In early 1968 speedway promoter Johnnie Hoskins held a test fixture for councillors to make a judgement on the noise levels and whether to allow speedway to take place around Kingsmead Stadium.[3] After speedway was given the green light, the team known as the Crusaders were founder members of British League Division Two.[4] The first league meeting at Kingsmead, on 18 May 1968,[5] saw the Crusaders narrowly lose a British League Division Two fixture 38–39 to Belle Vue Colts. The Colts and the Crusaders had contested the first ever Division Two fixture ten days previously at Belle Vue on 8 May, when the Colts won 55–23.[6] In their inaugural season the team, led by Peter Murray and Barry Crowson, won the Knockout Cup, defeating Reading Racers in the final.[7]
1970s
Steve Koppe
Barney Kennett
Crusaders away at Oxford in 1977
In just their third season in 1970, the Crusaders' won their first league title[8] despite losing Peter Murray and Martyn Piddock.[9] New Zealander Graeme Smith was signed from Hackney, Barry Crowson returned and Barry Thomas improved significantly to help Canterbury win the league by two points clear of Eastbourne Eagles.[10]
The next five seasons from 1971 to 1975, were a struggle for the Crusaders with a best finish of 10th.[11]Barney Kennett, Steve Koppe and Les Rumsey were brought in during this period and helped the Crusaders recover to consecutive 4th places.
In 1977, the promoters Johnnie Hoskins and Wally Mawdsley had to go to court in order to keep the Kingsmead track open after complaints of noise from local residents. The following year during the 1978 National League season, the Crusaders managed to win a second championship.[12] Although finishing equal on 60 points with Newcastle Diamonds, they won by virtue of the fact that their race points difference was greater than their rival. The Crusaders scoring was led by Rumsey, Riders' champion Koppe and Mike Ferreira.[13] Unfortunately the season was tainted by the death of rider Graham Banks during a grasstrack meeting.[14]
1980s
The 1981 season brought an individual title for Zimbabwean Mike Ferreira and a pairs championship success for Ferreira and his countrymate Denzil Kent.[15] The team's performances were significantly less successful as hey failed to climb into the top ten from 1980 to 1987. The leading rider for the Crusaders at the time was Dave Mullett.
In 1986, Wally Mawdsley retired and the lease was taken over by Chris Galvin (father of Andy Galvin).[16] Galvin would allow the Canterbury riders to practice on his Iwade training track but unfortunately the team was forced to disband on 31 October 1987, when the Canterbury Council refused to renew the Kingsmead Stadium lease.[17][18]
The final Crusaders fixture took place at Kingsmead on 31 October 1987, when Canterbury defeated Rye House Rockets 49–29 in the second leg of the Kent/Herts Trophy.[6]Greyhound racing continued at Kingsmead until 1999 but the site is now a housing estate.[19]
Notable riders
The longest serving rider was Barney Kennett who rode for the Crusaders from 1971 until 1984.
