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 Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Rayleigh Rockets 36 28 0 8 562 Cardiff Dragons 36 23 0 13 463 Plymouth Devils 36 20 1 15 414 Wolverhampton Wasps 36 20 1 15 415 Exeter Falcons 36 20 1 15 416 Swindon Robins 36 18 0 18 367 Aldershot Shots 36 15 1 20 318 Ipswich Witches 36 12 0 24 249 Southampton Saints 36 11 0 25 2210 St Austell Gulls 36 11 0 25 22
Withdrawal (Record expunged) : Long Eaton Archers
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
Leading Averages Rider Team C.M.A. 1 George Wall Plymouth 10.26 2 Alan Smith Plymouth 9.93 3 Pete Lansdale Plymouth 9.46 4 Goog Hoskin Exeter 9.45 5 Jack Unstead Rayleigh 9.33
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 Date Team one Score Team two22/04 Southampton 49-58 Cardiff18/04 Wolverhampton 74-33 Long Eaton17/04 Cardiff 75-33 Southampton17/04 Long Eaton 58-50 Wolverhampton
Third Division qualifying second round Date Team one Score Team two26/04 Swindon 52-56 Cardiff25/04 Wolverhampton 49-59 Exeter24/04 Cardiff 74-32 Swindon24/04 Ipswich 50-57 Rayleigh21/04 Exeter 73-34 Wolverhampton19/04 Rayleigh60-48 Ipswich19/04 Aldershot 48-60 Plymouth17/04 Plymouth 76-31 Aldershot
Third Division qualifying semifinals Date Team one Score Team two08/05 Cardiff 59-48 Rayleigh03/05 Rayleigh 70-38 Cardiff01/05 Plymouth 67-41 Exeter28/04 Exeter 57-51 Plymouth
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
Gerald Pugh 8.55 Mick Holland 8.34 Hugh Geddes 8.27 Chum Taylor 8.15 Bert Edwards 7.85 Paul Best 7.00 Frank Johnson 6.56 Charlie May 6.43 Kevin Hayden 6.42 Jimmy Wright 6.21
Exeter
Goog Hoskin 9.20 Don Hardy 7.53 Vic Gent 7.66 Ron Barrett 7.38 Jack Geran 6.79 Johnny Sargeant 5.39 Colin Selley 4.67 Maurice Barnett 4.45 Neil Street 4.18 Ron Swaine 4.06 Eric Minall 3.83
Ipswich
Sid Clarke 9.08 Harold McNaughton 7.43 Dick Shepherd 7.04 Charlie Mugford 5.42 Tich Read (George Snailum) 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 (withdrew)
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
Jack Unstead 9.62 Gerry Jackson 9.54 Peter Clark 9.26 Maury McDermott 8.64 Tom O'Connor 8.40 Les McGillivray 6.71 Alby Smith 6.50 Ron Howes 5.80 Jules Benson 5.51 Johnny Applegate 2.43
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
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References