| Somerset Rebels | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Track address | Oaktree Arena Edithmead Highbridge Somerset | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| League | SGB Championship (2019) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||||||||||||
| Colours | Blue, Red & White | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track size | 300 metres (330 yd) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record time | 55.12 seconds | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record date | 17 July 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Rory Schlein | ||||||||||||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Somerset Rebels were a British speedway team based in Highbridge, Somerset. Founded in 2000, the club competed in the British SGB Championship until 2019. Their home track was located at the Oak Tree Arena.[1]
Promoter Andy Hewlett had been searching for a venue in Somerset to host speedway for some time, when in 1999 he was offered a site by a local farmer. Former Australian rider Glyn Taylor was called in to construct a 300 metres purpose-built speedway stadium ready for the 2000 season.[2][3] The stadium called the Oak Tree Arena was subsequently opened for the[4] 2000 Speedway Conference League and the Rebels finished 3rd in their inaugural season.[5]
After winning both the Conference Trophy and Conference League KO Cup in 2001 they moved up to the Premier League (division 2) for 2002. After struggling for several seasons, the club signed Magnus Zetterström and together with Glenn Cunningham, Paul Fry and Ritchie Hawkins, the Rebels won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 20 August 2005, at Derwent Park.[6][7][8]
The 2006 season saw Somerset reach the Knockout Cup Final for the first time, finishing as runners up to King's Lynn Stars over two legs. Magnus Zetterström was the star of the season, winning both the Riders' Championship and setting the highest league average.[9] The Rebels reached the KO Cup final for a second time in a row in 2007, losing out to King's Lynn again.[5]
The 2008 season proved to be successful, despite a major change in the club's line up after their number one rider for the past three seasons, Magnus Zetterstrom was replaced by Jason Doyle but the team finished second in the Premier League table behind the Edinburgh Monarchs, after a season long battle with the Scottish side.[10] Somerset won the Premier League Knockout Cup (tier 2) for the first time in their history. After winning the first leg of the final at Workington 43–46, the Rebels won the return leg at the Oak Tree Arena 52-41 for a 98-84 aggregate victory, with Jason Doyle and Emil Kramer top scoring for Somerset.[11]
Prior to the 2009 season, the team was purchased by Bill Hancock, the owner of the Oaktree Arena.[12]
In December 2009, Rebels rider Emil Kramer was killed in a road accident in his native Sweden.[13] In his honour, the riders wore blue and yellow race suits for the 2010 season with Kramer's initials embroidered on the collar. Australian Sam Masters was brought in as number 1 for the 2011 season and won the Riders' Championship.[14]
The 2012 season saw the Rebels achieve one of their most successful seasons since their formation. Jason Doyle returned to the club and spearheaded them to winning the Premier League Cup, beating Ipswich Witches over two legs in the final. They also reached the play-off final, losing out on the Premier League Championship to Scunthorpe Scorpions by a single point over two legs.[15]
In 2013, Steve Bishop announced that he would step down as team manager leaving the responsibility to Garry May and the Rebels went on to have the best season in their history by winning the league and cup double and the pairs championship. Jason Doyle and new signing Josh Grajczonek won the Premier League Pairs Championship, held at the Oaktree Arena on 31 May.[16][17] The Rebels then went on to lift the Premier League KO Cup for the second time in their history, defeating Edinburgh Monarchs in an entralling semi-final before beating the Rye House Rockets in the final.[18][19] To complete the treble, the Rebels finished top of the Premier League table and eventually met Edinburgh Monarchs in the play-off final. Edinburgh won the first leg 45–43 but the Rebels won the second leg 49-44, giving them an aggregate win of 3 points.
2014 saw the Rebels pick up more silverware, after the team defeated Newcastle Diamonds to win the Premier League Shield and Oliver Allen, Nick Morris, Pontus Aspgren and Charles Wright won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, held on 3 August 2014, at the East of England Arena.[20]
Somerset won the Premier League Knockout Cup for the third time in eight years in 2015, continuing the success experienced by the club.[21][22] At the start of the 2016 season the Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock announced a change to the club logo, replacing the original American confederate logo for a logo representing the county of Somerset.[23]
In late 2016, the club announced that it would be moving up into the newly formed SGB Premiership for the 2017 season.[24] In their first top flight season the Rebels endured a tough campaign, finishing sixth overall. The following season in 2018, the club signed 2017 world champion and former Rebels rider Jason Doyle as their number 1, following his release by Swindon Robins. Doyle captained the Rebels to their first top flight trophy, defeating Kings Lynn Stars 98-82 on aggregate in the final of the Premiership Knockout Cup.
In November 2018, after two seasons in the top flight, the Rebels announced that they would be moving down to the SGB Championship, the 2nd tier of British Speedway, for the 2019 season. They reached third in the league that year.[25]
After sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic the promotion announced that they would not be running in 2021 despite already having named a squad. On 26 May 2021 the owners formally announced that they had sold the land and there would be no more racing at the site.[26][27]
In late 2022, it was announced that discussions had taken place between the North Somerset District Council and British Speedway Promoters Ltd for a possible return of speedway in Weston-super-Mare and retaining the Rebels nickname.[28]
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Josh Grajczonek
Genn Cunningham Jason Doyle
Emil Kramer Sam Masters Magnus ZetterstromExtended content |
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2008 team Also Rode:
2009 team Also Rode:
2010 team
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2011 team Also Rode:
2012 team Also Rode 2013 team Also Rode 2014 team 2015 team
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2018 team Also Rode: 2019 team Also Rode: 2020 team |
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