Ellesmere Port

Defunct Speedway Tracks

Ellesmere Port Speedway

The Stadium, Thornton Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire operated between 1971-1985

The gunners reunion is this saturday the 12th november at the greyhound next to the stadium. doors open at 7pm and tickets are £4.00 each or £5.00 on the door with all proceeds going to joe owen. hubbards mobile speedway museum is once again travelling up from kent with some of his bikes and also ron jones is travelling from coventry with a couple of his JAP bikes. anyone wanting infor can contact me on 0151 356 4931

Courtesy of Steve Cummins

Ellesmere Comeback

John
Just to let you know, that there is currently a move in Ellesmere Port to restart the Speedway. Details and an online petition are on Cheshire West and Chester councils website. More details are on the Ellesmere Port Pioneer website as well. Regards Colin Hill

Good luck Ellesmere, the gunners may fire again

As Colin Hill has already informed you about the petition to revive the Ellesmere Port Gunners. The online signatures are now soaring to over 200 on there. I am in contact the the local Paper The Pioneer and for the past 2 weeks they have run a story on it. I have also been in contact with the local council regarding a lot of the fans have not got internet access and now they have given me permission to print a load of paper petitions and organise a meeting as well for them to sign. I have also posted this on the Speedway Forum Site so anyone out there that would like to see the Gunners reformed go onto the Cheshire west website and sign the petition. good luck with the defunct site john

regards

Keith Dwyer

BRING BACK THE GUNNERS

The following black n white pictures were sent by Colin Hill

Jacko'

Keith Dwyer's Photos

John Jackson at Rye House 1978

John Jackson at Teesside 1978

John Jackson at Thornton Rd. 1979

Another of John Jackson at Thornton Rd. 1979

Jacko' Thornton Rd Pits

Alan P says: From the left 1st not to sure???,then its John Williams/ Louis Carr/ Steve Finch/ Phil Collins/ and John Jackson on the bike. I have a scrap book and there are no other photos of this person 1st on the left so not certain who it is, two names come up Peter Williams and John Butt, but no photos of them either. regards Alan

Anthony Atkins says: The rider you thought was Pete Williams is in fact a lad called Paul Sheard

Ellesmere v Coatbridge 1975

Ellesmere Port Riders

EP 1
Graham Drury

EP 2
Steve Wilkes says: EP2 Rider on the left is Paul Tyrer not sure who is on the right
Steve Baker says: Ellesmere Port page, picture EP2 is Robbie Gardner.

EP 3
Brummie rider I believe to be Terry Shearer
Steve Wilkes says: EP3 It is Terry Shearer leading Graham Drury

EP4
Steve Wilkes says: EP4 Colin Goad

EP5 Cyril Francis Graham Drury EP6

EP7 Paul Tyrer Ian Gills EP8

EP9 Paul Gallaghan EP10 Chris Blythe

EP11 Colin Goad EP12 Robbie Gardner

EP13
Robbie Gardner, Phil Woodcock, Chris Blythe, Graham Drury (on machine), Colin Goad, Paul Callaghan, Ian Gills.

EP14

Hello John
The Ellesmere Port photo the full riders are, from Left Ernie Parks , Louis Carr, Paul Clements, Chris Turner , Phil Collins, Gerald Smitherman, Steve Finch, Joe Shaw, Kneeling Robbie Gardener, Mr Ellesmere Port John Jackson, and Duncan Meredith, mascot could be Lee Bell.
Regards Steven Grady (Ellesmere Port fan)
Steve Wilkes says: EP14 Ellesmere Port 1972 Team picture - Standing Left to right : Ken Vale, Graham Drury, Geoff Pusey, Paul Callaghan, Paul Tyrer, Colin Goad, Robbie Gardner (Kneeling)

1976

Courtesy of Duncan Meredith

1977

Courtesy of Duncan Meredith

Can anyone name the guys in these two team photographs. John

Duncan Meredith

Courtesy of Duncan Meredith

Peter and Louis Carr

Courtesy of Duncan Meredith

Steve Finch and owner of the photographs Duncan Meredith. Thanks for helping the site Duncan (I have resisted temptation to remark on the hair, mine was similar at the time)

Louis Carr courtesy of Keith Dwyer

Keith Dwyer's Photos

Pete Ellams giving John Jackson a lift back to the pits

Steve Finch

Steve Finch 1978

Steve Finch 1979

Memories

Dear Sir
I have recently found your website which includes memories of Ellesmere Port Speedway " The Gunners".
I went to many of the home and away matches back in the mid to late 70's with my late father.
Some of my memories include:

As the ground was shared with the Town football team, the track went around the outside of the pitch area, making it one of the longest in the country.
The "Gunners" always practiced on a Saturday morning and entry was free to watch them. Many of the fans would then go over to watch Belle Vue later in the day as many of their younger riders learnt their trade at the Port, so on race nights it was quite common to see the Collins family at the Port.
Tragically a rider died from his injuries at one of the practice sessions when he parted company with his machine, slid onto the grass and struck a heavy pitch roller which had been left there. I can't remember the lads name or exactly when it was though.
The team bibs had earlier been yellow writing on a red background ( a reverse of the last ones).
The local pub was named after the team.

Thanks again for the memories. Colin Hill

Keith Dwyer says: Hi John with regards to the young rider that was tragically killed at the Ellesmere Port training school his name was Stuart Shirley. A great young up and coming rider. I was actually in the pits on that day and was one of the lads that helped carry his bike off the track. hope this helps and keep up the good work on the site. Regards Keith

Courtesy of Jim Blanchard

These 3 photo's were taken during Ellesmere Port V. Mildenhall on August Bank Holiday weekend 1979. Does anyone know the riders John
Update: Steve Wilkes says: The pictures taken v Mildenhall are incorrect, these pictures were taken at the 4TT finals at Peterborough in 1979.Ellesmere Port rider is Gunners great John Jackson, other riders are (at the back) - Graham Jones (Berwick), Andy Hines (Peterborough), Mick Hines (Mildenhall) leading.
Jeff Radcliffe also identifies the track as Peterborough not Ellesmere.

Paul Embley

I rode at Ellesmere from 1978 till 1982, then had a spell at Wolverhampton and did 3 meetings for BelleVue. Had to retire due to an illness in my muscles.

Ellesmere V Newcastle

John Jackson leads Nigel Crabtree & Derek Richardson

Keith Bloxsome, Paul Embley, Gary Ainsley & Peter Carr

John Williams, Derek Richardson, Louis Carr & David Bargh

Joe Owen

I have placed this picture of Joe below the Ellesmere v Newcastle section. That is because he was the darling of both sets of fans:

Here he is winning the National League Best Pairs for Ellesmere inn 1985
Joe only rode at Ellesmere in 1985 but he made such an impact

1985 title winning Gunners Richie Owen, Gary O'hare, Miles Evans, Dave Morton, Dave Walsh, and front: Louis Carr & Joe Owen

Joe Owen accepting The 1985 National League Pairs Trophy from the gorgeous Samantha Fox. Joe was on his own (despite this being the Pairs) because his partner Louis Carr crashed in the final and was unable to stand alongside Joe at the presentation (Or maybe he was frightened of Sam!!). Louis recovered from his smash and had a great season whereas Joe had a life threatening smash later in the season and ended up paralyzed. Such a sad end to a glittering career.

Do you have any photos to share email me John

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