Stamford Bridge Speedway 1928 to 1932

Speedway began in the United Kingdom in February 1928. The sport soon became popular, and throughout 1928 new venues came into use. Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club since 1905, was the first major stadium to stage speedway. In that first historic season, the meetings were mainly individual races for a variety of trophies. Some races were handicaps; others were match races with just two riders.

In 1929, the introduction of team racing and leagues transformed the new sport. Stamford Bridge built a strong team, including Wal Phillips and Gus Kuhn, one of the top British motorcyclists in different forms of motor sport. That season, the team won the Southern League. Legendary Australian star Frank Arthur joined the team in 1930.

They were Southern League runners-up in 1931, won the NSA Trophy in 1932, and reached the London Cup Final twice. However, after the end of the 1932 season, it was revealed that the promoters had major financial problems and speedway never returned to Stamford Bridge. The track was converted into a greyhound racing circuit. A track share for bikes and dogs was not possible because a loose cinders surface would have endangered the dogs. It was used until 1968. However, the five years that speedway ran at Stamford Bridge helped establish it for the British sporting public.

This book covers in full the five years of speedway at ‘The Bridge’. It includes profiles of all the riders who rode for the team, and a comprehensive records section. It will be of interest to all speedway fans.

The authors, Jim Henry and Keith Corns, have both written widely about the sport, and played a major role in recording its history.