Les Wotton Explained

Les Wotton
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Place:Bath, England
Death Place:Bristol, England
Career1:White City, Manchester
Years1:1929
Career2:Liverpool Merseysiders
Years2:1930
Career3:Preston
Years3:1931
Career4:West Ham Hammers
Years4:1932
Career5:Nottingham
Years5:1933
Career6:Birmingham Bulldogs
Years6:1934
Career7:Harringay Tigers
Years7:1935–1939
Career8:New Cross Rangers
Years8:1946
Career9:Wimbledon Dons
Years9:1947–1949
Career10:Coventry Bees
Years10:1949
Career11:Southampton Saints
Years11:1950–1951
Teamyear1:1935
Teamhonour1:London Cup

Leslie William Wotton (26 September 1907 – 9 April 1995) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned 13 international caps for the England national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Wotton, born in Bath rode in the pioneer years of British speedway beginning his British leagues career riding for White City, Manchester during the early part of the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League season.[2] He helped the team set the pace and lead the league table, winning 18 of their 20 matches but following a dispute, Manchester withdrew from the league handing Leeds the title.[3] He rode the remainder of the season with Liverpool. He stayed with Liverpool for the 1930 Speedway Northern League season before joining Preston for 1931.

On the formation of the new National League, he was allocated to West Ham Hammers, where he won the Star Championship qualifier.[4] However, he then signed for White City Nottingham for 1933.[5] Another club change ensued in 1934, this time signing for Birmingham Bulldogs.[6]

He finally found some stability with Harringay Tigers, where he would spend five years. With Harringay he won the London Cup in 1935,[7] reached the Knockout Cup final in 1935 and 1936 and was capped by England.

Following the enforced break because of World War II, he returned to speedway riding in meetings during the Summer of 1945. He joined the New Cross Rangers in 1946 and then moved on to Wimbledon Dons, averaging 8.50 in 1947.[8] With his career winding down, he doubled up with Coventry Bees in 1949 and finally rode two seasons for the Southampton Saints from 1950 to 1951.[9]

Out of speedway, he was a haulage contractor.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 25 November 2023.
  2. Web site: 1929 season results . Speedway Researcher . 25 November 2023.
  3. News: Dirt-Track Topics . Yorkshire Evening Post . 20 September 1929 . 25 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  4. Web site: Star Championship 1932 . Speedway Researcher . 25 November 2023.
  5. News: A Speedway Capture . Nottingham Evening Post . 2 June 1933 . 25 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  6. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 25 November 2023.
  7. News: Harringay take Speedway Cup . Daily Herald . 2 October 1935 . British Newspaper Archive. 16 September 2023 . subscription .
  8. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 25 November 2023.
  9. News: Sure it's 'Spadeway' speedwork for them . Daily Mirror . 28 March 1950 . 25 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  10. News: When the speed motors are silent . Daily Mirror . 24 January 1947. 5 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .