Yarmouth Bloaters

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Club Information
Yarmouth Bloaters
Track Address	Yarmouth Stadium Yarmouth Road Caister-on-Sea Great Yarmouth Norfolk
Country	England
Founded	1948
Closed	1962
Club Facts
Colours	Red and Black
Track size	325 yards
Track record time	69.2 seconds
Track record date	July 16th 1957
Track record holder	Peter Moore
Major Team Honours
None

The Yarmouth Bloaters were a motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Yarmouth Stadium, Great Yarmouth from 1948 to 1962.^[1]

[edit] Brief History

Speedway meetings had been taking place at Yarmouth Stadium since 1932, and in 1948 the speedway team Yarmouth Bloaters were created.^[1] They joined the National League Division Three. The name Bloaters was chosen because of the town's connections with the fishing industry, and it was also the name of the local football team Great Yarmouth Town F.C. The team’s race jacket was red with black squares and an image of a silver bloater.

In 1949 the Bloaters finished joint top of the National League Division Three with the Hanley Potters but the Potters superior race points average meant that Yarmouth finished as runners up. Yarmouth were still offered promotion and moved up to the National League Division Two for the 1950 season.

Yarmouth wanted to open the 1954 season late but this wish was denied by the Speedway Control Board and the Bloaters were not issued a racing licence for that year. The track remained closed until a consortium of local businessmen took over in 1957.^[1]

Yarmouth continued with a number of open meetings and in minor local speedway leagues until becoming one of the founder members of the Provincial League in 1960. During the season the team lost money with several home meetings cancelled due to bad weather and they finished seventh out of ten.^[1]

The decision was taken not to enter the Provisional League for the 1962 season and after taking part in several open meetings the Bloaters closed due to financial difficulties. The stadium now runs Greyhounds and Stock car racing and the speedway track has been covered with tarmac.^[1]