1954 Speedway National League Division Two

British motorcycle speedway season October 2023 October 2023 National League Division Two 11 Champions Bristol Bulldogs Ken McKinlay Southern Shield Bristol Bulldogs Northern Shield Lanarkshire Eagles Riders' Championship Ken Middleditch National League (Div 1) Southern League 1953 1955 The 1954 National League Division Two was the ninth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1954fixtures.pdf 1954 fixtures Speedway Researcher 13 June 2023 Summary The Southern League was replaced by the Southern Area League which resulted in Division Two taking in teams from the defunct Southern League. Only St Austell Gulls declined to step up to the national level, whilst from the previous season Yarmouth Bloaters were not issued a racing licence and Stoke Potters withdrew. Bristol Bulldogs moved down from Division One to make 15 teams starting the season.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive However, Glasgow White City TigersSpeedway promoters receive another blow Coventry Evening Telegraph 24 April 1954 25 April 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19540424/356/0024 British Newspaper Archive subscription and Wolverhampton Wasps both suffered a series of poor results in the Northern Shield and both withdrew before the league campaign started.Speedway Club out of League Coventry Evening Telegraph 24 May 1954 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19540524/271/0020 British Newspaper Archive 25 October 2023 subscription Bristol Bulldogs won the league title.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000764/19541002/023/0023 Bulldogs win Div. II Title by Four Points Bristol Evening Post 2 October 1954 British Newspaper Archive subscription 5 October 2024 Bristol also won the early season Southern Shield,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000764/19540806/018/0018 Ipswich out to stop Bulldogs Double at Knowle tonight Bristol Evening Post 6 August 1954 British Newspaper Archive subscription 24 June 2025 while Lanarkshire Eagles won the disrupted Northern Shield following the withdrawal of Glasgow and Wolverhampton.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/19540605/126/0006 Eagles beat Monarchs To Win Speedway Shield Edinburgh Evening News 5 June 1954 British Newspaper Archive subscription 24 June 2025 Plymouth Devils withdrew after one league fixture and Edinburgh Monarchs withdrew mid-way through the 1954 season citing financial losses and their Managing Director Frank Varey also resigned.Meadowbank closing down Edinburgh Evening News 5 July 1954 21 April 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/19540705/197/0007 British Newspaper Archive subscription League Final table Pos Team M W D L Pts1 Bristol Bulldogs 20 14 0 6 282 Poole Pirates 20 12 0 8 243 Swindon Robins 20 11 0 9 224 Leicester Hunters 20 11 0 9 225 Ipswich Witches 20 10 0 10 206 Exeter Falcons 20 10 0 10 207 Oxford Cheetahs 20 10 0 10 208 Coventry Bees 20 10 0 10 209 Southampton Saints 20 9 0 11 1810 Lanarkshire Eagles 20 9 0 11 1811 Rayleigh Rockets 20 4 0 16 8 Glasgow White City Tigers, Wolverhampton Wasps withdrew before league racing Plymouth Devils, Edinburgh Monarchs withdrew, record expunged. Fixtures and results main FBR grey BRI COV EX IPS LAN LEI OX PP RAY SOT SWI Bristol 53–31 59–24 47–37 59–25 51–33 47–37 44.5–39.5 56–28 52–32 49–35 Coventry 43–41 45–38 48–36 57–27 37–46 38–46 54–30 43–41 52–31 53–31 35–48 Exeter 53–31 58–26 59–25 57–27 59–25 53–31 58–26 49–35 64–20 49–35 Ipswich 58–26 41–43 56–28 55–29 60–24 46–38 46–38 47–37 58–26 58–25 Lanarkshire 50–34 44–40 58–26 45–39 23–25 58–26 44–40 62–22 63–21 49–35 Leicester 39–45 37–47 62–22 45–39 54–30 56–28 54–30 62–22 54–30 39–45 Oxford 46–38 46–38 52–32 43–41 51–33 49–34 36–48 56–28 44–39 47–36 Poole 45–38 53–31 61–23 53–31 51–33 49–35 57–26 52–32 53–31 45–39 Rayleigh 39–45 40–44 54–30 37–47 49–35 37–47 56–28 33–51 46–38 41–43 Southampton 36–48 55–29 50–34 53–31 54–30 47–37 45–38 50–34 60–24 46–38 Swindon 39–45 57–27 49–35 62–22 49–17 38–46 45–39 54–30 50–34 48–36 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1954.html Speedway Researcher 1954 fixtures & results 21 January 2025 Top five riders (league only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ken McKinlay SCO Leicester Hunters 10.88 2 Dick Bradley ENG Bristol Bulldogs 10.58 3 Ken Middleditch ENG Poole Pirates 10.03 5 Tommy Miller SCO Coventry Bees 9.90 4 Bob Roger ENG Swindon Robins 9.58 Shields Southern Shield Team PL W D L PtsBristol 14 11 0 3 22 Exeter 14 10 0 4 20 Poole 13 8 0 5 16 Swindon 14 8 0 6 16 Rayleigh 14 6 0 8 12 Oxford 14 5 0 9 10 Southampton 14 4 0 10 8 Plymouth 13 3 0 10 6 Northern Shield Team PL W D L PtsLanarkshire 8 6 0 2 12 Coventry 8 5 1 2 11 Edinburgh 8 3 1 4 7 Ipswich 8 3 0 5 6 Leicester 8 2 0 6 4 main FBR grey BRI EX OX PLY PP RAY SOT SWI Bristol 58–26 51–33 55–29 59–25 59–24 51–33 53–30 Exeter 47–36 58–26 55–28 49–35 63–21 52–31 51–33 Oxford 52–30 34–49 53–31 45–39 47–37 56–28 37–46 Plymouth 45–39 36–48 51–33 – 37–47 44–39 31–53 Poole 56-28 49–35 49–35 46–38 49–35 59-25 55–29 Rayleigh 40–44 54–30 45–39 46–38 35–46 51–33 50–32 So'ton 41–43 40–44 48–36 44–40 44–40 63–21 40–44 Swindon 33–51 31–53 46–38 61–22 53–31 48–36 52–32 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1954.html Speedway Researcher 1954 fixtures & results 24 June 2025 main FBR grey COV ED GLA IPS LAN LEI WOL Coventry 57–27 n/a 52–32 50–34 40–43 64–20 Edinburgh 42–42 47–36 48–35 51–33 43–40 n/a Glasgow 32–51 38–45 n/a n/a n/a n/a Ipswich 47–37 54–30 48–36 46–38 32–52 n/a Lanarkshire 55–29 41–43 58–25 55–29 66–18 n/a Leicester 40–44 54–30 47–37 52–32 35–49 59–25 Wolves 49–35 30–54 n/a n/a 38.5–44.5 28–56 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1954.html Speedway Researcher 1954 fixtures & results 24 June 2025 Riders' Championship Ken Middleditch won the National League Division Two Rider's Championship. The final was held at Hyde Road on 16 October.Last Night's Speedway The People 17 October 1954 13 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000729/19541017/110/0010 British Newspaper Archive subscription http://www.swindon-speedway.com/1950s.php CLUB HISTORY: 1950S Swindon Speedway 13 June 2023 Pos. Rider Pts1 ENG Ken Middleditch 142 WAL Ian Williams 13=3 ENG Bob Roger 11=3 ENG Terry Small 11=3 ENG Peter Robinson 11 National Trophy For the National Trophy see the 1954 Speedway National League. Midland Cup For the Midland Cup see the 1954 Speedway National League. Riders and final averages Bristol 22em ENG Dick Bradley 10.58 ENG Jack Unstead 8.71 ENG Billy Hole 8.28 AUS Chum Taylor 7.25 WAL Tom Oakley 7.14 ENG Johnny Hole 6.03 ENG Roy Taylor 5.60 ENG Geoff Pymar 5.31 WAL Chris Boss 4.35 SAF 1928 Harry Serrurier 3.20 ENG Cliff Cox 2.86 Coventry 22em SCO Tommy Miller 9.90 NZL Charlie New 9.45 ENG Peter Reason 6.86 ENG Jim Lightfoot 6.61 ENG Johnny Reason 6.56 ENG Vic Emms 5.58 ENG Reg Duval 5.60 ENG Jack Hughes 5.38 ENG Les Tolley 5.20 ENG Derrick Tailby 4.30 SCO Bob Mark 4.92 ENG Peter Brough 3.00 ENG Jack Wright 2.33 Edinburgh (withdrew) 22em NZL Dick Campbell 9.87 ENG Don Cuppleditch 8.53 SAF 1928 Roy Bester 8.00 SCO Bert Clark 5.43 SCO Alf McIntosh 4.80 SCO Jimmy Cox 4.50 SCO Bob Mark 4.00 ENG Eddie Lack 4.00 ENG Bob Fletcher 3.73 Exeter 22em AUS Jack Geran 8.57 ENG Goog Hoskin 8.20 AUS Hugh Geddes 7.67 ENG John Hart 6.86 AUS Neil Street 6.55 ENG Alf Webster 5.94 ENG Vic Gent 5.93 ENG Don Hardy 5.13 ENG Johnny Sargeant 5.03 NZL Kevin Bock 3.33 Ipswich 22em AUS Junior Bainbridge 9.32 ENG Bert Edwards 8.85 NZL Dick Campbell 8.45 AUS Bob Sharp 6.38 ENG Tich Read (George Snailum) 6.31 ENG Reg Reeves 6.08 AUS Johnny Chamberlain 5.89 ENG Nobby Stock 5.44 ENG Dennis Day 5.33 ENG Len Silver 5.04 ENG Sid Clark 5.03 ENG Doug Papworth 3.68 Lanarkshire 22em ENG Derick Close 9.30 SCO Tommy Miller 7.70 AUS Ron Phillips 7.59 SCO Gordon McGregor 6.29 SCO Larry Lazarus 6.07 SCO Scott Hall 6.00 AUS Bluey Scott 5.96 ENG Johnny Green 5.46 ENG Cyril Cooper 4.95 SCO Doug Templeton 3.20 Leicester 22em SCO Ken McKinlay 10.88 SAF 1928 Roy Bester 8.25 SCO Jock Grierson 7.61 ENG Dennis Gray 6.53 ENG Reg Fearman 6.38 ENG Don Potter 6.26 ENG Bill Griffiths 5.93 ENG Len Williams 5.33 ENG Alf Parker 5.09 ENG Charlie Barsby 4.94 ENG Lionel Watling (James Goldingay) 3.05 Oxford 22em ENG Peter Robinson 8.85 ENG Ronnie Genz 8.10 ENG Bob Baker 6.34 NZL Bill Thatcher 6.30 ENG Kid Curtis 5.73 ENG Bill Osborne 5.71 ENG Bob Wells 5.45 ENG Frank Johnson 5.24 ENG Jim Gregory 4.87 NZL Bob McFarlane 4.86 ENG Dennis Newton 4.44 Plymouth (withdrew) 22em ENG Pete Lansdale 9.00 ENG Alan Smith 8.50 ENG Vic Gent 7.33 NZL Bill Thatcher 7.00 ENG Ken Holmes 7.00 ENG George Wall 5.14 AUS Harold Bull 4.79 NZL Kevin Hayden 4.26 AUS Jack Gates 4.00 NZL Hec Mayhead 4.00 NZL Kevin Bock 3.80 Poole 22em ENG Ken Middleditch 10.03 ENG Bill Holden 9.26 ENG Jimmy Squibb 7.76 ENG Terry Small 6.92 ENG Tony Lewis 6.55 ENG Johnny Thomson 6.78 ENG Allan Kidd 6.05 ENG Norman Strachan 5.50 SAF 1928 Vern McWilliams 3.20 ENG Fred Perkins 0.57 Rayleigh 22em ENG Gerry Jackson 8.43 NZL Peter Clark 8.20 ENG Les McGillivray 7.37 ENG Maury McDermott 5.81 ENG Pete Lansdale 5.46 ENG Tom O'Connor 4.73 ENG Frank Bettis 4.49 NZL Jules Benson 3.78 ENG George Wall 3.53 ENG Alby Smith 2.93 ENG Norman Street 2.00 Southampton 22em ENG Charlie May 7.33 ENG Brian Hanham 6.92 NZL Brian McKeown 6.82 GGY Johnny Fitzparick 6.62 ENG Ken Adams 6.46 ENG Ernie Rawlins 6.22 ENG Maury Mattingley 5.59 AUS Ernie Brecknell (Ernest Blight) 5.41 ENG Gerald Pugh 1.33 Swindon 22em ENG Bob Roger 9.58 NZL Mick Holland 8.00 ENG George White 6.79 ENG Ron Swaine 6.63 ENG Danny Malone 6.32 WAL Ian Williams 6.26 ENG Bob Jones 5.49 ENG Ray Harris 5.28 AUS Gordon Leigh 4.15 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions References Category:Speedway National League Division Two Speedway National League Division Two Category:1954 in speedway