1955 Speedway National League

The league consisted of seven teams after the Harringay Racers ceased competitive speedway racing at the end of 1954. Match line-ups were reduced from eight riders to seven riders. Wimbledon won their second successive National League Championship. West Ham closed at the end of the season, blaming poor attendances.{{Cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/national-league-1955.html|title = Speedway Archive: National League 1955}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1955.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=12 August 2021}}{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=12 August 2021}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BV|team2=BIR|team3=BRA|team4=NOR|team5=WEM|team6=WH|team7=WIM

|name_BV=Belle Vue

|match_BV_BIR=64–32

|match_BV_BRA=55–41

|match_BV_NOR=55–41

|match_BV_WEM=57–39

|match_BV_WH=51–44

|match_BV_WIM=49–47

|name_BIR=Birmingham

|match_BIR_BV=53–43

|match_BIR_BRA=52–44

|match_BIR_NOR=51–45

|match_BIR_WEM=50–45

|match_BIR_WH=64–32

|match_BIR_WIM=43–53

|name_BRA=Bradford

|match_BRA_BV=61–35

|match_BRA_BIR=62–34

|match_BRA_NOR=68–28

|match_BRA_WEM=46–50

|match_BRA_WH=56–39

|match_BRA_WIM=51–45

|name_NOR=Norwich

|match_NOR_BV=47–49

|match_NOR_BIR=62–34

|match_NOR_BRA=61–35

|match_NOR_WEM=46–50

|match_NOR_WH=54–42

|match_NOR_WIM=42–54

|name_WEM=Wembley

|match_WEM_BV=66–30

|match_WEM_BIR=68–28

|match_WEM_BRA=61–35

|match_WEM_NOR=66–30

|match_WEM_WH=50–46

|match_WEM_WIM=49–47

|name_WH=West Ham

|match_WH_BV=47–49

|match_WH_BIR=48–48

|match_WH_BRA=59–37

|match_WH_NOR=50–46

|match_WH_WEM=46–50

|match_WH_WIM=42–54

|name_WIM=Wimbledon

|match_WIM_BV=72–24

|match_WIM_BIR=73–22

|match_WIM_BRA=59–37

|match_WIM_NOR=70–26

|match_WIM_WEM=49–46

|match_WIM_WH=63–33

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1955.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1955 fixtures & results |access-date=21 January 2025 }}

}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BV|team2=BIR|team3=BRA|team4=NOR|team5=WEM|team6=WH|team7=WIM

|name_BV=Belle Vue

|match_BV_BIR=71–25

|match_BV_BRA=63–33

|match_BV_NOR=51–45

|match_BV_WEM=53–43

|match_BV_WH=62–34

|match_BV_WIM=55–41

|name_BIR=Birmingham

|match_BIR_BV=50–46

|match_BIR_BRA=47–49

|match_BIR_NOR=50–43

|match_BIR_WEM=55–41

|match_BIR_WH=46–50

|match_BIR_WIM=48–48

|name_BRA=Bradford

|match_BRA_BV=63–33

|match_BRA_BIR=52–44

|match_BRA_NOR=47–49

|match_BRA_WEM=55–41

|match_BRA_WH=51–45

|match_BRA_WIM=52–44

|name_NOR=Norwich

|match_NOR_BV=41–55

|match_NOR_BIR=64–32

|match_NOR_BRA=60–34

|match_NOR_WEM=51–45

|match_NOR_WH=53–43

|match_NOR_WIM=48–48

|name_WEM=Wembley

|match_WEM_BV=38–57*

|match_WEM_BIR=43–53*

|match_WEM_BRA=41–45*

|match_WEM_NOR=54–42*

|match_WEM_WH=46–50*

|match_WEM_WIM=46–49*

|name_WH=West Ham

|match_WH_BV=62–34

|match_WH_BIR=50–45

|match_WH_BRA=60–36

|match_WH_NOR=37–59

|match_WH_WEM=48–48

|match_WH_WIM=47–49

|name_WIM=Wimbledon

|match_WIM_BV=50–45

|match_WIM_BIR=67–28

|match_WIM_BRA=56–40

|match_WIM_NOR=53–43

|match_WIM_WEM=51–45

|match_WIM_WH=44–52

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1955.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1955 fixtures & results |access-date=21 January 2025 }}

}}

• Wembley Lions were forced to hold one set of their home fixtures at the away team's venue due to the ongoing installation of floodlights at Wembley Stadium from May.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19550503/261/0011 |title=Chelsea Five in London XI |website=Daily Express |date=3 May 1955 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 January 2025 }}

The 1955 National Trophy was the 18th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second-tier clubs, stage two was for the top-tier clubs. Norwich won the second and final stage and were therefore declared the 1955 National Trophy champions.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1955.html|title=1955 National Trophy|publisher=Speedway archive}}

• For Stage One - see Stage One

First round

Semifinals

First leg

{{football box

|date = 8 September 1955

|team1 = Wembley Lions
Brian Crutcher 15
Eric Williams 9
Freddie Williams 6
Ken Adams 4
Jimmy Gooch 4
Tommy Price 3
Trevor Redmond 2
Eric French 0

|score = 43 – 64

|report = {{cite web |url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1955.html|title=1955 National Trophy|website=Speedway Archive|access-date=12 August 2021}}

|team2 = Norwich Stars
Ove Fundin 16
Cyril Roger 11
Aub Lawson 10
Billy Bales 10
Harry Edwards 6
Phil Clarke 6
Fred Brand 4
Don Lawson 1

|stadium = Wembley Stadium

}}

Second leg

{{football box

|date = 17 September 1955

|team1 = Norwich Stars
Phil Clarke 15
Cyril Roger 9
Fred Brand 6
Harry Edwards 4
Reg Trott (guest) 5
Billy Bales 3
Don Lawson 2
Malcolm Flood 1

|score = 45 – 63

|report =

|team2 = Wembley Lions
Tommy Price 13
Brian Crutcher 11
Trevor Redmond 11
Eric French 8
Jimmy Gooch 8
Freddie Williams 5
Ken Adams 4
Eric Williams 3

|stadium = The Firs Stadium

}}

Norwich were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 109–106.

Birmingham won the Midland Cup for a third consecutive year. It consisted of four teams, there was one team from division 1 and three teams from division 2.{{cite news |title=Hunters triumph but trophy lost |work=Leicester Evening Mail |date=1 October 1955 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19551001/384/0009 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=18 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}

First round

Semi final round

First leg

{{football box

|date = 17 September 1955

|team1 = Birmingham
Ron Mountford 15
Alan Hunt 13
Eric Boothroyd 13
Jim Tolley 12
Dennis Newton 6
Harry Bastable 6
Derrick Tailby 1

|score = 66–36

|report =

|team2 = Leicester
Ken McKinlay 16
Len Williams 8
Charlie Barsby 4
Ron Phillips 4
Barry East 2
Derek Close 1
Gordon McGregor 1

|stadium = Perry Barr Stadium

|attendance =

}}

Second leg

{{football box

|date = 30 September 1955

|team1 = Leicester
Ken McKinlay 18
Len Williams 12
Gordon McGregor 12
Ron Phillips 6
Fred Brand 5
Barry East 4
Charlie Barsby 3

|score = 60–42

|report =

|team2 = Birmingham
Junior Bainbridge 14
Jim Tolley 6
Alan Hunt 6
Eric Boothroyd 6
Harry Bastable 5
Dennis Newton 2
Derrick Tailby 3

|stadium = Leicester Stadium

|attendance =

}}

Birmingham won on aggregate 108–96

Belle Vue

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Peter Craven}} 8.96
• {{player||NZL|Ron Johnston}} 8.61
• {{player||ENG|Ken Sharples}} 8.43
• {{player||NZL|Bob Duckworth}} 6.69
• {{player||ENG|Harry Edwards}} 5.05
• {{player||ENG|Peter Williams}} 4.93
• {{player||ENG|Fred Rogers}} 4.76
• {{player||ENG|Dick Fisher}} 4.70
• {{player||ENG|Tink Maynard}} 4.47
• {{player||ENG|Don Cuppleditch}} 4.45
• {{player||ENG|Frank Johnson}} 1.60

{{div col end}}

Birmingham

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Alan Hunt}} 7.94
• {{player||ENG|Ron Mountford}} 7.87
• {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Doug Davies 7.08
• {{player||AUS|Graham Warren}} 5.31
• {{player||ENG|Eric Boothroyd}} 5.21
• {{player||ENG|Harry Bastable}} 5.11
• {{player||ENG|Jim Tolley}} 4.35
• {{player||ENG|Derrick Tailby}} 2.77

{{div col end}}

Bradford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Arthur Wright}} 9.14
• {{player||ENG|Arthur Forrest}} 8.91
• {{player||ENG|Eddie Rigg}} 7.85
• {{player||ENG|Guy Allott}} 6.18
• {{player||ENG|Keith Milner}} 6.04
• {{player||ENG|Des Haswell}} 5.04
• {{player||ENG|Al Allison}} 4.28
• {{player||ENG|Ron Clarke}} 3.57
• {{player||ENG|Jack Hughes}} 3.27
• {{player||ENG|Nigel Boocock}} 2.24

{{div col end}}

Norwich

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||SWE|Ove Fundin}} 10.00
• {{player||ENG|Billy Bales}} 8.33
• {{player||AUS|Aub Lawson}} 7.38
• {{player||ENG|Phil Clarke}} 7.32
• {{player||ENG|Cyril Roger}} 6.51
• {{player||ENG|Harry Edwards}} 4.80
• {{player||ENG|Fred Brand}} 4.58
• {{player||AUS|Don Lawson}} 2.49
• {{player||ENG|Malcolm Flood}} 1.52

{{div col end}}

Wembley

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||ENG|Brian Crutcher}} 9.34
• {{player||ENG|Tommy Price}} 7.31
• {{player||WAL|Eric Williams}} 6.95
• {{player||WAL|Freddie Williams}} 6.91
• {{player||NZL|Trevor Redmond}} 6.13
• {{player||IRE|Eric French}} 5.88
• {{player||ENG|Ken Adams}} 4.35
• {{player||ENG|Jimmy Gooch}} 4.00

{{div col end}}

West Ham

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||AUS|Jack Young}} 10.79
• {{player||ENG|Split Waterman}} 7.46
• {{player||ENG|Gerry Hussey}} 6.87
• {{player||ENG|Bert Roger}} 5.79
• {{player||ENG|Alan Smith}} 5.51
• {{player||ENG|Wally Green}} 5.44
• {{player||AUS|Jack Biggs}} 4.93
• {{player||GGY|Johnny Fitzpatrick}} 2.15
• {{player||ENG|Terry Courtnell}} 1.73
• {{player||ENG|Howdy Byford}} 0.73

{{div col end}}

Wimbledon

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{player||NZL|Ronnie Moore}} 10.77
• {{player||NZL|Barry Briggs}} 9.79
• {{player||AUS|Peter Moore}} 7.76
• {{player||ENG|Ron How}} 7.63
• {{player||ENG|Cyril Maidment}} 5.54
• {{player||ENG|Les McGillivray}} 5.33
• {{player||ENG|Cyril Brine}} 5.16
• {{player||ENG|Alf Hagon}} 4.98
• {{player||ENG|Reg Trott}} 1.14

{{div col end}}

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

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}

{{National League speedway seasons 1932–1964}}

Category:Speedway National League

Category:1955 in speedway

Speedway National League