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{{Infobox speedway league
{{Short description|British speedway season}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox speedway league season
| competition = National League
| competition = National League
| season = 1953
| season = 1953
| competitors = 9
| competitors = 9
| champion = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| domesticcup1 = [[List of United Kingdom speedway league champions|Champions]]
| domesticcup1 winners = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| domesticcup2 = [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]]
| domesticcup2 winners = [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| domesticcup3 = Coronation Cup
| domesticcup3 winners = [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| domesticcup4 = [[London Cup (speedway)|London Cup]]
| domesticcup4 winners = [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| domesticcup5 = [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]]
| domesticcup5 winners = [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| highestaverage = [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]
| leagues below = [[1953 Speedway National League Division Two|National League (Div 2)]]<br>[[1953 Speedway Southern League|1953 Southern League]]
| prevseason = [[1952 Speedway National League|1952]]
| nextseason = [[1954 Speedway National League|1954]]
}}
}}


The '''1953 [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] Division One''' was the eighth post-war season of the highest tier of [[motorcycle speedway]] in Great Britain. [[New Cross Rangers]] folded in June. [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] won their fifth consecutive title and their eighth overall.
The '''1953 [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] Division One''' was the 19th season of [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] in the [[United Kingdom]] and the eighth post-war season of the highest tier of [[motorcycle speedway]] in Great Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}}</ref>


==Final table==
==Summary==
[[New Cross Rangers]] folded in June. [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] won their fifth consecutive title and their eighth overall.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>


[[Wimbledon Dons]] won the [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]] for the fourth time and [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]] completed a cup double winning the Coronation Cup and London Cup.
{| class=wikitable width="300" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" style="background:#FFFFFF;"

| style="background:#cccccc;" | '''Team'''
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/34.shtml|title=Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages|website=Cycle Speedway History|access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Speed-rider killed |work=Daily Herald |date=8 July 1953 |access-date=13 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530708/002/0001| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''PL'''

| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''W'''
==National League Final table==
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''D'''
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''L'''
{| class=wikitable width="450" style="background:#FFFFFF;"
! Pos
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''Pts'''
! Team
! PL
! W
! D
! L
! Pts
|-
|-
|1
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 25: Line 49:
| align="center" | 23
| align="center" | 23
|-
|-
|2
| [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 32: Line 57:
| align="center" | 22
| align="center" | 22
|-
|-
|3
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 39: Line 65:
| align="center" | 19
| align="center" | 19
|-
|-
|4
| [[Bradford Dukes|Bradford Tudors]]
| [[Bradford Dukes|Bradford Tudors]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 46: Line 73:
| align="center" | 17
| align="center" | 17
|-
|-
|5
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 53: Line 81:
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
|-
|-
|6
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 60: Line 89:
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 14
|-
|-
|7
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 67: Line 97:
| align="center" | 12
| align="center" | 12
|-
|-
|8
| [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 74: Line 105:
| align="center" | 11
| align="center" | 11
|-
|-
|9
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 81: Line 113:
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 10
|}
|}

[[New Cross Rangers]] withdrew mid-season - record expunged.
[[New Cross Rangers]] withdrew mid-season - record expunged.


==Coronation Cup final table==
The Coronation Cup was run in a league format. [[Harringay Racers]] came out on top.
The Coronation Cup was run in a league format. [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]] came out on top.

{| class=wikitable width="450" style="background:#FFFFFF;"
==Coronation Cup Final table==
! Pos

! Team
{| class=wikitable width="300" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" style="background:#FFFFFF;"
! PL
| style="background:#cccccc;" | '''Team'''
! W
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''PL'''
! D
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''W'''
! L
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''D'''
! Pts
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''L'''
| align="center" style="background:#cccccc;" | '''Pts'''
|-
|-
|1
| [[Harringay Racers]]
| [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 12
| align="center" | 12
Line 103: Line 134:
| align="center" | 24
| align="center" | 24
|-
|-
|2
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 110: Line 142:
| align="center" | 18
| align="center" | 18
|-
|-
|3
| [[Bradford Tudors]]
| [[Bradford Tudors]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 117: Line 150:
| align="center" | 17
| align="center" | 17
|-
|-
|4
| [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 124: Line 158:
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
|-
|-
|5
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 131: Line 166:
| align="center" | 15
| align="center" | 15
|-
|-
|6
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 138: Line 174:
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 14
|-
|-
|7
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 145: Line 182:
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 14
|-
|-
|8
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 152: Line 190:
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 14
|-
|-
|9
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 16
Line 159: Line 198:
| align="center" | 12
| align="center" | 12
|}
|}

[[New Cross Rangers]] withdrew mid-season - record expunged.
[[New Cross Rangers]] withdrew mid-season - record expunged.


==Top Ten Riders (League only)==
==Top Ten Riders (League only)==

{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
!
| align="center" |
! Rider
| align="center" | '''Rider'''
! Nat
| align="center" | '''Nat'''
! Team
| align="center" | '''Team'''
| align="center" | '''C.M.A.'''
! C.M.A.
|-
|-
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]
| [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]
| {{Flagicon|NZL}}
| {{Flagicon|NZL}}
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| Wimbledon
| 10.63
| 10.63
|-
|-
Line 180: Line 217:
| [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]
| [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]
| {{Flagicon|AUS}}
| {{Flagicon|AUS}}
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| West Ham
| 10.61
| 10.61
|-
|-
Line 186: Line 223:
| [[Alan Hunt (speedway rider)|Alan Hunt]]
| [[Alan Hunt (speedway rider)|Alan Hunt]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| Birmingham
| 10.47
| 10.47
|-
|-
Line 192: Line 229:
| [[Olle Nygren]]
| [[Olle Nygren]]
| {{Flagicon|SWE}}
| {{Flagicon|SWE}}
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| Bristol
| 10.25
| 10.25
|-
|-
Line 198: Line 235:
| [[Freddie Williams (speedway rider)|Freddie Williams]]
| [[Freddie Williams (speedway rider)|Freddie Williams]]
| {{Flagicon|WAL}}
| {{Flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| Wembley
| 10.13
| 10.13
|-
|-
| align="center" | 6
| align="center" | 6
| [[Arthur Forrest]]
| [[Arthur Forrest (speedway rider)|Arthur Forrest]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Bradford Tudors]]
| Bradford
| 9.94
| 9.94
|-
|-
Line 210: Line 247:
| [[Split Waterman]]
| [[Split Waterman]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Harringay Racers]]
| Harringay
| 9.84
| 9.84
|-
|-
Line 216: Line 253:
| [[Eric Williams (speedway_rider)|Eric Williams]]
| [[Eric Williams (speedway_rider)|Eric Williams]]
| {{Flagicon|WAL}}
| {{Flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| Wembley
| 9.66
| 9.66
|-
|-
Line 222: Line 259:
| [[Aub Lawson]]
| [[Aub Lawson]]
| {{Flagicon|AUS}}
| {{Flagicon|AUS}}
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| Norwich
| 9.19
| 9.19
|-
|-
Line 228: Line 265:
| [[Tommy Price]]
| [[Tommy Price]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| Wembley
| 9.13
| 9.13
|}
|}


==National Trophy==
{{National League speedway seasons 1932–1964}}
The 1953 National Trophy was the 16th edition of the [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Knockout Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1953.html|title=1953 National Trophy|publisher=Speedway archive}}</ref>


'''First round'''
[[Category:Speedway National League]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
[[Category:1953 in speedway]]
!width=80| Date
[[Category:1953 in British motorsport]]
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|25/04||Ipswich ||57-51 ||Southampton
|-
|25/04|| Swindon|| 68-40 ||Exeter
|-
|24/04|| Plymouth ||54-54 ||Oxford
|-
|23/04|| Cardiff ||80-28 ||St Austell
|-
|23/04|| Oxford ||66-42 ||Plymouth
|-
|21/04|| Southampton ||74-33 ||Ipswich
|-
|21/04|| St Austell ||55-53 ||Cardiff
|-
|20/04|| Exeter ||60-48 ||Swindon
|}
'''Second round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|19/05|| Cardiff|| 42.5-65.5 ||Leicester
|-
|15/05|| Leicester ||70-38 ||Cardiff
|-
|15/05|| Motherwell ||78-30 ||Swindon
|-
|15/05|| Wolverhampton ||71-37 ||Southampton
|-
|14/05|| Oxford ||51-57 ||Rayleigh
|-
|12/05|| Southampton ||49-59 ||Wolverhampton
|-
|11/05|| Liverpool ||40-68 ||Coventry
|-
|09/05|| Coventry ||76-32 ||Liverpool
|-
|09/05|| Edinburgh ||47-61 ||Glasgow White City
|-
|09/05|| Rayleigh ||67-41 ||Oxford
|-
|09/05|| Stoke ||69-39 ||Yarmouth
|-
|09/05|| Swindon ||62-46 ||Motherwell
|-
|06/05|| Glasgow White City ||75-33 ||Edinburgh
|-
|05/05|| Yarmouth ||52-55 ||Stoke
|}
'''Third round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|24/06|| Glasgow White City ||76-32 ||Wolverhampton
|-
|29/05|| Leicester ||68-40 ||Rayleigh
|-
|29/05|| Motherwell ||73-35 ||Poole
|-
|29/05|| Wolverhampton ||49-59 ||Glasgow White City
|-
|25/05|| Poole ||62-46 ||Motherwell
|-
|23/05|| Coventry ||69-39 ||Stoke
|-
|23/05|| Rayleigh ||72-36|| Leicester
|-
|21/05|| Stoke ||71-37 ||Coventry
|}
'''Fourth round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|11/07|| Bradford Odsal ||63-45|| Bristol
|-
|04/07|| Belle Vue ||50-58 ||Wimbledon
|-
|04/07|| Harringay ||85-23 ||Motherwell
|-
|04/07|| Norwich ||71-37 ||West Ham
|-
|04/07|| Rayleigh ||64-44 ||Glasgow White City
|-
|03/07|| Bristol|| 65-42 ||Bradford Odsal
|-
|03/07|| Motherwell ||63-45 ||Harringay
|-
|01/07|| Glasgow White City ||69-39 ||Rayleigh
|-
|30/06|| West Ham ||59-49 ||Norwich
|-
|29/06|| Wimbledon ||77-31 ||Belle Vue
|}
'''Quarterfinals'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|01/08|| Stoke ||38-70 ||Wimbledon
|-
|25/07|| Norwich ||58-49 ||Bristol
|-
|24/07|| Bristol ||64-44 ||Norwich
|-
|20/07|| Wimbledon ||89-19 ||Stoke
|-
|18/07|| Harringay ||40-68 ||Wembley
|-
|16/07|| Wembley|| 60-48 ||Harringay
|-
|15/07|| Glasgow White City ||56-52 ||Birmingham
|-
|11/07|| Birmingham ||70-38 ||Glasgow White City
|}
'''Semifinals'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|10/08|| Wimbledon ||59-49|| Bristol
|-
|08/08|| Birmingham ||62.5-45.5 ||Wembley
|-
|07/08|| Bristol ||46-62 ||Wimbledon
|-
|06/08|| Wembley ||78-29 ||Birmingham
|}
===Final===


'''First leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 7 September 1953
|team1 = [[Wimbledon Dons]]<br>Ronnie Moore 17<br>Cyril Brine 14<br>Norman Parker 11<br>Geoff Mardon 10<br>Peter Moore 9<br>Barry Briggs 3<br>Don Perry 1<br>Reg Trott 0
|score = 68 – 40
|report = <ref name=SR>{{cite web |url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1953.html|title=1953 National Trophy|website=Speedway Archive|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>
|team2 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]<br>Eric Williams 11<br>Tommy Price 9<br>Bill Kitchen 5<br>Eric French 4<br>Trevor Redmond 4<br>Jimmy Gooch 3<br>Brian Crutcher 2<br>Freddie Williams 2
|stadium = [[Wimbledon Stadium]]
}}


'''Second leg'''
{{UK-motorcycle-speedway-competition-stub}}
{{footballbox
|date = 10 September 1953
|team1 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]<br>Freddie Williams 17<br>Tommy Price 15<br>Eric Williams 8<br>Brian Crutcher 7<br>Trevor Redmond 7<br>Bill Kitchen 5<br>Eric French 4<br>Jimmy Gooch 3
|score = 66 – 42
|report = <ref name=SR/>
|team2 = [[Wimbledon Dons]]<br>Ronnie Moore 11<br>Norman Parker 8<br>Peter Moore 7<br>Barry Briggs 6<br>Geoff Mardon 5<br>Don Perry 3<br>Cyril Brine 1<br>Reg Trott 1
|stadium = [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]
}}

Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate '''110–106'''.

==London Cup==
'''First round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=250| Team one
!width=120| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|Wimbledon ||61–46, 56–52 ||Wembley
|}

'''Semi final round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=250| Team one
!width=120| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|Wimbledon||46–58, 38–69 ||West Ham
|-
|Harringay||64–44, w/o ||New Cross
|}

===Final===

'''First leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 1 August 1953
|team1 = Harringay<br>Jack Biggs 1<br>Maury Dunn 12<br>Jeff Lloyd 12<br>Split Waterman 10<br>Ron How 8<br> Frank Lawrence 5<br>Ken Walsh 1<br>Allan Quinn 0
|score = 60–48
|report =
|team2 = West Ham<br>Jack Young 18, <br>Bert Roger 10<br> Malcolm Craven 6<br> Wally Green 4<br> Howdy Byford 4<br> Keith Gurtner 4<br>Kid Curtis 2<br>Pat Clarke 0
|stadium = [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]
|attendance =
}}

'''Second leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 4 August 1953
|team1 = West Ham<br>Jack Young 17<br>Bert Roger 11<br>Keith Gurtner 8<br>Malcolm Craven 7<br> Basse Hveem 6<br>Howdy Byford 4<br> Pat Clarke 4<br> Wally Green 4
|score = 58–50
|report = <ref>{{cite news |title=Harringay beaten, but they win cup |work=Daily Herald |date=5 August 1953 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530805/115/0006 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=26 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|team2 = Harringay<br>Maury Dunn 11<br>Jack Biggs 12<br> Jeff Lloyd 9<br>Ron How 8<br> Split Waterman 7<br> Frank Lawrence 2<br> Arthur Atkinson 0<br>Alan Quinn 0
|stadium = [[Wimbledon Stadium|Plough Lane]]
|attendance =
}}

Harringay won on aggregate '''110–106'''

==Midland Cup==
Birmingham won the [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]], which consisted of six teams. There were two teams from division 1 and four teams from division 2.

'''First round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=150| Team one
!width=150| Team two
!width=120| Score
|-
|Leicester||Stoke || 65–31, 46–50
|}

'''Semi final round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=150| Team one
!width=150| Team two
!width=120| Score
|-
|Leicester||Coventry ||50–46, 43–53
|-
|Birmingham||Bradford ||73–25, 59–37
|}

===Final===

'''First leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 26 September 1953
|team1 = Birmingham<br>Alan Hunt 15<br> Graham Warren 9<br> Harry Bastable 9 <br>Arthur Payne 7<br> Ron Mountford 6<br> Ron Barrett 6 <br>Eric Boothroyd 5 <br>Bob Roger 4
|score = 61–35
|report = <ref>{{cite news |title=Bees well beaten at Birmingham |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=28 September 1953 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19530928/123/0009 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=18 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|team2 = Coventry<br>Charlie New 13<br> Johnnie Reason 9 <br>Derrick Tailby 5 <br>Vic Emms 3 <br>Reg Duval 2 <br>Les Hewitt 1<br> Jack Wright 1 <br>Stan Williams 1
|stadium = [[Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium|Perry Barr Stadium]]
|attendance =
}}

'''Second leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 3 October 1953
|team1 = Coventry<br>Charlie New 14 <br>Derrick Tailby 7 <br>Stan Williams 4 <br> Vic Emms 4<br> Reg Duval 4<br> Johnnie Reason 3<br>Les Hewitt 2<br> Jack Wright 0
|score = 38–58
|report = <ref>{{cite news |title=Birmingham's easy win in Midland Trophy |work=Birmingham Weekly Mercury |date=4 October 1953 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19531004/020/0020 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=18 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|team2 = Birmingham<br>Alan Hunt 14<br>Ron Mountford 12<br>Graham Warren 9<br>Harry Bastable 7 <br>Eric Boothroyd 7 <br>Arthur Payne 6<br> Ron Barrett 3 <br>Bob Roger 0
|stadium = [[Brandon Stadium]]
|attendance =
}}

Birmingham won on aggregate '''119–73'''

==Riders & final averages==
'''Belle Vue'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Ron Johnston]]}} 7.88
*{{player||ENG|[[Peter Craven]]}} 7.74
*{{player||ENG|[[Ken Sharples]]}} 8.27
*{{player||ENG|[[Jack Parker (speedway rider)|Jack Parker]]}} 7.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Louis Lawson]]}} 6.69
*{{player||ENG|[[Dick Fisher (speedway rider)|Dick Fisher]]}} 4.62
*{{player||ENG|Harry Edwards}} 4.22
*{{player||SCO|[[Jock Grierson]]}} 3.87
*{{player||SCO|[[Willie Wilson (speedway rider)|Willie Wilson]]}} 3.86
*{{player||ENG|Bob Fletcher}} 3.74
*{{player||SWE|[[Olle Segerström]]}} 2.00
*{{player||ENG|Val Morton}} 2.00
{{div col end}}

'''Birmingham'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Alan Hunt (speedway rider)|Alan Hunt]]}} 10.47
*{{player||AUS|[[Graham Warren]]}} 7.67
*{{player||SWE|[[Dan Forsberg]]}} 7.64
*{{player||ENG|[[Eric Boothroyd]]}} 7.19
*{{player||AUS|[[Arthur Payne (speedway rider)|Arthur Payne]]}} 7.19
*{{player||ENG|[[Harry Bastable]]}} 6.36
*{{player||ENG|[[Ron Mountford]]}} 5.97
*{{player||ENG|Phil Malpass}} 4.57
*{{player||ENG|[[Bob Roger]]}} 4.48
*{{player||ENG|Ron Barrett}} 4.21
*{{player||ENG|Ron Mason}} 3.00
*{{player||AUS|Bill Jemison}} 1.25
*{{player||ENG|Lionel Watling}} (James Goldingay) 1.18
{{div col end}}

'''Bradford'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Forrest (speedway rider)|Arthur Forrest]]}} 9.94
*{{player||ENG|[[Eddie Rigg]]}} 8.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Wright (speedway rider)|Arthur Wright]]}} 7.14
*{{player||AUS|[[Dick Seers]]}} 6.26
*{{player||ENG|[[Ron Clarke (speedway rider)|Ron Clarke]]}} 6.20
*{{player||ENG|[[Keith Milner]]}} 5.50
*{{player||ENG|[[Dent Oliver]]}} 5.69
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Atkinson (speedway rider)|Arthur Atkinson]]}} 5.04
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Bush]]}} 5.00
*{{player||AUS|[[Bill Longley (speedway rider)|Bill Longley]]}} 3.69
*{{player||ENG|[[Wal Morton]]}} 4.27
{{div col end}}

'''Bristol'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||SWE|[[Olle Nygren]]}} 10.25
*{{player||ENG|[[Dick Bradley]]}} 8.13
*{{player||ENG|Eric Salmon}} 7.88
*{{player||ENG|[[Billy Hole (speedway rider)|Billy Hole]]}} 7.55
*{{player||ENG|[[Jack Unstead]]}} 6.67
*{{player||ENG|[[Johnny Hole]]}} 6.10
*{{player||ENG|[[Chris Boss]]}} 5.80
*{{player||AUS|[[Chum Taylor]]}} 4.37
*{{player||ENG|[[Geoff Pymar]]}} 4.24
{{div col end}}

'''Harringay'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Split Waterman]]}} 9.84
*{{player||AUS|[[Jack Biggs]]}} 9.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Jeff Lloyd]]}} 8.14
*{{player||NZL|[[Maurice Dunn]]}} 7.73
*{{player||ENG|[[Ron How]]}} 7.60
*{{player||ENG|[[Frank Lawrence]]}} 5.87
*{{player||ENG|Stan Clark}} 5.33
*{{player||AUS|Ken Walsh}} 5.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Atkinson (speedway rider)|Arthur Atkinson]]}} 4.68
*{{player||AUS|Allan Quinn}} 4.00
{{div col end}}

'''New Cross''' (withdrew)
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||SCO|[[Jock Grierson]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Roger]]}}
*{{player||SWE|[[Olle Nygren]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Bert Roger]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Merv Harding]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Bill Longley (speedway rider)|Bill Longley]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Bob Roger]]}}
*{{player||IRE|[[Eric French]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Frank Lawrence]]}}
{{div col end}}

'''Norwich'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Aub Lawson]]}} 9.19
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Roger]]}} 7.48
*{{player||ENG|[[Fred Rogers (speedway rider)|Fred Rogers]]}} 6.76
*{{player||ENG|[[Billy Bales]]}} 6.40
*{{player||NZL|Merv Neil}} 5.60
*{{player||ENG|[[Phil Clarke (speedway rider)|Phil Clarke]]}} 5.49
*{{player||ENG|[[Fred Pawson]]}} 5.12
*{{player||ENG|[[Roy Craighead]]}} 3.40
*{{player||AUS|Alec Hunter}} 2.29
*{{player||ENG|Jack Freeman}} 2.00
{{div col end}}

'''Wembley'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||WAL|[[Freddie Williams (speedway rider)|Freddie Williams]]}} 10.13
*{{player||WAL|[[Eric Williams (speedway rider)|Eric Williams]]}} 9.66
*{{player||ENG|[[Tommy Price]]}} 9.13
*{{player||ENG|[[Brian Crutcher]]}} 7.87
*{{player||ENG|[[Bill Kitchen (speedway rider)|Bill Kitchen]]}} 6.26
*{{player||ENG|[[Jimmy Gooch (speedway rider)|Jimmy Gooch]]}} 4.78
*{{player||IRE|[[Eric French]]}} 6.23
*{{player||NZL|[[Trevor Redmond]]}} 6.05
*{{player||ENG|[[George Wilks]]}} 4.57
{{div col end}}

'''West Ham'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]}} 10.61
*{{player||NOR|[[Basse Hveem]]}} 8.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Wally Green]]}} 7.43
*{{player||ENG|[[Pat Clark (speedway rider)|Pat Clark]]}} 7.72
*{{player||ENG|[[Howdy Byford]]}} 4.68
*{{player||ENG|[[Bert Roger]]}} 4.49
*{{player||ENG|[[Malcolm Craven]]}} 5.50
*{{player||AUS|[[Keith Gurtner]]}} 3.92
*{{player||ENG|[[Kid Curtis]]}} 2.86
*{{player||AUS|[[Cliff Watson (speedway rider)|Cliff Watson]]}} 2.29
{{div col end}}

'''Wimbledon'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]}} 10.63
*{{player||NZL|[[Geoff Mardon]]}} 8.66
*{{player||SWE|[[Sune Karlsson]]}} 8.00
*{{player||AUS|[[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]]}} 6.97
*{{player||NZL|[[Barry Briggs]]}} 6.31
*{{player||ENG|[[Norman Parker (speedway rider)|Norman Parker]]}} 7.50
*{{player||IRE|Dom Perry}} 5.57
*{{player||AUS|[[Bill Longley (speedway rider)|Bill Longley]]}} 5.05
*{{player||ENG|[[Reg Trott]]}} 4.49
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Brine]]}} 4.42
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Maidment]]}} 2.72
*{{player||ENG|[[Dennis Gray (speedway rider)|Dennis Gray]]}} 1.60
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions]]
* [[Knockout Cup (speedway)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}
{{National League speedway seasons 1932–1964}}

[[Category:Speedway National League]]
[[Category:1953 in speedway|National League]]
[[Category:1953 in British motorsport|Speedway National League]]

Latest revision as of 12:04, 26 October 2024

1953 Speedway National League
LeagueNational League
Season1953
No. of competitors9
ChampionsWembley Lions
National TrophyWimbledon Dons
Coronation CupHarringay Racers
London CupHarringay Racers
Midland CupBirmingham Brummies
Highest averageRonnie Moore
Division/s belowNational League (Div 2)
1953 Southern League

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.[1]

Summary

[edit]

New Cross Rangers folded in June. Wembley Lions won their fifth consecutive title and their eighth overall.[2][3][4]

Wimbledon Dons won the National Trophy for the fourth time and Harringay Racers completed a cup double winning the Coronation Cup and London Cup.

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.[5][6]

National League Final table

[edit]
Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Wembley Lions 16 11 1 4 23
2 Harringay Racers 16 11 0 5 22
3 Birmingham Brummies 16 9 1 6 19
4 Bradford Tudors 16 8 1 7 17
5 Wimbledon Dons 16 8 0 8 16
6 West Ham Hammers 16 7 0 9 14
7 Norwich Stars 16 6 0 10 12
8 Belle Vue Aces 16 5 1 10 11
9 Bristol Bulldogs 16 5 0 11 10

New Cross Rangers withdrew mid-season - record expunged.

Coronation Cup final table

[edit]

The Coronation Cup was run in a league format. Harringay Racers came out on top.

Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Harringay Racers 16 12 0 4 24
2 Wembley Lions 16 9 0 7 18
3 Bradford Tudors 16 8 1 7 17
4 Belle Vue Aces 16 8 0 8 16
5 Norwich Stars 16 7 1 8 15
6 Wimbledon Dons 16 7 0 9 14
7 West Ham Hammers 16 7 0 9 14
8 Bristol Bulldogs 16 7 0 9 14
9 Birmingham Brummies 16 6 0 10 12

New Cross Rangers withdrew mid-season - record expunged.

Top Ten Riders (League only)

[edit]
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Ronnie Moore New Zealand Wimbledon 10.63
2 Jack Young Australia West Ham 10.61
3 Alan Hunt England Birmingham 10.47
4 Olle Nygren Sweden Bristol 10.25
5 Freddie Williams Wales Wembley 10.13
6 Arthur Forrest England Bradford 9.94
7 Split Waterman England Harringay 9.84
8 Eric Williams Wales Wembley 9.66
9 Aub Lawson Australia Norwich 9.19
10 Tommy Price England Wembley 9.13

National Trophy

[edit]

The 1953 National Trophy was the 16th edition of the Knockout Cup.[7]

First round

Date Team one Score Team two
25/04 Ipswich 57-51 Southampton
25/04 Swindon 68-40 Exeter
24/04 Plymouth 54-54 Oxford
23/04 Cardiff 80-28 St Austell
23/04 Oxford 66-42 Plymouth
21/04 Southampton 74-33 Ipswich
21/04 St Austell 55-53 Cardiff
20/04 Exeter 60-48 Swindon

Second round

Date Team one Score Team two
19/05 Cardiff 42.5-65.5 Leicester
15/05 Leicester 70-38 Cardiff
15/05 Motherwell 78-30 Swindon
15/05 Wolverhampton 71-37 Southampton
14/05 Oxford 51-57 Rayleigh
12/05 Southampton 49-59 Wolverhampton
11/05 Liverpool 40-68 Coventry
09/05 Coventry 76-32 Liverpool
09/05 Edinburgh 47-61 Glasgow White City
09/05 Rayleigh 67-41 Oxford
09/05 Stoke 69-39 Yarmouth
09/05 Swindon 62-46 Motherwell
06/05 Glasgow White City 75-33 Edinburgh
05/05 Yarmouth 52-55 Stoke

Third round

Date Team one Score Team two
24/06 Glasgow White City 76-32 Wolverhampton
29/05 Leicester 68-40 Rayleigh
29/05 Motherwell 73-35 Poole
29/05 Wolverhampton 49-59 Glasgow White City
25/05 Poole 62-46 Motherwell
23/05 Coventry 69-39 Stoke
23/05 Rayleigh 72-36 Leicester
21/05 Stoke 71-37 Coventry

Fourth round

Date Team one Score Team two
11/07 Bradford Odsal 63-45 Bristol
04/07 Belle Vue 50-58 Wimbledon
04/07 Harringay 85-23 Motherwell
04/07 Norwich 71-37 West Ham
04/07 Rayleigh 64-44 Glasgow White City
03/07 Bristol 65-42 Bradford Odsal
03/07 Motherwell 63-45 Harringay
01/07 Glasgow White City 69-39 Rayleigh
30/06 West Ham 59-49 Norwich
29/06 Wimbledon 77-31 Belle Vue

Quarterfinals

Date Team one Score Team two
01/08 Stoke 38-70 Wimbledon
25/07 Norwich 58-49 Bristol
24/07 Bristol 64-44 Norwich
20/07 Wimbledon 89-19 Stoke
18/07 Harringay 40-68 Wembley
16/07 Wembley 60-48 Harringay
15/07 Glasgow White City 56-52 Birmingham
11/07 Birmingham 70-38 Glasgow White City

Semifinals

Date Team one Score Team two
10/08 Wimbledon 59-49 Bristol
08/08 Birmingham 62.5-45.5 Wembley
07/08 Bristol 46-62 Wimbledon
06/08 Wembley 78-29 Birmingham

Final

[edit]

First leg

Wimbledon Dons
Ronnie Moore 17
Cyril Brine 14
Norman Parker 11
Geoff Mardon 10
Peter Moore 9
Barry Briggs 3
Don Perry 1
Reg Trott 0		68 – 40Wembley Lions
Eric Williams 11
Tommy Price 9
Bill Kitchen 5
Eric French 4
Trevor Redmond 4
Jimmy Gooch 3
Brian Crutcher 2
Freddie Williams 2
[8]

Second leg

Wembley Lions
Freddie Williams 17
Tommy Price 15
Eric Williams 8
Brian Crutcher 7
Trevor Redmond 7
Bill Kitchen 5
Eric French 4
Jimmy Gooch 3		66 – 42Wimbledon Dons
Ronnie Moore 11
Norman Parker 8
Peter Moore 7
Barry Briggs 6
Geoff Mardon 5
Don Perry 3
Cyril Brine 1
Reg Trott 1
[8]

Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 110–106.

London Cup

[edit]

First round

Team one Score Team two
Wimbledon 61–46, 56–52 Wembley

Semi final round

Team one Score Team two
Wimbledon 46–58, 38–69 West Ham
Harringay 64–44, w/o New Cross

Final

[edit]

First leg

Harringay
Jack Biggs 1
Maury Dunn 12
Jeff Lloyd 12
Split Waterman 10
Ron How 8
Frank Lawrence 5
Ken Walsh 1
Allan Quinn 0		60–48West Ham
Jack Young 18,
Bert Roger 10
Malcolm Craven 6
Wally Green 4
Howdy Byford 4
Keith Gurtner 4
Kid Curtis 2
Pat Clarke 0

Second leg

West Ham
Jack Young 17
Bert Roger 11
Keith Gurtner 8
Malcolm Craven 7
Basse Hveem 6
Howdy Byford 4
Pat Clarke 4
Wally Green 4		58–50Harringay
Maury Dunn 11
Jack Biggs 12
Jeff Lloyd 9
Ron How 8
Split Waterman 7
Frank Lawrence 2
Arthur Atkinson 0
Alan Quinn 0
[9]

Harringay won on aggregate 110–106

Midland Cup

[edit]

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 Score
Leicester Stoke 65–31, 46–50

Semi final round

Team one Team two Score
Leicester Coventry 50–46, 43–53
Birmingham Bradford 73–25, 59–37

Final

[edit]

First leg

Birmingham
Alan Hunt 15
Graham Warren 9
Harry Bastable 9
Arthur Payne 7
Ron Mountford 6
Ron Barrett 6
Eric Boothroyd 5
Bob Roger 4		61–35Coventry
Charlie New 13
Johnnie Reason 9
Derrick Tailby 5
Vic Emms 3
Reg Duval 2
Les Hewitt 1
Jack Wright 1
Stan Williams 1
[10]

Second leg

Coventry
Charlie New 14
Derrick Tailby 7
Stan Williams 4
Vic Emms 4
Reg Duval 4
Johnnie Reason 3
Les Hewitt 2
Jack Wright 0		38–58Birmingham
Alan Hunt 14
Ron Mountford 12
Graham Warren 9
Harry Bastable 7
Eric Boothroyd 7
Arthur Payne 6
Ron Barrett 3
Bob Roger 0
[11]

Birmingham won on aggregate 119–73

Riders & final averages

[edit]

Belle Vue

Birmingham

Bradford

Bristol

Harringay

New Cross (withdrew)

Norwich

Wembley

West Ham

Wimbledon

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  2. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  4. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages". Cycle Speedway History. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Speed-rider killed". Daily Herald. 8 July 1953. Retrieved 13 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "1953 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
  8. ^ a b "1953 National Trophy". Speedway Archive. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Harringay beaten, but they win cup". Daily Herald. 5 August 1953. Retrieved 26 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Bees well beaten at Birmingham". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 28 September 1953. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Birmingham's easy win in Midland Trophy". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 4 October 1953. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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