Somerset Rebels
| Somerset Rebels | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Track address | Oaktree Arena Edithmead Highbridge Somerset | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| League | SGB Championship (2019) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||||||||||||
| Colours | Blue, Red & White | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track size | 300 metres (330 yd) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record time | 55.12 seconds | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record date | 17 July 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Rory Schlein | ||||||||||||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Somerset Rebels were a British speedway team based in Highbridge, Somerset. Founded in 2000, the club competed in the British SGB Championship until 2019. Their home track was located at the Oak Tree Arena.[1]
History[edit]
Origins & 2000s[edit]
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Promoter Andy Hewlett had been searching for a venue in Somerset to host speedway for some time, when in 1999 he was offered a site by a local farmer. Former Australian rider Glyn Taylor was called in to construct a 300 metres purpose-built speedway stadium ready for the 2000 season.[2][3] The stadium called the Oak Tree Arena was subsequently opened for the[4] 2000 Speedway Conference League and the Rebels finished 3rd in their inaugural season.[5]
After winning both the Conference Trophy and Conference League KO Cup in 2001 they moved up to the Premier League (division 2) for 2002. After struggling for several seasons, the club signed Magnus Zetterström and together with Glenn Cunningham, Paul Fry and Ritchie Hawkins, the Rebels won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 20 August 2005, at Derwent Park.[6][7][8]
The 2006 season saw Somerset reach the Knockout Cup Final for the first time, finishing as runners up to King's Lynn Stars over two legs. Magnus Zetterström was the star of the season, winning both the Riders' Championship and setting the highest league average.[9] The Rebels repeated this feat in 2007, making the final for a second time, but once again they had to be content with the runners-up spot as King's Lynn won the trophy for the third year in a row.[5]
The 2008 season saw a major change in the club's line up after their number one rider for the past three seasons, Magnus Zetterstrom was replaced by Jason Doyle. After completing their line up, Ritchie Hawkins sustained serious injuries when riding in an indoor meeting in Germany and was ruled out of the saddle for the whole season. The club signed experienced American international, Brent Werner, as replacement. the club suffered a further setback when Australian rider Tom Hedley informed the club that he had decided against riding in the UK for the season, German Henning Loof was signed as his replacement. Loof found points difficult to come by, and was replaced by the Rebels management by fellow German Matthias Kröger in mid-April. The 2008 season proved to be successful; the team finished second the Premier League table behind the Edinburgh Monarchs after a season long battle with the Scottish side. The Rebels took the challenge to the final heat of their last league match of the season at Birmingham. Somerset won the Premier League Knockout Cup for the first time in their history. After winning the first leg of the final at Workington 43–46, the Rebels won the return leg at the Oak Tree Arena 52-41 for a 98-84 aggregate victory.[10] Additionally, Somerset finished runners up in the Premier League Pairs Championship which was held at their own Oak Tree Arena track, and followed that up with third place in the Premier League Fours Championship at Workington.
Prior to the 2009 season, the team was purchased by Bill Hancock the owner of the Oak Tree Arena.
2010s[edit]
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In December 2009, Rebels rider Emil Kramer was killed in a road accident in his native Sweden. In his honour, the riders wore blue and yellow race suits for the 2010 season with Kramer's initials embroidered on the collar.
The 2012 season saw the Rebels achieve one of their most successful seasons since their formation. The club won the Premier League Cup, beating Ipswich over two legs in the final whilst losing out on the Premier League Championship after losing in the Play-Off Final, after finishing third in the table, to Scunthorpe by a single point over two legs.
In 2013, Steve Bishop announced that he would step down as team manager leaving the responsibility to Garry May.
On Friday 31 May 2013, The Rebels broke their duck of never winning the Premier League Pairs Championship on home shale by defeating Scunthorpe in the final. After being knocked out of the Premier League Cup at the earliest stage, the Rebels went on to lift the Premier League KO Cup for the second time in their history. They defeated Workington by a single point on aggregate in the first round and then faced Edinburgh in the semi-final. The semi final turned out to be an epic contest between the 2 teams and after 2 legs, the aggregate score was level at 90-90 meaning the tie had to be replayed. The Rebels dominated the replay and went on to face Rye House in the final. Again, the Rebels dominated the tie over both legs and lifted their second piece of silverware of the season.
The Rebels finished top of the Premier League table and so had first pick of opponents in the play off semi finals. The Rebels picked Redcar and Newcastle and progressed through to the final after winning 3 of the 4 semi final games. The Rebels were to meet Edinburgh in the final after they beat Workington and Ipswich in their semi final group. As with the first staging of the KO Cup encounter, the grand final was closely contested. The Rebels managed to keep the scores close after the first leg at Edinburgh, losing narrowly by 2 points 45–43. The Rebels won the second leg 49-44 giving them an aggregate win of just 3 points and making the 2013 season the most successful ever for the club.
2014 saw the Rebels pick up more silverware. The Rebels defeated Newcastle to win the Premier League Shield, a 2-legged match contested by the previous season's champions and KO cup winners. The Rebels then won the Premier League Fours at Peterborough, the first time since 2005, after losing in controversial circumstances in the final of the Premier League Pairs to Edinburgh. The Rebels and the Monarchs dominated the league in 2014 and after overcoming their respected play-offs, met in the grand final for a second season in succession. It was to be heartbreak for the Rebels as, like in 2012, they would lose the 2-legged tie by a single point on aggregate.
At the start of the 2016 season the Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock announced a change to the club logo, replacing the original American confederate logo for a logo representing the county of Somerset.[11]
In late 2016, the club announced that it would be moving up into the newly formed SGB Premiership for the 2017 season. In their first top flight season the Rebels endured a tough campaign, finishing sixth overall. The following season in 2018, the club signed 2017 world champion and former Rebels rider Jason Doyle as their number 1, following his release by Swindon Robins. Doyle captained the Rebels to their first top flight trophy, defeating Kings Lynn Stars 98-82 on aggregate in the final of the Premiership Knockout Cup.
In November 2018, after two seasons in the top flight, the Rebels announced that they would be moving down to the SGB Championship, the 2nd tier of British Speedway, for the 2019 season. They reached third in the league that year.[12] After sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic the promotion announced that they would not be running in 2021 despite already having named a squad. On 26 May 2021 the owners formally announced that they had sold the land and there would be no more racing at the site.[13]
2020s[edit]
In 2021, following difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oaktree Arena was closed by the owners, the Hancock family.[14] In late 2022, it was announced that discussions had taken place between the North Somerset District Council and British Speedway Promoters Ltd for a possible return of speedway in Weston-super-Mare and retaining the Rebels nickname.[15]
Season summary[edit]
Extended content
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Notable riders[edit]
Riders previous seasons[edit]
Extended content
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2008 team Also Rode:
2009 team Also Rode:
2010 team
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2011 team Also Rode:
2012 team Also Rode 2013 team Also Rode 2014 team 2015 team
Also Rode 2016 team
2017 team Also Rode
2018 team Also Rode: 2019 team Also Rode: 2020 team |
Club honours[edit]
- SGB Championship Fours Championship Winners: 2019
- SGB Premiership Knockout Cup Winners: 2018
- Premier League Championship Winners: 2013, 2016
- Premier League Knockout Cup Winners: 2008, 2013, 2015
- Premier Shield Winners: 2014, 2016
- Premier League Cup Winners: 2012, 2016
- Premier League Pairs Championship Winners: 2013, 2016
- Premier League Fours Championship Winners: 2005, 2014
- Conference Trophy Winners: 2001
- Conference Knockout Cup Winners: 2001
References[edit]
- ^ Bamford, R. (2007). Speedway Yearbook 2007. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1
- ^ "New opponents". Cambridge Daily News. 14 April 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Somerset speedway". Darwin Escapes. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J. (2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
- ^ a b "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "2005 season fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Somerset Rebels 2005 season review". BBC. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Somerset Rebel Magnus Zetterstrom wins Champion Chase". BBC Somerset. BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Rebels are cup winners". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
- ^ "Somerset Rebels speedway club ditch Confederate flag on new logo". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "British Speedway Official Website". www.britishspeedway.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ "REBELS TO EXPLAIN DECISION - British Speedway Official Website". www.britishspeedway.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ "The Oaktree in Highbridge to be sold by Hancock family". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "A Rebels Return". Speedway Star. 17 December 2022. p. 6.
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