An amateur film made by Michael John Keane showing the 'Tigers Middlesbrough Speedway' taking part in various races at  Cleveland Park Stadium. Events featured included Middlesbrough v Berwick 21/7/79, Middlesbrough s Stoke 2/7/81 and-Middlesbrough v Oxford, also part of a match between Middlesbrough Tigers and Newcastle Diamonds. The film features award presentations as well as good views of crowds. The film opens with travelling shot along a country road, heading towards Teesside...

An amateur film made by Michael John Keane showing the 'Tigers Middlesbrough Speedway' taking part in various races at  Cleveland Park Stadium. Events featured included Middlesbrough v Berwick 21/7/79, Middlesbrough s Stoke 2/7/81 and-Middlesbrough v Oxford, also part of a match between Middlesbrough Tigers and Newcastle Diamonds. The film features award presentations as well as good views of crowds. The film opens with travelling shot along a country road, heading towards Teesside and the A19 flyover and the former Newport incinerator plant. From the flyover the motorcycle speedway circuit can be seen nearby. Moving down the slip road from the flyover towards the circuit, in large letters on the rear of a grandstand, a banner announcing ‘Cleveland Park Stadium’. Title: 12th season Middlesbrough v Berwick, Thursday 12th June 1979 A quick montage follows of still pictures of some of the competitors who will be taking part. Title: Tigers – Middlesbrough Speedway A group of four riders rev their machines at the starting gate for a race. The barrier is released and the riders launch themselves for the first lap on the oval circuit. The race is filmed from the grandstand. The winner takes the chequered flag. The next group of riders launch themselves into their race of four laps, the crowd shouting words of support and encouragement to their favourites as the race progresses. Rider no. 3 who had been leading from the start, is beaten at the finish. Another group of four riders start the next race. A brief view shows the excited faces of the fans in the grandstand. No. 2 wins the race. The next race follows, and the winner does a lap of honour then heads off towards the paddock. A tractor comes onto the track with a special device trailing behind to even out the packed shale and dirt surface. Title: [In the form of a poster] ‘Middlesbrough Speedway National League Match Middlesbrough Tigers v Stoke Potters - Thursday 2nd July 1981’ [No sound on film] A still photograph shows the Middlesbrough Tigers team in their team colours. No. 3 rider stands next to his machine. A race official comes to talk to him. Other team members of the Tigers sit in a covered shelter, some of the riders near their machines. A number of riders take their bikes onto the track, to do some slow laps before the racing begins. The first four get the racing underway [quite dark] The next race starts, the view taken from behind the riders. This is followed by another start and race then another. A rider comes off his bike, fortunately race marshals come to his rescue. He manages to walk back to the paddock. Another race starts and finishes. A close-up of the start of the next race as machines park up behind the start barrier. The barrier is raised and they’re off. On the far side of the track a rider comes off, marshals and first aiders run onto the track to attend. Another start and another race. At the end, a brief view of some of the fans in the grandstand. The camera closes in on the microphone standing behind the window of the commentary box above the grandstand. A supporter sits reading her programme. Another race gets underway, the chequered flag comes down, then the next race starts. A rider comes off at the part of the track nearest the camera. The rider recovers and continues on.  A warning flag coloured yellow with a black diagonal cross is held out informing riders that this is the last lap. The winner passes the chequered flag The next race starts…and finishes, followed by another race. A total of 13 races appear in this section. Title: [From poster] Thursday 2nd July 1981, 7.30 pm - National League Match – Middlesbrough Tigers v Stoke Potters’ The number 41 then appears on the poster next to ‘Middlesbrough’ and 37 against ‘Stoke’. Middlesbrough won the race. [With sound] A steward introduces the day’s races at a microphone beside the track. Riders and bikes stand near the starting gate. Riders are introduced to the fans watching from the grandstand. First the visiting team then the Middlesbrough Tigers. Title: [From poster – date indistinct except for year 1981] ‘National League Match – Middlesbrough Tigers v Oxford Cheetahs’ The race starts with lots of vocal support from the fans. The chequered flag comes down and after four laps the race is over. The next race starts and Middlesbrough Tigers win. Nine races are shown in this section. Middlesbrough win the match by 54 to 24 for Oxford. Some general views follow of the fans. Then teams and support staff walk onto the central green area of the track, followed by team introductions for another match, this time between Middlesbrough Tigers and Newcastle Diamonds. Seven races appear in this section. The cumulative score at this stage of the match was Middlesbrough 24, Newcastle Diamonds 18 [unclear as to whether this is a final score] A tractor tows a flat bed with the Middlesbrough Tigers team on it celebrating a championship win, popping champagne bottles and generally celebrating. They then gather in the green centre of the track acknowledging the fans applause and cheers. A man with a microphone interviews the victorious Tigers team members. The team members address the crowd. The team go on another lap of honour on the flatbed truck. The film ends as the camera picks out enthusiastic crowds at a sell out event.