We had an amazing night away from the computers and Marstons Pedigree last night.
A trip out of our comfort zone to Beaumont Leys and the newly developed Leicester Lions Speedway Club.
Situated at the rear of Walkers crisps, this new track is up and running after the last match was held at Blackbird Road 28 years earlier.
Demolished in 1984
The Blackbird Road Stadium was the home of the Leicester Lions and the Leicester Hunters which were Leicester’s speedway teams and its first record attendances was set in 1929 when 27,000 saw the Blackbird Road stadium team beat Leicester Super from the city’s Melton Road track. Four weeks later the record was smashed when 30.000 crammed into Blackbird Road to watch Leicester beat Rochdale. Despite these massive attendances in 1931 the creditors of Leicester stadium called a meeting to appoint a liquidator for the purpose of winding up the stadium company. Full time speedway returned briefly in 1937 followed by a war time gap. The sport returned to the venue in 1949 and the following year 19,000 attended a World Championship qualifier. This attendance was never bettered and attendances dwindled until the curtain came down on speedway again in 1963. The sport returned five years later to enjoy a fifteen year spell of success before the owners of the stadium suddenly sold it for housing development. 11,000 was the highest gate during its last spell as a speedway venue for a League match Leicester V Coventry
The club has a lot to do to get back to those heady days of 30,000 gate figures, but estimates suggest the inaugural match at Beaumont Way saw in excess of 4500 fans come through the gates. The first home match saw the Lions with a 46 point draw against Sheffield Tigers. Quite a fair result really as Sheffield management and riders had shared their expertise and labour to make this thing happen.
Speedway is exciting, friendly to the environment and creates a great atmosphere between fans, there is rivalry but everyone appreciates a good team pairing and tactical riding.
Dee’dah’s meets Ey up me duck’ 
Next home match is on Sunday 10 April 7pm against Scunthorpe. Book Early 