Rather against the odds perhaps, the Armadale Devils' pair of Tom Woolley and Elliot Kelly finished runners-up tonight in the National Development League Pairs behind the home duo of brothers Dan and Joe Thompson.
Team captain Woolley is an ideal partner and he was a very happy man on his way out of the stadium. "The track was a little bit tricky to start with and we had a bit of a discussion at the start and decided we needed to keep our heads. We did that, we picked up some points when others made mistakes. We also had some very good rides, Elliot rode very well, and we looked after each other.
"If you avoid last places then you progress forward. We were maybe a little bit fortunate in one ride but you have to take the good with the bad."
Tom was particularly delighted for his young partner who had dropped out of the sport at the start of the season, but returned recently with the Devils. "Elliot rode his socks off, he was really good. He rode with a smile on his face and enjoyed every minute of it. I think it's going to give him a lot of confidence going forward."
The Devils were first out in heat 3 against Berwick, quite a fancied pair, but Woolley raced to a win and crucially, Kelly grabbed third place on the final bend by passing Crang. That 6-3 was to prove crucial.
In heat 5 Devils lost out 2-7 to Leicester, but that was not too serious a setback as the twins scored 7-2 against everyone else also!
Their third outing in the qualifiers was against Belle Vue, another much-fancied pair, and a great ride by Tom Woolley kept Colt Harry McGurk at the back to give the Devils a 5-4. That gave them second place in Group A with 13 points, one ahead of Berwick.
Winners of Group B were Plymouth's Adam Roynon and Rhys Naylor, with Oxford second. So the semi final featured Plymouth v Armadale, and when Naylor fell off that meant that the Devils just had to stay steady in the rerun and finish behind Roynon. That they did.
As expected, the Thompsons won the final 7-2 but Elliot Kelly did give them a run for it early in the race. Elliot is undergoing a career revival with the Devils and this excellent result will be a big help.
Monday 16th December 2019, 5:00pm
After an absence of 15 years, Armadale will enter a junior team into the National Development League for the 2020 season.
Thursday 16th January 2020, 4:00pm
Armadale Devils are gearing up for their return to action in the 2020 National Development League.
Tuesday 14th January 2020, 8:49pm
Although the junior scene has generally been restricted to second halves and occasional individual matches in recent years, junior racing has a proud history in Scotland.
Tuesday 21st January 2020, 9:00am
Armadale Devils can now unveil that their first signing for the 2020 National Development League season is nineteen year-old Mason Watson.
Thursday 23rd January 2020, 8:00am
The National Development League fixture list has been released - read on to find out when you can see the new team in action!
Sunday 26th January 2020, 2:00pm
Up-and-coming local talent Lewis Millar is the second name on Armadale Devils team sheet for the 2020 season.
Friday 14th February 2020, 10:00am
Young Scottish rider Gregor Millar is Armadale Devils fifth signing for the 2020 season.
Saturday 8th February 2020, 11:00am
Armadale Devils have snapped up the services of the talented Leon Flint for the 2020 season.
Thursday 6th February 2020, 9:00am
Armadale Devils have recruited exciting young British rider Nathan Greaves to lead the team in the 2020 season.
Thursday 6th February 2020, 7:30pm
Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to back the newest team in speedway for the 2020 season by sponsoring a racejacket!
Saturday 22nd February 2020, 3:30pm
The draw for the 2020 British Under 21 Championship has been made. Find out which Devils qualified!
Wednesday 26th February 2020, 9:00am
Get revved up for the new season with the 2020 Season Launch Show!
Friday 28th February 2020, 8:00pm
Great news for the Dale Devils racing in the National League this season is that they will be sponsored by IT company Stellar UK for the campaign.
Monday 2nd March 2020, 2:30pm
Armadale Stellar Devils have boosted the middle order of the 2020 team with the signing of Danny Phillips.
Wednesday 11th March 2020, 12:00pm
Armadale Stellar Devils 2020 line up is now complete with the signing of George Rothery.
Monday 16th March 2020, 9:00am
Stellar Devils promotion have been closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus and have now made some difficult decisions regarding the start of the season.
Tuesday 17th March 2020, 12:00pm
British Speedway's governing body, the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA), has announced that the British season has been placed on hold.
Wednesday 25th March 2020, 2:30pm
British Speedway's governing body, the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA), has extended the delay to the start of the 2020 season.
Friday 31st July 2020, 5:00pm
It has today been confirmed that the launch of the new-era Armadale Stellar Devils has been postponed after the National Development League abandoned plans for a season in 2020.
Wednesday 24th February 2021, 5:00pm
Armadale Stellar Devils have confirmed they will compete in the 2021 National Development League.
Thursday 4th March 2021, 1:00pm
Armadale Stellar Devils full 2021 team line up will be revealed live this Friday from 7:30pm.
Friday 5th March 2021, 8:15pm
Armadale have announced who will pull on the new Stellar Devils racejacket for the 2021 season. Read on to find out more.
Monday 8th March 2021, 9:00am
The fixtures for the National Development League have been announced. Read on to find out when and where you can see the Stellar Devils in 2021!
Thursday 22nd April 2021, 2:48pm
Armadale Stellar Devils are gearing up for the 2021 season with the launch of a Booster Club to support speedway youth development racing.
Monday 26th April 2021, 4:00pm
The new season is almost here for Armadale Devils backed by Stellar - new Title Partner for 2021.
Wednesday 28th April 2021, 10:00am
The opening night of the 2021 season is coming up fast - find out how you can watch the Stellar Devils inaugural fixture against Berwick Bullets live on EMTV!
Wednesday 28th April 2021, 7:30pm
A new era for Armadale Speedway opens up this weekend with the Stellar Devils due to feature in the first match of the 2021 season when they visit Berwick on Saturday.
Thursday 29th April 2021, 7:30pm
Not long now till the Stellar Devils are in action, at the Armadale practice on Friday and down at Berwick in a National Development League match the next day.
Friday 30th April 2021, 2:00pm
Man is it good to be back!
Saturday 1st May 2021, 5:00pm
Armadale Stellar Devils return to league action for the first time since 2005 tonight away against Berwick Bullets.
Wednesday 5th May 2021, 3:30pm
Team Speedway returns to Armadale Stadium this Friday for the first time since October 2019 when the Armadale Stellar Devils race against the Berwick Bullets in a National Development League match. For the Devils it is a return for them after a 15 year absence!
Wednesday 5th May 2021, 12:00pm
It's almost time for competitive action to return to Armadale Stadium - find out how you can watch this Friday's live stream!
Friday 7th May 2021, 11:19pm
Team Speedway returned to Armadale after an 18 month absence and in almost all respects, the 48-42 win for the Stellar Devils against the Berwick Bullets proved to be a highly satisfactory night. The track was very good and the meeting was presented in just over 90 minutes.
Monday 10th May 2021, 12:00pm
Stellar Devils and What The Fork Monarchs Promotion have hailed a devilishly good start to the 2021 speedway season.
Tuesday 11th May 2021, 1:00pm
Order your copy of the Stellar Devils v Newcastle Gems programme now!
Wednesday 12th May 2021, 11:00am
After a very successful opening night for season 2021, Armadale's Stellar Devils will this Friday face up to Newcastle's young Gems team led by former Monarch Max Clegg.
Friday 14th May 2021, 11:15pm
The Stellar Devils tumbled to defeat in their second home fixture against a Newcastle Gems team strongly led by Max Clegg, but equally importantly, with solid backup from their other six riders.
Wednesday 9th June 2021, 4:00pm
Don't miss your first chance to see the Armadale Stellar Devils on home shale in 2021 - book your tickets now!
Thursday 17th June 2021, 3:30pm
Following ongoing reviews to the admission procedure in place during current Scottish Government restrictions, an updated procedure will be trialled from Saturday.
Tuesday 15th June 2021, 6:00pm
Stellar Devils return to home shale this Saturday from 2:30pm, for the first time in front of a live home crowd, against the Belle Vue Colts.
Wednesday 16th June 2021, 1:00pm
It's Saturday Speedway at Armadale this week with a 2:30pm start, and a famous name in opposition to the Armadale Stellar Devils. No club in British Speedway epitomises the benefits of junior development better than Belle Vue (Manchester), as they have over the years produced riders who have gone on to be World-famous competitors.
Wednesday 16th June 2021, 11:00am
Order your copy of the Stellar Devils v Belle Vue Colts Matchday Magazine now - a perfect accompaniment to your EMTV:Live experience!
Sunday 20th June 2021, 1:23pm
16 year old Archie Freeman has joined the Armadale Stellar Devils and will replace Sheldon Davies in the lineup for the remaining National Development League matches.
Wednesday 30th June 2021, 8:00am
Stellar Devils return to prime time this Friday at Armadale Stadium from 7:30pm against the Leicester Lion Cubs.
Wednesday 30th June 2021, 12:00pm
This Friday the youngest team in British Speedway – perhaps ever – will show how much they are learning as they come to take on the Armadale Stellar Devils, themselves featuring their new teenage signing, in the National Development League.
Saturday 3rd July 2021, 12:00pm
Sadly the weather was the only winner at Armadale Stadium on Friday evening as heavy rain just after start time brought a halt to proceedings. Read on to find out more about your ticket and streaming options.
Monday 26th July 2021, 7:42pm
The Stellar Devils match at Eastbourne scheduled for this Saturday has been called off as the stadium cannot stage double headers for the time being. The Sunday fixture on 1st August at Mildenhall still goes ahead with a 3pm start.
Thursday 16th September 2021, 9:37am
Stellar Devils return home to Armadale Stadium tomorrow evening to commence a run of fixtures, starting with the visit of Kent Royals. Find out all you need to know here!
Thursday 16th September 2021, 9:00am
The Stellar Devils take the stage at Armadale on Friday as they resume their National Development League campaign by taking on the Kent Royals at 7:30.
Friday 17th September 2021, 10:52pm
In the end it was an enjoyable night at Armadale tonight, with a home win and some excellent racing, but along the way there were concerns over the weather, the bike problems being suffered by the Stellar Devils – and also a very lively visiting performance by the Kent Royals!
Wednesday 22nd September 2021, 12:00pm
Stellar Devils continue their run of home fixtures at Armadale Stadium this Friday with the rescheduled visit of the Leicester Lion Cubs. Find out all you need to know here!
Wednesday 20th October 2021, 9:00am
Stellar Devils are now looking forward to what will be their last home match of 2021.
Monday 17th January 2022, 8:00pm
Armadale Devils are looking forward to the spring when the team will line up in the National Development League for the 2022 season.
Thursday 27th January 2022, 8:00am
First up in the Armadale Devils side for 2022 is the return of ever popular heat leader Danny Phillips!
Wednesday 2nd February 2022, 8:00am
Second man to be confirmed by the Devils for the 2022 lineup is Tom Woolley, a great favourite with everyone last season. It would have been a major surprise and disappointment if Tom hadn't been back, after his consistent displays earned him an average just under 8 and an ever-present record.
Monday 31st January 2022, 5:00pm
Find out when you can see the Armadale Devils in action this season with the 2022 National Development League fixture list!
Tuesday 8th February 2022, 7:30pm
Support the Armadale Devils for the 2022 speedway season by putting your name on the back of a Devils race jacket!
Thursday 10th February 2022, 12:00pm
Another returnee to the Armadale Devils line-up for the 2022 season is the always exciting George Rothery!
Monday 14th February 2022, 1:30pm
Four down, three to go as the 2022 Armadale Devils are delighted to announce another returnee from the 2021 side in the form of local lad Lewis Millar.
Saturday 19th February 2022, 9:00am
Newcastle lad Josh Embleton is the first newcomer to the 2022 Armadale Devils, joining the four returning Devils of '21 previously announced. The cheery Embleton has been riding a few seasons but without having done as much racing as he would have liked.
Friday 25th February 2022, 2:00pm
With tapes up now just 6 weeks away, preparations for the 2022 Armadale Devils season are well under way and with that in mind we are delighted to announce that Gregor Millar will return to the fold for the year ahead.
Tuesday 29th March 2022, 10:00am
Armadale Devils are looking forward to the 2022 season backed by Title Partner Stellar Omada.
Friday 25th March 2022, 3:15pm
Admission prices for Stellar Devils' 2022 National Development League fixtures have been revealed.
Friday 1st April 2022, 10:00am
There will be another familiar face on track at Friday afternoon's Press and Practice as the Stellar Devils are delighted to announce that William Lawson will fill the vacant team spot completing the line-up for the season ahead.
Saturday 2nd April 2022, 10:00am
The 2022 season is a go for the both the What the Fork Monarchs and Stellar Devils after highly successful and enjoyable Press and Practice and Season Launch events on Friday.
Wednesday 6th April 2022, 12:21pm
This Friday evening sees the return of the sport of Speedway to Scotland with a National Development League match between the Armadale Stellar Devils and the Berwick Grant Henderson Tankers Bullets.
Thursday 7th April 2022, 12:00pm
Order your copy of the Stellar Devils v Berwick Bullets programme now!
Wednesday 4th May 2022, 7:00pm
The Armadale Stellar Devils return to the track on Friday evening to take on the newest side in the country, the Oxford Chargers, part of the revival of the sport at Oxford which has been the biggest story of the season so far.
Saturday 28th May 2022, 0:05am
The Armadale Devils took a severe beating at the National Speedway Stadium, going down 69-21 which probably sets a record or two.
Wednesday 15th June 2022, 3:18pm
The Armadale Stellar Devils are looking to break their duck in this season's National Development League, and although it might seem a tough time to start gathering points, the Devils believe they can get the better of the reigning champions Mildenhall Fen Tigers at Armadale on Friday (7:30pm).
Friday 17th June 2022, 10:56pm
League Champions Mildenhall took a maximum advantage from a shambolic opening race against the Stellar Devils, and never looked like loosening their grip on the match. Danny Phillips and reserve Josh Embleton managed double figure returns for the Devils to keep a semblance of respectability in the final scoreline of 38-50.
Tuesday 21st June 2022, 5:30pm
Still in search of their first league points of the season the Stellar Devils have called for reinforcements with the introduction to the side of Lee Complin and Elliot Kelly.
Wednesday 13th July 2022, 10:23pm
The Armadale Stellar Devils welcome to their side new signings Lee Complin and Elliot Kelly for Friday night's visit by the Kent Royals, and believe that they can break their duck of victories for the season.
Friday 15th July 2022, 11:17pm
The Stellar Devils felt they had a real chance of putting their first league points on the board tonight, even with the strength which the visiting Kent Royals are known to have at the top of their side, but too many points slipped through the net in the lower orders also as the visitors recorded a deserved 48-42 victory.
Saturday 16th July 2022, 11:51pm
There was never a realistic hope that the Stellar Devils could gain their first points of the season at a tough assignment at Leicester, but the margin of defeat (25-65) was a bit of a painful one for the West Lothian squad.
Tuesday 26th July 2022, 10:17pm
The Stellar Devils will have a new man in the ranks when they resume their National League fixtures at Oxford on Wednesday 3rd August. That man is 20 year old Kyran Lyden from Middlesbrough.
Thursday 4th August 2022, 7:46pm
The Armadale Stellar Devils are still looking to break their duck this season and sit at the foot of the table, but they will be going flat out for victory when Plymouth, the team immediately above them in the table, visit Armadale on Saturday afternoon (2:30pm), following the Monarchs' match against Plymouth Gladiators the previous evening.
Saturday 20th August 2022, 1:49pm
While most eyes in world speedway will be focused on Glasgow and seeing who the first 3 names in the 2023 GP line-up will be there is a big meeting in the third tier of British speedway taking place also as the National League Pairs takes place at Leicester.
Wednesday 24th August 2022, 4:53pm
The Armadale Stellar Devils gained their first victory of the season in their last home match, and followed that with a runners-up place in the NDL Pairs last weekend, so they are hungry for more success. Their opponents on Friday night at Armadale, though, are the very strong Belle Vue Colts side who lie third in the League table and are strongly fancied for success in the Playoffs.
Saturday 3rd September 2022, 7:35pm
The Armadale Devils are far afield on Sunday when they make their first visit to the Old Gun Site which is the home track of this year's Kent Royals team.
Sunday 25th September 2022, 6:23pm
Oxford's Jordan Jenkins is the winner of the 2022 National Development League Riders Championship, which was held this afternoon at Scunthorpe. Armadale representatives Lee Complin and Tom Woolley both did creditably well with 11 and 7 respectively, Lee finishing fourth behind Jenkins, Max Clegg and Jason Edwards.
Thursday 29th September 2022, 12:38pm
There's no doubt that Belle Vue Colts are one of the strongest sides in the National Development League, but when they come to Armadale on Friday they will still be looking for at least a point to push them up into one of the Playoff places in the Division.
Wednesday 5th October 2022, 9:32pm
The Armadale Stellar Devils have had a good week, surprising most people with a strong victory at home last Friday against Belle Vue Colts and then scoring a very creditable 40 with a weakened team down at Plymouth. This Friday's home match against table-topping Leicester Lion Cubs is obviously another very tough one and it will close the Devils' season.
Thursday 20th October 2022, 11:48am
The Armadale Stellar Devils have the pleasure of staging the final National League match of the season when they face table-toppers Leicester at Armadale on Friday at 7:30.
Thursday 20th October 2022, 8:19pm
The Stellar Devils' final match of the season tomorrow just got tougher, as table-topping Leicester Cubs will be calling Dan and Joe Thompson back into their side now that the Championship Playoff Final first leg (due for tomorrow at Poole) has been called off. The Thompsons would have been part of that.
Friday 21st October 2022, 11:28pm
There was no happy ending for the Stellar Devils tonight as they went down 36-53 to the table-topping Leicester Lion Cubs in their final match of the season. Any hopes that the Leicester boys were saving themselves for important matches later this weekend were soon dashed, and congratulations to them on a very strong showing.
Friday 6th January 2023, 2:00pm
National Development League racing will continue at Armadale Stadium in 2023 for the third successive year providing excitement and entertainment for supporters of youth speedway.
Tuesday 17th January 2023, 4:15pm
The Club are excited to announce a new direction for the National Development League team seeking to drive rider progression into the future - introducing Edinburgh Monarchs Academy!