The 1953 National League Division Two was the eighth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
Summary The League was reduced at the start of the season again to 10 teams with Oxford Cheetahs dropping down to the Southern League whilst Ashfield Giants closed and Liverpool Chads folded mid-season.
Cradley Heath disbanded following the withdrawal of the promoter Eli Sumner due to financial issues, with the team moving to join the Wolverhampton Wasps (formerly of the Southern League).
Coventry Bees clinched their first title by a single point.
Wolverhampton rider Mike Rogers died on 6 June 1953, the day after receiving critical injuries at Monmore Green Stadium racing against Liverpool. The 22-year-old lost control of his bike and fell heavily before being transported to the Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton.
Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Coventry Bees 32 19 1 12 392 Poole Pirates 32 18 2 12 383 Yarmouth Bloaters 32 18 0 14 364 Glasgow White City Tigers 32 16 2 14 345 Edinburgh Monarchs 32 15 1 16 316 Motherwell Eagles 32 15 0 17 307 Wolverhampton Wasps 32 13 1 18 278 Leicester Hunters 32 13 1 18 279 Stoke Potters 32 12 2 18 26
Liverpool Chads withdrew mid-season - record expunged.
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
Top Five Riders (League only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Tommy Miller Glasgow 10.81 2 Don Cuppleditch Edinburgh 10.36 3 Fred Brand Yarmouth 9.97 4 Derick Close Motherwell 9.92 5 Len Williams Leicester 9.78
National Trophy For the National Trophy see the 1953 Speedway National League.
Midland Cup For the Midland Cup see the 1953 Speedway National League.
Riders & final averages
Coventry
9.08 8.00 7.72 7.71 6.60 6.11 6.73 6.04 5.51
Edinburgh
10.36 8.32 7.38 7.17 Roy Bester 7.05 5.89 3.62 3.34 3.20 2.85
Glasgow
10.81 8.04 8.94 6.67 6.18 6.11 5.13 4.79 4.77 2.67
Leicester
9.78 6.20 5.71 5.69 5.56 5.48 5.33 5.22 5.04 (James Goldingay) 4.81 2.56 2.10
Liverpool (withdrew)
8.69 7.19 5.81 5.64 Fred Wills 5.61 5.57 4.84 3.51 2.84 0.31
Motherwell
9.92 8.55 8.50 7.32 6.92 6.60 5.80 4.77 4.07 3.20
Poole
9.59 9.06 8.80 7.01 7.38 7.63 5.95 5.51 5.18 4.00
Stoke
8.44 7.90 7.68 7.41 6.31 6.17 6.08 Fred Wills 5.60 5.05 4.85 4.00 3.71 2.21 1.26
Wolverhampton
8.04 8.00 7.75 6.78 6.38 5.77 5.59 4.54 3.17 2.86 2.22 1.67
Yarmouth
9.97 8.67 8.60 7.88 7.20 6.58 5.73 5.41 5.13 4.40 3.90 3.18 4.00
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References