Wolverhampton Wolves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wolverhampton Wolves
Club information
Track address	Monmore Green Stadium Wolverhampton
Country	England
Founded	1928/1951
Closed	2023
Team manager	Peter Adams
Club facts
Colours	Old Gold and Black
Track size	264 metres (288.7 yd)
Track record time	52.69
Track record date	29 August 2016
Track record holder	Niels Kristian Iversen
Major team honours
UK League Champions 1991, 1996, 2002 2009, 2016 KO Cup Winners 1996 Div 2 League Champions 1963 Midland Cup 1973

The Wolverhampton Wolves were a famous British motorcycle speedway team. They were based in Wolverhampton, England. The team won the championship of the United Kingdom five times. They raced at the Monmore Green Stadium for many years, from 1928 until 2023.

Team History

Early Days: 1928–1930

Speedway racing, which was then called "Dirt Track racing," first happened at Monmore Green Stadium on May 30, 1928. The first time the Wolverhampton team name was used was in a race against Manchester on August 25. After a few more races in 1929 and 1930, speedway took a break in Wolverhampton for twenty years.

Return of Speedway: The 1950s

After World War II, speedway became very popular across the country. Many towns wanted to bring the sport back. In 1950, a man named Arthur Simcock got permission to restart speedway in Wolverhampton. The first official race for the team, now called the Wolverhampton Wasps, was in October 1950. In 1951, the Wasps joined the 1951 Speedway National League Division Three.

In 1953, another team, Cradley Heathens, joined with the Wasps. This was exciting for fans, and sometimes so many people came that the stadium was full! However, the team had some tough times in 1954, and speedway stopped in Wolverhampton again for a few years.

Wolves Rise: The 1960s

Speedway returned to Monmore Green in 1961, and the team was now known as the Wolverhampton Wolves. After two good seasons, they won their first big trophy in 1963. They became champions of the 1963 Provincial Speedway League. Key riders like Tommy Sweetman, Graham Warren, Maury Mattingley, Dave Hemus, and Rick France helped them win the league by just two points.

From 1965, the Wolves started competing in the top league, the British League. They finished in the middle of the table for a few years.

Star Riders and Trophies: The 1970s

George Hunter with Gary Peterson

Finn Thomsen and Ole Olsen

Before the 1970 season, the Wolves signed Ole Olsen, a champion rider from Denmark. He was one of the best riders in the world and quickly made a huge difference for the team. In 1972, Ole Olsen won the British League Riders' Championship.

In 1973, the Wolves won the Midland Cup. The next year, they reached the final again. The 1975 season was a sad one because rider Gary Peterson passed away during a race. After 1975, Ole Olsen left the team. The Wolves then struggled for a while. However, they signed another young Danish star, Hans Nielsen, in 1978. He was only 18 but quickly became the team's top rider in 1978 and 1979.

Challenges and Comebacks: The 1980s

Hans Nielsen continued to be the top rider in 1980, but the team faced financial difficulties. The Wolves stopped racing for two seasons.

In 1984, a new promoter named Peter Adams brought the team back. In 1986, the Wolves signed Sam Ermolenko from the USA. With Sam and other talented riders from Denmark and America, the team became very strong. They finished third in 1986 and second in 1989.

Championship Glory: The 1990s

Sam Ermolenko

The Wolves won their first top-league championship in 1991, winning the 1991 British League season. Their American star, Sam Ermolenko, was a key player. Other important riders included Ronnie Correy, Sam's brother Charles Ermolenko, and Englishman Graham Jones. They beat Bradford to win the title.

In 1996, the Wolves won the championship again, making it their second title in six years. Ronnie Correy was the only rider left from the 1991 winning team. This time, two Swedish brothers, Peter Karlsson and Mikael Karlsson, were the stars. They scored many points and helped the team win. The Wolves also won the Knockout Cup in 1996.

More Success: The 2000s

The Wolverhampton Wolves became champions of the Sky Sports Elite League in 2002. They finished second in the regular season but won the play-off final against the Eastbourne Eagles. This was their third championship in 11 years. The Swedish Karlsson brothers, Peter and Mikael, were still very important to the team. In 2004, the Wolves reached the play-off final again but lost.

In 2009, the Wolves won the championship once more, beating the Swindon Robins in the play-offs. Freddie Lindgren was the top rider for the 2009 team. Veteran Peter Karlsson and young rider Tai Woffinden also scored many points.

Final Years: The 2010s and 2020s

The Wolves reached another play-off final in 2010 but lost. In 2016, they became champions of the United Kingdom for the fifth time! They beat the Belle Vue Aces in the play-off final. Led by Tai Woffinden and Freddie Lindgren, they won by a total of 10 points over two races.

In 2017, the Wolves lost another close play-off final to Swindon. The team continued to compete in the top league. After the leagues were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team finished well in 2021, 2022, and 2023, reaching the play-offs each year.

Sadly, in 2023, the owners of Monmore Green Stadium announced that speedway would no longer be held there after the 2023 season. The Wolverhampton Wolves team officially stopped racing after that year.

Notable Riders

Many talented riders have raced for the Wolverhampton Wolves over the years. Some of the most well-known include:

Olympique Races

The Wolves used to host a special race event called the Olympique every year.