1997 Premier League speedway season

The 1997 Premier League speedway season was the second division of speedway in the United Kingdom and governed by the Speedway Control Board (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).

1997 Premier League speedway season
LeaguePremier League
Season1997
ChampionsReading Racers
Knockout CupEdinburgh Monarchs
Division/s above1997 Elite League
Division/s below1997 Conference League

Restructure

A restructure of British speedway took place, with the Premier League becoming the second division and a new Elite League becoming the top division. During the two previous seasons (1995 and 1996) there had been only one division of British speedway also called the Premier League, this confused matters because the Premier League was now only a second tier competition.

Season summary

The Premier League was consisted of 14 teams for the 1997 season, running on a standard format with no play-offs. Reading Racers won the title.

Final table
M W D L F A Pts Bon Tot
Reading Racers 26 22 0 4 1323 1011 44 13 57
Long Eaton Invaders 26 18 1 7 1227 1107 37 11 48
Edinburgh Monarchs 26 17 1 8 1235 1102 38 8 43
Newcastle Diamonds 26 15 0 11 1201 1134 30 8 38
Exeter Falcons 26 14 0 12 1213 1125 28 6 34
Glasgow Tigers 26 12 2 10 1158 1179 26 6 32
Arena Essex Hammers 26 12 0 14 1157 1179 24 7 31
Isle of Wight Islanders* 26 12 0 14 1149 1184 24 7 31
Hull Vikings 26 13 0 13 1134 1195 26 5 31
Sheffield Tigers 26 12 0 14 1116 1219 24 5 29
Oxford Cheetahs 26 9 0 17 1116 1219 18 6 24
Stoke Potters 26 8 2 16 1111 1122 18 3 21
Berwick Bandits 26 7 1 18 1105 1223 15 4 19
Newport Wasps 26 7 1 18 1095 1241 15 2 17
  • replaced Skegness Braves mid-season

Leading averages
Rider Team Average
Dave MullettReading10.47
Carl StonehewerLong Eaton10.39
Glenn CunninghamReading9.92
Peter CarrEdinburgh9.88
Martin DixonLong Eaton9.81
Kenny McKinnaEdinburgh9.73
Robbie KesslerSheffield9.76
Alan GrahameHull9.75
Robert ErikssonEdinburgh9.46
Les CollinsStoke9.44


Premier League Knockout Cup

The 1997 Premier League Knockout Cup was the 30th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams and the first with the name Premier League Knockout Cup. Edinburgh Monarchs were the winners of the competition.[1]

During 1995 and 1996 the British League merged and ran as one newly named Premier League, which therefore meant that the second tier of speedway in the United Kingdom was the 1995 Academy League season, followed one year later by the 1996 Speedway Conference League season.

First Round

Northern Group
Pos Team Played W D L Pts
1Hull Vikings1171315
2Edinburgh Monarchs1261513
3Newcastle Diamonds1261513
4Sheffield Tigers1260612
5Berwick Bandits1251611
6Stoke Potters1150610
7Glasgow Tigers124088

Southern Group
Pos Team Played W D L Pts
1Oxford Cheetahs1063115
2Reading Racers1071215
3Long Eaton Invaders1062214
4Arena Essex Hammers1042410
5Exeter Falcons102084
6Skegness Braves101092

Semi Finals
Date Team One Score Team Two
04/07Edinburgh51-39Reading
21/07Reading48-42Edinburgh
29/06Oxford51-39Hull
09/07Hull46-43Oxford

Final
Date Team One Score Team Two
30/08Edinburgh47-43Oxford
29/08Oxford43-47Edinburgh

See also

List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions

References
  1. "1997 Premier League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
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