page_title: Leicester Lions
section_title: The first Lions era (1968–1983)
hierarchical_section_title: Leicester Lions / The first Lions era (1968–1983)
caption_attribution_description: English: Two stars of Leicester Lions - Ray Wilson and Dave Jessup
context_page_description: Leicester Lions are a speedway team which originally operated from 1968 until 1983. The club returned to speedway for the 2011 Premier League season, moving up to the Elite League for the 2014 season. Before the 2019 season, the club owners took the decision to drop down to the SGB Championship.
context_section_description: Speedway returned to Leicester Stadium in 1968, with the formation of the Lions, when Reg Fearman and Ron Wilson moved in the Long Eaton team who had lost their home in 1967. The team competed in the British League, the top division of British speedway at the time. In 1977 Vic White took over from Wilson, the two acting as co-promoters until 1980 when Martin Rogers took over. Speedway continued until 1983 when the stadium was suddenly sold for housing development leaving the Lions homeless.  Notable riders from the first Lions era include Ray Wilson, Anders Michanek, Graham Plant, Alan Cowland, Malcolm Brown, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Ila Teromaa, John Titman, Les Collins, Neil Collins, Rolf Gramstad, and Mark Courtney,
caption: Ray Wilson and Dave Jessup discuss tactics, circa 1975
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