Eric Broadbelt

Eric Melvyn Broadbelt (born 8 December 1947) is a former international speedway rider^[1] from England and Great Britain.^[2][3][4]

Eric Broadbelt

Born	8 December 1947 (1947-12-08) (age 76) Blackpool, England
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
1967–1973	Belle Vue Aces
1968–1969	Belle Vue Colts
1970	Rochdale Hornets
1974–1977	Poole Pirates
1978	Halifax Dukes
1979–1981	Sheffield Tigers
1982	Swindon Robins
1982, 1983	Edinburgh Monarchs
1983, 1986	Long Eaton Invaders
1985	Barrow Blackhawks
1985	Glasgow Tigers
Individual honours
1981	British Championship finalist
Team honours
1971, 1972, 1973	British League Champion
1972, 1973	British League KO Cup Winner
1968, 1969	British League Division Two Champion
1969	British League Division Two KO Cup Winner
1979	Northern Trophy

Speedway career

Broadbelt a product of the Manchester training school,^[5] began his British league career riding for the Belle Vue Aces during the 1967 British League season.^[6] He won the league title with Manchester club in both 1970, 1971 and 1972 and the British League KO Cup in 1972 and 1973.^[7]

After a hugely successful career with Belle Vue he joined Poole Pirates for the 1974 British League season and stayed with the south coast club for three seasons. He then moved north to ride for Halifax in 1978 and Sheffield for 1979 and 1980.^[8]

He reached the final of the British Speedway Championship in 1981.^[2][9] He spent five more seasons riding for various clubs but only made a handful of appearances for most of them before retiring in 1986.

At retirement he had earned 17 international caps for the England national speedway team and 14 caps for Great Britain.^[4][2]

References

1. Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
2. "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
3. "Eric Broadbelt". Speedway Museum. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
4. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
5. "Fundin expected to make debut againt unchanged Dukes team". Halifax Evening Courier. 3 July 1967. Retrieved 17 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
7. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
8. "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
9. "HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK". Speedway.org. Retrieved 22 July 2021.