Wolverhampton - Aldersley Track
Hugh Porter Way : WV6 9NW
Wolverhampton - Aldersley Track : Image credit British Cycling Wolverhampton - Aldersley Track : Image credit Wolverhampton Wheelers CC The Aldersley Stadium opened in 1955 and it is listed in the 1955 NCU Racing Handbook. Jack Hawkins, the popular film star officially opened the Aldersley Stadium on 9th June 1956. The stadium complex which cost £50,000 to build, extended to 47 acres and contained the cycle track, a running track and football and cricket pitches. The asphalt cycle track is 3½ laps to the mile (458m), 25 feet wide with 24 degree bankings.

At the opening track meet, there was a high quality field for the cycling events, including Gordon Ian, Billy Holmes and John Geddes. Aldersley continued to promote top class track meets which attracted national riders such as Don Burgess, Lloyd Binch and Norman Shiel

In early June 1959 there were three Birmingham track meets within four days at Aldersley, The Butts and Salford Park.

The Aldersley stadium was also the finishing point for several top road races. Hugh Porter won the S. Staffordshire Grand Prix there in 1959. Incidentally, Percy Stallard finished in the bunch that day, good going for a 50 year old. The track also hosted national track championships.

The 1960's saw the track putting on international meetings, the 1964 Easter Tuesday meet featured riders from nine different countries. Hugh Porter, the multiple World and Commonwealth champion pursuit rider was a regular at Aldersley

The Wolves £100 Madison was held in October 1976, it was a 50k Madison and the winner pair were Steve Heffernan (the National Madison champion) and Trevor Gadd (Olympic sprinter). The Coventry CC promoted a Halfords International track meet in May 1978 featuring trials for places in the world championships and Commonwealth Games. Also featured was international tandem racing and the British Grand Prix.

Aldersley Stadium also built up a reputation for staging top class cyclo-cross events which were staged in the areas around the track.

Track activities reduced into the 1980's and 90's. There was a Wednesday evening Aldersley Track League and British Schools race meetings. The Brereton Wheelers also held their championships at Aldersley.

The track continues to be used by Wolverhampton Wheelers run training and development sessions. The video shows a youth devil race.


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Photos : British Cycling, Wolverhampton Wheelers CC