Poole Pirates

Poole strengthened the team further by bringing in Brian Crutcher, Bill Holden and Roy Craighead, which resulted in the Pirates winning their first title in 1951 and subsequently being promoted to the National League Division Two.

Brian Crutcher left Poole for Wembley at the start of the 1953 season[8] but Ken Middleditch won a second Riders' Championshiop in 1954.

[6] However, by the end of the 1956 season, the Poole promoters closed the club, blaming poor attendances and the introduction of fuel rationing due to the Suez Crisis.

[6][10] Southampton Saints promoter Charles Knott took over from Vic Gooden in 1960 and brought back the successful pairing of Middleditch and Lewis.

Smith was supported with contributions from team captain Geoff Mudge, Bruce Cribb, Gordon Guasco, Frank Shuter and Odd Fossengen who was in his second year at Poole and would become a fans favourite.

[11] Mid-way through the 1979 season, Reg Fearman bought the promoting rights to run the club[12] but ultimately the decade was one of mediocrity.

However, the club was rescued by the then Weymouth Wildcats promoters Peter Ansell and Mervyn Stewkesbury, who moved their team to Poole for the start of the 1985 season.

[6][14] Led by captain Alun Rossiter and despite losing Leigh Adams, the Pirates won the League and Knockout Cup double in 1990.

Poole won the league championship in 1994 led by Boyce, 1993 signing Lars Gunnestad, veteran Steve Schofield and a young Jason Crump, grandson of manager Neil Street.

The terracing on the back straight of the speedway track was demolished in 1997 and replaced with a new glass fronted grandstand incorporating a 440-seat restaurant, two bars, Tote betting facilities and multiple viewing screens.

Poole initially struggled in the Elite League and were sold to local businessmen Matt Ford and Mike Golding in 1998.

In 2002, the club signed Bjarne Pedersen as they won another Craven Shield but it was Rickardsson who set the headlines for the season, winning another World Championhsip, the Riders' Championship and topping the league averages.

[6][17] After signing Chris Holder and re-signing Davey Watt and Krzysztof Kasprzak, the Pirates won their third Elite League championship in 2008, defeating the Lakeside Hammers in the play-off final with an aggregate score of 108–75.

The decade ended with Hans Andersen and Chris Holder winning the Elite League Pairs Championship, held at the Arlington Stadium on 8 August 2009.

The Pirates finished 20 points clear of nearest rivals Wolves, during the 2010 season but lost to Coventry Bees in the play off final.

The following season in 2022, the Pirate brought in Richard Lawson and the success continued as the team dominated again, winning the SGB Championship and Knockout Cup 'double double'.

Two Poole Speedway programmes from 1948 and 1962 on display at Poole Museum
Bill Holden was part of the Poole team that experienced a golden era during the 1950s
Pete Smith scored 3,287 points for the club
The glass fronted grandstand built in 1997
The Poole riders lead Coventry during an Elite League meeting in July 2008.
The 2016 Pirates