The Murrayfield Racers were an ice hockey team based in Edinburgh, Scotland, who were founded in 1952 as the Murrayfield Royals.
They changed their name to the Murrayfield Racers in 1966 after acquiring a set of strips from Haringey Racers with the word “RACERS” emblazoned on their chests.
The team won the British Championship four times in four consecutive seasons from 1969 until 1972. The club was also the 1986–87 and 1987–88 British Ice Hockey League Champions and played in the BHL Premier Division from 1982 to 1995.
The Racers won the Northern League on seven occasions – in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1980 and 1980 and the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1993.
In the mid-90s the club became the Edinburgh Racers before folding due to financial issues in 1996, with the Racers name disappearing from the annals of Ice Hockey history in the process – some thought for good.
However, we are back and now we’ve got a younger team!
The second incarnation of the Murrayfield Racers was founded in 2018 and were awarded the Murrayfield Ice Rink contract in the April of that year. The Racers applied to play in the Elite League for the 2018–2019 season, but were ultimately denied entry.
The Racers were subsequently accepted in to the Scottish National League to represent Edinburgh for the 2018–2019 season, while representing the city in the NIHL North Cup.
Current Directors of Murrayfield Racers are legendary ex-Racers star, Tony Hand, and former West Lothian Council and VisitScotland Director, Willie Dunn.
Together with shareholders they are building a team and organisation they hope will once more bring success to Murrayfield and bring fans back to see a winning team on and off the ice.
The journey has started. Be part of it!
Murrayfield Racers intend to bring pride back to Edinburgh ice hockey and we want you to be part of our journey. Please download our sponsorship brochure and see how you can help us bring the glory days back to Edinburgh.
An opening victory in an exhibition game against the previous season’s Grand Slam champions, Dundee Comets, showed serious promise for the inaugural season.
Although failing to progress in the NIHL North Cup, despite beating eventual champions Sheffield Steeldogs, the reborn Racers impressively clinched the SNL title with two games to spare and without incurring a single league loss.
With spots in the Scottish and Stuart Robertson Cup Finals already booked, the Racers had the small matter of the SNL Play-offs to contest first. Despite reaching the final, the team fell to a spirited Paisley Pirates side.
The remaining two finals of the season proved mixed, with a strong win in the Stuart Robertson Cup Final against the North Ayrshire Wild and a narrow defeat to the Comets in the Scottish Cup Final.
With two trophies and a further two cup finals, this marked an impressive first season back on the ice.
