Fleetwood Flyers


Fleetwood Flyers were a speedway team in Fleetwood, England that operated from 1948 until 1952. Home meetings were raced at Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue in Fleetwood.

Seasons

The Flyers first competed in the National League Division Two in 1948 when they replaced Wigan Warriors after three matches. They competed in Division Two in 1949, 1950 and 1951.
In 1952 they dropped out of the league and operated on an open licence riding challenge matches as Fleetwood Knights.

1948 season

The first three meetings of the season were run by Wigan Warriors. As the Warriors they lost two and won one meetings. The first meeting at home was against Edinburgh Monarchs on 14 April, which they lost 35–49 with Norman Hargreaves top scoring on ten points. The track had been made available for practice on the afternoon prior to the meeting and the Monarchs took advantage of the session whilst the home riders did not. The track record race time was set as 70.4 seconds in the second heat by Jack Gordon. The track record was broken at the next home meeting in at 68.8 seconds set by Sheffield Tigers rider Jack Bibby. The Flyers first victory came in an away meeting over Birmingham Brummies on 24 April. On 27 April Norwich Stars rider Syd Littlewood set a new track record of 66.8 seconds. In the 44–39 win over Newcastle Diamonds on 18 May the track record was again broken, by Wilf Plant at 65.4 seconds. As results gradually improved the track record was broken in the 48–36 win over Glasgow Tigers on 1 June, set by Dick Geary at 65.0 seconds. Bristol Bulldogs rider Fred Tuck broke the track record again on 15 June in a cup meeting at 64.8 seconds and he broke it again a week later in a National Trophy meeting at 64.6 seconds. On 29 June Flyers rider Dick Geary broke the track record for a second time, setting a new record of 63.8 seconds.

League results

Friday 1 April 1949 Knowle Bristol Bulldogs 61 Fleetwood Flyers 22
Monday 11 April 1949 Brough Newcastle Magpies 45 Fleetwood Flyers 39
Wednesday 13 April 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 47 Newcastle Magpies 37 SH
Saturday 16 April 1949 Dudley Wood Cradley Heath Heathens 50 Fleetwood Flyers 34
Wednesday 20 April 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 48 Southampton Saints 36 T Res RaceSH
Wednesday 27 April 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 54 Walthamstow Wolves 30 SH
Saturday 30 April 1949 Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh Monarchs 45 Fleetwood Flyers 39
Wednesday 4 May 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 46 Cradley Heath Heathens 38 SH
Friday 6 May 1949 Knowle Bristol Bulldogs 67 Fleetwood Flyers 17
Monday 9 May 1949 Stanley Liverpool and Plymouth 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Wednesday 11 May 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 46 Bristol Bulldogs 38 SH
Tuesday 17 May 1949 Bannister Court Southampton Saints 41 Fleetwood Flyers 42
Wednesday 18 May 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Northern Trophy T Ht18
Monday 23 May 1949 London Walthamstow Wolves 42 Fleetwood Flyers 42
Wednesday 25 May 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 53 Coventry Bees 29 T Novices R
Thursday 26 May 1949 Owlerton Sheffield Tigers 60 Fleetwood Flyers 24
Saturday 28 May 1949 Brandon Coventry Bees 35 Fleetwood Flyers 49
Wednesday 1 June 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 51 Sheffield Tigers 33 SH
Wednesday 8 June 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 57 Edinburgh Monarchs 27
Wednesday 15 June 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 64 Cradley Heath Heathens 18 SH
Saturday 18 June 1949 Sun Street Stoke Potters 56 Fleetwood Flyers 52
Wednesday 22 June 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 69 Stoke Potters 38 SH
Wednesday 29 June 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 61 Edinburgh Monarchs 44
Saturday 2 July 1949 Old MeadowbankEdinburgh Monarchs 57 Fleetwood Flyers 51
Wednesday 6 July 1949 Fleetwood World Championship Round T Run Off
Thursday 7 July 1949 Owlerton Sheffield Tigers 43 Fleetwood Flyers 40
Friday 9 July 1949 Knowle Bristol Bulldogs 73 Fleetwood Flyers 35
Tuesday 12 July 1949 Glasgow Ashfield Giants 45 Fleetwood Flyers 39
Wednesday 13 July 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 46 Bristol Bulldogs 60 SH
Saturday 16 July 1949 Brandon Coventry Bees 46 Fleetwood Flyers 38
Wednesday 20 July 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers V Bristol Bulldogs Postponed
Monday 25 July 1949 Brough Park, Newcastle Magpies 49 Fleetwood Flyers 35
Wednesday 27 July 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 46 Sheffield Tigers 38 SH
Monday 1 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 38 Glasgow Tigers 46
Tuesday 2 August 1949 Glasgow Ashfield Giants 45 Fleetwood Flyers 38
Wednesday 3 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 30 Norwich Stars 53
Saturday 6 August 1949 Firs Norwich Stars 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Monday 8 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 39 Bristol Bulldogs 44
Wednesday 10 August 1949 White City Glasgow Tigers 68 Fleetwood Flyers 16
Saturday 13 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 45 Ashfield Giants 39
Wednesday 17 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 41 Walthamstow 43 SH
Friday 19 August 1949 Dudley Wood Cradley Heath Heathens 44 Fleetwood Flyers 40
Wednesday 24 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 49 Southampton Saints 35
Saturday 27 August 1949 Firs Norwich Stars 48 Fleetwood Flyers 34
Wednesday 31 August 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 35 Norwich Stars 49 SH
Wednesday 7 September 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 63 Coventry Bees 31 TSH Fin
Saturday 10 September 1949 Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh Monarchs 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Wednesday 14 September 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 53 Newcastle Magpies 31 SH
Saturday 17 September 1949 Odsal Halifax Dukes 57 Fleetwood Flyers 27
Monday 19 September 1949 London Walthamstow Wolves 62 Fleetwood Flyers 21
Tuesday 20 September 1949 Bannister Court Southampton Saints 51 Fleetwood Flyers 33
Wednesday 21 September 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 35 Edinburgh Monarchs 49 SH
Monday 26 September 1949 County Ground, Exeter Falcons 7 Fleetwood Flyers 17
Wednesday 28 September 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 56 Glasgow Tigers 28 SH
Saturday 1 October 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 38 Halifax Dukes 46
Wednesday 5 October 1949 White City Stadium, Glasgow Tigers 51 Fleetwood Flyers 33
Wednesday 12 October 1949 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 52 Ashfield Giants 30 SH

1950 season

Monday 10 April 1950 Brough Newcastle Diamonds 54 Fleetwood Flyers 30
Wednesday 12 April 1950 White City Glasgow Tigers 55 Fleetwood Flyers 28
Saturday 15 April 1950 Sun Street Stoke Potters 49 Fleetwood Flyers 34
Saturday 22 April 1950 Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh Monarchs 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Saturday 29 April 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers v Newcastle Diamonds Cancelled / Abandoned
Tuesday 2 May 1950 Saracen Park, Ashfield Giants 58 Fleetwood Flyers 25
Wednesday 3 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 43 Ashfield Giants 39
Wednesday 10 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 41 Sheffield Tars 42
Friday 12 May 1950 The Shay Halifax Dukes 56 Fleetwood Flyers 28
Saturday 13 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 33 Halifax Dukes 49
Monday 15 May 1950 Stanley Liverpool Chads 47 Fleetwood Flyers 37
Wednesday 17 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 38 Stoke Potters 46
Friday 19 May 1950 Owlerton Sheffield Tars 52 Fleetwood Flyers 32
Saturday 20 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 47 Glasgow Tigers 37
Wednesday 24 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 43 Edinburgh Monarchs 41
Saturday 27 May 1950 Firs Norwich Stars 63 Fleetwood Flyers 44
Wednesday 31 May 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 48 Norwich Stars 59
Wednesday 7th June1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 39 Halifax Dukes 45
Wednesday 14 June 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 52 Newcastle Diamonds 32
Wednesday 21 June 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 57 Yarmouth Bloaters 27
Saturday 24 June 1950 Sun Street Stoke Potters 38 Fleetwood Flyers 46
Wednesday 28th June1950 Highbury Avenue Fleetwood Four Team Challenge
Saturday 1 July 1950 Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh Monarchs 50 Fleetwood Flyers 33
Wednesday 5 July 1950 Fleetwood World Championship Round
Friday 7 July 1950 Blackbird Road Leicester Hunters 47 Fleetwood Flyers 37
Wednesday 12 July 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 40 Walthamstow Wolves 44
Saturday 15 July 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers v Glasgow Tigers Rained Off
Monday 17 July 1950 London Walthamstow Wolves 54 Fleetwood Flyers 30
Wednesday 19 July 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 37 Ashfield Giants 46
Saturday 22 July 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 40 Glasgow Tigers 44
Wednesday 26th July1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 58 Leicester Hunters 26
Saturday 29 July 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 46 Plymouth Devils 38
Wednesday 2 August 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 34 Coventry Bees 50
Saturday 5 August 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 55 Liverpool Chads 41
Wednesday 9 August 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 50 Stoke Potters 34
Saturday 12 August 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 54 Newcastle Diamonds 30
Wednesday 16 August 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 47 Norwich Stars 37
Saturday 19 August 1950 Firs Norwich Stars 69 Fleetwood Flyers 15
Tuesday 22 August 1950 Caister Road Yarmouth Bloaters 59 Fleetwood Flyers 25
Saturday 26 August 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 39 Southampton Saints 45
Thursday 31 August 1950 Pennycross Plymouth Devils 57 Fleetwood Flyers 27
Saturday 2 September 1950 Brandon Coventry Bees 59 Fleetwood Flyers 25
Wednesday 6 September 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers v Cradley Heath Heathens Rained Off
Friday 8 September 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 37 Cradley Heath Heathens 47
Monday 11 September 1950 Dudley Wood Cradley Heath Heathens 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Wednesday 13 September 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 54 SheffieldTigers 30
Friday 15 September 1950 Bannister Court Southampton Saints 56 Fleetwood 28
Tuesday 19 September 1950 Saracen Park, Ashfield Giants 35 Fleetwood Flyers 49
Wednesday 20 September 1950 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 42 Edinburgh Monarchs 42
Wednesday 27 September 1950 White City Glasgow Tigers 56 Fleetwood Flyers 28
Monday 2 October 1950 Stanley Liverpool Chads 55 Fleetwood Flyers 40
Wednesday 4 October 1950 The Shay, Halifax Dukes 51 Fleetwood Flyers 33
Thursday 5 October 1950 Owlerton Sheffield Tigers 68 Fleetwood Flyers 18
Monday 9 October 1950 Brough Park, Newcastle Diamonds 60 Fleetwood Flyers 23

1951 season

Friday 23 March 1951 Brough Newcastle Diamonds 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Wednesday 28 March 1951 White City Glasgow Tigers 56 Fleetwood Flyers 28
Tuesday 3 April 1951 Saracen Park, Ashfield Giants 53 Fleetwood Flyers 31
Friday 6 April 1951 The Stadium Lanarkshire Eagles 46 Fleetwood Flyers 38
Wednesday 11 April 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 43 Glasgow Ashfield 41
Saturday 14 April 1951 Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh Monarchs 59 Fleetwood Flyers 25
Wednesday 18 April 1951Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 45 Newcastle Diamonds 39
Wednesday 25 April 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 29 Edinburgh Monarchs 55
Saturday 28 April 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 35 Glasgow Tigers 49
Monday 30 April 1951 Brough Park, Newcastle Diamonds 71 Fleetwood Flyers 36
Wednesday 2 May 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Fliers 39 Lanarkshire Eagles 44
Wednesday 9 May 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 64 Newcastle Diamonds 44
Wednesday 16 May 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 48 Liverpool Chads 60
Saturday 19 May 1951 Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh Monarchs 58 Fleetwood Flyers 26
Wednesday 23 May 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyer 46 Leicester Hunters 38
Monday 28 May 1951 Stanley Liverpool Chads 51 Fleetwood Flyers 32
Wednesday 30 May 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 46 Cradley Heath 36
Wednesday 6 June 1951 Highburgh Fleetwood Flyers 38 Liverpool Chads 40
Saturday 9 June 1951 Brandon Coventry Bees 34 Fleetwood Flyers 29
Wednesday 13 June 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 71 America 26
Saturday 16 June 1951 Sun Street Stoke Potters 60 Fleetwood Flyers 23
Monday 18 June 1951 London Walthamstow Wolves 67 Fleetwood Flyers 16
Wednesday 20 June 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 65 Southampton Saints 43
Saturday 23 June 1951 Brandon Coventry Bees 60 Fleetwood Flyers 23
Wednesday 27 June 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 42 Lanarkshire Eagles 42
Friday 29 June 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 45 Glasgow Tigers 39
Wednesday 4 July 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 56 Yarmouth Bloaters 28
Thursday 5 July 1951 Cowley Oxford Cheetahs 61 Fleetwood Flyers 23
Wednesday 11 July 1951 Fleetwood World Championship Qualifying Round
Saturday 14 July 1951 Firs Norwich Stars 62 Fleetwood Flyers 22
Tuesday 17 July 1951 Caister Road Yarmouth Bloaters 63 Fleetwood Flyers 18
Wednesday 18 July 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 53 All-American Touring Team 54
Wednesday 25 July 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 33 Norwich Stars 51
Friday 27 July 1951 The Shay, Halifax Dukes 60 Fleetwood Flyers 24
Saturday 28 July 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 40 Halifax Dukes 44
Wednesday 1 August 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 41 Ashfield Giants 42
Monday 6 August 1951 Stanley Liverpool Chads 62 Fleetwood Flyers 45
Wednesday 8 August 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 52 Stoke Potters 31
Wednesday 15 August 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 44 Coventry Bees 40
Wednesday 22 August 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 49 Walthamstow Wolves 35
Friday 24 August 1951 Dudley Wood Cradley Heath 55 Fleetwood Flyers 29
Tuesday 28 August 1951 Saracen Park Ashfield Giants 19 Fleetwood Flyers 15
Wednesday 29 August 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 53 Odsal Tudors 54
Friday 31 August 1951 The Stadium Lanarkshire Eagles 55 Fleetwood Fliers 29
Wednesday 5 September 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 36 Edinburgh Monarchs 48
Wednesday 12 September 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 53 Oxford Cheetahs 31
Monday 17 September 1951 Brough Park Newcastle Diamonds 42 Fleetwood Flyers 42
Wednesday 19 September 1951 Fleetwood Wilf Jay's Eight 44 Norman Hargreaves Eight 40
Friday 21 September 1951 Blackbird Road Leicester Hunters 57 Fleetwood Flyers 27
Tuesday 25 September 1951 Saracen Park Ashfield Giants 54 Fleetwood Flyers 30
Wednesday 26 September 1951 Highbury Fleetwood Flyers 45 Newcastle Diamonds 38
Wednesday 3 October 1951 White City Glasgow Tigers 65 Fleetwood Flyers 19

1952 season

In 1952 a number of open meetings were held with the team renamed the Fleetwood Knights.
Wednesday 30 April 1952 Fleetwood Knights 43 Liverpool Chads 40
Wednesday 7 May 1952 Fleetwood Knights 61 Stoke Potters 22
Wednesday 21 May 1952 Fleetwood Knights 44 Leicester Hunters 40
Wednesday28 May 1952 Fleetwood Knights 44 Coventry Bees 40
Wednesday 11 June 1952 Fleetwood Knights 50 Yarmouth Bloaters 34
Wednesday 18 June 1952 Fleetwood Knights 56 Wolverhampton Wasps 28
Wednesday 25 June 1952 Fleetwood Knights 49 Ashfield Giants 35
Wednesday 9 July 1952 Fleetwood Championship
Wednesday 16 July 1952 Fleetwood Knights 52 Cardiff Dragons 32
Wednesday 30 July 1952 Individual Championship
Wednesday 6 August 1952 Best Pairs
Wednesday 13 August 1952 Highbury Individual Championship Final
Wednesday 20 August 1952 Fleetwood Knights 50 All Star Team 34
Wednesday 27 August 1952 Fleetwood Knights 43 Liverpool Chads 41
Wednesday 2 September 1952 Best Pairs Meeting Details
Wednesday 9 September 1952 Best Pairs

Riders

The most notable rider who rode for the Flyers was Peter Craven who rode in one meeting in 1951. The riders who made the most appearances for the Flyers were –
For many years a feature of the Highbury stadium was the 'setback' on the west side of the ground where part of the speedway track used to be. Both the main stand and the long covered standing area known as the Scratching Shed were set back from the pitch by a large gap, where there was formerly one corner of the track. This was the legacy of the speedway years. In 2008 when a new West Stand was built, it was constructed over the set back area, close to the pitch. To construct the stand, the builders had to clear about 5,000 tonnes of cinder and ash still left over from the speedway track.