Everyone at Birmingham Speedway was saddened to learn of the death of supporter John Allen earlier this week. British Speedway is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Morris as its Premiership Chief Executive Officer. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". He was a top motorcyclist before taking up speedway in 1928, and was a star of the Stamford Bridge team. BIRMINGHAM now have just one team spot left to fill after Alfie Bowtell agreed to join the club from Plymouth. Tonight has certainly swept aside my misconceptions, I confided. Rider Indexes. I love it, its exciting. The off season was a difficult time for the club, with captain Danny King handing in a transfer request, although he was later convinced to stay. [3], Birmingham were accepted into the Elite League for 2011 and finished their first season in ninth place out of ten. Away days at Birmingham today, . 14.4K Followers. [4] They found themselves outclassed in the final, losing out on aggregate 104-79 to the Poole Pirates, who were inspired by Greg Hancock.[5]. The Brummies defended their National League title in 2016, beating Eastbourne in a two leg play off, the play off system having been controversially introduced for this season. 30,000 fans saw the event on a track laid down on an old athletics field behind the hotel.And five months later Birmingham held its first speedway meeting on the 12th of July at the Alexander stadium, Perry Barr. Nico Covatti Speedway riders, history and results . My Grandfather and father rode with Gus ( see the above site for details ) My father rode on the speedway from 1927 to 1932 at Hall Green and Perry Barr also Coventry, he rode with the Parker's, Jack Amott and Bert Perrigo who I worked with later at the BSA. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. #GiveUsAB |. There were now three divisions in the booming sport. JavaScript is disabled. Birmingham Speedway have been busy sorting supporter parking arrangements for the forthcoming 2023 season. They can earn 200 a point, and amass 15 points at any one meeting. Weve never had a policeman here, said one Brummie, his young son perched on his shoulders. Something went wrong, please try again later. Summary. The following year he won a bronze medal at the 1979 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship.. Can You Help? Browning burst onto the scene and the two became the lynch pin of the Birmingham team throughout the early 1970s. After four years in the National League, in 2019 they moved up to the second tier of British speedway in the SGB Championship. BIRMINGHAM have pulled off a powerhouse signing with Aussie ace Nick Morris joining as their brand new No.1. ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Brummies then opened at the Wheels Project at Bordesley Green in 1985 racing for two seasons in the National League before closing in 1986. 21 Birmingham Speedway Programmes For Season 1980 All Blank 2.49 1 Bid 1d 8h , 2.85 Shipping , 14-Day Returns, eBay Money Back Guarantee Seller: woodman17uk (2,007) Wednesday March 01, 2023. TEAM COLOURS: Red and yellow. Anne faced a choice. Birmingham supporters and speedway enthusiasts everywhere, will have been shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of former Brummies rider and team manager Chris Harrison last Sunday October 31st. Yeah, I nodded, The Japanese knotweeds back., He turned to the mobile canteen and bellowed: Anne, another little job has sprung up.. John Hart son of Phil Hart saw a dramatic improvement in his averages and enjoyed three great seasons with the club before the end of his career. Still by the late 1950s the sport was in decline as bomb sites were built upon and as other activities began to attract young men. He won the British Speedway Championship in 1982. London Cup. Each race had four riders, none of whom had fancy footwear or anything to protect them from a knock if they came a purler. BRUMMIES TO HOST BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL. IN VENDITA! Cycle speedway more rough and ready than motorcycle speedway and as such was easier for teenagers to get involved with. Former rider and manager Morris, who will continue as FIM Race Director at Grand Prix and World Cup events, takes on the newly created position with the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of . All the latest news on the Birmingham Brummies Speedway team from Perry Barr Stadium . Birmingham Brummies Speedway fans Lauren . The only change to the league is Leicester Lions, who left for the higher league of the SGB Premiership 2023.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Tweets. Nicols Covatti (born 19 June 1988) is an Argentine motorcycle speedway rider. BRITISH Speedway is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Morris as its Premiership Chief Executive Officer. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The former Premier League Riders' Champion is back for a second spell at Perry Barr having previously ridden for the club briefly in 2011. Home Help Search Welcome Guest. The first meeting of the new era, the Alan Hunt Memorial, took place on 21 March 2007. He worked closely with BSA and was about to begin a glorious career that lasted until the mid 1950s riding for teams such as Harringay, Belle Vue and Coventry. Reliable, friendly and easy to get on with.<br><br>Currently presenting the afternoon show on Churnet Sound Radio weekdays 1pm to 4pm and also on the 80's experience show Monday nights 9pm to 10pm. 1938, 1939, 1948. Oakes, Peter (2012) "Our Future in Their Hands", Speedway Hot-Gun Adam Ellis in 2nd at Mid-Point of 2012 French Speedway Championships, Ipswich have signed Ben Barker and young star Adam Ellis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adam_Ellis&oldid=1131732734, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 January 2023, at 13:57. It does not store any personal data. Hunt tragically died whilst racing and the rest of his team were suspended in England and fined following a series of hearings because they had raced on unlicensed tracks. Whats more, I walked away with a club scarf wrapped around my neck. Despite having a near nine point average George Major wasn't even a consistent heat leader such was the strength in depth of the squad. These wonderful photos of cycle speedway were kindly donated by James Bayliss. The petrol emotion of supporters never spills into anything more sinister than sarcasm. Shanes joined part way through the 2018 National . A group of riders led by Alan Hunt including some other Birmingham riders were touring the country during the close season. Birmingham entered the Northern League for that year but the club suffered two fatalities when two of their riders - Hugh Watkinson and Canadian Charlie Appleby died in separate incidents on track. A wizened fan, the host of golden biker badges on his leather jacket shimmering under floodlights, took a swig of Bovril and tutted. Post by speedway_history on May 21, 2016 22:05:56 GMT 1. Are you speedway fan? [11][12] In 2022, he rode for the Sheffield Tigers in the SGB Premiership 2022 and for the Birmingham Brummies in the SGB Championship 2022. Introduction and Indexes. Team by Team. my Dad said he was speedway rider circa 1937-39, its just a memory i could be wrong. [13] He helped Sheffield win the League cup and reach the Play off final. Interesting stuff Lou, but your dates may be a bit out . BIRMINGHAM have named young Aussie James Pearson as their first team member for 2023. [1][2][4][5] After the end of the 2012 season he was confirmed in the Islanders team for 2013, as well as getting a place in the Ipswich Witches Premier League team and an Elite League contract with Lakeside Hammers. A temporary revival occurred in 1960 when the Alexander stadium was used for a series of open meetings promoted by Phil Hart and Doug Ellis. They form a most remarkable and historically important collection as they highlight not only the racing itself, but tracks and their locations, spectators, pits, first-aid tents and much more. High powered lightweight motorcycles on the confines of a dirt oval was the simple recipe and it worked. In 1949, despite being in a tougher division he still scored almost ten points a meeting and he qualified for his first World Final. But it wasn't until the 1970s that Joe Thurley accidentally contacted Perry Barr stadium instead of the old Alexander stadium (today known as Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium) situated opposite and so bought British League Division 2 racing to Perry Barr for the 1971 season. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Like A-has Morten Harket in the video for Take On Me, I chipped-in helpfully. Speedway-ura. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for * BIRMINGHAM 2013/6/7 unmarked speedway programme collection (10) all different at the best online prices at eBay! The Official Facebook page for the Birmingham Brummies speedway team Its the family spirit. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Were you ever thinking about speedway career? They were joined quickly by the Erdington Pirates, Yardley Wood Aces, Bromford Crusaders, Glebe Panthers, Handsworth Hornets, Oscott Hammers, Perry Barr Juniors, Quinton Racers, Sheldon Boomerangs, Warren Hill Rangers, Sutton Stars, Hall Green Hurricanes, Hockley Flyers, Elmdon Bees, Shirley Cyclones, Bordesley Green Aces, Wythall Whippets, and the Aston Aces run by the well-respected Mr and Mrs Robinson. Look at the riders. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. THE Curtis Sport Birmingham Brummies have added a new sponsor for 2023 with Thermohome Ltd coming on board alongside Tolley Badges as associate team backers. Previous seasons fixtures & results Birmingham had two teams in the Southern League of the inaugural season of British speedway in 1929. Perry Barr Stadium (also known as Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium) is the home track of the Birmingham Brummies, located on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, Birmingham. Speedway riders, history and results. CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2010 [Buxton], 2011 [Glasgow], 2012 [Swindon], 2012 [Scunthorpe], 2013 [Somerset], 2017 [Swindon]; . In 1980 Dan McCormick took over the Brummies promotion from Joe Thurley and by 1981 Dan had managed to acquire the talented Hans Nielson from Wolves. He also made it to the World Final in 1982 in Los Angeles as reserve but did not ride. In 1978, Koponen joined the Birmingham Brummies for the 1978 British League season, this was his first season in the British leagues. Instead of wearing a 'pudding basin' helmet, goggles and leathers, Sprouts wore just a scarlet jersey and leather helmet but his new style of riding caused large amounts of dust which somewhat obscured his antics. The success of that year led the promoters to enter a team into the Southern League for 1930 but resigned after only one meeting due to a dispute with the stadium owners over the number of greyhound meetings that would be held at the track. Despite the success of the 2013 season there were regular reports of turmoil behind the scenes at the club, and at the end of the season team manager Phil Morris walked away from the club. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. At BSA, the Birmingham Motorcycle Club established a training track but it held two official meetings during August 1928. Ive had a terrible season, but Im getting there.. Top riders - and the home-team have a seven-strong squad - are well paid for the immense risks they take. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He rode for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the Elite League as a doubling up rider in their squad. It struggles like so many other sports today to attract customers through their turnstiles. Would you like you lead your favourite team to the championship? See more Canada. * Aston Aces raced off the Lichfield Road, Aston, near to the entrance of Salford Park. The original track was on a bomb site in Balsall Heath Road, where the Lions speeded about under makeshift floodlights. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Birmingham boasts two of the very best in Chris Bomber Harris and fans favourite Martin Smolinski, a German with the same ice-water coursing through his veins as his countrys penalty-takers. With the new season rapidly approaching, we have some great sponsorship and advertising opportunities available. Birmingham Speedway Supporters Club & Brummies Cubs Club are excited to announce our very first joint Christmas Party, Wednesday 21st December at Aston Manor Cricket Club. After an uncomfortable silence, Alan added: We have stepped up to the plate. The 10th October 1983 saw Birmingham loose to Cradley Heath 23-55 in a final challenge match at the track. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". A sport that attracted 50,000 crowds in its post-war glory days, but currently limps well behind football, rugby and cricket in the popularity stakes, despite Sky Sports cash. He gave the Tigers a lot of support with lights for night racing and the luxury of an electric starting gate. Following his death Birmingham Speedway's then general manager, Chris Van Straaten, told the Birmingham Evening Mail: "When I heard what had happened . The Aussie always scored well, and helped the team to some notable success during 1948 such as winning the Division 2 Knockout Cup and helped the team to finish second and gain promotion to National League Division 1 for 1949. Formed in 1947 with Harold Smith as a leading light, they entered the second division of the Birmingham and District Cycle Speedway League which had been set up through the work of speedway promoter Les Marshall and Supporters Club secretary, Mrs Cooper. Read more. However Bowers took the top prize by winning the Sunbac Golden Helmet with Taft finishing in second place due to mechanical problems. BRITISH SPEEDWAY MARCH 1, 2023. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Perry Barr Stadium The club when re founded was sponsored by Richard Meredith of Mercom Water Products. * Ray Draper and team mate out in front away at Hall Green Hurricanes with Terry Ford in pursuit. The other half of his doubling up ride is with the Newport Wasps in the Premier League. BIRMINGHAM Speedway would like to place on record their thanks and appreciation to the clubs outgoing captain and vice-captain. For the 1937/38 season Hall Green became known as the Birmingham Bulldogs and a new rider by the name of Phil 'Tiger' Hart emerged onto the scene. BIRMINGHAM have added experienced Brit James Wright to their ranks for 2023. The team followed this up with a win in the 1975 Division 2 Championship. But the drama of trackside is undeniable and infectious: the speeds, the spills, the smells, the roar and the camaraderie. Check out my other speedway items from the 255990828969 He was also the team manager of t Year by Year. Under 21 World Finals. For the 1947 season Birmingham moved into the renamed National League Division 2 where they raced for the next two years. Both Ashley Morris and James Shanes have been released by the Curtis Sport Brummies after a relatively lengthy association with the club. Ive watched the sport on TV and quickly switched to something more riveting, like Antiques Roadshow. Picture: Dave Payne. He changed the name of the club to Birmingham Lions the following year. STEFAN Nielsen is the third rider on his way back to Birmingham - and he becomes an official asset of the club. Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team founded in 1928. Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team founded in 1928. If you answered "yes" at least once, Speedway Challenge . [1] He was signed by the National League team Isle of Wight Islanders as their number eight, averaging 7.61 from eight matches, and also became a Lakeside Hammers asset, making his Elite League debut in October. Please note that the fixtures and dates below are subject to change at short notice. GPs. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Back to home page Return to top. In a successful first season the team finished in second place in the league table, and runner-up in both the Premier Trophy and the Young Shield, despite having only two members of their own team actually fit to ride. Born in Coronel Pringles, Argentina, Covatti first came to the attention of the speedway public when he raced in the 2012 Speedway . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 00:51:40 - Helen Charlesworth is a lifelong speedway supporter, starting out in her native Newcastle before heading a long way south to Plymouth, where she has Adam Ellis (born 21 March 1996) is a British grasstrack and speedway rider and former British champion. You must log in or register to reply here. Former rider and manager Morris, who will continue as FIM Race Director at Grand Prix and World Cup events, takes on the newly created position with the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of Premiership business. The Golden Age of Speedway was over. But cycle speedway did not disappear. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I have broadcast on various radio stations as well as reporting for Signal Radio on speedway and have held various media officer roles at Stoke Speedway and Buxton Speedway and I'm currently . Birmingham Speedway 2023 Season Tickets are now on sale. Speedway World Cup. Midland Riders Championship Semi Final 24/04/78. BRITISH Speedway is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Morris as its Premiership Chief Executive Officer. To date, hes broken both legs, an arm, nose, collarbone and numerous ribs. It is a labour of love for Alan, fuelled by methanol, not money. To get your . SPEEDWAY RIDERS BENEVOLENT fund Enamel Badge 29 x 22 mm - EUR 12,32. 2022 FIXTURES, RESULTS & REPORTS. He was bought up with motorc. [14], In 2023, he re-signed for Sheffield for the SGB Premiership 2023.[15]. Horace Kent is the centre and in front is the teams mascot. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I waited for speedway riders to pass, their screaming machines spewing shale from Perry Barr Stadiums track and asked: Which motorcycle is he on and how the hell did he get that nickname?. Not even the colourful American "Sprouts" Elder's demonstration of broadsliding captured their imagination. volt angliai motorversenyz.. Speedway karrier. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This biographical article relating to English speedway is a stub. Read our online colour brochure - Click here to download/ view. Pre WW2 Speedway meetings were held at Hall Green dog track, York Rd, a friend of my Dad whose name was Gus Kunz ( spelling?) The All-Time Scorers on Wolverhampton Speedway website have been updated to include the 2022 season. Jun 27, 2008. BRITISH Speedway Promoters Ltd can now confirm the structure of the 2023 season following this weeks AGM in Coventry. Either join husband Alan - who along with Brummies manager Graham Drury has performed near miracles since the club rose from the ashes six years ago - or become a speedway widow. 1971 Malcolm Corradine Cliff Emms Clark Facey Chris Harrison Gunther 'Hec' Haslinger Ant and Dec issue apology as Saturday Night Takeaway flooded with complaints, The Geordie duo apologised over disruption to viewers, Drunk woman fined after falling asleep in car at McDonald's with burger on chest, Police found Caroline Fahy drunk and asleep in her car at McDonald's, Amanda Abbington bravely opens up about considering suicide after split from Martin Freeman, The actress has two children with film star Martin Freeman, Prince Harry 'diagnosed' with hidden health condition during TV interview, The Duke of Sussex was promoting his memoir Spare, Molly-Mae Hague opens up about 'massive struggle' with breastfeeding, The Love Island admitted she had been finding life as a new mum difficult in an honest post, BBC The Apprentice bosses forced to step in over X-rated behaviour in mansion, Producers reportedly had to hold a crisis meeting, ITV Starstruck viewers majorly distracted as they spot change to new series, Primark says 'whoops' after shoppers spot major error on sweatshirt, Primark shared a statement after shoppers pointed out the embarrassing blunder on Instagram, Special police stop and search powers to continue for another eight hours across Birmingham, Police said Section 60 powers allows them to 'stop and search people we suspect may be involved in violence involving weapons, without the need to have reasonable grounds', Plane crashes as public warned to avoid area, Police officers have closed part of the road after the light aircraft crashed, Girlfriend jailed after concocting fake alibi for hitman who was hired to kill, Pamiela OConnor, 38, lied to police about her then-partner's whereabouts following a shooting near Sutton Coldfield, Brum's vibrant 'hidden' indoor market full of unusual items introduces a new caf to fuel shoppers, As well as stalls selling items from vintage clothes and antiques to candles, CDs and crystals, you can dine on Goan goodies, Huge boom caught on video in Midlands as police say 'no concern', Aaron happened to be filming his car at the time the huge bang thundered across the Midlands, Tom Cruise back at Asha's Restaurant for lunch in a new guise, Eighteen months after Mission: Impossible and Top Gun superstar Tom Cruise was photographed outside of Asha's Restaurant in Birmingham city centre an even shorter Spitting Image version was spotted in black leathers, I did a weekly shop at markets instead of Tesco and got expired milk - but I'm tempted to return, This is what happened when I shopped at Birmingham's famous Bull Ring markets instead of Tesco, The 'hidden gem' beach three hours from Birmingham named best in UK, Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk was also named 12th best beach in Europe by Tripadvisor, First picture of violent Selfridges shoplifter who strangled female guard, Nathan Williams who had admitted theft and strangulation, was jailed for 16 months, Drug dealer who sent out flare messages sent back to jail after cops catch him with 18-inch machete, Sheraz Hussain, 27, returned to drug dealing after being released from prison, Terminally-ill mum, just 34, marries in hospital thanks to kind-hearted QE nurses, Lacey Page's daughters were bridesmaids at emotional ceremony, Unique chance to tour listed New Street Station Signal Box, Members of the public can enter a ballot for a one-day-only chance to see inside the recently decommissioned Grade II listed New Street Station signal box - but anyone hoping to travel there by train could be hit by industrial action. Meanwhile three other stadia were offering open meetings during 1928-30. THE British Speedway Championship is delighted to announce a league sponsorship deal for the 2023 season with Cab Direct, the UKs leading taxi supplier. Footballs not as much fun.. Many have followed speedway since childhood. Sunday March 26, 2023 @ 3.00pm. Its been 17 years since Speedway last ran in Birmingham, the longest break the city has had from the sport since its inception in 1928. We need to bring another generation in. Media. Email: info@wolverhampton-speedway.com. You sometimes get a little nervous, said the 29-year-old, slumping in his seat and wiping grime from his chiselled features. And yet the hope amongst fans never wanes that the Brummies will once again find a new home.Chris AshThe author is currently writing a book on the history of Birmingham Speedway and would welcome any materials or memories that readers might have of the club. RIDER LINKS: Son of Gerd Riss (born: 17 March 1965, Badwurzach, Germany) and Brother of Mark Riss (born: 13 September 1994, Memmingen, . He rides under an Italian licence and qualifies for the Italian national team and is a six times national champion of Italy and five times national champion of Argentina.. Thermohome are well known in the speedway world backing several riders including Brummies' new capture Alfie Bowtell. Left to right are: Harry Robinson, the manager; Alf Wilkes, Barry Williams; Wally Harbor; Jerry Hinsley; Pete Glassy; Mac Bayliss; Gordon Ketch; and Terry Ford. On the front row are: Ray Draper, Brian Cross, Mac Bayliss and Eric Barber. Skip Navigation. Biography. Ahead of their second season in the top flight they retained the services of the previous season's star performers Danny King and Ben Barker as well as adding Speedway Grand Prix star Bjarne Pedersen. The fan, his scuffed jacket glinting like one of Liberaces more over-stated numbers, fixed me with a look of disdain before pointing to the plant that had gained a choke-hold on galvanised fencing. Fans are asking about the former Speedway rider Alan Grahame's cause of death after he reportedly passed away on Sunday (October 3, 2021) at the age of 67. In 1978, Koponen joined the Birmingham Brummies for the 1978 British League season, this was his first season in the British leagues. Boasting distinctive cow-horn handle bars, each cycle was stripped down of its bell, cycle pumps and anything else that could get in the way of maximising the chance of as much speed as was possible from a light and unhindered frame. He bought with him Eric Boothroyd and Alan Hunt which was just the lift the side needed to support the out of sorts Warren who had fractured his skull earlier in the season whilst racing in New Zealand. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Chris Kerr (born 28 June 1984 in Auburn, California, U.S.) is a professional speedway rider in the United States. BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt halts show to warn Lenny Henry 'you shouldn't say that', Charlie was hosting BBC Breakfast on Thursday - but warned Lenny: "You really shouldn't say that. Phillip (Phil) William Morris (born 10 September 1975 in Newport, Wales) is a retired British motorcycle speedway rider, who has been playing an active role in the development of young speedway riders in Great Britain, he is the former Team GB Under 21 team manager. RIDER PROFILES Brady Kurtz D.O.B: Sep 27, 1996 5. Lloyd thank you for your link, Gus Kuhn has been a memory of mine for years how my Dad met Gus i don`t know, Gus had his dinner (midday) with us it was stewed meat and veggies, after he had eaten ha said "Best chicken stew i have ever had! He is nicknamed "The Tiger" and represented USA in the 2007 Speedway World Cup. Birmingham Mail reporter Mike Lockley spends a night with the Birmingham Brummies at Perry Barr Stadium, Never miss breaking news by signing up to our free email updates. 2012 EL POSF R1 - Birmingham v Swindon. In 2022, he rode for the Sheffield Tigers in the SGB Premiership 2022 and for the Birmingham Brummies in the SGB Championship 2022. Then the bricks and timber were laid them out laboriously until the shape of the inner and outer perimeters of a track came into full view. The next year, Control Boards and Local Leagues were formed throughout England. One was based at the old Perry Barr stadium) and the other was based at Hall Green Stadium. Please Login or Register. Nathan Stoneman. And its devoid of glamour, unlike the multi-million pound industry that is Formula One. We have moved on from the days when every rider wore black leather.. Birmingham Speedway, All rights reserved. Although Pedersen's time at Birmingham was an unhappy one the team made a big improvement on their first season in the Elite League, finishing in 3rd place and achieving a spot in the play-offs. TICKETS for former Birmingham boss Graham Drurys live stage show on Friday (February 24, 7.30) will now be available on the door. 2022 Oxford Chargers.