The British League was the main motorcycle speedway league in Britain from its formation in 1965 until 1995 when British speedway was restructured. It initially had a single division, with a second division starting in 1968 (which was renamed the New National League in 1975 and subsequently the National League).
The British League was formed in 1965 following the merger of the National League and the Provincial League. Matches were held over a series of races, with two riders from each team taking part in each race. In 1995 it was replaced by the Premier League for two years before the sport was restructured into three tiers with the formation of the Elite League in 1997. The Championship was decided on a league table basis.
Champions Season Champions Second Third 1965 West Ham Hammers Wimbledon Dons Coventry Bees 1966 Halifax Dukes Coventry Bees Swindon Robins 1967 Swindon Robins Coventry Bees West Ham Hammers 1968 Coventry Bees Hackney Hawks Exeter Falcons 1969 Poole Pirates Belle Vue Aces Wimbledon Dons 1970 Belle Vue Aces Wimbledon Dons Coventry Bees 1971 Belle Vue Aces Leicester Lions Coventry Bees 1972 Belle Vue Aces Reading Racers King's Lynn Stars 1973 Reading Racers Sheffield Tigers King's Lynn Stars 1974 Exeter Falcons Belle Vue Aces Ipswich Witches 1975 Ipswich Witches Belle Vue Aces Newport 1976 Ipswich Witches Belle Vue Aces Exeter Falcons 1977 White City Rebels Exeter Falcons Reading Racers 1978 Coventry Bees Belle Vue Aces Hull Vikings 1979 Coventry Bees Hull Vikings Cradley Heath Heathens 1980 Reading Racers Hackney Hawks Belle Vue Aces 1981 Cradley Heathens Ipswich Witches Swindon Robins 1982 Belle Vue Aces Cradley Heathens Ipswich Witches 1983 Cradley Heath Heathens Ipswich Witches Coventry Bees 1984 Ipswich Witches Belle Vue Aces Cradley Heath Heathens 1985 Oxford Cheetahs Sheffield Tigers Coventry Bees 1986 Oxford Cheetahs Cradley Heathens Wolverhampton Wolves 1987 Coventry Bees Cradley Heathens Swindon Robins 1988 Coventry Bees Belle Vue Aces Cradley Heath Heathens 1989 Oxford Cheetahs Wolverhampton Wolves Cradley Heath Heathens 1990 Reading Racers Wolverhampton Wolves Belle Vue Aces 1991 Wolverhampton Wolves Bradford Dukes Cradley Heath Heathens 1992 Reading Racers Bradford Dukes Poole Pirates 1993 Belle Vue Aces Wolverhampton Wolves Eastbourne Eagles 1994 Poole Pirates Eastbourne Eagles Wolverhampton Wolves
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions List of United Kingdom Speedway League Riders' champions British League Riders' Championship
References
External links speedwaygb.co - Official BSPA (British Speedway Promoters Association) Homepage