1954 Speedway National League Division Two

Summary

The Southern League was replaced by the Southern Area League which resulted in Division Two taking in teams from the defunct Southern League. Only St Austell Gulls declined to step up to the national level, whilst from the previous season Yarmouth Bloaters were not issued a racing licence and Stoke Potters withdrew. Bristol Bulldogs moved down from Division One to make 15 teams starting the season. However, Glasgow White City Tigers and Wolverhampton Wasps both suffered a series of poor results in the Northern Shield and both withdrew before the league campaign started.

Bristol Bulldogs won the league title. Bristol also won the early season Southern Shield, while Lanarkshire Eagles won the disrupted Northern Shield following the withdrawal of Glasgow and Wolverhampton.

Plymouth Devils withdrew after one league fixture and Edinburgh Monarchs withdrew mid-way through the 1954 season citing financial losses and their Managing Director Frank Varey also resigned.

League

Final table

• Glasgow White City Tigers, Wolverhampton Wasps withdrew before league racing
• Plymouth Devils, Edinburgh Monarchs withdrew, record expunged.

Fixtures and results

Top five riders (league only)

Shields

Southern Shield

Northern Shield

Riders' Championship

Ken Middleditch won the National League Division Two Rider's Championship. The final was held at Hyde Road on 16 October.

National Trophy

For the National Trophy see the 1954 Speedway National League.

Midland Cup

For the Midland Cup see the 1954 Speedway National League.

Riders and final averages

Bristol

• 10.58
• 8.71
• 8.28
• 7.25
• 7.14
• 6.03
• 5.60
• 5.31
• 4.35
• SAF Harry Serrurier 3.20
• 2.86

Coventry

• 9.90
• 9.45
• 6.86
• 6.61
• 6.56
• 5.58
• 5.60
• 5.38
• 5.20
• 4.30
• 4.92
• 3.00
• 2.33

Edinburgh (withdrew)

• 9.87
• 8.53
• SAF Roy Bester 8.00
• 5.43
• 4.80
• 4.50
• 4.00
• 4.00
• 3.73

Exeter

• 8.57
• 8.20
• 7.67
• 6.86
• 6.55
• 5.94
• 5.93
• 5.13
• 5.03
• 3.33

Ipswich

• 9.32
• 8.85
• 8.45
• 6.38
• (George Snailum) 6.31
• 6.08
• 5.89
• 5.44
• 5.33
• 5.04
• 5.03
• 3.68

Lanarkshire

• 9.30
• 7.70
• 7.59
• 6.29
• 6.07
• 6.00
• 5.96
• 5.46
• 4.95
• 3.20

Leicester

• 10.88
• SAF Roy Bester 8.25
• 7.61
• 6.53
• 6.38
• 6.26
• 5.93
• 5.33
• 5.09
• 4.94
• (James Goldingay) 3.05

Oxford

• 8.85
• 8.10
• 6.34
• 6.30
• 5.73
• 5.71
• 5.45
• 5.24
• 4.87
• 4.86
• 4.44

Plymouth (withdrew)

• 9.00
• 8.50
• 7.33
• 7.00
• 7.00
• 5.14
• 4.79
• 4.26
• 4.00
• 4.00
• 3.80

Poole

• 10.03
• 9.26
• 7.76
• 6.92
• 6.55
• 6.78
• 6.05
• 5.50
• SAF Vern McWilliams 3.20
• 0.57

Rayleigh

• 8.43
• 8.20
• 7.37
• 5.81
• 5.46
• 4.73
• 4.49
• 3.78
• 3.53
• 2.93
• 2.00

Southampton

• 7.33
• 6.92
• 6.82
• 6.62
• 6.46
• 6.22
• 5.59
• 5.41
• 1.33

Swindon

• 9.58
• 8.00
• 6.79
• 6.63
• 6.32
• 6.26
• 5.49
• 5.28
• 4.15

References

References

1. "1954 fixtures".
2. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
3. (24 April 1954). "Speedway promoters receive another blow". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
4. (24 May 1954). "Speedway Club out of League". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
5. (2 October 1954). "Bulldogs win Div. II Title by Four Points".
6. (6 August 1954). "Ipswich out to stop Bulldogs Double at Knowle tonight". Bristol Evening Post.
7. (5 June 1954). "Eagles beat Monarchs To Win Speedway Shield". Edinburgh Evening News.
8. (5 July 1954). "Meadowbank closing down". Edinburgh Evening News.
9. "1954 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
10. "1954 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
11. "1954 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
12. (17 October 1954). "Last Night's Speedway". The People.
13. "CLUB HISTORY: 1950S".