The 1952 National League Division Two was the seventh post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.[1]
Summary
The post-war boom was now fading and the League was shortened to 12 teams with Division Three now defunct and continued only on a regional basis. Previous champions Norwich Stars had been promoted to Division One. Newcastle, Walthamstow and Halifax had closed whilst Fleetwood Flyers changed to Fleetwood Knights and ran only open meetings. Poole Pirates were the only new entrant, promoted from the former lower tier.[2]
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. Poole won stage two and therefore qualified for stage three.[3]
Second Division qualifying first round
Date
Team one
Score
Team two
05/06
Plymouth
57-51
Poole
02/06
Poole
67-41
Plymouth
24/05
Coventry
71-36
Motherwell
24/05
Stoke
71-37
Cradley Heath
23/05
Cradley Heath
67-41
Stoke
23/05
Motherwell
61-47
Coventry
19/05
Liverpool
71-37
Edinburgh
17/05
Edinburgh
67-41
Liverpool
13/05
Yarmouth
61-47
Leicester
09/05
Leicester
71-37
Yarmouth
Second Division Qualifying Second round
Date
Team one
Score
Team two
19/06
Oxford
53-55
Poole
09/06
Poole
78-30
Oxford
07/06
Coventry
52-55
Leicester
07/06
Stoke
55-52
Liverpool
06/06
Leicester
55-53
Coventry
02/06
Liverpool
75.5-32.5
Stoke
24/05
Glasgow Ashfield
52-56
Glasgow White City
21/05
Glasgow White City
65-43
Glasgow Ashfield
Second Division Qualifying semifinals
Date
Team one
Score
Team two
20/06
Leicester
46-62
Glasgow White City
18/06
Glasgow White City
53-55
Leicester
25/06
Poole
85-23
Liverpool
Second Division Qualifying final
First leg
Poole Pirates Ken Middleditch 13 Brian Crutcher 12 Tony Lewis 11 Jimmy Squibb 11 Alan Kidd 8 Bill Holden 4 Terry Small 2 Roy Craighead 0
61 – 47
Glasgow White City Tigers Junior Bainbridge 14 Tommy Miller 13 Don Wilkinson 8 Ken McKinlay 8 Len Nicholson 4 Alf McIntosh 1 Peter Dykes 1 Stuart Irvine 0
Glasgow White City Tigers Ken McKinlay 16 Tommy Miller 15 Junior Bainbridge 12 Alf McIntosh 6 Len Nicholson 4 Don Wilkinson 3 Peter Dykes 3 Stuart Irvine 0
58 – 50
Poole Pirates Brian Crutcher 13 Jimmy Squibb 13 Ken Middleditch 12 Bill Holden 4 Terry Small 4 Alan Kidd 2 Tony Lewis 1 Roy Craighead 1
Coventry won the Midland Cup, which consisted of eight teams. There was one team from division 1, five teams from division 2 and two teams from division 3.
First round
Team one
Team two
Score
Wolverhampton
Long Eaton
69–26, 59–37
Second round
Team one
Team two
Score
Leicester
Stoke
54–42, 42–53
Oxford
Wolverhampton
62–34, 45–51
Cradley
Coventry
50–46, 34–62
Semi final round
Team one
Team two
Score
Oxford
Coventry
25–71, 26–70
Birmingham
Leicester
70–26, 63–33
Final
First leg
Birmingham Dan Forsberg 14 Arthur Payne 13 Ron Mountford 8 Lionel Watling 6 Eric Boothroyd 5 Cyril Page 4 Ivor Davies 2 Ron Mason 1
53–43
Coventry Johnnie Reason 13 Vic Emms 7 Peter Brough 5 Stan Williams 5 Les Hewitt 5 Derrick Tailby 5 Charlie New 2 Jack Wright 1
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