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Poole Pirates
Poole Speedway has been a regular feature of Poole sporting and social life since April 26 1948, when the very first speedway meeting took place at the town's Wimborne Road Stadium. Since then the sport has become the most popular summer spectator sport in the town, attracting fans from all across the County.
Starting out in the Third Division of the National Speedway League the Pirates quickly gained a huge following in the town, with crowds of up to 10,000 regularly flocking to cheer on their team. This at a time when the town's football side could rarely attract more than 800 to any of their league matches.
Poole quickly rose through the ranks, winning the Third Division and Second Division championship titles in quick succession before eventually winning promotion to the First Division in 1956. However the club had to wait a further 13 years before they could get their hands on the Division One silverware. 40 years or so later they are still battling in the sport's top division, now called the Elite League. Along the way the side has had its up's and down's, winning eleven league titles and three cup competitions. It has also overcome the two occasions when it looked likely that the club would fold due to financial problems and the sport lost to the town for all time.
Just like any of the world's top soccer club's, Poole has always been a magnet for the best riders on offer, with many of the world's top stars gracing the Pirates sides throughout the years. Big names such as Malcolm Simmons, Craig Boyce, and Jason Crump, have represented the club at the highest level, with two going on to win the FIM World Individual Speedway Championship during their time in the Pirates colours. Mark Loram racing to the title in 2000, while Tony Rickardsson was crowned champion in 2001 and 2002.
During 2003 and 2004 the Pirates became the most successful side in British Speedway winning both the Sky Sports Elite League Championship and the BSPA Knockout Cup in successive seasons. They also managed to pull of an historic treble in 2003 by adding the BSPA League Cup to the trophy cabinet.
As of today, the club is still battling for the honours and is currently engaged in a season long battle for a place in the end of season play - off's for the Sky Sports Elite League championship.
