History

A short history by Paul Bodley

Wednesfield Aces were founded on the 17th of March 1962 by two school friends Paul Bodley and David Parry, the original name of the Club was ”Ashmore Dragons” and the Club raced in the local Wolverhamton League. In 1964 the Club was renamed “Wednesfield Dragons” finally in 1965 the “Wednesfield Aces “name was adopted. In those early days he Club was far from successful going a whole season in 1963 not winning a match and finishing bottom of the 11 team Wolverhampton League. In 1966 David Parry went to ride for Kingstanding Monarchs in Birmingham Paul Bodley went as Assistant Team Manager both travelling around the country and realising that the Cycle Speedway world was much bigger than they ever imagined.

This was the turning point for the Club, by now 1967, David Parry had started what eventually would become a successful career in Motorbike Speedway and Paul decided that if Wednesfield was to carry on it must be managed to the highest standards, he started to put the lessons learnt at Kingstanding and the standards observed whilst travelling to places like Garratt Park home of the legendary South London Rangers and Tottenhams Stonebridge Lock into action and along with Ian Hodges built the foundations of the Club as you see it today.

In 1969 Paul took the Aces into the Northern Premier League racing against teams as far a field as Manchester, Coventry, Sheffield and Halifax, this was a pivotal year for the Club had signed a group of young riders from within the local league and the names of Mick Aris, Mick Pedley, Alan Guest and Gerald Banks became synonymous with Wednesfield Aces.

In 1970 the Aces became League Champions but already Paul was looking further a field to the British Federation and their British League competition. In 1971 the Aces made their most memorable signing,

Paul brought in Roger Ellis to give his young team some much needed experience, it paid off as the Aces went on to retain the league title but more importantly reached their first British Team Championship Final at Uxbridge but sadly lost to the Shields team from Edinburgh by 6 points.

Some small consolation was Roger winning his one and only British Riders Championship at Uxbridge.

In 1972 the Aces were accepted into the British League the most prestigious competition in the country, this was the second attempt to get membership the first in 1968 was given a firm refusal by the then Chairman John Richardson, this brought teams from Exeter, Bristol, Southampton, Bournemouth and Leicester to Ashmore Park, presentation was stepped up at Wednesfield and the Aces took the League by storm watched by a crowd in excess of 500 winning the title from Bristol in the final match of the season at Ashmore Park, the following year the Aces did the double winning the Gold Cup the leagues knockout cup competition beating Bournemouth in the final at Southampton and retained the league title.

In the following years the Aces dominated the British and later the English League by winning the League title on 14 consecutive occasions and the Gold Cup 11 years on the run, the legend of the Wednesfield Aces was born. In 1974 the Aces won the British Team title for the first time beating Denton of Manchester in the final at Halifax, the following year losing the final in Suffolk to the great Blackley side from Manchester in the first extra heats final the score being level at the end of the match.

Then came another first by winning the title in 1976/77/78 Wednesfield became the first Club to win the British Team Championship 3 year in a row and so equalling the great Offerton team by winning the title for a fourth time. In 1981 Wednesfield faced the up and coming Poole Comets in the final at Bristol Airport Road circuit knowing a win would eclipse Offerton;s record, in probably the best final ever.

Wednesfield beat Poole 104 to 102 after 3 extra heats to take the record of 5 wins. In addition 1981 brought the first British Lions Tour to Australia and Roger Ellis was a member of that party, in the early 80s the success continued winning the British Team title again in 1983 and Roger Ellis became World Champion in 1983 winning the title at Thurrock in Essex, also that year Ashmore Park staged the British Riders Championship Final a crowd of over 2000 watched Les Bowden from Blackley in Manchester win the title in a run off with Bristol;s Alan Miller, the presentation of that final established Ashmore Park as one of the premier venues in the country. In 1985 the second British Lions tour to Australia had Roger as Team Captain and Paul as Tour Liason Manager and along with Mick Aris they helped once again to defeat the Aussies on their own soil. In 1987 after 26 years Paul Bodley stepped down as Team Manager to become the Clubs Chief Executive it was natural that Roger Ellis would replace him, into the nineties and more honours came the Aces way winning Team Championships in 1995, 1999 and then again in 2000 and 2008 2013 and 2014 giving the aces a record 12 championships.

Early in 1990 Dave Jewkes joined the Club and soon established himself as Club Secretary and later Club Chairman both positions he holds to this day, by remodelling the Clubhouse and installing floodlights Dave ensured that the Ashmore Park track facility still remains one of the finest in the country.

In the late 90s trips to Poland, Sweden and Holland firmly established the aces as a truly international club, riders from Wednesfield have continued to represent the home countries in international racing and in 2004 and 2008 Lee Aris captained the British Lions on their tours to Australia, Lee has written his own chapter in the Clubs history by winning 4 British Individual title in 2004,2006, 2007 and 2009 and stands second in the all time list level with the great Derek Garnett and only one behind David Hemsley. Over the past six or seven years the Club has focused on the recruitment off younger rider and has achieved a lot of success winning the British Club title in 2007,2008 and 2009 and the British Youth and Junior League in 2007,add to this numerous Indoor titles both Team and Individual and the Club goes from strength to strength.

In October 2006 the Club achieved “Sport England's Clubmark” accreditation to go along side British Cyclings “Go Ride” programme, this meant the Club could now boast the best management team in the business and this owes a lot to the dedication of long serving members Roger Ellis, Dave Jewkes, Kevin Turley, Wayne Tipton, Mick Aris and Paul Bodley, also in 2006 the Aces promoted the European Rider Championships over a 3 day period in July, clearly the biggest meeting ever staged at Ashmore Park the event was top class with the determination to do things to the highest standard the Club Committee will honour the concept that Paul Bodley founded the Club on, “to be the best we can both on and of the track.

In 2012 the Aces celebrated their 50th anniversary with a lavish gale dinner at the Village hotel in Walsall existing members were joined by many former members from year past and a wonderful night was had by all. In 2014 the Club goes from strength to strength the season will climax when on the 9th of August when Ashmore Park stages the World Individual Championships, in preparation for this the track has been relaid and covered pits are being added to our wonderful facility. To former members of the Club that may read this short synopsis it has not been possible to mention you all by name but be sure you have all played your part in the history of Wednesfield Aces,this years project is very much the World Finals and this will be the focus of all the hard work put in by Club members.