1952 Speedway National League

The 1952 National League Division One was the 18th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.[1]

1952 Speedway National League
LeagueNational League Division One
ChampionsWembley Lions
No. of competitors10
National TrophyHarringay Racers
Highest averageRonnie Moore
Division/s belowNational League (Div 2)
1952 Southern League

Summary

Norwich Stars joined the league. Wembley Lions won their fourth consecutive title and their seventh overall. Birmingham recorded their highest league finish to date by taking the runner-up spot.[2][3][4]

While riding for Wimbledon, on 22 July 1952 the American Ernie Roccio was killed after crashing into the fence at high speed at West Ham Stadium, it has been reported that he died instantly but the newspaper report states he died in hospital.[5]

Final table
Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Wembley Lions 36 28 1 7 57
2 Birmingham Brummies 36 23 0 13 46
3 Harringay Racers 36 21 3 12 45
4 West Ham Hammers 36 18 2 16 38
5 Wimbledon Dons 36 17 2 17 36
6 Belle Vue Aces 36 18 0 18 36
7 New Cross Rangers 36 15 1 20 31
8 Bristol Bulldogs 36 13 0 23 26
9 Bradford Tudors 36 11 1 24 23
10 Norwich Stars 36 10 2 24 22

Top Ten Riders (League only)
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Ronnie Moore Wimbledon Dons 11.27
2 Jack Young West Ham Hammers 10.88
3 Bob Leverenz Norwich Stars 10.29
4 Alan Hunt Birmingham Brummies 10.00
5 Split Waterman Harringay Racers 9.96
6 Freddie Williams Wembley Lions 9.76
7 Tommy Price Wembley Lions 9.31
8 Cyril Brine Wimbledon Dons 9.00
9 Eddie Rigg Bradford Tudors 8.82
10 Bert Roger New Cross Rangers 8.79

National Trophy Stage Three

The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third tier clubs, stage two was for the second tier clubs and stage three was for the top tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Harringay won the third and final stage and were therefore declared the 1952 National Trophy champions.[6]

First Round
Date Team One Score Team Two
19/07Norwich74-34Poole
12/07Birmingham79-29Bristol
04/07Bristol46-62Birmingham
05/07Bradford Odsal67-40West Ham
01/07West Ham66-42Bradford Odsal

Second Round
Date Team One Score Team Two
11/08Birmingham69-39Belle Vue
26/07Belle Vue59-49Birmingham
26/07Bradford Odsal58-50Wembley
26/07Poole72-36New Cross
23/07New Cross75-33Poole
21/07Wimbledon57-51Harringay
18/07Harringay57-50Wimbledon
17/07Wembley66-41Bradford Odsal

Semi Finals
Date Team One Score Team Two
21/08Wembley59-49Birmingham
16/08Birmingham69-39Wembley
15/08Harringay57-51New Cross
13/08New Cross43-64Harringay

First leg
Birmingham Brummies
Arthur Payne 17
Graham Warren 11
Eric Boothroyd 9
Ron Mountford 7
Ivor Davies 7
Cyril Page 5
Ron Mason 1
Cecil Hookham 0		57 – 51Harringay Racers
Ken Walsh 11
Jack Biggs 10
Ron How 8
Arthur Atkinson 7
Maury Dunn 5
Danny Dunton 4
Split Waterman 3
Jeff Lloyd 3
[7]

Second leg
Harringay Racers
Jack Biggs 17
Ron How 12
Jeff Lloyd 11
Maury Dunn 10
Arthur Atkinson 10
Ken Walsh 6
Danny Dunton 5
Split Waterman 3		72 – 35Birmingham Brummies
Arthur Payne 15
Eric Boothroyd 6
Nobby Stock 6
Ivor Davies 2
Howdy Byford 2
Cyril Page 1
Ron Mason 1
Cecil Hookham 0
[7]

Harringay were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 123–92.

See also

References
  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. "Speed Track Star Dies". Western Daily Press. 23 July 1952. Retrieved 13 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "1952 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
  7. "1952 National Trophy". Speedway Archive. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
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