Nostalgic Oxford Speedway pictures as stadium under threat

Oxford Speedway spoke out on the threat it faces after sports broadcaster Sports Information Services pulled out of its coverage of greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium in Sandy Lane last week.

The motorcycle racing club said the broadcaster’s decision to drop Oxford Greyhounds from its coverage is having an ‘impact’ on its operations from the same venue.

Oxford Speedway Cheetahs team picture in 1998 (Image: Oxford Mail archive)

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Oxford Stadium reopened as a ‘multi-purpose sports and events venue’ in 2022 after a decade-long closure and a hard-fought campaign by supporters in the community.

Promotions manager Mick Wheble (left) and campaigner Gavin Beckley celebrated after a developer withdrew its appeal for plans to turn the stadium into houses, 2014 (Image: Oxford Mail archive)

Before that, it had operated continuously since it first opened in 1939, hosting speedway and greyhound racing for 73 years.

Now that the much-loved stadium and venue is facing its newest threat, we’ve had a look back through the Oxford Mail archive to find pictures of racing and racers at Oxford Stadium through its long history of hosting.