1952 Speedway Southern League


The 1952 Southern League was the first season of the newly created regional third tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. From the defunct National League Division Three of the previous season, only Poole Pirates did not join the new league. Ipswich Witches and Southampton Saints were new entrants.
Rayleigh Rockets were champions whilst. George Wall of Plymouth topped the averages.
Long Eaton Archers withdrew mid-season after experiencing financial difficulties. They closed down after their 31 July fixture.

Final table

Withdrawal : Long Eaton Archers

National Trophy Stage Three

  • For Stage Two - see Stage Two
  • For Stage Three - see 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. Plymouth won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.
Third Division qualifying first round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
22/04 Southampton49-58Cardiff
18/04 Wolverhampton74-33Long Eaton
17/04 Cardiff 75-33Southampton
17/04 Long Eaton58-50Wolverhampton

Third Division qualifying second round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
26/04 Swindon52-56Cardiff
25/04 Wolverhampton49-59Exeter
24/04 Cardiff74-32Swindon
24/04 Ipswich50-57 Rayleigh
21/04 Exeter73-34Wolverhampton
19/04 Rayleigh60-48Ipswich
19/04 Aldershot48-60Plymouth
17/04 Plymouth76-31Aldershot

Third Division qualifying semifinals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
08/05 Cardiff59-48Rayleigh
03/05 Rayleigh70-38Cardiff
01/05 Plymouth67-41Exeter
28/04 Exeter57-51Plymouth

Qualifying final

First leg
'''Second leg'''

Riders & final averages

Aldershot
  • Ivor Powell 7.90
  • Bert Edwards 7.83
  • Basil Harris 7.05
  • Doug Papworth 6.71
  • Vic Gooden 6.60
  • Arch Windmill 5.91
  • Ron Burnett 5.37
  • Bill Grimes 5.18
  • Charles Frenzel 4.75
  • Jack Taylor 2.24
  • John Dore 1.28
Cardiff
Exeter
Ipswich
  • Sid Clarke 9.08
  • Harold McNaughton 7.43
  • Dick Shepherd 7.04
  • Charlie Mugford 5.42
  • Tich Read 4.92
  • Geoff Woodger 4.44
  • Dennis Day 4.27
  • Rod Laudrum 4.27
  • Vic Sage 4.27
  • Alby Smith 4.17
  • Arthur Pigrim 3.86
Long Eaton
  • Lionel Watling 8.30
  • Peter Moore 7.01
  • Wilf Plant 6.83
  • Bill Harris 6.73
  • Cyril Page 6.08
  • Johnny Jones 5.81
  • Jack Winstanley 5.57
  • Roy Browning 4.83
  • Frank Malouf 4.65
  • Fred Siggins 3.29
Plymouth
  • George Wall 10.78
  • Alan Smith 10.14
  • Pete Lansdale 9.77
  • Bill Thatcher 8.09
  • Johnnie Bradford 5.43
  • Brian Hitchcock 4.90
  • Ray Moreton 4.63
  • Ted Stevens 4.49
  • Doug Fursey 4.41
  • Dennis Hoyle 3.43
  • Frank Wheeler 4.00
  • Bill Rundle 2.63
Rayleigh
St Austell
  • Norman Street 8.05
  • Allan Quinn 7.77
  • Ken Monk 6.13
  • Max Rech 6.06
  • Harold Bull 5.98
  • George Newton 5.86
  • Johnny Bradford 4.96
  • Dick Harris 4.67
  • Aston Quinn 4.62
  • Ken James 4.46
  • Charlie Hayden 4.33
  • Derek Timms 4.32
  • Don Prettijohn 3.65
  • Gordon Leigh 2.50
Southampton
  • Brian McKeown 8.10
  • Bert Croucher 7.50
  • Ernie Brecknell 6.73
  • Mike Tamms 6.34
  • Dudley Smith 5.90
  • Maury Mattingley 4.86
  • Jack Vallis 4.30
  • Ted Moore 4.27
  • Dennis Cross 4.16
  • Dennis Hayles 3.78
Swindon
  • Frank Evans 8.09
  • Danny Malone 7.37
  • Bob Jones 7.32
  • Bob Wells 7.04
  • Buster Brown 6.82
  • Reg Lambourne 6.36
  • Ian Williams 6.11
  • Ray Ellis 5.77
  • Ken Wiggins 4.21
Wolverhampton
  • Benny King 8.97
  • Cyril Quick 8.28
  • Jimmy Grant 7.75
  • Eric Irons 7.62
  • Jack Cunningham 6.24
  • Ken Brown 6.24
  • Bill Jemison 5.90
  • Dick Howard 5.89
  • Charlie Hayden 5.19
  • Roy Moreton 4.75
  • Stan Bradbury 4.44
  • Derek Timms 4.00