The Scunthorpe Scorpions are a motorcycle speedway team in the British SGB Championship. They have raced at various times since 1971, at three different venues.
History Origins and 1970s
Speedway in Scunthorpe began on 3 May 1971 at the Quibell Park Stadium (an athletics stadium and velodrome). The inaugural season consisted primarily of a team known as the Scunthorpe Saints, who raced a series of challenge meetings at the stadium.
The following year in 1972, the team joined the British league system, when they competed in the 1972 British League Division Two season but finished bottom of the table. Changes were made for 1973, with promoter Brian Osborn bringing in multiple new signings including Ken McKinlay. The Saints continued to race in the second tier of British speedway, which from 1975 was known as the National League. However, the seasons were disappointing with the team struggling at the foot of the table.
Major changes took place during 1979, the first being a change of venue to Ashby Ville Stadium. Promoter Brian Osborn was forced to find a new home following issues with the athletics club and North Lincolnshire council over track conditions. In conjunction with the move, the Saints also changed their name from the Saints to the Stags.
1980s The team continued to compete in the second division and continued to produce moderate results, only managing a best finish of 5th place during the 1983 National League season. Riders came and went and in the Summer of 1984 the promotion was taken over by Tony Nicholls, who had plans to expand Ashby Ville.
For the start of the 1985 season, Eric Boothroyd was brought in as the new team manager. Events began to deteriorate when the captain Rob Woffinden was injured and the team suffered heavy losses. Tony Nicholls then revealed financial losses and the team were disbanded in May 1985.
2000s
A team known as the Scunthorpe Scorpions appeared in a couple of fixtures during 2003, which subsequently led to a search for a track. The North Lincolnshire Council offered a 10-acre plot of land on Normanby Road and work began on creating a new venue. Promoters Rob Godfrey and Norman Beeney opened the track for practice in 2004 before the first meeting was held on 27 March 2005, ending a twenty-year absence. The Scorpions took their place in division 3 (the 2005 Speedway Conference League).
The following season the Scorpions signed Tai Woffinden and Josh Auty and the Scorpions won their first silverware, winning the playoffs after finishing second in the regular season table. The team also won the Knockout Cup to win the double, in addition to the Conference Trophy and pairs championship. The 2007 Speedway Conference League resulted in a second successive league and cup double, the Conference Trophy and fours event. The team was inspired by Tai Woffinden, who would later become a three times world champion.
After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into the Premier League (division 2) for 2008, but lost Tai Woffinden to Rye House. However they did achieve a mid-table finish in 2008 and 2009. The club also introduced a junior side called the Saints (after the original name of the club) who would continue riding in the Conference League and later the National League with the main aim to develop riders for the Premier League side.
2010s
In 2012, the Scorpions won their highest honour to date, winning the 2012 Premier League after defeating the Somerset Rebels 92-91 on aggregate in the play off final. The team included Nick Morris, Josh Auty, Thomas Jørgensen, David Howe and Michael Palm Toft. In 2017, the Premier League became the SGB Championship.
2020s Following a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scorpions continued to race in the second tier Championship, entering their 15th season in the division in 2023.
In 2023, spearheaded by Ryan Douglas, the Scorpions created a shock by winning the SGB Championship Knockout Cup, defeating favourites Poole Pirates 92-88 on aggregate in the final.
Season summary (1st team)
Year and leaguePositionNotes 1972 British League Division Two season 17th Saints 1973 British League Division Two season 16th Saints 1974 British League Division Two season 17th Saints 1975 New National League season 13th Saints 1976 National League season 17th Saints 1977 National League season 14th Saints 1978 National League season 19th Saints 1979 National League season 19th Stags 1980 National League season 13th Stags 1981 National League season 17th Stags 1982 National League season 17th Stags 1983 National League season 5th Stags 1984 National League season 10th Stags 2005 Speedway Conference League 8th Scorpions 2006 Speedway Conference League 2nd Scorpions, Champions (PO winners) & Knockout Cup winners 2007 Speedway Conference League 1st Scorpions, Champions & Knockout Cup winners 2008 Premier League speedway season 10th Scorpions 2009 Premier League speedway season 10th Scorpions 2010 Premier League speedway season 9th Scorpions 2011 Premier League speedway season 7th Scorpions 2012 Premier League speedway season 2nd Scorpions, Champions (PO winners) 2013 Premier League speedway season 8th Scorpions 2014 Premier League speedway season 5th Scorpions 2015 Premier League speedway season 11th Scorpions 2016 Premier League speedway season 11th Scorpions SGB Championship 2017 9th Scorpions SGB Championship 2018 9th Scorpions SGB Championship 2019 7th Scorpions SGB Championship 2021 6th Scorpions SGB Championship 2022 7th Scorpions SGB Championship 2023 4th Scorpions, Play offs & Knockout Cup winners SGB Championship 2024 3rd Scorpions SGB Championship 2025 9th Scorpions
Season summary (junior team)
Year and leaguePositionNotes 2008 Speedway Conference League 5th Saints 2009 National League speedway season 6th Saints 2010 National League speedway season 8th Saints 2011 National League speedway season 1st Scunthorpe & Sheffield Saints, Champions 2012 National League speedway season 6th Saints 2014 National League speedway season 9th Stags 2024 National Development League speedway season 5th Scunthorpe/Sheffield
Riders previous seasons
2007 team
2008 team
2008 team (juniors)
2009 team
Also rode:
2009 team (juniors)
2010 team
Number eight rider:
2015 team
2016 team
Also rode:
2017 team
Also rode:
Replaced the injured Fritz Wallner
2019 team Josh Auty Jake Allen Ben Barker Danny Ayres Stefan Nielsen Simon Lambert Ryan Kinsley
2021 team
(C)
Also Rode:
2022 team
(C)
Also Rode:
2023 team
(C)
Also Rode:
Notable riders
Other honours Lincolnshire Cup Winners: 2005, 2006 & 2007 Easter Cup Winners: 2006 Humber Bridge Trophy Winners: 2005
References