Newcastle Diamonds


Newcastle Diamonds are a motorcycle speedway team who race in the SGB Championship, every Sunday night during the season from their home at the Newcastle Stadium on the Fossway, Byker. The Stadium, previously known as Brough Park, is primarily used for greyhound racing with the speedway track built in the centre. Supporters can watch the racing either from the large grandstand located on the home straight, or from the fully licensed bar which is located on the first floor of the grandstand and which offers unrestricted views of the entire stadium. During the race meetings, a selection of hot and cold food and drinks are available for purchase. in 2020 Newcastle entered a team named the Newcastle Gems to compete in the National Development League National Trophy competition, but did not compete in the main league competition.

History

Early history

The club has a reputation of importing young, foreign talent; the Diamonds have given starts to the British careers of six times World Champion Ivan Mauger, three times World Champion Ole Olsen, 1974 World Champion Anders Michanek and three time World Champion Nicki Pedersen. Former Speedway Grand Prix riders Kenneth Bjerre and Bjarne Pedersen also started their British careers with the Diamonds.
In 1992, rider Wayne Garratt died in hospital after crashing at the track, the fourth person to do so since 1946, including Chris Prime in 1978.

2010-2017

The 2010 season was a very successful campaign for the Newcastle Diamonds. Although the Edinburgh Monarchs dominated the League, it was the Diamonds that took most silverware of the season by winning the Premier League Play-Offs, the Premier Trophy and the Premier League KOC. The Diamonds also found success in the Super7even events, when the Dane Kenni Larsen won the Premier League Riders Championship to add a fourth honour to the club's successful season. Fellow Dane Rene Bach encountered further success away from the club by helping Denmark to win the under 21 world cup with a 15-point maximum, and by winning the Danish Under 21s Championship. In recognition of their achievements the team was awarded the prestigious 'Team of the Year' award by Sports North-East, shortly before the 2011 campaign commenced, ahead of the Championship League winning football side Newcastle United.
Robert Lambert, who rode for the Diamonds during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, was crowned both British Under 21 and European Under 19 Champion in 2017. He, alongside Steve Worrall represented Great Britain in the World Team Cup during the 2017 season. GB won event one at King's Lynn where both Lambert and Worrall scored 13 points each, helping the team to qualify for the World Team Cup Final in Leszno, Poland.

2018-2019

On 16 September 2018, Newcastle Diamonds legend Stuart Robson announced his retirement from the sport. He first rode for the Diamonds at the age of 16 in 1993.
2019 was the Newcastle Diamonds' 90th anniversary season. The full team was confirmed on 22 December 2018 with only Matthew Wethers retained from the 2018 season. Thomas Jorgensen joined the Diamonds following 2018 with neighbours and rivals Redcar Bears. Danny Phillips was on loan from the Diamonds at Scunthorpe during 2018. Max Clegg travelled south from Edinburgh Monarchs, while Steve Worrall and Simon Lambert were late additions to the team from Workington. Finally, Lasse Bjerre, younger brother of Newcastle legend Kenneth Bjerre who started his British career with the Diamonds in the early 2000s before going on to star in the Speedway Grand Prix series, was on the team.

2019 season

Personnel

Club owners

George English, Andrew Dalby & Martin Phillips

Club promoters

George English & Martin Phillips

Team sponsors

Main Team Sponsor - Boiler Technical Services

Team and statistics

Averages below are based on BSPA :
‡ Released, Injured

2018 season

Personnel

Club owners

George English, Andrew Dalby & Martin Phillips

Club promoters

George English & Martin Phillips

Team sponsors

Main team sponsor:

Performance in national competitions

Team and statistics

Averages below are green sheet averages based on BSPA :
RiderFinal 2018 AveStarting 2018 Average+/-
Stuart Robson6.437.02-
Ludvig Lindgren6.477.21-
Ashley Morris5.584.88-
Tero Aarnio6.835.02-
Matej Kus5.637.64-
Matthew Wethers5.785.65-
Carl Wilkinson3.964.97-
Also Rode
Lewis Rose6.256.49-

2011 season

Season overview

Performance in national competitions

CompetitionResultNotes
Premier League12th46 points.
Knockout CupSemi FinalistsBeat Rye House in Round 1. Beat Somerset in Quarter Final. Lost to Glasgow in the Semi Final.
Premier ShieldChampionsInaugural champions, defeating the previous seasons league winners, Edinburgh Monarchs 94-89 on aggregate.
Premier League Riders Championship11thRepresented by Mark Lemon = 5.
Premier League PairsQuarter FinalistsRepresented by Derek Sneddon and Stuart Robson. Eliminated on 17 points, finished 3rd in Group A. Scorers: Sneddon, Robson.
Premier League FoursQualified / WithdrewQualified for the competition, however had to withdraw due to rider injuries.

2011 team and statistics

Note: British riders have 2.5% reduction on their 2010 averages.

Also Rode: ‡, , † Ferjan died on 22 May 2011.

2011 fixtures / results

Note: Top scorer in italics, indicates a full or paid maximum.

Fixtures: TTW: Tyne/Tweed Trophy, CHAL: Challenge, PS: Premier Shield, PL: Premier League
Coloring: Green: Won, Red: Lost, Yellow: Draw, Blue: Lost, but still gained league points

2010 season

Season overview: triple champions

Performance in national competitions

CompetitionResultNotes
Premier LeagueRunners UpFinished second on 58 points. Won away at Glasgow, Newport, Redcar, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke. Picked up one point from King's Lynn and Workington. Won all home matches apart from Edinburgh, which they lost by 41-51.
Premier TrophyChampionsOnly lost one match in the entire competition - Glasgow at home. Unbeaten away. Finished top of the Northern Group on 20 points. Defeated King's Lynn Stars 103-81 in the Semi-Final, and the Birmingham Brummies 104-80 in the Final to win the trophy.
Knockout CupChampionsBeat Scunthorpe 100-80 in Round 1, Redcar 100-80 in the Quarter Finals, Birmingham 96-85 in the Semi Finals, and Edinburgh 91-88 in the Final.
Premier League PlayoffsChampionsDefeated Birmingham 92-90 in the Semi Finals, and Sheffield 101-89 in the Final. Went on to lose to the Ipswich Witches in the promotion / relegation battle 110-76.
Premier League Riders ChampionshipChampionsRepresented by Kenni Larsen and Rene Bach who was awarded a wildcard spot for been the highest averaged rider, after all clubs were allocated one place. Larsen won the competition with a total of 16 points, and Bach finished 4th with 13. Scorers: Larsen, Bach.
Premier League PairsQuarter FinalistsRepresented by Mark Lemon and Kenni Larsen. Eliminated on 20 points, the same as Somerset who advanced to the semi final, as they had previously won the Somerset vs Newcastle Heat 6-3. Scorers: Larsen, Lemon.
Premier League FoursSemi FinalistsRepresented by Mark Lemon, Kenni Larsen, Rene Bach, Jason King, and reserve Dakota North. Finished third in Group A. Scorers: Larsen Lemon Bach King North.

2010 team and statistics

Greensheet averages

The following averages take into account league and trophy matches only, excluding playoffs, semi-finals, and finals. These averages are used for team building purposes and riding order.
Note: British riders have 2.5% reduction on their 2010 averages.

Also Rode: ‡,

All match averages

The following averages take into account all matches including Knockout Cup and Playoffs.

Number of maximams

Fastest times

The following are the riders fastest times around the Brough Park track.

2009 season

2009 team and statistics

Also rode:
2008
Also Rode:
2007
Also Rode:
2006
‡
†

Club honours

Team honours

19 Titles
6 Titles
1 Title

Highest averaged rider

Rider of the Year

As nominated by supporters:
There are currently three inductees in the Diamonds hall of fame:
In 2009 to commemorate the Diamonds 80th anniversary a series of 50 cigarette cards were produced by the club. Riders included: