| Competition: | National League Division Three |
| Season: | 1949 |
| Competitors: | 13 |
| Domesticcup1: | Champions |
| Domesticcup1 Winners: | Hanley Potters |
| Domesticcup2: | National Trophy (Div 3 final) |
| Domesticcup2 Winners: | Hanley Potters |
| Highestaverage: | Billy Bales |
| League Above: | Division One Division Two |
| Prevseason: | 1948 |
| Nextseason: | 1950 |
The 1949 National League Division Three was the third season of British speedway's National League Division Three.[1] [2] [3]
The league expanded to 13 teams from 12. Cradley Heath, Southampton and Coventry had all moved up to Division Two whilst Wombwell dropped out. The five new sides were Halifax Dukes, Liverpool Chads, Leicester Hunters, Rayleigh Rockets and Oxford Cheetahs.[4]
Swindon Robins joined the league late in the season, when Reg Witcomb applied to the Speedway Control Board to take over the remaining fixtures of Hull Angels, who had withdrawn from the league.[5]
Hanley Potters won the title on race points difference from Yarmouth Bloaters.[6]
Billy Bales of Yarmouth topped the averages.[7]
| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts | |
| 1 | Hanley Potters | 48 | 35 | 1 | 12 | 71 | |
| 2 | Yarmouth Bloaters | 48 | 35 | 1 | 12 | 71 | |
| 3 | Tamworth Hounds | 48 | 33 | 0 | 15 | 66 | |
| 4 | Halifax Dukes | 48 | 28 | 2 | 18 | 58 | |
| 5 | Plymouth Devils | 48 | 28 | 2 | 18 | 58 | |
| 6 | Poole Pirates | 48 | 27 | 0 | 21 | 54 | |
| 7 | Exeter Falcons | 48 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 48 | |
| 8 | Hastings Saxons | 48 | 21 | 1 | 36 | 43 | |
| 9 | Liverpool Chads | 48 | 19 | 0 | 29 | 38 | |
| 10 | Leicester Hunters | 48 | 17 | 1 | 30 | 35 | |
| 11 | Swindon Robins+ | 48 | 15 | 1 | 32 | 31 | |
| 12 | Rayleigh Rockets | 48 | 14 | 0 | 34 | 28 | |
| 13 | Oxford Cheetahs | 48 | 11 | 1 | 36 | 23 |
| Rider | Team | C.M.A. | ||
| 1 | Billy Bales | Yarmouth | 10.44 | |
| 2 | Vic Emms | Halifax | 10.33 | |
| 3 | Pete Lansdale | Plymouth | 10.29 | |
| 4 | Norman Clay | Exeter | 9.90 | |
| 5 | Harry Saunders | Tamworth | 9.70 |
The 1949 Trophy was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third division clubs, stage two was for the second division clubs and stage three was for the top tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Hanley Potters won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.[8]
Third Division Qualifying First round
| width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team one | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/04 | Plymouth | 54-54 | Exeter | ||||
| 04/04 | Exeter | 62-45 | Plymouth | ||||
| 15/04 | Leicester | 49-58 | Hull | ||||
| 09/04 | Hull | 77-31 | Leicester | ||||
| 14/04 | Stoke Hanley | 67-41 | Liverpool | ||||
| 11/04 | Liverpool | 42-66 | Stoke Hanley | ||||
| 19/04 | Yarmouth | 70-37 | Rayleigh | ||||
| 16/04 | Rayleigh | 55-51 | Yarmouth |
Third Division Qualifying Second round
| width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team one | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/05 | Stoke Hanley | 75-33 | Exeter | ||||
| 25/04 | Exeter | 57-51 | Stoke Hanley | ||||
| 03/05 | Yarmouth | 75-33 | Hastings | ||||
| 27/04 | Hastings | 52-55 | Yarmouth | ||||
| 20/04 | Halifax | 48-59 | Poole | ||||
| 11/04 | Poole | 70-38 | Halifax | ||||
| 27/04 | Tamworth | 70-38 | Hull | ||||
| 30/04 | Hull | 61-47 | Tamworth |
Third Division Qualifying semifinals
| width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team one | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/05 | Tamworth | 56-51 | Stoke Hanley | ||||
| 14/05 | Stoke Hanley | 59-48 | Tamworth | ||||
| 23/05 | Poole | 59-49 | Yarmouth | ||||
| 17/05 | Yarmouth | 60-46 | Poole |
First legSecond leg
Exeter
Halifax
Hanley
Hastings
Hull/Swindon
Leicester
Liverpool
Oxford
Plymouth
Poole
Rayleigh
Tamworth
Yarmouth