1953 Speedway National League

British speedway season September 2023 September 2023 National League 1953 9 Champions Wembley Lions National Trophy Wimbledon Dons Coronation Cup Harringay Racers London Cup Harringay Racers Midland Cup Birmingham Brummies Ronnie Moore National League (Div 2)1953 Southern League 1952 1954 The 1953 National League Division One was the 19th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the eighth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.https://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Summary Wembley Lions won their fifth consecutive title and their eighth overall.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html Year by Year Speedway Researcher 12 August 2021Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964 BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964) Official British Speedway website 12 August 2021 Wimbledon Dons won the National Trophy for the fourth time and Harringay Racers completed a cup double winning the Coronation Cup and London Cup. New Cross Rangers folded part way through the 1953 season because MD Fred Mockford stated attendances were down to 5,000 and racing was being staged at a loss.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19530615/008/0008 New Cross Speedway has closed Evening Despatch 15 June 1953 British Newspaper Archive subscription 18 February 2025 Novice rider Harry Eyre died in Poplar Hospital on 7 July 1953. He suffered fatal injuries earlier that evening at West Ham Stadium, in a second half novices match against Bradford.http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/34.shtml Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages Cycle Speedway History 13 August 2021Speed-rider killed Daily Herald 8 July 1953 13 August 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530708/002/0001 British Newspaper Archive subscription National League final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Wembley Lions 16 11 1 4 232 Harringay Racers 16 11 0 5 223 Birmingham Brummies 16 9 1 6 194 Bradford Tudors 16 8 1 7 175 Wimbledon Dons 16 8 0 8 166 West Ham Hammers 16 7 0 9 147 Norwich Stars 16 6 0 10 128 Belle Vue Aces 16 5 1 10 119 Bristol Bulldogs 16 5 0 11 10 New Cross Rangers withdrew mid-season - record expunged. Fixtures & results main FBR grey BV BIR BRA BRI HAR NOR WEM WH WIM Belle Vue 39–45 37–47 46–37 52–32 62–22 42–42 48–36 53–31 Birmingham 48–36 51–33 53–31 37–47 56–28 46–38 49–35 48–36 Bradford 56–28 42–42 55–29 37–47 51–33 40–43 58–26 43–41 Bristol 63–21 50–34 58–26 41–43 56–28 40–43 62–22 39–45 Harringay 47–37 53–30 51–32 51–33 56–27 33–51 60–24 49–35 Norwich 51–33 37–47 36–48 59–25 54–30 44–39 55–29 51–32 Wembley 51–33 57–27 59–25 51–33 50–34 59–25 39.5–44.5 58–26 West Ham 57–27 54–30 51–33 46–38 26–58 57–27 33–51 50–34 Wimbledon 56–28 46–36 39–45 52–32 59–25 59–25 42–41 50–34 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html Speedway Researcher 1953 fixtures & results 20 January 2025 Coronation Cup The Coronation Cup was run in a league format. Harringay Racers came out on top. Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Harringay Racers 16 12 0 4 242 Wembley Lions 16 9 0 7 183 Bradford Tudors 16 8 1 7 174 Belle Vue Aces 16 8 0 8 165 Norwich Stars 16 7 1 8 156 Wimbledon Dons 16 7 0 9 147 West Ham Hammers 16 7 0 9 148 Bristol Bulldogs 16 7 0 9 149 Birmingham Brummies 16 6 0 10 12 New Cross Rangers completed 14 of their 16 fixtures before withdrawing and their record was expunged. main FBR grey BV BIR BRA BRI HAR NC NOR WEM WH WIM Belle Vue 51–33 50–34 56–27 44–40 50–34 59–25 38–46 54–30 50–34 Birmingham 58–26 51–33 52–32 56–28 45–39 46–38 34–50 43–42 38–46 Bradford 47–36 43–41 55–27 46–38 41–43 42–42 55–29 44–40 49–35 Bristol 63–21 50–34 56–27 36–48 41.5–41.5 56–28 36–48 44–35 48–36 Harringay 51–33 67–17 48–36 54–30 n/a 58–26 52–32 58–26 45–39 New Cross 47–37 43–40 42–42 41–43 56–28 63–21 49–35 41–42 44–40 Norwich 57–27 48–36 46–38 38–46 36–48 37–47 47–37 50–34 56–28 Wembley 40–44 54–30 39–45 59–25 38–46 n/a 48–36 49–35 51–33 West Ham 55–29 44–40 45–39 58–26 52–32 40–44 51–33 40–44 32–52 Wimbledon 46–38 60–24 56–28 34–50 31–53 44–40 52–32 47–37 41–43 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html Speedway Researcher 1953 fixtures & results 23 June 2025 Top ten riders (league only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ronnie Moore NZL Wimbledon 10.63 2 Jack Young AUS West Ham 10.61 3 Alan Hunt ENG Birmingham 10.47 4 Olle Nygren SWE Bristol 10.25 5 Freddie Williams WAL Wembley 10.13 6 Arthur Forrest ENG Bradford 9.94 7 Split Waterman ENG Harringay 9.84 8 Eric Williams WAL Wembley 9.66 9 Aub Lawson AUS Norwich 9.19 10 Tommy Price ENG Wembley 9.13 National Trophy The 1953 National Trophy was the 16th edition of the Knockout Cup.https://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1953.html 1953 National Trophy Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two25/04Ipswich 57-51 Southampton25/04 Swindon 68-40 Exeter24/04 Plymouth 54-54 Oxford23/04 Cardiff 80-28 St Austell23/04 Oxford 66-42 Plymouth21/04 Southampton 74-33 Ipswich21/04 St Austell 55-53 Cardiff20/04 Exeter 60-48 Swindon Second round Date Team one Score Team two19/05 Cardiff 42.5-65.5 Leicester15/05 Leicester 70-38 Cardiff15/05 Motherwell 78-30 Swindon15/05 Wolverhampton 71-37 Southampton14/05 Oxford 51-57 Rayleigh12/05 Southampton 49-59 Wolverhampton11/05 Liverpool 40-68 Coventry09/05 Coventry 76-32 Liverpool09/05 Edinburgh 47-61 Glasgow White City09/05 Rayleigh 67-41 Oxford09/05 Stoke 69-39 Yarmouth09/05 Swindon 62-46 Motherwell06/05 Glasgow White City 75-33 Edinburgh05/05 Yarmouth 52-55 Stoke Third round Date Team one Score Team two24/06 Glasgow White City 76-32 Wolverhampton29/05 Leicester 68-40 Rayleigh29/05 Motherwell 73-35 Poole29/05 Wolverhampton 49-59 Glasgow White City25/05 Poole 62-46 Motherwell23/05 Coventry 69-39 Stoke23/05 Rayleigh 72-36 Leicester21/05 Stoke 71-37 Coventry Fourth round Date Team one Score Team two11/07 Bradford Odsal 63-45 Bristol04/07 Belle Vue 50-58 Wimbledon04/07 Harringay 85-23 Motherwell04/07 Norwich 71-37 West Ham04/07 Rayleigh 64-44 Glasgow White City03/07 Bristol 65-42 Bradford Odsal03/07 Motherwell 63-45 Harringay01/07 Glasgow White City 69-39 Rayleigh30/06 West Ham 59-49 Norwich29/06 Wimbledon 77-31 Belle Vue Quarterfinals Date Team one Score Team two01/08 Stoke 38-70 Wimbledon25/07 Norwich 58-49 Bristol24/07 Bristol 64-44 Norwich20/07 Wimbledon 89-19 Stoke18/07 Harringay 40-68 Wembley16/07 Wembley 60-48 Harringay15/07 Glasgow White City 56-52 Birmingham11/07 Birmingham 70-38 Glasgow White City Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two10/08 Wimbledon 59-49 Bristol08/08 Birmingham 62.5-45.5 Wembley07/08 Bristol 46-62 Wimbledon06/08 Wembley 78-29 Birmingham Final First leg 7 September 1953 Wimbledon DonsRonnie Moore 17Cyril Brine 14Norman Parker 11Geoff Mardon 10Peter Moore 9Barry Briggs 3Don Perry 1Reg Trott 0 68 – 40 https://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1953.html 1953 National Trophy Speedway Archive 12 August 2021 Wembley LionsEric Williams 11Tommy Price 9Bill Kitchen 5Eric French 4Trevor Redmond 4Jimmy Gooch 3Brian Crutcher 2Freddie Williams 2 Wimbledon Stadium Second leg 10 September 1953 Wembley LionsFreddie Williams 17Tommy Price 15Eric Williams 8Brian Crutcher 7Trevor Redmond 7Bill Kitchen 5Eric French 4Jimmy Gooch 3 66 – 42 Wimbledon DonsRonnie Moore 11Norman Parker 8Peter Moore 7Barry Briggs 6Geoff Mardon 5Don Perry 3Cyril Brine 1Reg Trott 1 Wembley Stadium Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 110–106. London Cup First round Team one Score Team twoWimbledon 61–46, 56–52 Wembley Semi final round Team one Score Team twoWimbledon46–58, 38–69 West HamHarringay64–44, w/o New Cross Final First leg 1 August 1953 HarringayJack Biggs 1Maury Dunn 12Jeff Lloyd 12Split Waterman 10Ron How 8 Frank Lawrence 5Ken Walsh 1Allan Quinn 0 60–48 West HamJack Young 18, Bert Roger 10 Malcolm Craven 6 Wally Green 4 Howdy Byford 4 Keith Gurtner 4Kid Curtis 2Pat Clarke 0 Wembley Stadium Second leg 4 August 1953 West HamJack Young 17Bert Roger 11Keith Gurtner 8Malcolm Craven 7 Basse Hveem 6Howdy Byford 4 Pat Clarke 4 Wally Green 4 58–50 Harringay beaten, but they win cup Daily Herald 5 August 1953 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530805/115/0006 British Newspaper Archive 26 September 2023 subscription HarringayMaury Dunn 11Jack Biggs 12 Jeff Lloyd 9Ron How 8 Split Waterman 7 Frank Lawrence 2 Arthur Atkinson 0Alan Quinn 0 Plough Lane Harringay won on aggregate 110–106 Midland Cup Birmingham won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams. There were two teams from division 1 and four teams from division 2. First round Team one Team two ScoreLeicesterStoke 65–31, 46–50 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreLeicesterCoventry 50–46, 43–53BirminghamBradford 73–25, 59–37 Final First leg 26 September 1953 BirminghamAlan Hunt 15 Graham Warren 9 Harry Bastable 9 Arthur Payne 7 Ron Mountford 6 Ron Barrett 6 Eric Boothroyd 5 Bob Roger 4 61–35 Bees well beaten at Birmingham Coventry Evening Telegraph 28 September 1953 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19530928/123/0009 British Newspaper Archive 18 October 2023 subscription CoventryCharlie New 13 Johnnie Reason 9 Derrick Tailby 5 Vic Emms 3 Reg Duval 2 Les Hewitt 1 Jack Wright 1 Stan Williams 1 Perry Barr Stadium Second leg 3 October 1953 CoventryCharlie New 14 Derrick Tailby 7 Stan Williams 4 Vic Emms 4 Reg Duval 4 Johnnie Reason 3Les Hewitt 2 Jack Wright 0 38–58 Birmingham's easy win in Midland Trophy Birmingham Weekly Mercury 4 October 1953 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19531004/020/0020 British Newspaper Archive 18 October 2023 subscription BirminghamAlan Hunt 14Ron Mountford 12Graham Warren 9Harry Bastable 7 Eric Boothroyd 7 Arthur Payne 6 Ron Barrett 3 Bob Roger 0 Brandon Stadium Birmingham won on aggregate 119–73 Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em NZL Ron Johnston 7.88 ENG Peter Craven 7.74 ENG Ken Sharples 8.27 ENG Jack Parker 7.00 ENG Louis Lawson 6.69 ENG Dick Fisher 4.62 ENG Harry Edwards 4.22 SCO Jock Grierson 3.87 SCO Willie Wilson 3.86 ENG Bob Fletcher 3.74 SWE Olle Segerström 2.00 ENG Val Morton 2.00 Birmingham 22em ENG Alan Hunt 10.47 AUS Graham Warren 7.67 SWE Dan Forsberg 7.64 ENG Eric Boothroyd 7.19 AUS Arthur Payne 7.19 ENG Harry Bastable 6.36 ENG Ron Mountford 5.97 ENG Phil Malpass 4.57 ENG Bob Roger 4.48 ENG Ron Barrett 4.21 ENG Ron Mason 3.00 AUS Bill Jemison 1.25 ENG Lionel Watling (James Goldingay) 1.18 Bradford 22em ENG Arthur Forrest 9.94 ENG Eddie Rigg 8.00 ENG Arthur Wright 7.14 AUS Dick Seers 6.26 ENG Ron Clarke 6.20 ENG Keith Milner 5.50 ENG Dent Oliver 5.69 ENG Arthur Atkinson 5.04 ENG Arthur Bush 5.00 AUS Bill Longley 3.69 ENG Wal Morton 4.27 Bristol 22em SWE Olle Nygren 10.25 ENG Dick Bradley 8.13 ENG Eric Salmon 7.88 ENG Billy Hole 7.55 ENG Jack Unstead 6.67 ENG Johnny Hole 6.10 ENG Chris Boss 5.80 AUS Chum Taylor 4.37 ENG Geoff Pymar 4.24 Harringay 22em ENG Split Waterman 9.84 AUS Jack Biggs 9.00 ENG Jeff Lloyd 8.14 NZL Maurice Dunn 7.73 ENG Ron How 7.60 ENG Frank Lawrence 5.87 ENG Stan Clark 5.33 AUS Ken Walsh 5.00 ENG Arthur Atkinson 4.68 AUS Allan Quinn 4.00 New Cross (withdrew) 22em SCO Jock Grierson ENG Cyril Roger SWE Olle Nygren ENG Bert Roger AUS Merv Harding AUS Bill Longley ENG Bob Roger IRE Eric French ENG Frank Lawrence Norwich 22em AUS Aub Lawson 9.19 ENG Cyril Roger 7.48 ENG Fred Rogers 6.76 ENG Billy Bales 6.40 NZL Merv Neil 5.60 ENG Phil Clarke 5.49 ENG Fred Pawson 5.12 ENG Roy Craighead 3.40 AUS Alec Hunter 2.29 ENG Jack Freeman 2.00 Wembley 22em WAL Freddie Williams 10.13 WAL Eric Williams 9.66 ENG Tommy Price 9.13 ENG Brian Crutcher 7.87 ENG Bill Kitchen 6.26 ENG Jimmy Gooch 4.78 IRE Eric French 6.23 NZL Trevor Redmond 6.05 ENG George Wilks 4.57 West Ham 22em AUS Jack Young 10.61 NOR Basse Hveem 8.00 ENG Wally Green 7.43 ENG Pat Clark 7.72 ENG Howdy Byford 4.68 ENG Bert Roger 4.49 ENG Malcolm Craven 5.50 AUS Keith Gurtner 3.92 ENG Kid Curtis 2.86 AUS Cliff Watson 2.29 Wimbledon 22em NZL Ronnie Moore 10.63 NZL Geoff Mardon 8.66 SWE Sune Karlsson 8.00 AUS Peter Moore 6.97 NZL Barry Briggs 6.31 ENG Norman Parker 7.50 IRE Dom Perry 5.57 AUS Bill Longley 5.05 ENG Reg Trott 4.49 ENG Cyril Brine 4.42 ENG Cyril Maidment 2.72 ENG Dennis Gray 1.60 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway National League National League Speedway National League