1952 Speedway Southern League Explained

Competition:Southern League
Season:1952
Competitors:10
Domesticcup1:Champions
Domesticcup2:National Trophy
(Southern final)
Domesticcup2 Winners:Plymouth Devils
Highestaverage:George Wall
League Above:National League Div 1
National League Div 2
Prevseason:1951
Nextseason:1953

The 1952 Southern League was the first season of the newly created regional third tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. From the defunct National League Division Three of the previous season, only Poole Pirates did not join the new league. Ipswich Witches and Southampton Saints were new entrants.[1]

Rayleigh Rockets were champions whilst.[2] George Wall of Plymouth topped the averages.[3] [4]

Long Eaton Archers withdrew mid-season after experiencing financial difficulties. They closed down after their 31 July fixture.[5] [6]

Final table

PosTeamPLWDLPts
136280856
2Cardiff Dragons362301346
3Plymouth Devils362011541
4Wolverhampton Wasps362011541
5Exeter Falcons362011541
6Swindon Robins361801836
7Aldershot Shots361512031
8Ipswich Witches361202424
9Southampton Saints361102522
10St Austell Gulls361102522

Withdrawal (Record expunged) : Long Eaton Archers

Leading Averages

RiderTeamC.M.A.
1George WallPlymouth10.26
2Alan SmithPlymouth9.93
3Pete LansdalePlymouth9.46
4Goog HoskinExeter9.45
5Jack UnsteadRayleigh9.33

National Trophy Stage Three

The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third tier clubs, stage two was for the second tier 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. Plymouth won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.[7]

Third Division qualifying first round

width=80Datewidth=250Team onewidth=80Scorewidth=250Team two
22/04Southampton 49-58 Cardiff
18/04Wolverhampton 74-33 Long Eaton
17/04Cardiff75-33 Southampton
17/04Long Eaton 58-50 Wolverhampton

Third Division qualifying second round

width=80Datewidth=250Team onewidth=80Scorewidth=250Team two
26/04Swindon 52-56 Cardiff
25/04Wolverhampton 49-59 Exeter
24/04Cardiff 74-32 Swindon
24/04Ipswich 50-57Rayleigh
21/04Exeter 73-34 Wolverhampton
19/04Rayleigh60-48 Ipswich
19/04Aldershot 48-60 Plymouth
17/04Plymouth 76-31 Aldershot

Third Division qualifying semifinals

width=80Datewidth=250Team onewidth=80Scorewidth=250Team two
08/05Cardiff 59-48 Rayleigh
03/05Rayleigh 70-38 Cardiff
01/05Plymouth 67-41 Exeter
28/04Exeter 57-51 Plymouth

Qualifying final

First legSecond leg

Riders & final averages

Aldershot

Cardiff

Exeter

Ipswich

Long Eaton (withdrew)

Plymouth

Rayleigh

St Austell

Southampton

Swindon

Wolverhampton

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Major League Competitions. Speedway Archive.
  2. Web site: 1952 results . Speedway Researcher. 18 August 2021.
  3. Web site: Southern League 1952. Speedway Researcher. 11 November 2021.
  4. Web site: About - Exeter Speedway 1952 . myweb.tiscali.co.uk . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070207091324/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/speedwayyears/1952.html . 7 February 2007 . dead.
  5. News: Long Eaton speedway's £10,000 loss. Leicester Evening Mail . 18 July 1952 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 22 September 2024.
  6. News: Long Eaton Speedway to close . Nottingham Evening Post . 1 August 1952 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 22 September 2024.
  7. Web site: 1952 National Trophy. Speedway archive.

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