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Scunthorpe Scorpions
Club information
Track address	Eddie Wright Raceway Normanby Road Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire DN15 8QZ
Country	England
Founded	1972
Promoter	Rob Godfrey
Team manager	David Howe
Team captain	Simon Lambert
League	SGB Championship National Development League
Website	scunthorpe-speedway.com
Club facts
Colours	White and Red
Track size	285 metres (312 yd)
Track record time	55.18 seconds
Track record date	5 September 2014
Track record holder	Nicolai Klindt
Current senior team
Rider CMA Simon Lambert Jake Allen Steve Worrall Connor Mountain Zaine Kennedy Declan Kennedy Luke Harrison
Current junior team
Rider CMA
Major team honours
Premier League Champions 2012 Championship KO Cup 2023 Conference League Champions 2006, 2007 Conference League KO Cup Winners 2006, 2007 Conference Trophy Winners 2006, 2007 Conference Shield Winners 2006 Conference Fours Winners 2007 Conference League Pairs Winners 2006

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)

Season summary (junior team)

Riders previous seasons

Notable riders

• Josh Auty
• Ryan Douglas
• David Howe
• Michael Palm Toft
• Rob Woffinden
• Tai Woffinden

Other honours

• Lincolnshire Cup Winners: 2005, 2006 & 2007
• Easter Cup Winners: 2006
• Humber Bridge Trophy Winners: 2005

References

1. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
2. "Speedway Racing". Gainsborough Evening News. 20 April 1971. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
3. "1973 fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
4. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
5. "Saints still out for new riders". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 10 May 1973. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Brewery boost for Stadium". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 16 February 1978. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Speedway Ashby Ville". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
8. "Stags look to be out of the hunt". Chester Chronicle. 20 July 1979. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
9. "£150,000 Stadium Planned". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 8 January 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "New crisis for speedway". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 9 May 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
12. "1985 fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
13. "History". Scunthorpe Speedway. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
14. "2012 Play-off Final…. In Words and pictures". Scunthorpe Scorpions speedway club. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
15. "Cup joy for Scorpions". British Speedway. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
16. "Scorpions sign Bergström". BSPA. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.

v t e SGB Championship
2024 Teams	Berwick Bandits Edinburgh Monarchs Glasgow Tigers Oxford Cheetahs Plymouth Gladiators Poole Pirates Redcar Bears Scunthorpe Scorpions Workington Comets
Former Teams	Birmingham Brummies Eastbourne Eagles Ipswich Witches Kent Kings Lakeside Hammers Leicester Lions Newcastle Diamonds Peterborough Panthers Sheffield Tigers Somerset Rebels
Seasons	2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Domestic cups	Knockout Cup Pairs Fours Riders' Individual Championship

• Speedway Premier League teams
• SGB Championship teams
• Sport in Scunthorpe