Memories of Halifax Dukes

Welcome to the unofficial site of the Halifax Dukes Speedway team.

The Dukes existed at The Shay race-track in Halifax until their closure (and subsequent move to Odsal, Bradford) at the end of 1985.  This site is intended to be something of a first on the internet - a site dedicated to the Dukes up until their enforced closure - results, scores, photos and much more all in one place - for the first time!

The website was initially dedicated to the period from 1980 until the end of 1985 - but the history of the Dukes since their resurrection and participation in the inaugural British League in 1965 is now included - race by race, meeting by meeting, every triumph, every heartbreak - a 21-year rollercoaster of successes and failures.  

Navigating your way around the site is simple - in the Archives, which can be accessed by the drop-down box at the top of the screen, you will find a month by month history of The Dukes - match by match, race by race.  Each yearly archive contains information which has never been held together in one place before - heat results, times, results, scorers, averages, league tables and much more.

Each year has it's own photographical history too - and I am indebted to numerous people for use of their pictures - many thanks to Jason Ward via his Facebook page, @Stephen78857051 (Happiness is 40-38), Damon Hitchen for invaluable information on missing details, and I would also add a big thank you to Speedway Star, Tony MacDonald and Backtrack magazine, and to various (although not enough) Speedway Yearbooks for helping me to piece this all together.  And many thanks to the promoters of Halifax Speedway/Eric Boothroyd for any replication of programme notes and material. I do not claim to own any of the photographs included, so if anyone does claim ownership and would like them removed, or wants me to credit them on here, please get in touch - happy to oblige!  Some photographs are courtesy of Mike Patrick via the John Somerville Collection - many thanks for being in the right place at the right time!  If you have any photographs which you think would add to the site, please get in touch.

There are two other groups of people who I also need to thank.  Firstly, the Supporters - you.  Without the supporters carrying on their weekly pilgrimage to The Shay on a Saturday night (and sometimes other days too), and travelling the length and breadth of the country to see their favourites often get heavily beaten, there would have been no speedway at Halifax.  So this site is firstly dedicated to everyone who donned a Dukes scarf or beanie hat, or carried a car sticker etc.  

Secondly, the riders - whom we all held our breath for every time the tapes went up.  It doesn't matter whether your favourite averaged 10 points a match, or was a junior trying to break into the bottom end of the team.  It didn't matter if they scored a 12 point maximum, or trailed round at the back twice a week - these riders were - and still are - complete Heroes to all of us who filled the terraces of The Shay every week, and did what they did for our entertainment.  As a sportsman, adulation and criticism will often flow your way, and I have tried to keep a balanced view of those concerned.  After all, what would we give for those days now...? Biographies, including the statistics of those who wore the Dukes' colours can be found in The Riders section at the top of the page.  Thank You each and every one of you!

And finally, let's not forget our place of worship - The Shay Grounds, Halifax.  I have tried to include some photographs to stir the memories of everyone's favourite place to be on a Saturday night.  Everyone had their own spot, everyone had their own route around the ground, their own rituals etc, whether it was clamouring by the start gate, perching on the 3rd and 4th bend terracing, or throwing the contents of their flask over certain Coventry riders on the back straight, everyone loved that place.  Yes, it was a bit shabby, it needed some work from time to time, and ultimately was not up to the standards needed to keep speedway going at Halifax - but it was ours.

All care has been taken to ensure that the facts and figures contained in these pages are correct - if you know differently, or have further information you can add, please get in touch - all feedback and additional information will be greatly received!

You can contact me via email at martyniwatson@yahoo.co.uk, on Twitter @martyniwatson or via Facebook/Messenger.

Enjoy!

Martyn - December 2024.