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RAYLEIGH ROCKETS This site is not an official website for the track shown here and is neither approved or endorsed by the speedway team. |
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| Speedway came to Rayleigh in 1948
when the first meeting was held on the cinder track at the Weir Stadium on the 17th
July with a team selection meeting between the Probables and the Possibles. The very next
week the first competitive match took place when Rayleigh beat Leicester by 51 points to
32. The team entered the National League Division 3 in 1949 and throughout the period to 1973 fluctuated between Southern League, Provincial Leagues and British Leagues. The team held its final match on 20th October 1973 when it enjoyed a final victory over Eastbourne. |
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Whilst the team never managed to win the Knockout Cup, they were League Champions on 3 occasions in 1952, 1953 and 1960. |  |
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On the outskirts of Southend, Rayleigh Weir Stadium held its first greyhound meeting in 1948. It shared the venue with speedway later that year and continued to do so for the next 25 years. Once speedway finished in 1973 the writing was on the wall for greyhound racing at the venue, and the final meeting took place on 8th March 1974. |  |
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During its history the team have always been known as the Rockets, although they did also run a team in the Southern League who were known as the Rovers. |  |
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This section gives a comprehensive picture of
the badges produced for the team throughout the ages, but only provides the briefest of
glimpses of its history. For those wishing to read more widely we recommend a visit to http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwgreyhoundd-21 especially
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To view a complete collection of badges choose the relevant link below: |  |
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More detailed information is available from "Homes of British Speedway' by Robert Bamford & John Jarvis A further great source of information is provided on John Skinner's excellent website on Defunct Speedway tracks, with a link given below. For all Speedway enthusiasts, John Somerville’s website should always be your first port of call:-https://www.skidmarks1928.com/v/photos/john-somerville-collection |
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| 1948 | 1957 |