speedway season 5th
1998 Premier League speedway season 3rd
1999 Premier League speedway season 6th
2000 Premier League speedway season 1st champions
2001 Premier League speedway season 7th
2002 Premier League speedway season 10th
2003 Premier League speedway season 13th
2004 Premier League speedway season 10th
2005 Premier League speedway season 9th

Season summary (juniors)

[edit]
Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1995 Academy League 7th Devon Demons
1996 Speedway Conference League 2nd Devon Demons
1997 Speedway Conference League 8th Western Warriors (with Newport)

2015 to 2021

[edit]

At a public meeting in July 2015, a month after the team participated in their first full 15-heat meet in a decade, the Exeter Falcons announced talks were underway about the development of a new track near Exeter.[12] In January 2016 the team reported clearing the first hurdles towards this goal, passing noise tests at the site, and are preparing their planning application to submit to the council.[13]

In 2018, an Exeter team participated in the junior league called the Southern Development League but were once again left without a home in 2021, following the closure of speedway at Somerset Rebels.

Notable Exeter riders

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Ivan Mauger (a six-time world champion) in Exeter colours

References

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  1. ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ^ "League Again at Exeter". Express and Echo. 10 August 1960. Retrieved 12 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  6. ^ Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. p. 100. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
  7. ^ "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Devon". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  9. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Falcons farewell to County Ground". BBC News. 10 October 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  11. ^ "Exeter Falcons to fly in 2009". Express & Echo. 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  12. ^ "Exeter Falcons aim to return to city after finding a site for a new speedway track". Express & Echo. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Progress being made on Exeter Falcons' potential new speedway track in the city". Express & Echo. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.[permanent dead link]