| Competition: | National League Division Three |
| Season: | 1948 |
| Competitors: | 12 |
| Domesticcup1: | Champions |
| Domesticcup1 Winners: | Exeter Falcons |
| Domesticcup2: | National Trophy (Div 3 final) |
| Domesticcup2 Winners: | Southampton Saints |
| Highestaverage: | Alf Bottoms |
| League Above: | Division One Division Two |
| Prevseason: | 1947 |
| Nextseason: | 1949 |
The 1948 National League Division Three was the second season of British speedway's National League Division Three[1] [2]
The league had expanded from 8 teams to 12. Reigning champions Eastbourne Eagles were forced to close due to a petrol ban at their stadium, so their team moved a few miles along the Sussex coast to Hastings. The new entrants Coventry Bees, Hull Angels, Poole Pirates and Yarmouth Bloaters all struggled to make an impact and finished in the bottom five positions. Exeter Falcons won their first title.[3]
Alf Bottoms of Southampton topped the averages.[4]
Eric Dunn of Hastings Saxons was a third speedway rider (with Reg Craven and Bill Wilson) to be killed during the season. 34-year-old Dunn was riding in a meeting (on 13 June) at the Arlington track when he fell and was hit by a rider behind. He died two days later in hospital (15 June).[5]
| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts | |
| 1 | Exeter Falcons | 44 | 32 | 1 | 11 | 65 | |
| 2 | Cradley Heath Cubs | 44 | 29 | 2 | 13 | 60 | |
| 3 | Southampton Saints | 44 | 29 | 0 | 15 | 58 | |
| 4 | Tamworth Hounds | 44 | 23 | 4 | 17 | 50 | |
| 5 | Hanley Potters | 44 | 24 | 1 | 19 | 49 | |
| 6 | Hastings Saxons | 44 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 44 | |
| 7 | Plymouth Devils | 44 | 21 | 2 | 22 | 43 | |
| 8 | Coventry Bees | 44 | 19 | 1 | 24 | 39 | |
| 9 | Hull Angels | 44 | 19 | 0 | 25 | 38 | |
| 10 | Poole Pirates | 44 | 17 | 0 | 27 | 34 | |
| 11 | Yarmouth Bloaters | 44 | 13 | 1 | 30 | 27 | |
| 12 | Wombwell Colliers | 44 | 10 | 1 | 33 | 21 |
| Rider | Team | C.M.A. | ||
| 1 | Alf Bottoms | Southampton | 11.29 | |
| 2 | Wally Green | Hastings | 11.23 | |
| 3 | Cyril Roger | Exeter | 9.93 | |
| 4 | Jock Grierson | Hastings | 9.77 | |
| 5 | Bert Roger | Exeter | 9.72 |
The 1948 Trophy was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup.[6] The Qualifying event for Division 3 teams saw Southampton Saints win the final and qualify for the Elimination event. The Elimination event for Division 2 teams saw Birmingham Brummies win the final and qualify for the Quarter Finals proper.
Qualifying Event First Round
| width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team One | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team Two |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/04 | Plymouth | 56-50 | Cradley Heath | ||||
| 17/04 | Cradley Heath | 66-42 | Plymouth | ||||
| 13/04 | Southampton | 89-19 | Wombwell | ||||
| 23/04 | Wombwell | 31-77 | Southampton | ||||
| 07/04 | Tamworth | 82-26 | Exeter | ||||
| 12/04 | Exeter | 81-27 | Tamworth |
Qualifying Second Round
| width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team One | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team Two |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29/04 | Stoke Hanley | 64-43 | Coventry | ||||
| 01/05 | Coventry | 48-59 | Stoke Hanley | ||||
| 04/05 | Southampton | 77-31 | Tamworth | ||||
| 05/05 | Tamworth | 46-62 | Southampton | ||||
| 26/04 | Poole | 74-32 | Yarmouth | ||||
| 27/04 | Yarmouth | 47-67 | Poole | ||||
| 01/05 | Hull | 42-66 | Cradley Heath | ||||
| 07/05 | Cradley Heath | 78-29 | Hull |
Qualifying Third Round
| width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team One | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team Two |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/05 | Poole | 49-57 | Stoke Hanley | ||||
| 13/05 | Stoke Hanley | 64-44 | Poole | ||||
| 11/05 | Southampton | 85-23 | Cradley Heath | ||||
| 21/05 | Cradley Heath | 54-50 | Southampton |
First legSecond leg
Coventry
Cradley Heath
Exeter
Hanley
Hastings
Hull
Plymouth
Poole
Southampton
Tamworth
Wombwell
Yarmouth