With the break up of the Single League at the close of the 1996 season, Promoter Colin Hill, despite owning Mark Loram and having Simon Wigg on loan, decided that if Speedway was to continue in Exeter, then the P.L was the only option open.

Michael Coles was to lead the team in 1997, whilst the previous Captain, Paul Fry headed to Newport following a disagreement with the Exeter management.

In came the bright prospect Leigh Lanham on loan from Ipswich, Peter Jeffery was back in the line up and Frank Smart was persauded to return from Australia with a CMA of under 5, something of a gift for the Falcons.

Graeme Gordon's long apprenticeship was rewarded with a reserve place along with Paul Fudge who had got the nod over Roger Lobb. This meant there was no room for Cornishman Mark Simmonds, largely because of doubts about a shoulder injury that had plagued him in 1996. Roger Lobb went to Newport, Loram joined Bradford on loan whilst German asset Jorg pingel later appeared at Peterborough. The compulsary usage of Dirt deflectors meant that the unsightly netting around the track could also be done away with.

Paul Fudge was to miss the best part of the season with wrist injuries sustained at Skegness, and whilst Exeter opted fro Rider replacement for the most part, youngster Paul Oughton also had a few outings for the Falcons.

Despite having a much fancied line up, Exeter's start to the season was slow by any standards, not helped by bad weather affecting many meetings. But they grew stronger week after week and were rewarded when they won the Young Shield final beating Long Eaton, on a night that Gary Lobb went down in folklore with the Exeter faithful with his epic pass around Carl Stonehewer and Martin Dixon when things were still in the balance.

This was Exeter's first trophy in 14 years, the last being when they beat Weymouth in the KO Cup Final back in 1983. They had also finished third in the P.L Pairs and in the league, finished the season fifth out of 14.

Elsewhere in 1997

This was the year the Speedway World was caught up in a tyre fixing scandal, with certain teams using a chemical to soften the tyre compound and the dirt deflector became compulsary.

Greg Hancock wins the E.L Riders Championship, beating Tony Rickardsson, John Louis and Simon Wigg in the Final.

Coventry had been waiting eight years for a major honour, and it finally came in the form of the Craven Shield Final when they beat Kings Lynn 107-73 on aggregate. Exeter's 14 year Long wait for silverware also came to an end when they defeated Long Eaton 96-83 on aggregate in the PL Young Shield Final.

Bradford were crowned E.L Champions ahead of Eastborne and Swindon, whilst Reading won the P.L Championship ahead of Long Eaton and Edinburgh in third (Exeter ended fifth). In the Amateur League, Peterborough won the title ahead of Berwick and Ryde (IOW).

Pictured Right, Premier League winners Reading. From Left: Pat Bliss, Lee Richardson, Krister Marsh, Tim Sugar, Dave Steen and Bill Dore. Front Row: Glenn Cunningham, Dave Mullett and Paul Pickering.

Long Eaton (33pts) win the P.L Pairs trophy from Reading (31pts) and Exeter (28pts). Eastbourne won the S.Star K.O Cup beating Poole 116-66 on aggregate and Edinburgh win the P.L K.O Cup Final beating oxford 94-86 on aggregate. Peterborough scored 27pts in the E.L Four Team Championship to beat Bradford (21pts) Swindon (15pts)and B.Vue (15pts), whilst the P.L equivalent saw Long Eaton (28pts) beat edinburgh (23pts) Oxford (17pts) and Berwick (9pts).

Peter Carr (Edinburgh) becomes the P.L Riders Champion beating Glen Cunningham (Reading) Robert Eriksson (Edinburgh) and Brett Woodfielf (IOW) in the Final, and Jon Armstrong (Buxton) won the Amateur Leage Riders Championship from Bobby Eldridge (Ryde), David howe (P'borough) and Blair Scott (Lathallan). Fifth spot went to Roger Lobb (Exeter / Newport).

In the British Final, it was M.Loram who won from Chris Louis after a run off decider and Sean Wilson finished third. But on top of the World was Greg hancock who won the World Championship from runner up Billy hamill and Tomasz Gollob was third.

In the World team Cup Final, Denmark 27pts were crowned champions beating Poland 25pts, Sweden 21pts, Germany 17pts, Czech republic 16pts, Russia 10pts and Hungary 9pts.

Pictured Left is Exeter's Leigh Lanham who was crowned British U-21 Champion winning the Final from Lee Richardson (Left) and Scott Nicholls (Right), but it was Jesper Jensen of Denmark who won the World U-21 Final from Rafal Dobrucki of Poland and Scott Nicholls from GB.