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Club informationTrack addressSandy LaneCountryFounded1949Closed2007WebsiteClub factsColoursBlue and YellowTrack size297 metres (325 yd)Major team honours,UK Division Three Winners1994, 1996Gold Cup Winners1989League Cup Winners (Shared)1986Premiership Winners1987Midland Cup Winners1975, 1985, 1986Britannia Shield Winners1964Winners2005The Oxford Cheetahs were a British team based at, in,. They were founded in 1949 and were five times champions of Britain, in,. The club folded in 2007.Throughout their history they ran under two other names, from 1972 to 1975, they were known as Oxford Rebels and from 2003 to 2005, they were known as Oxford Silver Machine. They also ran junior sides known as the Oxford Cubs, Oxford Silver Machine Academy and Oxford Lions. Contents.History 1949-1956 In 1949 they joined the finishing in last place during their inaugural season using 24 different riders.
The following season they won the division and were promoted to Division two in. After finishing bottom of the division two in they rode in the third division called the Southern League in 1953 but following a league restructure returned to division two in 1954. 1957-1971 Following a league merger the Cheetahs rode in the top tier for the first time in. After struggling in the top division for several years they dramatically won the top tier league for the first time in despite finishing last the season before with many of the same riders. The winning team consisted of Arne Pander, Colin Gooddy, Colin McKee, Eddie Reeves, Jack Geran, Jimmy Gooch, John Bishop, and Ronnie Genz. They also completed a treble by winning the and Britannia Shield.
The team failed to emulate the success in the following seasons finishing mid-table for the next 7 years. 1972-1975 From 1972 to 1975, they were known as Oxford Rebels under promoters Danny Dunton. Following the threat of track closure the promoters started a new team at White City called the leaving Oxford with no team or riders.1976-1983 A new Oxford team were formed and entered, they took back the name Cheetahs with new promoters and Tony Allsop after a committee of fans had created a 'Save Our Stadium' campaign over the previous winter. The team competed for eight years in the division. Speedway at Oxford in 1981 1984-1992 The golden period of Oxford speedway started in 1984.
The stadium owners Northern Sports, headed by David Hawkins, invested heavily into the stadium with a £1.5 million three tier grandstand restaurant and sports centre. Hawkins installed Bernard Crapper and John Payne as speedway co-promoters and the team were entered for the (the top league tier), with a new team that included Danish international (signed for £30,000) and (£25,000). The team were champions of Britain in 1985, 1986 and 1989. In addition they won two, a League Cup, Premiership and Gold Cup and paraded through Oxford on an open top bus. 1993-1994 Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow began to run into financial trouble and the team suffered lack of investment, Hans Nielsen left and the team applied to and raced in division two. They won the division two fours championship in 1994.
1995-1996 Northern Sports were liquidated so the team was not financed by the stadium owners. Additionally in 1995 and 1996 there was only one division of British speedway meaning the Oxford Cheetahs returned to the top division under independent promoters. 1997-1997 Another league restructure resulted in a new with the Premier League becoming division two, Oxford competed in the latter.1998-2002 The team competed in the Elite League under new promotion from 1998 and in 2001 won their fifth top tier title. The team consisted of, and and was promoted by Steve Purchase.2003-2006 The Oxford Cheetahs were renamed for three seasons as the Oxford Silver Machine under the promotion of Nigel Wagstaff. In 2006 they reverted to their original name which was apt because it was their final full season as a top tier speedway team.2007-2007 Until 30 May 2007, they rode in the Elite League and operated a junior side known as the which competed in the.
In a statement issued by the on 31 May 2007, their owner Colin Horton closed the club as a result of only 400–500 regular supporters attending home fixtures, and losing several thousand every week.In June 2007, businessman Allen Trump invested in the club (also sponsoring the club via LCD Publishing) to secure the lease on the track and the Cheetahs completed the 2007 season in the Conference League, replacing the Lions. Closure After the 2007 season, owner Allen Trump planned to bring the Cheetahs back into the Premier League for 2008. However, Trump was unable to secure a deal with landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) to continue speedway racing at the Cowley stadium and handed the promotion back to the BSPA.During the summer of 2008 Nick Andrews was granted permission to organise Conference League challenge fixtures featuring a touring side of ex-Oxford riders with a view to entering the team in the Premier League in 2009. Unfortunately, negotiations with the GRA were again unsuccessful and speedway did not return to Oxford.
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The Club Today Despite having no league speedway, there are still a number of committed fans keen to see the return of speedway to Oxford. Two supporters groups, the Oxford Speedway Supporters Club (OSSC) and Save Oxford Speedway (SOS) hold regular events and trips for Oxford fans and actively campaign for the return of speedway to Oxford. Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”.
Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ^. Speedway Champions. Oxford Mail. Lawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. Lawson,K (2018) “The Cheetahs – The Resurrection”. Oakes, P (2006).
Speedway Star Almanac. Pinegen Ltd.
Speedway Great Britain. Oxford Mail. Oxford Mail. Retrieved 28 October 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2007. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
![Oxford team 1 pdf Oxford team 1 pdf](https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/contentassets/3fc827b74fed452da1c7903cdf6ab8df/jmp_bristol_rovers_oxford_united_da22.jpg/Large)
16 December 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2008. 24 January 2008.
Retrieved 11 April 2008. (PDF). Speedway Great Britain. Speedway Great Britain.External links.