Sunderland Speedway

Sunderland Greyhound Stadium, Newcastle Road, East Boldon, Co Durham.  Speedway took place here in 1964 and 1971-1974 The team was known as The Saints, The Stars and the Gladiators

Jim Airey 1964

Courtesy of Steve McClurey

Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop

First programme of Sunderland's second spell 1971

Help please with names and the year
Steve Remington says: The year is 1972 Colin Armistead (manager), Jim Wells, Graeme Smith, George Barclay, Jack Millen, Dave Gatenby, Peter Wrathall and Russ Dent on machine

Sunderland had a team in 1964, known as the Saints, then later they were called the Stars and the Gladiators  Sunderland Speedway operated from the East Boldon greyhound stadium . 

Jim Airey

Jim Airey had to be the best rider to turn out for the side.

Very Stylish Vic Ridgeon

One of Vics bikes after recent restoration

What is the ultimate event on Tyneside? A match of any kind against the "enemy" from Sunderland!.. Here is a copy of a programme that signalled the rallying call.  Sunderland v Newcastle circa 1964

A great programme cover, art work excellent and the price too!  It would be great to get Sunderland back in operation in the same league as Newcastle what great local derbies we could have against the Saints (Stars Gladiators).

East Boldon Stadium, home of Sunderland Speedway

This is Sunderland Speedway Stadium now, alas only the Greyhounds race around this track now. There has been no speedway here for 31 years at the time of writing this in 2005: -

Action from Sunderland Russ Dent gate 2 and George Barclay gate 4, 1972 were you there? let's hear from you if you were

Mike Stores has been in touch he says he was probably amongst the faces on the photo. 

Sunderland Stars

Sunderland V Teesside 31/05/1974 Brian Havelock & Roger Wright

Sunderland V Teesside 31/05/1974 Bruce Forrester & Russ Dent

Vic Harding

Archie Cooper's Photographs

Archie was at a match between the Gladiators and the Rockets with his camera and he took the following pictures: -

I will ask Sunderland stalwart Bob Ferry for the names of the riders

Steve Clarke (white) Russ Dent, Pete Wigley and George Barclay 

Red Ott (2), Brian Foote(3) and Pete Moore

Pete Wigley. 

Russ Dent and George Barclay.

Trevor Barnwell and Red Ott

Vic Harding (nearest), Pete Wigley, John Robson and Steve Clarke.

Brian Havelock leads Bob Young and Trevor Barnwell.

Russ (nearest), Pete Moore, Brian Havelock and Pete Wigley.

Pete Wigley.

John Robson and Russ Dent

John Robson.

John Robson

George Barclay

All names supplied by Bob Ferry. Visit Bob's website for more about Sunderland www.sunderlandspeedway.co.uk

Graeme Smith

Courtesy of Graeme Smith

I attended the 2005 Sunderland Re-union and here are some pictures from the re-union night.

Ove Fundin's Jap from early 1950's John (ginger) Abigail is the current owner of this machine.

Above: Newcastle History Site webmaster John Skinner with Ove's bike, (it is nearly as old as John) wishing he owned it!

Pictures from Colin Poole: left ex-riders, Ray Day & Norman Redmond. right Russ Dent & Brian Havelock

Sunderland diehards Bob Ferry and Ian Martin have a website for Sunderland devotees. If you want to go there now click this link: Sunderland Website Otherwise note it for later browsing and continue the tour on this site.

Peter Baldwin's Photos

Jim Wells and Sid Sheldrick

George Barclay and Tom Owen

Russ Dent and Chris Roynon

George Barclay, Tom Owen and Terry Kelly

Jim Wells and Chris Roynon

Russ Dent Leading Tom Owen

Sunderland Gladiators

Courtesy of Archie Cooper

I can only be sure of Brian Havelock and Russ Dent can you name the rest and confirm the year which I guess is 1974 John
Tony Richardson Says: Is the rider on the far right John Robson, Scott & Stuart Robson’s Dad?
Update: Line up from almost the same photo in Richard Nicholson's book North East Motorsport as follows:  Sunderland Gladiators 1974 Paul Callaghan, George Barclay, Brian Havelock, Vic Harding, Jim Wells, Colin Armistead, John Robson and Russ Dent on the bike

Courtesy of Archie Cooper
George Barclay

If you can scan your photographs, programme covers or badges I would like to hear from you  John