The 1956 Southern Area League was the third season of the regional third tier/division of speedway racing in the United Kingdom British teams. Brafield Flying Foxes were no longer competitors with Southern Rovers taking their place. Southern Rovers had no track and raced all their 'home' fixtures on away tracks.
Summary Rye House Roosters were the champions for the second consecutive season.
Although the Southern Area League continued, it became the second tier division instead of the third tier division. There was not another third division of British speedway until 1996 when the Conference was inaugurated.
Final table pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Rye House Roosters 12 8 1 3 172 Eastbourne Eagles 12 6 1 5 133 Southern Rovers 12 4 2 6 104 California Poppies 12 4 0 8 8
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
Riders' Championship Leo McAuliffe won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at Rye House Stadium on 30 September, after initially being postponed on the 9 September because of rain.
Pos. Rider Club Pts1 Leo McAuliffe Eastbourne 142 Jim Heard Eastbourne12+33 Dave SlaterRye House 12+2 4 Pete Mould California12+1 5 Gerry King Rye House86 Brian Brett Rye House87 Jimmy Gleed California78 Vic Ridgeon Rye House79 Ron Webb California510 Eric Eadon Southern Rovers511 Tom ReaderEastbourne 512 Neil Roberts (res)Southern Rovers 513 Bobby Croombs Rye House414 Ross Gilbertson California415 Dave Collett Eastbourne316 Jim Chalkley Rye House217 Ron Walton California218 Colin Gooddy (res) Southern Rovers1
Southern Area League Cup The 1956 Southern Area League Cup was won by Rye House Roosters.
First round Team one Team two ScoreSouthern Rovers Rye House 50–58EastbourneCalifornia 46–61 Final First leg
Second leg
Riders & final averages
California
Pete Mold 9.67 Gil Goldfinch 9.50 Ross Gilbertson 8.86 Ron Sharp 8.57 Jimmy Gleed 6.93 Ron Walton 4.91 Phil Sheppard 4.47 Roy Gutteridge 3.50 John Day 3.33 Ron Webb 2.88
Eastbourne
Leo McAuliffe 8.57 Jimmy Heard 7.14 Tom Reader 7.00 Gerry Bridson 5.87 Dave Collett 5.33 Bob Bunney 4.80 Jim Preddy 2.00
Rye House
Al Sparrey 9.67 Vic Ridgeon 9.50 Bobby Croombs 8.60 Dave Slater 9.67 Brian Brett 7.56 Gerry King 7.20 Jim Chalkley 5.80 Les Searle 2.00
Southern Rovers
Eric Hockaday 9.47 Tommy Sweetman 9.09 Colin Gooddy 8.52 Brian Meredith 7.33 Eric Eadon 7.11 Brian Miller 5.33 Tony Eadon 4.31 Mike Lawrence 4.24 Neil Roberts 4.00 Hank Bird 3.08
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References