The Peterborough Panthers were a British motorcycle speedway team based in Peterborough, England from 1970 to 2023. They were three times champions of the United Kingdom, winning the highest level league in 1999, 2006 and 2021.
History Origins and 1970s
Speedway in Peterborough began in 1970, following a failed attempt to race at the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium and a subsequent successful application by Allied Presentations (headed by Maurice Littlechild) to race at the East of England Showground. Despite receiving a licence, the team were initially refused entry to the league by the Speedway Control Board but then replaced Plymouth Devils for their inaugural season in the 1970 British League Division Two. The Panthers finished in 10th place.
The Panthers remained in division 2 (the National League from 1975) and recorded a best placing of third in 1972, headed by riders Richard Greer and John Davis. The next significant moment was winning the first silverware, after securing consecutive Fours championships in 1977 and 1978. Only Nigel Flatman appeared in both of the fours finals.
1980s The Panthers continued in the National League during the 1980s, but the decade was one of mediocrity with a highest placing of 5th in 1987. The highlight of the decade was winning two more fours championships in 1988 and 1989. Three riders, Ian Barney, Craig Hodgson and Mick Poole rode in both.
1990s
After signing Australian's Jason Crump and Stephen Davies to join fellow Aussie Mick Poole, the club's first major success arrived during the 1992 British League Division Two season. The Panthers won the league and cup double in addition to the fours.
Following 25 consecutive years in the second tier, the Panthers joined the newly merged 1995 Premier League speedway season, meaning that the Panthers competed in the top division for the first time in their history. However, the team dropped down a division in 1998, which brought immediate success, winning the league, pairs and fours. The following season they went up to the Elite League (Div 1) and completely rebuilt their team for the season. They brought in three Australians, the returning Jason Crump from Oxford, Ryan Sullivan from Poole and Craig Watson from Newport, in addition to recalling Zdeněk Tesař. Peterborough pipped Poole by one point and beat them in the cup final to achieve the league and cup double and the Craven Shield win. Crump won the Riders' Championship and topped the averages.
2000s
Another Knockout Cup was added to the trophy cabinet in 2001 and the team won the league title during the 2006 Elite League speedway season. Peterborough and Reading battled each other throughout the season finishing level on points in the regular season table before Peterborough edged Reading in the play off final. Peterborough had a strong all round squad and included Danish trio of Hans Andersen, Jesper Jensen and Niels Kristian Iversen, in addition to Australian Ryan Sullivan.
2010s The team continued to compete in the highest league despite problems leading up to the 2011 season. Following changes to the rules for rider averages made at the AGM of the BSPA, the Panthers and Coventry Bees walked out of the meeting. As a result the BSPA omitted both teams from the 2011 Elite League for failing to declare their intent to compete. The decision was the subject of a legal challenge by both clubs. The BSPA offered a compromise which was initially rejected before both teams confirmed their starting places.
The team had a record Elite League victory on 23 August 2013, beating Coventry Bees by 70 points to 20"Panthers Power to Record Win", speedwaygb.co, 24 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013 The Panthers dropped to the second division from 2014 to 2018 but won the 2017 division 2 Knockout Cup and fours during the period. In 2019, the team rejoined the highest league called the SGB Premiership."Fours Glory for Panthers", speedwaygb.co, 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017
2020s
After the leagues were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers won the highest league title for just the third time in their history in 2021. After finishing top of the regular season table by just one point, they overtook the long time leaders Wolverhampton Wolves and by virtue of finishing top they elected to play Wolves in the play off semi finals, rather than the third or fourth placed teams Belle Vue and Sheffield. Peterborough then deservedly won the playoffs by beating Wolverhampton in the semifinals and Belle Vue in the final. The Peterborough team gained the nickname the 'Dad's Army' due to the fact that four of their riders were aged 40 or older.
The 2023 season was the last season for Peterborough at the East of England Showground, following the redevelopment of the Arena by owners Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG) and the club were disbanded.
Season summary
Year and leaguePositionNotes 1970 British League Division Two season 10th 1971 British League Division Two season 16th 1972 British League Division Two season 3rd 1973 British League Division Two season 4th 1974 British League Division Two season 8th 1975 New National League season 18th 1976 National League season 9th 1977 National League season 5th 1978 National League season 6th 1979 National League season 8th 1980 National League season 8th 1981 National League season 9th 1982 National League season 13th 1983 National League season 12th 1984 National League season 15th 1985 National League season 7th 1986 National League season 10th 1987 National League season 5th 1988 National League season 8th 1989 National League season 11th 1990 National League season 10th 1991 British League Division Two season 12th 1992 British League Division Two season 1st Champions & Knockout Cup winners 1993 British League Division Two season 3rd 1994 British League Division Two season 5th 1995 Premier League speedway season 4th 1996 Premier League speedway season 2nd 1997 Elite League speedway season 10th 1998 Premier League speedway season 1st Champions 1999 Elite League speedway season 1st Champions & Knockout Cup winners 2000 Elite League speedway season 7th 2001 Elite League speedway season 5th Knockout Cup winners 2002 Elite League speedway season 5th 2003 Elite League speedway season 3rd 2004 Elite League speedway season 9th 2005 Elite League speedway season 3rd 2006 Elite League speedway season 1st Champions (PO winners) 2007 Elite League speedway season 3rd 2008 Elite League speedway season 9th 2009 Elite League speedway season 5th 2010 Elite League speedway season 3rd 2011 Elite League speedway season 6th 2012 Elite League speedway season 6th 2013 Elite League speedway season 7th 2014 Premier League speedway season 7th 2015 Premier League speedway season 4th lost in PO semi finals 2016 Premier League speedway season 8th SGB Championship 2017 6th Knockout Cup winners SGB Championship 2018 1st lost in PO semi finals SGB Premiership 2019 7th SGB Premiership 2021 1st champions SGB Premiership 2022 6th SGB Premiership 2023 6th
Season summary (juniors)
Year and leaguePositionNotes 1996 Speedway Conference League 9th Thundercats 1997 Speedway Conference League 1st Thundercats, Champions 2000 Speedway Conference League 10th Pumas 2001 Speedway Conference League 5th Pumas 2002 Speedway Conference League 1st Pumas, Champions 2003 Speedway Conference League 12th Pumas
Notable riders
Honours Elite League League Champions (2) – 1999, 2006, 2021. Play Off’s (6) – 2002, 2003 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2010. Knockout Cup Winners (2) – 1999 & 2001. Knockout Cup Runners Up (1) – 2002. Craven Shield Winners (1) – 1999. Craven Shield Runners Up (1) – 2001. Elite Shield Winners (1) – 2007. Premiership Runners Up (1) – 1997. 4TT Champions (1) – 1997. Midland League Runners Up (1) – 2009. League Riders Champions (2) – J Crump 1999 & R Sullivan 2000. British Champions (1) – M Loram 2001. British U21 Champions (1) – D Howe 2000.
Premier League
League Champions (1) – 1998. League Runners Up (1) – 1996. KO Cup Runners Up (2) – 1996 & 1998. Young Shield Runners Up (1) – 1998. 4TT Champions (1) – 1998. 4TT Runners Up (2) – 1995 & 1996. League Riders Champion (2) – G Cunningham 1998; Ulrich Østergaard 2015. Pairs Champions (1) – G Cunningham & B Woodifield 1998.
British League (Div 2) – Seasons (9)
League Champions (1) – 1992. Ko Cup Winners (1) – 1992. Ko Cup Runners Up (1) – 1972. Premiership Winners (1) – 1993. 4TT Champions (1) – 1992.
National League – Seasons (16)
4TT Champions (4) – 1977, 1978, 1988, 1989. Gold Cup Runners Up (1) – 1991. League Riders Champion (1) – I Barney 1984.
References