Smallbrook Stadium
 | |
| Location | Ashey Road Ryde Isle of Wight PO33 4BH |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°42′38″N 1°09′52″W / 50.71056°N 1.16444°W |
| Opened | c.1990 |
Smallbrook Stadium is a multi-use sports venue on the east side of the Ashey Road, south of Ryde. It currently hosts two football teams and motorcycle speedway run by Island Speedway (Iow) Limited.
Football
[edit]The ground hosts Ryde Saints, who play in the Isle of Wight leagues.[1] Newport (IOW) F.C. who play in the Wessex Football League played at the stadium from 2022 until 2023 and the defunct Ryde Sports F.C. also played at the stadium.[2]
Speedway
[edit]
The venue was the home of the Isle of Wight Warriors, who competed in the British speedway leagues from 2009 until 2019.[3] In 2021, the club announced they would not be competing during the 2021 season[4] but various speedway challenge matches still take place at the stadium.[3]
History
[edit]The stadium is named after the existing Smallbrook Heath.[5] In 1990, Ryde Sports F.C. moved into the newly built stadium and they were elected to the Wessex League that year.
In 1996, a 396 metres speedway track was built around the football pitch and the a team called Ryde Wight Wizards competed in the newly formed Conference League, under the co-promotion of Gareth Rogers.[6][7]
In January 2022, the stadium flooded due to a burst water main.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "SMALLBROOK STADIUM". Football Ground Map. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Uncertain future for groundless Newport after Gold Cup defeat". Island Echo. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b "2023 fixtures". Warriors Speedway. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Warriors withdraw from National League". Warriors Speedway. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sheet XCI". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "More variety for the Tigers". Cambridge Daily News. 15 March 1996. Retrieved 14 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Talk". Hull Daily Mail. 11 May 1996. Retrieved 14 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Burst water main causes Smallbrook stadium flood". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2023.