Sheffield Tigers
Club information
Track addressOwlerton Stadium
Penistone Road
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Founded1929
PromoterDamien Bates, Julie Reading & Peter Mole
Team managerSimon Stead
Team captainKyle Howarth
LeagueSGB Premiership
National Development League
Websitewww.sheffield-speedway.com
Club facts
ColoursYellow and Blue
Track size361 metres (395 yd)
Track record time59.1 seconds (54.66mph)
Track record date15 October 2010
Track record holderRicky Ashworth
Current senior team
Rider CMA
Australia Jack Holder
England Tai Woffinden
Australia Chris Holder
England Kyle Howarth
Australia Josh Pickering
England Jason Edwards
England Dan Gilkes
Current junior team
Rider CMA
Scotland Ace Pijper
England Nathan Ablitt
England Luke Harrison
England Mickie Simpson
England Kean Dicken
Scotland Stene Pijper
Major team honours
United Kingdom Champions2023
Div 1 Knockout Cup1974
Div 1 League Cup2022
Div 2 Champions1999, 2002, 2017
Division 2 Knockout Cup1939, 2002
Div 2 Pairs Champions2010, 2017, 2018
Div 2 Fours Champions1999, 2000
Premier Trophy Winners2001
Div 2 British Speedway Cup1947
Div 3 Champions2000, 2001, 2011
Northern Trophy1974, 1979
Provincial Northern League1962, 1963, 1964
Sheffield Window Centre 'Tigers' 2016

The Sheffield 'Tru Plant' Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British SGB Premiership, and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium. They were founded in 1929[1] and were champions of Britain, in 2023.

The Tigers traditionally hold their race nights on Thursdays between March and October[2] and are sponsored by Tru Plant.

History

Owlerton was a purpose-built speedway track built in 1929. The team were inaugural members of the English Dirt Track League and Northern league the following season. In 1930 they rode as the Sheffield Blades.[3]

It operated for most of the pre-war years and re-opened for a short spell in 1945. The team operated in the Northern League of 1946 and in the National League Division Two between 1947 and 1950. The team won their first trophy in 1947, after winning the British Speedway Cup (Div 2).[4]

It closed part way through 1951 and staged open meetings in 1952. The track re-opened in 1960 and has operated most seasons since then.[5][6] The team has been known as The Tigers apart from part of 1950 when they were known as The Tars and 1930 when they were the Blades.

From 1970 to 1986, Reg Wilson made a club record 470 appearances.

Sheffield won the Premier League (speedway's second division) twice during the 1999 Premier League speedway season and the 2002 Premier League speedway season. They also won the Knockout Cup in 2002 to complete the double. The club's junior side the Sheffield Prowlers also won silverware winning the Conference League in 2000 and 2001. When Sean Wilson retired in 2005, he was the Tigers all-time leading point scorer, with 4246 points.[7]

The SGB Championship 2017 season was the 21st consecutive season that the Sheffield Tigers competed in division 2. The Tigers finished in 1st place having beaten Ipswich Witches in the two leg Play Off final 99–81.

In 2019, the club won their fourth historical league title winning the SGB Championship 2017 after finishing top of the regular season table and winning the playoffs. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) the 2020 season did not take place. The club topped the SGB Premiership 2022 table but lost in the play off final to Belle Vue Aces, which foiled the chance for the club to win their first ever top-tier league title. However, they did gain compensation by winning the League Cup.[8]

In 2023, after finishing third in the SGB Premiership 2023 league standings, they went on to defeat Wolverhampton Wolves in the semi finals and then Ipswich Witches in the final. This was the first time in the club's history that were crowned champions of the United Kingdom. The success somewhat atoned for the final defeat the season before.[9]

Club honours

Notable former riders

Full seasons summary

Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League9th
1930 Speedway Northern League7th
1931 Speedway Northern League3rd
1933 Speedway National League8th
1938 Speedway National League Division Two7th
1939 Speedway National League3rd++when season was suspended
1946 Speedway Northern League2nd
1947 Speedway National League Division Two2ndBritish Cup Div 2 winners
1948 Speedway National League Division Two4th
1949 Speedway National League Division Two2nd
1950 Speedway National League Division Two10th
1951 Speedway National League Division TwoN/Awithdrew, results expunged
1960 Provincial Speedway League4th
1961 Provincial Speedway League7th
1962 Provincial Speedway League7th
1963 Provincial Speedway League4th
1964 Speedway National League8th
1965 British League season11th
1966 British League season11th
1967 British League season9th
1968 British League season4th
1969 British League season6th
1970 British League season7th
1971 British League season4th
1972 British League season4th
1973 British League season2nd
1974 British League season4thKnockout Cup winners
1975 British League season5th
1976 British League season17th
1977 British League season13th
1978 British League season8th
1979 British League season13th
1980 British League season17th
1981 British League season10th
1982 British League season5th
1983 British League season10th
1984 British League season5th
1985 British League season2nd
1986 British League season4th
1987 British League season4th
1988 British League season6th
1991 British League Division Two season5th
1992 British League Division Two season10th
1993 British League Division Two season9th
1994 British League Division Two season9th
1995 Premier League speedway season14th
1996 Premier League speedway season18th
1997 Premier League speedway season10th
1998 Premier League speedway season5th
1999 Premier League speedway season1stchampions
2000 Premier League speedway season4th
2001 Premier League speedway season3rd
2002 Premier League speedway season1stchampions & Knockout Cup winners
2003 Premier League speedway season2nd
2004 Premier League speedway season8th
2005 Premier League speedway season3rd
2006 Premier League speedway season2nd
2007 Premier League speedway season4thPO final
2008 Premier League speedway season8th
2009 Premier League speedway season9th
2010 Premier League speedway season4thPO final & Premier League Pairs
2011 Premier League speedway season2nd
2012 Premier League speedway season12th
2013 Premier League speedway season12th
2014 Premier League speedway season12th
2015 Premier League speedway season5th
2016 Premier League speedway season6thPO final
SGB Championship 20171stchampions
SGB Championship 201811th
SGB Championship 20196th
SGB Premiership 20214thPO semi final
SGB Premiership 20222ndPO finalist, League Cup winners
SGB Premiership 20233rdChampions

Season summary (juniors)

Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
1996 Speedway Conference League10thOwlerton Prowlers
2000 Speedway Conference League1stProwlers, Champions
2001 Speedway Conference League1stProwlers, Champions
2002 Speedway Conference League2ndProwlers
2003 Speedway Conference League8thProwlers
2011 National League speedway season1stScunthorpe & Sheffield Saints, Champions

Previous seasons

References

  1. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
  2. "Potters Will Get Respect". Sheffield Tigers. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  3. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  4. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  7. "Hungry Tigers edge first leg of Play-Offs". Sheffield Star. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  8. "Tigers win League Cup". British Speedway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  9. "Tigers champions in Grand Final drama". British Speedway. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  10. Oakes, P (2006). Speedway Star Almanac. Pinegen Ltd. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0.
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