1973 British League Division Two season#British League Division Two Knockout Cup

The 1973 season saw the league expanded to 18 teams with the addition of Chesterton Potters.{{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}} The team had last raced during the 1963 Provincial Speedway League season under the name of the Stoke Potters.{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Stoke%20Loomer%20Road.htm|title=Stoke Speedway (Loomer Road)|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=18 September 2021}}

Boston Barracudas won their first title and went on to win the league and cup double.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - BRITISH LEAGUE ERA (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=11 September 2021}}{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=101|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}} Boston had finished runner-up to Crewe Kings the previous season, with decent season averages recorded by five riders Arthur Price, Jim Ryman, Carl Glover, Russ Osborne and Ray Bales. With a largely unchanged team, they went one place better by sealing the league title. Boston won easily, 14 points clear of their nearest rival, and four of the five riders improved their averages from 1972. Arthur Price also won the Riders' Championship.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/board/71/teams|title=teams|website=wwosbackup|access-date=18 September 2021}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BAR|team2=BER|team3=BIR|team4=BOS|team5=BRA|team6=CAN|team7=CHE|team8=CK|team9=EAS|team10=EP|team11=HV|team12=LE|team13=MID|team14=PET|team15=RAY|team16=SCU|team17=SUN|team18=WOR

|name_BAR=Barrow

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|name_EP=Ellesmere Port

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|name_RAY=Rayleigh

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|match_RAY_SCU=52–26

|match_RAY_SUN=47–31

|match_RAY_WOR=38–40

|name_SCU=Scunthorpe

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|match_SCU_SUN=39–39

|match_SCU_WOR=33–45

|name_SUN=Sunderland

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|match_SUN_BER=54–24

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|match_SUN_CAN=59–19

|match_SUN_CHE=43–35

|match_SUN_CK=53–25

|match_SUN_EAS=39–39

|match_SUN_EP=51–27

|match_SUN_HV=45–33

|match_SUN_LE=56–22

|match_SUN_MID=42–36

|match_SUN_PET=45–33

|match_SUN_RAY=45–33

|match_SUN_SCU=49–29

|match_SUN_WOR=41–37

|name_WOR=Workington

|match_WOR_BAR=39–39

|match_WOR_BER=54–24

|match_WOR_BIR=53–25

|match_WOR_BOS=41–37

|match_WOR_BRA=45–32

|match_WOR_CAN=57–19

|match_WOR_CHE=50–28

|match_WOR_CK=50–28

|match_WOR_EAS=46–32

|match_WOR_EP=51–27

|match_WOR_HV=45–33

|match_WOR_LE=53–24

|match_WOR_MID=54–24

|match_WOR_PET=46–32

|match_WOR_RAY=47–31

|match_WOR_SCU=55–23

|match_WOR_SUN=55–23

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1973.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1973 fixtures & results |access-date=4 March 2025 }}

}}

v=Void at 39-36, not restaged

The 1973 British League Division Two Knockout Cup was the sixth edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Boston Barracudas were the winners of the competition.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/05/british-league-division-two-knock-out_24.html|title=1973 British League Division Two Knockout Cup|publisher=Speedway archive}}

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

First leg

{{footballbox

|date = 23 September 1973

|team1 =Boston Barracudas
Carl Glover 15
Ray Bales 13
Arthur Price 10
Russ Osborne 10
Dave Piddock 5
David Gagen 5
Jim Ryman R/R

|score = 58 – 19

|report = {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1973record.pdf|title=1973 KO cup final|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=18 September 2021}}

|team2 = Workington Comets
Lou Sansom 7
Malcolm Mackay 5
Kym Amundson 4
Steve Watson 3
Taffy Owen 0
Mitch Graham 0
Bernie Hornby 0

|stadium = Boston Sports Stadium

}}

Second leg

{{footballbox

|date = 28 September 1973

|team1 =Workington Comets
Lou Sansom 12
Malcolm Mackay 10
Mitch Graham 7
Taffy Owen 6
Kym Amundson 5
Steve Watson 6
Bernie Hornby 1

|score = 47 – 31

|report =

|team2 = Boston Barracudas
Carl Glover 16
Arthur Price 6
Ray Bales 4
Dave Piddock 2
Russ Osborne 1
David Gagen 1
Les Glover 1
Jim Ryman R/R

|stadium = Derwent Park

}}

Boston were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 89–66.

Arthur Price won the Rider's Championship, held at Wimbledon Stadium on 6 October.{{cite news |title=Price takes Crump's crown |work=Lynn Advertiser |date=9 October 1973 |access-date=17 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003432/19731009/589/0036 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

• f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure

Barrow

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Tom Owen 8.32
• Mike Sampson 8.31
• Terry Kelly 7.40
• Sid Sheldrick 6.98
• Chris Bailey 6.97
• Craig Pendlebury 6.50
• Joe Owen 6.21
• Chris Roynon 5.69
• Keith Evans 5.60

{{div col end}}

Berwick

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Doug Templeton 8.12
• Willie Templeton 7.38
• Andy Meldrum 7.09
• Graham Jones 4.81
• Chris Quigley 4.55
• Denny Morter 4.17
• Ettienne Olivier 4.15
• Rob Hollingworth 4.00
• Geoff Davies 2.98
• Dennis Jackson 2.14

{{div col end}}

Birmingham

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Arthur Browning 8.85
• Ted Howgego 8.62
• George Major 8.29
• John Hart 8.29
• Phil Herne 7.59
• Mike Lanham 7.23
• Malcolm Corradine 7.21
• Steve Wilson 5.78
• Terry Shearer 5.26
• Alan Grahame 3.29

{{div col end}}

Boston

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Carl Glover 9.62
• Arthur Price 9.14
• Jim Ryman 8.42
• Russ Osborne 7.85
• Dave Piddock 7.81
• Ray Bales 7.28
• David Gagen 6.94
• Tony Featherstone 6.88
• Les Glover 3.40

{{div col end}}

Bradford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Alan Knapkin 10.03
• Dave Baugh 9.23
• Robin Adlington 7.93
• Tony Featherstone 7.74
• Brenton Langlois 5.71
• Mick Fairbairn 5.65
• Colin Meredith 5.37
• Mike Fullerton 4.75
• Tony Freegard 4.67
• Rob Maxfield 4.40
• Rod Chessell 3.45

{{div col end}}

Canterbury

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Barney Kennett 7.38
• Peter Murray 6.90
• Ted Hubbard 6.75
• Derek Cook 6.41
• Trevor Jones 6.33
• Graham Banks 5.96
• Dave Piddock 5.71
• Les Rumsey 5.71
• Gary Cottham Sr. 4.61
• Dave Gooderham 4.30

{{div col end}}

Chesterton

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Mike Broadbank 9.24
• Mick Handley 6.70
• Geoff Pusey 6.20
• Alan Bridgett 5.90
• Roger Parker 5.70
• Brian Woodward 5.52
• Cyril Francis 5.11
• Martin Yeates 4.76
• Nigel Wasley 4.15

{{div col end}}

Crewe

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• John Jackson 8.55
• Geoff Ambrose 8.50
• Dave Morton 8.44
• Wayne Forrest 5.44
• Glyn Taylor 5.29
• Ian Cartwright 4.88
• Keith White 4.68
• Peter Thompson 3.78
• Cliff Anderson 3.26

{{div col end}}

Eastbourne

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Bobby McNeil 9.34
• Roger Johns 8.59
• Paul Gachet 7.32
• Trevor Geer 6.26
• Mike Vernam .5.62
• Neil Middleditch 4.82
• Eric Dugard 4.54
• Jimmy Squibb 4.17

{{div col end}}

Ellesmere Port

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Graham Drury 9.03
• Paul O'Neal 7.94
• Robbie Gardner 6.99
• Colin Goad 6.51
• Chris Morton 6.29
• Barry Booth 4.35
• Gerald Smitherman 4.24
• Roger Austin 4.14
• Wayne Hughes 3.40
• Paul Callaghan 2.29

{{div col end}}

Hull

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Dave Mills 9.29
• Tony Childs 8.49
• Alan Cowland 7.66
• Robin Amundson 7.60
• Dennis Gavros 5.55
• Pete Boston 4.58
• Dennis Wasden 4.42
• Kelvin Mullarkey 4.31
• Clark Facey 4.00
• Grahame Dawson 3.17
• Roger Austin 2.80
• Eddie Argall 1.94

{{div col end}}

Long Eaton

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Roger Mills 8.28
• Geoff Bouchard 8.20
• Norman Strachan 7.41
• Phil Bass 6.93
• Dave Harvey 6.18
• Alan Molyneux 5.55
• Alan Witt 5.55
• Joe Hughes 4.51
• Steve Bass 4.00
• Mick Moore 3.65
• Ian Teale 2.48

{{div col end}}

Peterborough

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Richard Greer 8.96
• John Davis 8.86
• Frank Smith 7.31
• Brian Clark 7.27
• Ted Howgego 6.40
• Roy Carter 6.07
• Jack Walker 5.72
• Roy Sizmore 4.00
• Ken Matthews 2.63

{{div col end}}

Rayleigh

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Peter Moore 8.30
• Bob Young 7.04
• Trevor Barnwell 6.59
• Dave "Tiger" Beech 6.12
• Les Ott 5.87
• Brian Foote 5.75
• Terry Stone 5.27
• Peter Cairns 4.96
• Pete Wigley 4.56
• Dingle Brown 4.29
• Steve Clarke 3.58

{{div col end}}

Scunthorpe

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Ken McKinlay 9.69
• Ian Hindle 8.18
• Dingle Brown 6.18
• Rod Haynes 5.87
• Jack Bywater 5.40
• Doug Underwood 4.64
• Rex Garrod 4.58
• Chris Emery 3.30

{{div col end}}

Sunderland

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Jack Millen 9.74
• Dave Gatenby 7.56
• Jim Wells 7.44
• Russ Dent 6.21
• George Barclay 6.10
• Terry Barclay 4.66
• Brian Havelock 4.64
• Peter Wrathall 4.07
• John Robson 1.14

{{div col end}}

Teesside

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Bruce Forrester 9.15
• Frank Auffret 8.61
• Roger Wright 7.47
• Pete Reading 6.85
• Dave Durham 6.35
• Tim Swales 6.12
• Russ Hodgson 5.38
• Tom Black 4.95
• Mick Moore 4.00

{{div col end}}

Workington

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Lou Sansom 10.50
• Malcolm MacKay 8.88
• Mitch Graham 8.07
• Taffy Owen 7.44
• Kym Amundson 5.51
• Steve Watson 5.41
• Bernie Hornby 3.57
• Darryl Stobbart 3.53

{{div col end}}

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

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}

{{Speedway British League Division Two seasons}}

Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League