The 1952 National League Division One was the 18th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

Summary Norwich Stars joined the league. Wembley Lions won their fourth consecutive title and their seventh overall. Birmingham recorded their highest league finish to date by taking the runner-up spot.

While riding for Wimbledon, on 22 July 1952 the American Ernie Roccio was killed after crashing into the fence at high speed at West Ham Stadium, it has been reported that he died instantly but the newspaper report states he died in hospital.

Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Wembley Lions 36 28 1 7 572 Birmingham Brummies 36 23 0 13 463 Harringay Racers 36 21 3 12 454 West Ham Hammers 36 18 2 16 385 Wimbledon Dons 36 17 2 17 366 Belle Vue Aces 36 18 0 18 367 New Cross Rangers 36 15 1 20 318 Bristol Bulldogs 36 13 0 23 269 Bradford Tudors 36 11 1 24 2310 Norwich Stars 36 10 2 24 22

Fixtures & results A fixtures

B fixtures

Top Ten Riders (League only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ronnie Moore Wimbledon 11.27 2 Jack Young West Ham 10.88 3 Bob Leverenz Norwich 10.29 4 Alan Hunt Birmingham 10.00 5 Split Waterman Harringay 9.96 6 Freddie Williams Wembley 9.76 7 Tommy Price Wembley 9.31 8 Cyril Brine Wimbledon 9.00 9 Eddie Rigg Bradford 8.82 10 Bert Roger New Cross 8.79

National Trophy 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. Harringay won the third and final stage and were therefore declared the 1952 National Trophy champions.

For Stage One - see Stage One For Stage Two - see Stage Two

First round Date Team one Score Team two19/07Norwich 74-34 Poole12/07 Birmingham 79-29 Bristol04/07 Bristol 46-62 Birmingham05/07 Bradford Odsal 67-40 West Ham01/07 West Ham 66-42 Bradford Odsal Second round Date Team one Score Team two11/08 Birmingham 69-39 Belle Vue26/07 Belle Vue 59-49 Birmingham26/07 Bradford Odsal 58-50 Wembley26/07 Poole 72-36 New Cross23/07 New Cross 75-33 Poole21/07 Wimbledon 57-51 Harringay18/07 Harringay 57-50 Wimbledon17/07 Wembley 66-41 Bradford Odsal Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two21/08 Wembley 59-49 Birmingham16/08 Birmingham 69-39 Wembley15/08 Harringay 57-51 New Cross13/08 New Cross 43-64 Harringay

Final

First leg

Second leg

Harringay were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 123–92.

London Cup First round Team one Score Team twoWest Ham 63–45, 49–58 New Cross

Semi final round Team one Score Team twoWembley 49–59, 53–55 WimbledonHarringay 56–51, 54–53 West Ham

Final

First leg

Second leg

Harringay won on aggregate 113–100

Riders & final averages Belle Vue

Henry Long 8.63 8.37 7.40 6.89 7.16 6.63 6.15 6.69 5.28 5.25 2.60 2.00

Birmingham

10.00 8.00 7.78 7.77 7.33 7.28 6.08 5.93 (James Goldingay) 4.86 4.00 3.50

Bradford

8.82 8.36 7.75 6.29 6.27 5.50 4.65 4.27 3.84 3.50 2.82 2.53

Bristol

8.29 6.85 6.36 6.11 5.87 5.50 5.23 5.00 5.04 4.55

Harringay

9.96 8.47 8.37 7.25 6.78 6.28 5.85 5.66 5.52 2.80

New Cross

8.79 8.60 7.66 7.61 7.26 5.66 5.18 4.53 4.49 4.15

Norwich

10.29 8.20 7.41 7.05 4.70 5.09 (James Goldingay) 4.82 4.24 4.00 3.22 3.11 2.71

Wembley

9.76 9.31 8.23 7.74 7.41 7.32 6.79 4.92 1.60

West Ham

10.88 8.56 7.75 6.37 5.49 5.00 4.26 2.86 2.46 1.40

Wimbledon

11.27 9.60 9.00 8.68 6.84 5.74 5.66 5.25 4.20 3.58 3.12 1.71 1.23 0.83

See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)

References