The Shay - Speedway at The Shay Stadium

Speedway At The Shay Stadium

Halifax Dukes

Prior to the Shay, the Halifax Dukes used a track at Thrum Hall, and on 8 February 1949 construction began on a new speedway track at the Shay. This meant that the football pitch had to be reduced in size and each goalpost was moved three yards into the playing area so an agreement was reached by the speedway and soccer clubs whereby the Halifax Dukes had to pay the Halifax Town AFC 10% of all speedway gate receipts.

The first speedway meeting was held on Wednesday 6 April 1949, and the opponents were Yarmouth Bloaters. The track was officially opened by Major R.E. Austin, commanding officer of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment at Halifax. Speedway at the Shay was not popular and poor attendances saw the club struggling financially. On 10 November 1951 speedway promoter Bruce Booth brought midget car racing to the Shay to boost funds. 15,000 spectators attended this one-off venture - 3 times higher that the average speedway gate. On 31 March 1952, Booth announced the end of speedway 'while rates and taxation remains at the present levels'.

In November 1962 Middlesbrough speedway promoter Reg Fearman saw the Shay for the first time, and in 1963 he made a formal application to Halifax Town for use of the ground to revive the sport. At the beginning of 1965 work began on constructing the ground and speedway returned. Second time around it proved successful, and remained here for the next twenty years. By the 1970s people valued it greater than football for family entertainment, with the Dukes producing such renowned riders as Eric Boocock and Kenny Carter. Attendances became regularly higher than those of the football club and the Shay often hosted speedway internationals.

In 1986, after disputes over money with Halifax Town AFC, speedway waved goodbye to the Shay for the last time and moved out of town to neighbouring Bradford as the Bradford Dukes.