# Halifax Dukes

The Halifax Dukes were a speedway team which operated from 1949–1951 and again from 1965 until their closure in 1985 at The Shay Stadium in Halifax. The team were nicknamed the "Dukes" after the local Duke of Wellington's Regiment, whose training depot, Wellesley Barracks, was in Halifax, and used the Regiments elephant symbol on their race jacket.

## History
### Origins

Speedway in Halifax began with a team called Halifax Speedway, who operated out of Thrum Hall between 1928 and 1930. Another team called Halifax Nomads operated racing a few away fixtures in 1948.

### 1949 to 1952

At the end of the 1948 season Bruce Booth had replaced Johnnie Hoskins on the board of directors at Odsal Boomerangs and in early 1949 he took control of the new Halifax venture, bringing in Eric Langton as technical director. On 8 February 1949 construction began on a new speedway track at The Shay. The team enjoyed good support during the opening season with a crowd of over 18,000 attending one meeting in September. They finished in 4th place.
During 1950, the team won their first silverware winning the National Trophy division 2. However, the season was marred by the death of Jock Shead on 1 July 1950, when riding for Dukes at The Firs Stadium in Norwich. Attendances dropped and at the end of the 1951 season and the club closed. On 31 March 1952, Dukes promoter Bruce Booth announced the end of speedway "while rates and taxation remains at the present levels".

### 1960s

After a lengthy absence, the sport returned to The Shay in 1965, when Reg Fearman moved his Middlesbrough promotion.
The 1965 season also saw a major transformation for the sport. Previously the old National and Provincial Leagues had run as separate organisations with the Provincial League initially being unrecognised by the sports controlling authorities, but the gradual decline in numbers of the "official" National League during the early Sixties led to a reconciliation between the two bodies and the merger of the two leagues leading to the establishment of a single British League for the 1965 Season. The new team opened to big attendances as the sport hit another "boom" period and the Dukes finished in a solid fifth place.
The following season the Duke's riders' averages and form improved with Eric Boocock, Dave Younghusband, Eric Boothroyd and Tommy Roper leading the Dukes to a League and KO Cup double in only their second year of operation.
In 1969, the team's captain, local greengrocer Eric Boothroyd retired from riding after a long and successful career to join Reg Fearman as Co-Promoter.

### 1970s

* Eric Boocock
* Dukes 1970 Standing - Dave Younghusband, Les Sharpe, Eric Boothroyd, Alan Jay, Terry Lee, Colin Mckee, Greg Kentewell, Eric Boocock (on bike)
By the early 1970s, the Dukes were enjoying higher attendances than the Shaymen (Halifax Town). On the track the team were producing solid but uninspiring results, with a best league finish of 6th place at both ends of the decade in 1970 and 1979.
Eric Boocock remained the star of the team until his retirement after the 1974 season. Chris Pusey was signed from Belle Vue Aces and his replacement. A young rider called Kenny Carter was brought in for the 1978 British League season and together with Ian Cartwright pushed the team from 12th in 1978 to 6th in 1979.

### 1980s

Despite the efforts of Carter and Cartwright, the Dukes struggled to compete with the big spending clubs of the 1980s, such as the Cradley Heathens and Oxford Cheetahs. Carter did win the British League Riders' Championship held at Hyde Road for two consecutive years in 1981 and 1982, establishing himself as the leading rider at the time. The Dukes found it hard to bring in suitable support for Carter and failed to compete for silverware.
By the mid 1980s, Halifax Dukes and Halifax Town had financial disagreements and in 1986, the Dukes left The Shay and Halifax, moving to Bradford's Odsal Stadium to become the Bradford Dukes.

## Season summary

Extended content :
| Year and league | Position | Notes |
| 1949 Speedway National League Division Three | 4th | |
| 1950 Speedway National League Division Two | 6th | National Trophy div 2 winners |
| 1951 Speedway National League Division Two | 6th | |
| 1965 British League season | 5th | |
| 1966 British League season | 1st | Champions and Knockout Cup winners |
| 1967 British League season | 7th | |
| 1968 British League season | 7th | |
| 1969 British League season | 4th | |
| 1970 British League season | 6th | |
| 1971 British League season | 14th | |
| 1972 British League season | 12th | |
| 1973 British League season | 9th | |
| 1974 British League season | 7th | |
| 1975 British League season | 10th | |
| 1976 British League season | 15th | |
| 1977 British League season | 17th | |
| 1978 British League season | 12th | |
| 1979 British League season | 6th | |
| 1980 British League season | 10th | |
| 1981 British League season | 7th | |
| 1982 British League season | 13th | |
| 1983 British League season | 11th | |
| 1984 British League season | 14th | |
| 1985 British League season | 4th | |

## Notable riders

* Eric Boocock
* Eric Boothroyd
* Kenny Carter
* Ian Cartwright
* Vic Emms
* Arthur Forrest
* Chris Pusey
* Tommy Roper
* Jock Shead
* Dave Younghusband

## Seasons 1965 to 1971
### 1965 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 34 | 145 | 15 | 342 | 9.43 |
| Dave Younghusband | 33 | 143 | 15 | 324 | 9.06 |
| Eric Boothroyd | 34 | 137 | 25 | 274 | 8.00 |
| Tommy Roper | 15 | 56 | 19 | 102 | 7.29 |
| Bryan Elliott | 33 | 125 | 39 | 197 | 6.30 |
| Dennis Gavros | 23 | 76 | 20 | 92 | 4.84 |
| Bert Kingston | 34 | 111 | 15 | 114 | 4.11 |
| Ray Day | 7 | 19 | 3 | 19 | 4.00 |
| Clive Hitch | 18 | 64 | 14 | 60 | 3.75 |
| Bob Jameson | 7 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 2.93 |

### 1966 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 38 | 161 | 19 | 421 | 10.46 |
| Eric Boothroyd | 38 | 164 | 36 | 381 | 9.29 |
| Dave Younghusband | 38 | 160 | 5 | 353 | 8.83 |
| Tommy Roper | 39 | 158 | 42 | 297 | 7.52 |
| Bert Kingston | 32 | 120 | 29 | 180 | 6.00 |
| Bob Jameson | 41 | 151 | 38 | 203 | 5.38 |
| Dennis Gavros | 40 | 134 | 31 | 167 | 4.99 |
| Greg Kentwell | 6 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 4.00 |
| Maurie Robinson | 6 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 2.33 |
| Ian Wilson | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |

### 1967 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 36 | 159 | 14 | 409 | 10.29 |
| Dave Younghusband | 31 | 128 | 6 | 292 | 9.13 |
| Eric Boothroyd | 37 | 153 | 23 | 322 | 8.42 |
| Dennis Gavros | 36 | 136 | 36 | 204 | 6.00 |
| Bert Kingston | 23 | 77 | 15 | 92 | 4.78 |
| Kentwell Greg | 35 | 132 | 27 | 156 | 4.73 |
| Maurie Robinson | 18 | 59 | 15 | 64 | 4.34 |
| Bob Jameson | 26 | 84 | 18 | 87 | 4.14 |
| Les Bentzen | 13 | 32 | 5 | 22 | 2.75 |
| Others | | | | | |
| John Woodcock | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Terry Lee | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |

### 1968 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 32 | 141 | 20 | 356 | 10.10 |
| Dave Younghusband | 33 | 145 | 16 | 304 | 8.83 |
| Eric Boothroyd | 38 | 161 | 25 | 293 | 7.90 |
| Alan Jay | 16 | 62 | 10 | 94 | 6.06 |
| Greg Kentwell | 38 | 135 | 23 | 199 | 5.90 |
| Dennis Gavros | 22 | 84 | 15 | 114 | 5.43 |
| Les Sharpe | 29 | 97 | 19 | 94 | 3.88 |
| Bob Jameson | 38 | 128 | 16 | 120 | 3.75 |
| Maurie Robinson | 15 | 39 | 6 | 36 | 3.69 |
| Others | | | | | |
| Ian Bottomley | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1.14 |
| Terry Lee | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Guest Riders | 2 | 10 | 1 | 26 | 10.40 |

### 1969 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 38 | 167 | 12 | 457 | 10.95 |
| Dave Younghusband | 32 | 122 | 21 | 281.5 | 9.23 |
| Greg Kentwell | 33 | 124 | 9 | 234 | 7.55 |
| Alan Jay | 35 | 145 | 37 | 257 | 7.09 |
| Dennis Gavros | 37 | 145 | 35 | 226 | 6.23 |
| Les Sharpe | 34 | 126 | 31 | 164 | 5.21 |
| Terry Lee | 9 | 27 | 5 | 27 | 4.00 |
| Bob Jameson | 36 | 118 | 11 | 110 | 3.73 |
| Others | | | | | |
| Arne Pander | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2.86 |
| Ian Bottomley | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.67 |
| Bob Tabet | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Guest Riders | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 5.60 |

### 1970 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 36 | 154 | 14 | 406 | 10.55 |
| Les Sharpe | 18 | 77 | 13 | 159 | 8.21 |
| Dave Youghusband | 35 | 139 | 14 | 257 | 7.80 |
| Alan Jay | 38 | 154 | 25 | 246 | 7.04 |
| Colin Mckee | 36 | 131 | 35 | 195 | 5.95 |
| Greg Kentwell | 37 | 142 | 31 | 206 | 5.80 |
| Terry Lee | 38 | 127 | 25 | 135.5 | 4.27 |
| Others; | | | | | |
| Paul O'Neil | 3 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 5.45 |
| Malcolm Mackay | 5 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1.43 |
| Bob Jameson | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2.67 |
| Dave Durham | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Guest Riders | 12 | 46 | 12 | 76 | 6.61 |

### 1971 season

Extended content :
| Rider | Matches | Rides | Bonus Pts | Total Points | CMA |
| Eric Boocock | 38 | 175 | 15 | 446 | 10.19 |
| Dave Youghusband | 27 | 110 | 5 | 242 | 8.80 |
| Alan Jay | 39 | 168 | 29 | 258 | 6.14 |
| Greg Kentwell | 36 | 147 | 27 | 224 | 6.10 |
| Paul O'Neil | 40 | 158 | 27 | 198 | 5.01 |
| Malcolm Mackay | 20 | 44 | 13 | 57 | 4.56 |
| Mike Hiftle | 19 | 61 | 16 | 68 | 4.46 |
| Chris Bailey | 19 | 83 | 15 | 88 | 4.24 |
| Terry Lee | 21 | 65 | 6 | 61 | 3.75 |
| Others; | | | | | |
| Russ Dent | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 3.43 |
| Dave Durham | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2.00 |
| Reg Wilson | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1.33 |
| Alan Knapkin | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8.00 |
| John Lynch | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2.00 |
| Guest Riders | 3 | 15 | 1 | 35 | 9.33 |