1931 Speedway Southern League

British speedway league season September 2023 September 2023 Southern League 11 Champions Wembley Lions National Trophy Wembley Lions London Cup Crystal Palace Glaziers Tommy Croombs 1931 Northern League 1930 1932 The 1931 Southern League was the third season of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams, and its final season before amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Leagues.Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 The Northern teams also had their third season known as the 1931 Speedway Northern League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archivehttps://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1931.php BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939) British Speedway 4 July 2021https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-29.htm Speedway Teams UK 1929-1934 Cyber Motorcycle 4 July 2021 Summary Both Birmingham teams based at Perry Barr and Hall Green had left the league but the latter did ride in the National Trophy. Coventry returned mid-season to replace Leicester Stadium who were liquidated in late May.Coventry Take Over League Fixtures Leicester Evening Mail 26 May 1931 25 July 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19310526/120/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription Stadium team withdraws Leicester Evening Mail 25 May 1931 5 March 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19310525/124/0007 British Newspaper Archive subscription Harringay Canaries resigned in June to be replaced by a Belle Vue team,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19310609/176/0009 Harringway Out of Southern League Leicester Evening Mail 9 June 1931 British Newspaper Archive subscription 24 November 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19310609/150/0009 Speedway Club Closes Daily Herald 9 June 1931 British Newspaper Archive subscription 24 November 2024 who then rode both in the Northern and Southern Leagues, the latter as Manchester. Nottingham closed in July but they were not replaced and their results stood. The league season was the longest in the short history of the competition as teams met each other four times instead of twice.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html Year by Year Speedway Researcher 4 March 2024 The Wembley Lions won their second consecutive titleSpeedway Researcher finishing three points clear of 1929 champions Stamford Bridge. The league suffered a fatality during the match between Belle Vue and Wembley at Hyde Road. James Allen (known as Indian Allen) was thrown from his bike and hit his head on a fence, trying to avoid a rider who had fallen in front of him. He died three days later in hospital on 12 September 1931.http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ms&n=3524 Indian Allen Motorsport Memorial 5 August 2021 Another rider Noel Johnson of Plymouth had been killed in a challenge match against Coventry reserves on 25 August.Speedway rider killed Belfast Telegraph 26 August 1931 1 March 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19310826/163/0009 British Newspaper Archive subscription Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Wembley Lions 37 28 1 8 572 Stamford Bridge Pensioners 38 27 0 11 543 West Ham Hammers 38 23 0 15 464 Crystal Palace Glaziers 38 22 0 16 445 Wimbledon Dons 38 19 1 18 396 High Beech 38 19 1 18 397 Southampton Saints 38 18 0 20 368 Harringay Canaries + Manchester (Belle Vue) 38 14 0 24 28*9 Lea Bridge 38 11 0 27 2210 Leicester Stadium + Coventry 37 8 1 28 17**11 Nottingham 20 8 0 12 16 * Harringay scored 12 points from 14 matches, Belle Vue scored 16 from 24 ** Leicester scored 1 point from 8 matches, Coventry scored 16 from 30 Fixtures & results A fixtures main FBR grey COV CP HAR HB LB NOT SOT SB WEM WH WIM Coventry/Leicester 29–25 18–36 24–24 24–30 +https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19310808/257/0013 Speedway test team change Daily News (London) 8 August 1931 British Newspaper Archive subscription 24 November 2024 24–30 26–27 22–31 23–28 30–24 Crystal Palace 32–20 27–26 33–20 31–21 29–24 30–245 26–24 16–36 25–27 32–22 Harringay/Belle Vue 26–25 30–21 29–25 32–22 32–22 29–24 24–29 28–26 24–30 25–27 High Beech 35–18 27–23 29–24 32–20 29–21 29–23 27–26 30–24 27–26 41–12 Lea Bridge 33–21 23–25 25–28 22–31 37–16 32–22 22–31 18–36 18–32 20–34 Nottingham 30–23 29–25 28–25 32–22 33–21 29–25 26–23 26–28 24.5–29.5 34–17 Southampton 36–18 36–18 36–17 29–24 26–27 38–15 26–28 31–23 23–31 31.5–21.5 Stamford Bridge 33–20 32–21 35–19 32–20 37–16 33–20 38–13 23–30 35–15 31–22 Wembley 37–17 42–12 37–16 43–11 34–20 37–16 31–23 31–22 32–22 31–22 West Ham 34–19 33–19 28–25 31–23 35–17 28–23 33.5–20.5 23–30 24–29 25–28 Wimbledon 33–20 40–13 28–24 36–17 22–31 35–19 26–24 26–27 22–30 21–32 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1931fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1931 fixtures & results 26 November 2024 + Awarded to Coventry B fixtures main FBR grey COV CP HAR HB LB SOT SB WEM WH WIM Coventry/Leicester 19–35 28–24 26–27 25–29 32–22 24–28 29–25 29–25 28–26 Crystal Palace 36–18 45–9 39–15 38–15 38–15 31–23 30–23 32–22 30–22 Harringay/Belle Vue 31–22 28–26 28–22 28–26 29–24 23–31 16–36 24–28 20–34 High Beech 31–22 32–20 38–16 34–20 19–31 30–23 20–33 21–33 28–23 Lea Bridge 35–19 22–32 32–20 8–15 24–30 23–31 22–32 21–33 28–26 Southampton 32–22 21–31 34–19 37–14 32–21 33–20 30–24 22–31 35–16 Stamford Bridge 39–15 28–25 41–11 23–29 34–20 31–22 32–21 29–24 32–22 Wembley n/a 34–19 30–22 31–23 34–18 32–22 34–19 29.5–24.5 27–27 West Ham 33–21 23–28 30–24 30–21 34–19 26–27 21.5–32.5 20–32 235–17 Wimbledon 29–25 31–22 29–25 35–15 36–18 37–17 29–23 28–25 29–25 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1931fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1931 fixtures & results 26 November 2024 Top Five Riders Team C.M.A. 1 Tommy Croombs West Ham 10.41 2 Dicky Case Wimbledon 10.14 3 Jack Parker Southampton 10.02 4 Frank Arthur Stamford Bridge 9.97 5 Vic Huxley Harringay/Wimbledon 9.87 National Trophy The 1931 National Trophy was the first edition of the Knockout Cup. It was contested between teams from the Southern and Northern Leagues.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/05/national-trophy-1931.html 1931 National Trophy Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two11/05 Wimbledon 67-26 Birmingham Hall Green12/05 West Ham 51-45 Southampton13/05 Lea Bridge 59-33 Nottingham14/05 Exeter 34-59 High Beech14/05 Leicester Stadium 39.5-54.5 Stamford Bridge15/05 Hall Green 42.5-49.5 Wimbledon16/05 High Beech 61-33 Exeter16/05 Southampton 42-49 West Ham16/05 Stamford Bridge 59-35 Leicester Stadium21/05 Nottingham 46-47 Lea Bridge Second round Date Team one Score Team two25/05 Belle Vue 73-22 Wombwell25/05 York 42-53 Leicester Super26/05 Glasgow White City 43-52 Preston28/05 Sheffield 54-40 Leeds30/05 Leeds 39-52 Sheffield30/05 Leicester Super 69-26 York30/05 Wombwell 27-64 Belle Vue04/06 Preston 70-26 Glasgow White City08/06 Wimbledon 60-36 Crystal Palace09/06 Harringay ?Stamford Bridge09/06 West Ham 44-52 Wembley10/06 Lea Bridge 52-38 High Beech11/06 Wembley 56-37 West Ham13/06 Crystal Palace 48-48 Wimbledon13/06 High Beech 55-39 Lea Bridge Quarterfinals Date Team one Score Team two02/07 Preston 65-31 High Beech11/07 Belle Vue 50-46 Wimbledon11/07 Sheffield 41-55 Wembley16/07 Leicester Super 44-50 Stamford Bridge18/07 High Beech 48-42 Preston23/07 Wembley 70-25 Sheffield27/07 Wimbledon 55-41 Belle Vue19/08 Stamford Bridge 61-31 Leicester Super Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two10/09 Preston 43-51 Stamford Bridge17/09 Wembley 48-47 Wimbledon21/09 Wimbledon 46-49 Wembley26/09 Stamford Bridge 66-30 Preston Final First leg 8 October 1931 WembleyLionel Van Praag 12George Greenwood 11Colin Watson 9Wally Kilmister 9Harry Whitfield 9Jack Ormston 8Norman Evans 7Jack Jackson 6 71 – 24 https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1931cupresults.pdf 1931 National Trophy Speedway Researcher 4 August 2021 Stamford BridgeFrank Arthur 10Dick Smythe 5Percy Dunn 3Mick Murphy 3Bill Stanley 2Cliff Watson 1Dick Wise 0Frank Duckett 0Hal Herbert 0 Empire Stadium Second leg 10 October 1931 Stamford BridgeFrank Arthur 12Arthur Warwick 11Bill Stanley 8Cliff Watson 3Dick Smythe 2Percy Dunn 2Hal Herbert 2Gus Kuhn 1Mick Murphy 1 45 – 49 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19311011/770/0023 Cup for Wembley Sunday Express 11 October 1931 British Newspaper Archive subscription 28 February 2025 WembleyWally Kilmister 9Lionel Van Praag 8Colin Watson 8Jack Ormston 6George Greenwood 5Harry Whitfield 5Norman Evans 4Charlie Shelton 3Jack Jackson 1Col Stewart 0 Stamford Bridge Wembley were declared National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 120-69. London Cup First round Team one Score Team twoWimbledon 46–50, 45–49 WembleyWest Ham 41.5–53.5, 36–58 Stamford BridgeLea Bridge 60–35, 48–46 High BeechCrystal Palace bye Semi final round Team one Score Team twoLea Bridge 41–55, 27–69 Crystal PalaceStamford Bridge 50–46, 41.5–35.5 Wembley Final First leg 19 September 1931 Crystal PalaceRon Johnson 12Tom Farndon 9Joe Francis 9Nobby Key 7Roger Frogley 6Triss Sharp 6Harry Shepherd 5Alf Sawford 5 59–36 WembleyColin Watson 7 Jack Ormston 7 Norman Evans 7Lionel Van Praag 5 Wally Kilmister 4Jack Jackson 3Charlie Shelton 2Col Stewart 1Cliff Parkinson 0 Exhibition Grounds Second leg 24 September 1931 WembleyNorman Evans 8Colin Watson 7 Jack Ormston 6Jack Jackson 5George Greenwood 5 Wally Kilmister 3Lionel Van Praag 2 Buster Frogley 2 Charlie Shelton 2 40–55 Crystal PalaceTom Farndon 12Ron Johnson 12 Joe Francis 11Nobby Key 9Roger Frogley 6Triss Sharp 3Alf Sawford 2Harry Shepherd 0 Empire Stadium Crystal Palace won on aggregate 114–76 Riders & final averages Crystal Palace 22em ENG Nobby Key 8.32 ENG Ron Johnson 7.75 ENG Joe Francis 7.51 ENG Harry Shepherd 6.79 ENG Tom Farndon 6.61 ENG Alf Sawford 6.55 ENG Roger Frogley 6.30 ENG Triss Sharp 4.20 ENG George Lovick 2.67 Harringay (withdrew) 22em AUS Vic Huxley 10.56 ENG Don Durant 6.95 ENG Alf Sawford 5.94 ENG Bill Clibbett 5.65 ENG Clem Cort 5.41 ENG Eric Spencer 5.33 WAL Ivor Hill 5.33 High Beech 22em ENG Phil Bishop 7.26 ENG Billy Dallison 6.76 ENG Syd Edmonds 6.69 ENG Jack Barnett 6.43 ENG George Bishop 6.37 ENG Reg Hutchins 6.09 AUS Bobby Blake 5.56 ENG Stan Baines 4.80 ENG Tiger Hart 4.79 AUS Art Fenn 4.57 ENG Tommy McDonald 4.23 ENG Henry Taft 4.00 AUS Frank Pearce 3.83 Lea Bridge 22em ENG Squib Burton 10.22 AUS Charlie Spinks 7.91 ENG Stew Fairbairn 6.97 ENG Don Durant 6.95 AUS Harold Hastings 6.80 ENG Roy Dook 6.39 ENG Alf Foulds 6.00 NZL Alf Mattson 4.79 AUS Eric Collins 4.44 ENG Reg Stanley 4.32 ENG Jimmy Stevens 3.71 Leicester/Coventry 22em ENG Syd Jackson 6.86/9.22 ENG Squib Burton 8.20/x ENG Arthur Tims 6.27/7.10 ENG Bunny Wilcox x/6.50 AUS Alby Taylor 5.36/6.67 ENG Stan Greatrex 2.40/5.16 ENG John Deeley 5.00/4.27 ENG Henry Taft x/4.98 ENG Lew Lancaster x/4.89 ENG Bill Pitcher 4.55/x ENG Albert Wilkinson x/4.55 GGY Stan Mauger x/4.31 ENG Cyril Taft x/4.00 ENG Les Patrick 3.14/3.47 Manchester (Belle Vue) 22em AUS Max Grosskreutz 8.14 ENG Arthur Franklyn 6.39 ENG Frank Charles 6.20 ENG Clem Cort 6.06 AUS Reg West 6.00 ENG Bob Harrison 5.33 ENG Chun Moore 5.33 ENG Andy Nicholl 3.64 ENG James Indian Allen 3.56 ENG Eric Gregory 3.28 ENG Frank Burgess 3.20 ENG Len Blunt 3.20 ENG Charlie Hornby 2.57 Nottingham 22em ENG George Wigfield 8.93 ENG Fred Strecker 8.26 ENG Billy Ellmore 7.58 ENG Nobby Key 7.29 ENG Buster Brown 5.07 ENG George Dykes 5.03 ENG Nobby Kendrick 4.57 ENG Bert Fairweather 4.00 ENG Wally Humphry 4.00 ENG Joe Gooding 3.72 Southampton 22em ENG Jack Parker 9.87 ENG Ernie Rickman 7.42 ENG Vic Collins 6.98 ENG Norman Parker 6.44 ENG Frank Goulden 5.83 ENG Frank Bond 5.35 AUS Arnie Hansen 4.88 AUS Steve Langton 4.67 ENG Eric Lister 4.00 ENG Jimmy Hayes 3.14 Stamford Bridge 22em AUS Frank Arthur 10.09 ENG Wal Phillips 10.06 ENG Arthur Warwick 8.65 ENG Gus Kuhn 8.31 AUS Dick Smythe 6.85 ENG Hal Herbert 6.40 AUS Dick Wise 5.60 AUS Mick Murphy (John Glass) 5.33 ENG Bill Stanley 5.20 ENG Don Boswell 4.32 ENG Les Blakebrough 4.43 RSA 1928 Keith Harvey 4.29 NZL Charlie Blacklock 4.25 AUS Frank Duckett 3.60 Wembley 22em ENG Colin Watson 9.56 ENG Jack Ormston 9.09 ENG George Greenwood 8.75 ENG Harry Whitfield 7.96 ENG Norman Evans 7.50 AUS Lionel Van Praag 7.33 ENG Buster Frogley 7.09 NZL Wally Kilmister 6.59 AUS Jack Jackson 5.30 AUS Col Stewart 4.76 ENG Cliff Parkinson 4.00 ENG Charlie Shelton 2.09 West Ham 22em ENG Tommy Croombs 10.55 ENG Reg Bounds 9.32 DEN Morian Hansen 9.00 AUS Bluey Wilkinson 8.79 ENG Tiger Stevenson 6.90 AUS Bloss Bromfield 4.13 ENG Allen Kilfoyle 4.10 ENG Arthur Atkinson 4.36 AUS Frank Randall 3.79 AUS Con Cantwell 3.25 ENG Cecil Bounds 3.09 WAL Tom Lougher 1.71 Wimbledon 22em AUS Dicky Case 10.19 AUS Vic Huxley 9.43 USA Ray Tauser 8.48 ENG Jim Kempster 6.90 ENG Len Parker 6.17 ENG Claude Rye 6.06 AUS Billy Lamont 5.91 AUS Ernie Evans 5.72 AUS Len Stewart 5.41 ENG Arthur Westwood 5.19 WAL Ivor Hill 3.24 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway Southern League Category:1931 in British motorsport Category:1931 in speedway