1971 British League season#British League Knockout Cup

{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway season}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox speedway league season

| competition = British League

| competitors = 19

| domesticcup1 = Champions

| domesticcup1 winners = Belle Vue Aces

| domesticcup2 = Knockout Cup

| domesticcup2 winners = Hackney Hawks

| domesticcup3 = Individual

| domesticcup3 winners = Ivan Mauger

| domesticcup4 = London Cup

| domesticcup4 winners = Hackney Hawks

| domesticcup5 = Midland Cup

| domesticcup5 winners = Coventry Bees

| highest average = Ivan Mauger

| leagues below = British League (Div 2)

| prevseason = 1970

| nextseason = 1972

}}

The 1971 British League season was the 37th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh season known as the British League.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}}{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|pages=129–133|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}

Summary

Reading Racers moved up from Division 2 after taking the Newcastle Diamonds division 1 licence.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004973/19710106/011/0011 |title=Reading switch |website=Western Daily Press |date=6 January 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=100|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}} Belle Vue Aces retained their title to become the first team to win the title for the second time. The team included three time world champion Ivan Mauger, Swedish international Sören Sjösten, Tommy Roper, Eric Broadbelt, Chris Pusey and a 17 year old Peter Collins in his debut season.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=HISTORY ARCHIVE|website=British Speedway|access-date=1 July 2021}}

Final table

class=wikitable width="400"

! Pos

! Team

! PL

! W

! D

! L

! Pts

1

| Belle Vue Aces

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 25

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 10

| align="center" | 51

2

| Leicester Lions

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 22

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | 47

3

| Coventry Bees

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 23

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" | 46

4

| Sheffield Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 43

5

| Swindon Robins

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 40

6

| Reading Racers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 41

7

| Hackney Hawks

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | 38

8

| Newport Wasps

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 37

9

| Wembley Lions

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 37

10

| Wimbledon Dons

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 36

11

| Poole Pirates

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 35

12

| Wolverhampton Wolves

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 34

13

| King's Lynn Stars

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 34

14

| Halifax Dukes

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 32

15

| Exeter Falcons

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 20

| align="center" | 31

16

| Glasgow Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 20

| align="center" | 25

17

| Oxford Cheetahs

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 23

| align="center" | 20

18

| Cradley Heath Heathens

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 8

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | 24

| align="center" | 20

19

| West Ham Hammers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 26

| align="center" | 19

M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

Fixtures and results

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BV|team2=COV|team3=CRA|team4=EX|team5=GLA|team6=HAC|team7=HAL|team8=KL|team9=LEI|team10=NW|team11=OX|team12=PP|team13=RR|team14=SHE|team15=SWI|team16=WEM||team17=WH|team18=WIM|team19=WOL

|name_BV=Belle Vue

|match_BV_COV=43–35

|match_BV_CRA=46–32

|match_BV_EX=51–27

|match_BV_GLA=46–32

|match_BV_HAC=42–36

|match_BV_HAL=48–30

|match_BV_KL=42–36

|match_BV_LEI=35–37

|match_BV_NW=48–30

|match_BV_OX=61–17

|match_BV_PP=46–32

|match_BV_RR=46–32

|match_BV_SHE=48–30

|match_BV_SWI=55–23

|match_BV_WEM=59–19

|match_BV_WH=55–23

|match_BV_WIM=59–19

|match_BV_WOL=49–29

|name_COV=Coventry

|match_COV_BV=41–37

|match_COV_CRA=52–26

|match_COV_EX=62–16

|match_COV_GLA=48–30

|match_COV_HAC=47–31

|match_COV_HAL=43–35

|match_COV_KL=47–30

|match_COV_LEI=43–35

|match_COV_NW=55–23

|match_COV_OX=52–26

|match_COV_PP=41–37

|match_COV_RR=52–26

|match_COV_SHE=49–29

|match_COV_SWI=49–29

|match_COV_WEM=45–33

|match_COV_WH=51–27

|match_COV_WIM=47–31

|match_COV_WOL=36–42

|name_CRA=Cradley

|match_CRA_BV=33–45

|match_CRA_COV=44–34

|match_CRA_EX=39–38

|match_CRA_GLA=38–40

|match_CRA_HAC=39–39

|match_CRA_HAL=49–29

|match_CRA_KL=34–44

|match_CRA_LEI=39–39

|match_CRA_NW=40–37

|match_CRA_OX=39–39

|match_CRA_PP=41–37

|match_CRA_RR=38–40

|match_CRA_SHE=41–37

|match_CRA_SWI=36–42

|match_CRA_WEM=39–39

|match_CRA_WH=49–29

|match_CRA_WIM=37–41

|match_CRA_WOL=42–36

|name_EX=Exeter

|match_EX_BV=40–38

|match_EX_COV=38–40

|match_EX_CRA=55–23

|match_EX_GLA=52–25

|match_EX_HAC=42–36

|match_EX_HAL=41–37

|match_EX_KL=42–36

|match_EX_LEI=36–41

|match_EX_NW=40–38

|match_EX_OX=52–26

|match_EX_PP=49–29

|match_EX_RR=45–33

|match_EX_SHE=43–35

|match_EX_SWI=36–42

|match_EX_WEM=47–31

|match_EX_WH=52–26

|match_EX_WIM=46–32

|match_EX_WOL=37–39

|name_GLA=Glasgow

|match_GLA_BV=32–46

|match_GLA_COV=49–29

|match_GLA_CRA=47–30

|match_GLA_EX=40–38

|match_GLA_HAC=52–26

|match_GLA_HAL=39–39

|match_GLA_KL=35–43

|match_GLA_LEI=47–1

|match_GLA_NW=41–37

|match_GLA_OX=54–24

|match_GLA_PP=37–41

|match_GLA_RR=51–27

|match_GLA_SHE=41–37

|match_GLA_SWI=50–28

|match_GLA_WEM=45–33

|match_GLA_WH=54–24

|match_GLA_WIM=49–29

|match_GLA_WOL=41–37

|name_HAC=Hackney

|match_HAC_BV=36–42

|match_HAC_COV=42–36

|match_HAC_CRA=48–30

|match_HAC_EX=40–38

|match_HAC_GLA=41–37

|match_HAC_HAL=46–32

|match_HAC_KL=39–38

|match_HAC_LEI=38–40

|match_HAC_NW=46–32

|match_HAC_OX=41–37

|match_HAC_PP=52–26

|match_HAC_RR=43–35

|match_HAC_SHE=46–32

|match_HAC_SWI=33–45

|match_HAC_WEM=38–40

|match_HAC_WH=56–22

|match_HAC_WIM=41–37

|match_HAC_WOL=36–42

|name_HAL=Halifax

|match_HAL_BV=41–37

|match_HAL_COV=43–35

|match_HAL_CRA=42–36

|match_HAL_EX=44–34

|match_HAL_GLA=41–37

|match_HAL_HAC=49–29

|match_HAL_KL=49–29

|match_HAL_LEI=34–44

|match_HAL_NW=46–32

|match_HAL_OX=50–28

|match_HAL_PP=55–23

|match_HAL_RR=46–32

|match_HAL_SHE=39–39

|match_HAL_SWI=40–38

|match_HAL_WEM=48–30

|match_HAL_WH=42–36

|match_HAL_WIM=50–28

|match_HAL_WOL=44–34

|name_KL=King's Lynn

|match_KL_BV=42–36

|match_KL_COV=38–40

|match_KL_CRA=47–31

|match_KL_EX=40–38

|match_KL_GLA=41–37

|match_KL_HAC=39–39

|match_KL_HAL=53–25

|match_KL_LEI=36–42

|match_KL_NW=34–44

|match_KL_OX=42–36

|match_KL_PP=39–39

|match_KL_RR=41–37

|match_KL_SHE=41.5–35.5

|match_KL_SWI=44–34

|match_KL_WEM=48–30

|match_KL_WH=42–36

|match_KL_WIM=42–36

|match_KL_WOL=37–39

|name_LEI=Leicester

|match_LEI_BV=38–40

|match_LEI_COV=44–33

|match_LEI_CRA=43–35

|match_LEI_EX=48–30

|match_LEI_GLA=47–31

|match_LEI_HAC=47–30

|match_LEI_HAL=57–21

|match_LEI_KL=42–36

|match_LEI_NW=49–29

|match_LEI_OX=47–31

|match_LEI_PP=38–40

|match_LEI_RR=37–41

|match_LEI_SHE=38–40

|match_LEI_SWI=47–31

|match_LEI_WEM=39–39

|match_LEI_WH=48–30

|match_LEI_WIM=41–37

|match_LEI_WOL=45–33

|name_NW=Newport

|match_NW_BV=40–38

|match_NW_COV=40–38

|match_NW_CRA=43–35

|match_NW_EX=59–19

|match_NW_GLA=40–38

|match_NW_HAC=37–41

|match_NW_HAL=48–30

|match_NW_KL=51–27

|match_NW_LEI=46–32

|match_NW_OX=43–35

|match_NW_PP=44–34

|match_NW_RR=43–35

|match_NW_SHE=40–38

|match_NW_SWI=47–31

|match_NW_WEM=40–38

|match_NW_WH=48–30

|match_NW_WIM=42–36

|match_NW_WOL=42–36

|name_OX=Oxford

|match_OX_BV=42–36

|match_OX_COV=38–40

|match_OX_CRA=40–38

|match_OX_EX=37–41

|match_OX_GLA=40–38

|match_OX_HAC=41–37

|match_OX_HAL=45–31

|match_OX_KL=42–36

|match_OX_LEI=33–45

|match_OX_NW=42–36

|match_OX_PP=44–34

|match_OX_RR=37–40

|match_OX_SHE=48–30

|match_OX_SWI=36–41

|match_OX_WEM=38–40

|match_OX_WH=45–33

|match_OX_WIM=39–38

|match_OX_WOL=53–24

|name_PP=Poole

|match_PP_BV=52–26

|match_PP_COV=50–28

|match_PP_CRA=52–26

|match_PP_EX=43–35

|match_PP_GLA=56–20

|match_PP_HAC=38–40

|match_PP_HAL=43–35

|match_PP_KL=42–36

|match_PP_LEI=41–37

|match_PP_NW=48–30

|match_PP_OX=49–29

|match_PP_RR=39–39

|match_PP_SHE=38–40

|match_PP_SWI=40–38

|match_PP_WEM=44–34

|match_PP_WH=46–32

|match_PP_WIM=36–42

|match_PP_WOL=45–33

|name_RR=Reading

|match_RR_BV=38–39

|match_RR_COV=49–29

|match_RR_CRA=42–36

|match_RR_EX=42–36

|match_RR_GLA=49–29

|match_RR_HAC=38–38

|match_RR_HAL=45–33

|match_RR_KL=48–30

|match_RR_LEI=44–34

|match_RR_NW=41–37

|match_RR_OX=48.5–28.5

|match_RR_PP=57–21

|match_RR_SHE=52–26

|match_RR_SWI=39–39

|match_RR_WEM=40–38

|match_RR_WH=46–32

|match_RR_WIM=51–27

|match_RR_WOL=41–37

|name_SHE=Sheffield

|match_SHE_BV=41–37

|match_SHE_COV=43–35

|match_SHE_CRA=43–35

|match_SHE_EX=42–36

|match_SHE_GLA=46–32

|match_SHE_HAC=44–34

|match_SHE_HAL=46–32

|match_SHE_KL=40–38

|match_SHE_LEI=44–34

|match_SHE_NW=44–34

|match_SHE_OX=61–17

|match_SHE_PP=48–30

|match_SHE_RR=43–35

|match_SHE_SWI=47–31

|match_SHE_WEM=44–34

|match_SHE_WH=56–22

|match_SHE_WIM=45.5–32.5

|match_SHE_WOL=50–28

|name_SWI=Swindon

|match_SWI_BV=36–41

|match_SWI_COV=48–30

|match_SWI_CRA=42–36

|match_SWI_EX=37–41

|match_SWI_GLA=43–35

|match_SWI_HAC=39–39

|match_SWI_HAL=42–36

|match_SWI_KL=35–43

|match_SWI_LEI=38–40

|match_SWI_NW=47–31

|match_SWI_OX=49–29

|match_SWI_PP=42–36

|match_SWI_RR=45–33

|match_SWI_SHE=41–37

|match_SWI_WEM=43–34

|match_SWI_WH=47–31

|match_SWI_WIM=50–28

|match_SWI_WOL=42–36

|name_WEM=Wembley

|match_WEM_BV=30–48

|match_WEM_COV=37–41

|match_WEM_CRA=51–27

|match_WEM_EX=54–24

|match_WEM_GLA=44–34

|match_WEM_HAC=50–28

|match_WEM_HAL=52–26

|match_WEM_KL=47–31

|match_WEM_LEI=39–39

|match_WEM_NW=45–33

|match_WEM_OX=44–34

|match_WEM_PP=37–41

|match_WEM_RR=46–32

|match_WEM_SHE=45–33

|match_WEM_SWI=43–35

|match_WEM_WH=49–29

|match_WEM_WIM=49–29

|match_WEM_WOL=48–30

|name_WH=West Ham

|match_WH_BV=34–44

|match_WH_COV=36–42

|match_WH_CRA=46–32

|match_WH_EX=40–38

|match_WH_GLA=40–38

|match_WH_HAC=32–46

|match_WH_HAL=42–36

|match_WH_KL=41–37

|match_WH_LEI=37–41

|match_WH_NW=38–40

|match_WH_OX=52–26

|match_WH_PP=40–38

|match_WH_RR=39–39

|match_WH_SHE=38–40

|match_WH_SWI=37–41

|match_WH_WEM=32–46

|match_WH_WIM=41–37

|match_WH_WOL=43–35

|name_WIM=Wimbledon

|match_WIM_BV=43–35

|match_WIM_COV=50–28

|match_WIM_CRA=40–38

|match_WIM_EX=46–32

|match_WIM_GLA=47–31

|match_WIM_HAC=33–44

|match_WIM_HAL=48–30

|match_WIM_KL=41–37

|match_WIM_LEI=40–38

|match_WIM_NW=52–26

|match_WIM_OX=52–26

|match_WIM_RR=40.5–37.5

|match_WIM_PP=47–31

|match_WIM_SHE=48–30

|match_WIM_SWI=39–39

|match_WIM_WEM=45–33

|match_WIM_WH=43–34

|match_WIM_WOL=42–35

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton

|match_WOL_BV=39–39

|match_WOL_COV=35–42

|match_WOL_CRA=43–35

|match_WOL_EX=53–25

|match_WOL_GLA=43–35

|match_WOL_HAC=43–35

|match_WOL_HAL=43–34

|match_WOL_KL=35–43

|match_WOL_LEI=32–46

|match_WOL_NW=49–29

|match_WOL_OX=43–35

|match_WOL_PP=42–36

|match_WOL_RR=40–34

|match_WOL_SHE=44–34

|match_WOL_SWI=38–40

|match_WOL_WEM=44–32

|match_WOL_WH=46–32

|match_WOL_WIM=45–33

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1971 fixtures & results |access-date=25 February 2025 }}

}}

Top Ten Riders (League Averages)

class=wikitable

!

! Rider

! Nat

! Team

! C.M.A.

align="center" | 1

| Ivan Mauger

| {{Flagicon|NZL}}

| Belle Vue

| 11.42

align="center" | 2

| Ray Wilson

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Leicester

| 10.97

align="center" | 3

| Ole Olsen

| {{Flagicon|DEN}}

| Wolverhampton

| 10.96

align="center" | 4

| Jim Airey

| {{Flagicon|AUS}}

| Sheffield

| 10.70

align="center" | 5

| Barry Briggs

| {{Flagicon|NZL}}

| Swindon

| 10.64

align="center" | 6

| Bengt Jansson

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Hackney

| 10.21

align="center" | 7

| Eric Boocock

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Halifax

| 10.14

align="center" | 8

| Anders Michanek

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Reading

| 10.03

align="center" | 9

| Nigel Boocock

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Coventry

| 9.95

align="center" | 10

| Ronnie Moore

| {{Flagicon|NZL}}

| Wimbledon

| 9.93

British League Knockout Cup

The 1971 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 33rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Hackney were the winners.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/03/british-league-division-two-ko-cup-1971.html|title=1971 British League Knockout Cup|publisher=Speedway archive}}

First round

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

08/05Halifax49–29West Ham
08/05Swindon43–35Wimbledon
06/05Oxford46–32Poole

Second round

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

25/06Wolverhampton43–35Belle Vue
21/06Reading38–40Cradley Heath
17/06Oxford39–38Exeter
12/06King's Lynn46–32Newport
11/06Glasgow43–34Leicester
10/06Sheffield48–30Wembley
05/06Halifax42–36Coventry
05/06Swindon36–42Hackney

Quarter-finals

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

14/08Halifax43–35Sheffield
06/08Wolverhampton45–32Oxford
31/07King's Lynn39–39Hackney
31/07Cradley Heath40–38Glasgow
03/09Hackney49–29King's Lynn

Semi-finals

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

17/09Hackney50–27Halifax
06/09Cradley Heath50–28Wolverhampton

=Final=

First leg

{{football box

|date = 4 October 1971

|team1 =Cradley Heath
Bernt Persson 11
Bob Andrews 9
Mick Handley 7
Pete Jarman 6
John Hart 5
Roy Trigg 3
Cyril Francis 0

|score = 41–37

|report = {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/result-archive/heatdetails/season1971.pdf|title=Season 1971|website=British Speedway|access-date=25 June 2021}}

|team2 = Hackney Hawks
Bengt Jansson 10
Barry Thomas 8
Hugh Saunders 8
Garry Middleton 7
Laurie Etheridge 2
Geoff Maloney 1
Eddie Reeves 1

|stadium = Dudley Wood Stadium

}}

Second leg

{{football box

|date = 8 October 1971

|team1 =Hackney Hawks
Bengt Jansson 12
Garry Middleton 10
Barry Thomas 9
Dave Kennett 9
Hugh Saunders 6
Eddie Reeves 3
Laurie Etheridge 2

|score = 51–27

|report = {{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19350202/260/0027 |title=Cradley crash at Hackney |website=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=9 October 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}

|team2 = Cradley Heath
Howard Cole (guest) 13
Bob Andrews 5
Roy Trigg 3
John Hart 3
Pete Jarman 2
Mick Handley 1
Ralph Waller 0

|stadium = Hackney Wick Stadium

}}

Hackney Hawks were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 88-68.

Riders' Championship

Ivan Mauger won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 16 October.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Sunday Mirror |date=17 October 1971 |access-date=2 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19711017/346/0046 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

class=wikitable

!width=25px|Pos.

width=200px|Riderwidth=70px|Heat Scoreswidth=50px|Total
align=center {{speedway color|g}}

|1

align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Ivan Mauger3 3 3 3 214
align=center

|2

align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Barry Briggs2 2 3 2 312
align=center

|3

align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jim McMillan1 3 2 3 312
align=center

|4

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Bob Kilby3 0 2 2 310
align=center

|5

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Boocock3 2 1 3 09
align=center

|6

align=left| {{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Boocock2 2 1 1 39
align=center

|7

align=left|{{flagicon|DEN}} Ole Olsen3 3 2 f fx8
align=center

|8

align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Christer Löfqvist2 1 0 3 28
align=center

|9

align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Jim Airey1 1 3 1 17
align=center

|10

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ray Wilson1 3 1 1 f6
align=center

|11

align=left|{{flagicon|NOR}} Reidar Eide0 2 3 0 16
align=center

|12

align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Anders Michanek2 1 0 0 25
align=center

|13

align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Ronnie Moore0 1 2 2 05
align=center

|14

align=left|{{flagicon|HUN}} Sándor Lévai0 0 1 2 14
align=center

|15

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Terry Betts0 0 0 1 12
align=center

|16

align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Bert Harkins (res)2 - - - -2
align=center

|17

align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Bengt Jansson1 0 0 0 01

  • ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded

Final leading averages

class=wikitable

!

! Rider

! Nat

! Team

! C.M.A.

align="center" | 1

| Ivan Mauger

| {{Flagicon|NZL}}

| Belle Vue

| 11.33

align="center" | 2

| Ole Olsen

| {{Flagicon|DEN}}

| Wolverhampton

| 10.99

align="center" | 3

| Ray Wilson

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Leicester

| 10.94

align="center" | 4

| Jim Airey

| {{Flagicon|AUS}}

| Sheffield

| 10.74

align="center" | 5

| Barry Briggs

| {{Flagicon|NZL}}

| Swindon

| 10.67

align="center" | 6

| Bengt Jansson

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Hackney

| 10.26

align="center" | 7

| Eric Boocock

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Halifax

| 10.19

align="center" | 8

| Anders Michanek

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Reading

| 10.05

align="center" | 9

| Nigel Boocock

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Coventry

| 9.95

align="center" | 10

| Ronnie Moore

| {{Flagicon|NZL}}

| Wimbledon

| 9.89

align="center" | 11

| Martin Ashby

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Swindon

| 9.76

align="center" | 12

| Bernt Persson

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Cradley Heath

| 9.68

align="center" | 13

| Terry Betts

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| King's Lynn

| 9.62

align="center" | 14

| Malcolm Simmons

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| King's Lynn

| 9.22

align="center" | 15

| Trevor Hedge

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Wimbledon

| 9.18

align="center" | 16

| Jim McMillan

| {{Flagicon|SCO}}

| Glasgow

| 9.18

align="center" | 17

| Sören Sjösten

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Belle Vue

| 9.11

align="center" | 18

| Reidar Eide

| {{Flagicon|NOR}}

| Poole

| 9.10

align="center" | 19

| Göte Nordin

| {{Flagicon|SWE}}

| Wembley

| 9.04

align="center" | 20

| John Boulger

| {{Flagicon|AUS}}

| Leicester

| 8.99

London Cup

Hackney won the London Cup for only the second time, after previously winning it back in 1936.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/hackney1971.pdf |title=Hackney 1971 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"

!width=20| Pos

!width=150| Team

!width=20| P

!width=20| W

!width=20| D

!width=20| L

!width=20| F

!width=20| A

!width=20| Pts

align=center style="background:#ACE1AF;"

|1

align="left"|Hackney Hawks44001771358
align=center

|2

align="left"|West Ham Hammers41031561562
align=center

|3

align="left"|Wimbledon Dons41031351772

Results

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"

!width=100| Team

!width=70| Score

!width=100| Team

Hackney40–38West Ham
West Ham45–33Wimbledon
Hackney53–25Wimbledon
Wimbledon41–37West Ham
West Ham36–42Hackney
Wimbledon36–42Hackney

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup for the third consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams.{{cite news |title=Fifth heat settles Lions |work=Leicester Daily Mercury |date=13 October 1971 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19711013/028/0028 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}

First round

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=150| Team one

!width=150| Team two

!width=120| Score

WolverhamptonSwindon41–36, 41–35
OxfordCradley38–40, 33–45

Semi final round

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=150| Team one

!width=150| Team two

!width=120| Score

LeicesterWolverhampton41–37, 42–36
CradleyCoventry33–45, 27–51

=Final=

First leg

{{football box

|date = 9 October 1971

|team1 = Coventry
Tony Lomas 11
Nigel Boocock 10
Ron Mountford 7
Jan Simensen 7
John Haarhy 5
Roger Hill 4
Les Owen 1

|score = 45–33

|report =

|team2 = Leicester
Ray Wilson 12
John Boulger 11
Alan Cowland 3
Graham Plant 2
Norman Storer 2
Tom Leadbitter 2
Malcolm Brown 1

|stadium = Brandon Stadium

|attendance =

}}

Second leg

{{football box

|date = 12 October 1971

|team1 = Leicester
John Boulger 12
Ray Wilson 8
Graham Plant 6
Malcolm Shakespeare 6
Norman Storer 5
Alan Cowland 4
Malcolm Brown 0

|score = 41–37

|report =

|team2 = Coventry
Tony Lomas 8
Ron Mountford 8
Jan Simensen 8
Nigel Boocock 5
Roger Hill 5
Les Owen 3
John Haarhy 0

|stadium = Leicester Stadium

|attendance =

}}

Coventry won on aggregate 82–74

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Coventry

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Cradley Heath

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Exeter

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Glasgow

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Hackney

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Halifax

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

King's Lynn

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Leicester

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Newport

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Oxford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Poole

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Reading

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Sheffield

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Swindon

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Wembley

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

West Ham

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Wimbledon

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Wolverhampton

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}

{{British Speedway League seasons}}

Category:British League

League

British League