The 1953 Southern League was the second season of the regional third tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. It was the final season before being replaced by the Southern Area League.
From the previous season, Aldershot Shots dropped out, Wolverhampton Wasps moved up and Oxford Cheetahs came down to replace them.
Summary Rayleigh Rockets were champions for a second consecutive season whilst Cardiff Dragons withdrew mid-season. Goog Hoskin of Exeter topped the averages.
Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Rayleigh Rockets 26 21 1 4 432 Exeter Falcons 26 20 1 5 413 Ipswich Witches 28 13 2 13 284 Swindon Robins 28 13 2 13 285 Southampton Saints 28 12 2 14 266 Oxford Cheetahs 28 9 1 18 197 St Austell Gulls 28 9 0 19 188 Plymouth Devils 28 8 1 19 17
Withdrawal (Record expunged) : Cardiff Dragons
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
Leading averages Rider Team C.M.A. 1 Goog Hoskin Exeter 10.87 2 Gerald Jackson Rayleigh 9.68 3 Alan Smith Plymouth 9.37 4 Peter Clark Rayleigh 9.27 5 Jack Geran Exeter 9.06
National Trophy For the National Trophy see the 1953 Speedway National League.
Riders and final averages
Cardiff (withdrew)
Charlie May 9.80 Hugh Geddes 9.08 Bert Edwards 8.94 Frank Johnson 7.76 Mick Holland 7.50 Gerald Pugh 5.33 Mick Callaghan 4.52 Jimmy Wright 4.40 Kevin Hayden 4.26
Exeter
Goog Hoskin 10.86 Jack Geran 9.33 Don Hardy 7.96 Maurice Barnett 7.33 John Hart 7.04 Vic Gent 6.72 Neil Street 6.46 Johnny Sargeant 6.40 Charlie May 5.95 Bob Meyer 4.00
Ipswich
Bert Edwards 9.12 Sid Clarke 8.08 Jimmy Grant 7.53 Harold McNaughton 7.28 Dick Shepherd 7.08 Tich Read (George Snailum) 6.60 Nobby Stock 6.57 Dennis Day 6.32 Jim Blythe 5.71 Charlie Mugford 5.58 Doug Papworth 5.54 Len Silver 4.67
Oxford
Jim Boyd 8.70 Jim Gregory 8.54 Peter Robinson 7.38 Bill Kemp 6.47 Frank Johnson 6.29 Bob McFarlane 6.10 Bill Osborne 5.25 Benny King 4.66 Herby King 4.64 Frank Boyle 3.70 Bill Codling 3.67
Plymouth
Alan Smith 9.50 Pete Lansdale 8.56 Bill Thatcher 8.05 Len Read 6.73 George Wall 6.51 Stan Clark 4.82 Kevin Hayden 4.38 Brian Hitchcock 3.33 Derek Timms 3.02 Doug Fursey 2.80 Dick Harris 2.00 Jack Hillard 1.60
Rayleigh
Gerry Jackson 9.96 Peter Clark 9.74 Maury McDermott 7.92 Tom O'Connor 7.81 Les McGillivray 8.16 Alby Smith 6.30 Ron Howes 6.06 Frank Bettis 5.60
St Austell
Harold Bull 7.18 Jack Gates 7.18 Cyril Maidment 6.71 John Yates 6.19 Alf Webster 6.18 Ken Monk 6.14 Johnny Sargeant 6.05 Bob Duckworth 4.99 Graham Williams 4.47 Norman Street 4.30 Kevin Bock 3.55 Maury McHugh 3.26
Southampton
Brian McKeown 8.74 Ernie Rawlins 8.55 Hugh Geddes 7.85 Ernie Brecknell 7.55 Maury Mattingley 7.31 Dudley Smith 5.45 Mike Tamms 5.20 Jack Vallis 4.75 Brian Hanham 4.15 Lionel Levy 3.27
Swindon
Ian Williams 8.39 Danny Malone 8.15 Bob Wells 6.72 Ron Swaine 6.44 Reg Lambourne 6.17 Bob Jones 6.06 Mick Hard 5.38 Frank Evans 5.18 Gordon Leigh 4.73 Bill Grimes 4.57 Ken Wiggins 4.16
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References