Linlithgow Lightning
Club information
Track addressHeathersfield Stadium
Myrehead Farm
Whitecross
Linlithgow
West Lothian
CountryScotland
Founded1994
Closed1999
Major team honours
Conference champions1996
Knockout Cup1996

Linlithgow Lightning were a British speedway team based in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. They raced at Heathersfield Stadium.[1][2][3]

History

Plans for holding speedway in Linlithgow started in October 1988, when the Edinburgh Monarchs manager Alan Robertson revealed that a circuit would be built to enable younger riders to use it as a training circuit.[4] The site would be known as Heathersfield Stadium and the location was on Myrehead Farm in Whitecross (55°58′46″N 3°39′32″W / 55.97944°N 3.65889°W / 55.97944; -3.65889). The stadium was used a training track up until 1994, when Linlithgow Lightning (managed by Alan Robertson) joined the 1994 British League Division Three.[5] The first fixture took place on 26 June 1994.[6][7] In 1995, they raced in the 1995 Academy League but experienced financial issues during a troubled season.[8][9]

During their third season, led by Barry Campbell, Blair Scott and Peter Scully, the team won the 1996 Speedway Conference League and the Conference League Knockout Cup.[10][11]

The following season most of the league winning team moved up to the Premier League before they competed in the 1997 Speedway Conference League as Lathallan Lightning.[12]

Alan Robertson did not enter a side during 1998 but he was joined by Edinburgh promoter John Campbell for the 1999 season and they managed a team for one more season during the 1999 Speedway Conference League season.[3]

In September 1999, Linlithgow Lightning were told that by the landowner that he was selling and that the team would have to move out.[13] The club folded in 1999 and the venue closed in October 1999.[14]

Season summary

Year and league Position Notes
1994 British League Division Three 4th
1995 Academy League 6th
1996 Speedway Conference League 1st Champions & Knockout Cup winners
1997 Speedway Conference League 11th rode as Lathallan Lightning
1999 Speedway Conference League 6th

See also

References

  1. ^ "Linlithgow - Heathersfield Stadium". Speedway Museum Online.
  2. ^ "Linlithgow Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "The Linlithgow Story". Speedway Plus. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Tigers hunt ends in Spain". Daily Record. 21 October 1988. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Linlithgow - Heathersfield Stadium". Speedway Plus. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  6. ^ "New track". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 25 June 1994. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "1994 tables". Speedway GB.
  8. ^ "1995 tables". Speedway GB.
  9. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Major League Competitions". Speedway Archive.
  11. ^ "1996 Tables". Speedway GB.com.
  12. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Speedway". Daily Record. 30 September 1999. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "The Linlithgow Story". Speedway Plus.
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