1981 National League season#National 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 = National League

| competitors = 19

| domesticcup1 = Champions

| domesticcup1 winners = Middlesbrough Tigers

| domesticcup2 = Knockout Cup

| domesticcup2 winners = Edinburgh Monarchs

| domesticcup3 = Individual

| domesticcup3 winners = Mike Ferreira

| domesticcup4 = Pairs

| domesticcup4 winners = Canterbury Crusaders

| domesticcup5 = Fours

| domesticcup5 winners = Edinburgh Monarchs

| highest average = Mike Ferreira

| league above = 1981 British League

| prevseason = 1980

| nextseason = 1982

}}

The 1981 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}}

Summary

The league started with 20 teams with Nottingham Outlaws dropping out after the BSPA refused an application by promoter Maurice Jones to run during 1981.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002508/19810219/023/0023 |title=Hopes of racing at Long Eaton dim to flicker |website=Long Eaton Advertiser |date=19 February 1981 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2024}} However, Wolverhampton Wolves joined having moved down from the British League. Wolves promoter Mike Parker was replaced by Dan McCormick for the 1981 season.{{cite news |title=Parker is back - now he needs a team |work=Birmingham Mail |date=10 December 1981 |access-date=8 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002139/19811210/051/0051 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

Berwick Bandits were forced to quit after 26 league meetings, their record being expunged. Middlesbrough Tigers comfortably won their first ever title.{{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}}

Exeter Falcons rider Tony Sanford died following an accident at the County Ground Stadium on 7 September. He was racing in a match against Milton Keynes when he hit a barrier near the final bend.{{cite web |url=http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ms&n=3095|title=Tony Sanford|website=Motorsport memorial|access-date=30 July 2021}} A memorial trophy was held in subsequent years in his memory.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.22562|title=PLYMOUTH: TONY SANFORD MEMORIAL TROPHY - PREVIEW|website=Speedway GB|access-date=30 July 2021}}

Final table

{{Cite web |url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/speedwayyears/1981.html |title=About - Exeter Speedway 1981 |access-date=2012-08-21 |archive-date=2012-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023035032/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/speedwayyears/1981.html |url-status=dead }}

class=wikitable width="400"

! Pos

! Team

! PL

! W

! D

! L

! Pts

1

| Middlesbrough Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 30

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 5

| align="center" | 61

2

| Weymouth Wildcats

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 26

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | 53

3

| Newcastle Diamonds

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 25

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 10

| align="center" | 51

4

| Edinburgh Monarchs

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 25

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | 50

5

| Glasgow Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 24

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" | 48

6

| Boston Barracudas

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 22

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 44

7

| Exeter Falcons

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 22

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 44

8

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 20

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 40

9

| Peterborough Panthers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 39

10

| Crayford Kestrels

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 38

11

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 37

12

| Oxford Cheetahs

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 37

13

| Wolverhampton Wolves

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 29

14

| Canterbury Crusaders

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 29

15

| Stoke Potters

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 22

| align="center" | 28

16

| Rye House Rockets

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 25

| align="center" | 22

17

| Scunthorpe Stags

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 6

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 29

| align="center" | 13

18

| Workington Comets

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 6

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 29

| align="center" | 13

19

| Milton Keynes Knights

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 32

| align="center" | 8

Fixtures and results

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BER||team2=BOS|team3=CAN|team4=CRY|team5=ED|team6=EP|team7=EX|team8=GLA|team9=MID|team10=MIL|team11=MK|team12=NEW|team13=OX|team14=PET|team15=RH|team16=SCU|team17=STO|team18=WEY|team19=WOL|team20=WOR

|name_BER=Berwick

|match_BER_BOS=n/a

|match_BER_CAN=n/a

|match_BER_CRY=44–34

|match_BER_ED=n/a

|match_BER_EP=n/a

|match_BER_EX=44–34

|match_BER_GLA=n/a

|match_BER_MID=n/a

|match_BER_MIL=n/a

|match_BER_MK=46–32

|match_BER_NEW=37–41

|match_BER_OX=n/a

|match_BER_PET=46–31

|match_BER_RH=55–23

|match_BER_SCU=57–21

|match_BER_STO=n/a

|match_BER_WEY=37–41

|match_BER_WOL=n/a

|match_BER_WOR=n/a

|name_BOS=Boston

|match_BOS_BER=45–33

|match_BOS_CAN=47–30

|match_BOS_CRY=57–21

|match_BOS_ED=47–31

|match_BOS_EP=51–27

|match_BOS_EX=48–30

|match_BOS_GLA=53–25

|match_BOS_MID=40–38

|match_BOS_MIL=50–28

|match_BOS_MK=53–25

|match_BOS_NEW=43–35

|match_BOS_OX=51–27

|match_BOS_PET=42–36

|match_BOS_RH=47–31

|match_BOS_SCU=52–26

|match_BOS_STO=51–27

|match_BOS_WEY=51–27

|match_BOS_WOL=40–38

|match_BOS_WOR=55–23

|name_CAN=Canterbury

|match_CAN_BER=38–40

|match_CAN_BOS=36–42

|match_CAN_CRY=40–38

|match_CAN_ED=39–38

|match_CAN_EP=35–43

|match_CAN_EX=43–35

|match_CAN_GLA=41–37

|match_CAN_MID=31–46

|match_CAN_MIL=35–43

|match_CAN_MK=43–35

|match_CAN_NEW=34–44

|match_CAN_OX=41–37

|match_CAN_PET=44–34

|match_CAN_RH=45–33

|match_CAN_SCU=53–25

|match_CAN_STO=36–42

|match_CAN_WEY=35–43

|match_CAN_WOL=32–45

|match_CAN_WOR=60–18

|name_CRY=Crayford

|match_CRY_BER=42–36

|match_CRY_BOS=44–34

|match_CRY_CAN=47–31

|match_CRY_ED=37–40

|match_CRY_EP=47–30

|match_CRY_EX=54–24

|match_CRY_GLA=40–38

|match_CRY_MID=25–52

|match_CRY_MIL=50–28

|match_CRY_MK=44–34

|match_CRY_NEW=39–38

|match_CRY_OX=42–36

|match_CRY_PET=43–35

|match_CRY_RH=55–23

|match_CRY_SCU=60–18

|match_CRY_STO=39–38

|match_CRY_WEY=40–37

|match_CRY_WOL=51.5–26.5

|match_CRY_WOR=63–15

|name_ED=Edinburgh

|match_ED_BER=42–36

|match_ED_BOS=50.5–27.5

|match_ED_CAN=41–35

|match_ED_CRY=47–30

|match_ED_EP=49–29

|match_ED_EX=47–31

|match_ED_GLA=48–29

|match_ED_MID=37–41

|match_ED_MIL=58–20

|match_ED_MK=53–13

|match_ED_NEW=36–42

|match_ED_OX=42–36

|match_ED_PET=51–27

|match_ED_RH=50–27

|match_ED_SCU=43–30

|match_ED_STO=41–37

|match_ED_WEY=46–32

|match_ED_WOL=49–29

|match_ED_WOR=62–16

|name_EP=Ellesmere Port

|match_EP_BER=44–34

|match_EP_BOS=40–38

|match_EP_CAN=48–30

|match_EP_CRY=56–22

|match_EP_ED=45–33

|match_EP_EX=51–26

|match_EP_GLA=37–41

|match_EP_MID=30–48

|match_EP_MIL=55–23

|match_EP_MK=60–18

|match_EP_NEW=50–8

|match_EP_OX=39–39

|match_EP_PET=43–34

|match_EP_RH=51–27

|match_EP_SCU=57–21

|match_EP_STO=52–26

|match_EP_WEY=37–41

|match_EP_WOL=55–22

|match_EP_WOR=63–14

|name_EX=Exeter

|match_EX_BER=47–31

|match_EX_BOS=44–34

|match_EX_CAN=48–30

|match_EX_CRY=62–16

|match_EX_ED=45–33

|match_EX_EP=43–35

|match_EX_GLA=47–31

|match_EX_MID=49–29

|match_EX_MIL=47–31

|match_EX_MK=58–20

|match_EX_NEW=44–34

|match_EX_OX=51–27

|match_EX_PET=53–25

|match_EX_RH=57–21

|match_EX_SCU=59–19

|match_EX_STO=40–35

|match_EX_WEY=43–35

|match_EX_WOL=51–27

|match_EX_WOR=52–26

|name_GLA=Glasgow

|match_GLA_BER=46–32

|match_GLA_BOS=44–34

|match_GLA_CAN=46–32

|match_GLA_CRY=58–20

|match_GLA_ED=52–25

|match_GLA_EP=58–20

|match_GLA_EX=50–28

|match_GLA_MID=40–38

|match_GLA_MIL=41–34

|match_GLA_MK=47–31

|match_GLA_NEW=41–35

|match_GLA_OX=41–37

|match_GLA_PET=47–30

|match_GLA_RH=46–32

|match_GLA_SCU=55–23

|match_GLA_STO=55–22

|match_GLA_WEY=40–38

|match_GLA_WOL=54.5–23.5

|match_GLA_WOR=55–23

|name_MID=Middlesbrough

|match_MID_BER=48–30

|match_MID_BOS=57–21

|match_MID_CAN=55–23

|match_MID_CRY=51–27

|match_MID_ED=51–27

|match_MID_EP=55–22

|match_MID_EX=45–33

|match_MID_GLA=48–29

|match_MID_MIL=42–36

|match_MID_MK=58–19

|match_MID_NEW=43–35

|match_MID_OX=54–24

|match_MID_PET=55–23

|match_MID_RH=44–34

|match_MID_SCU=59–19

|match_MID_STO=41–37

|match_MID_WEY=46–32

|match_MID_WOL=55–23

|match_MID_WOR=63–15

|name_MIL=Mildenhall

|match_MIL_BER=42–36

|match_MIL_BOS=38–40

|match_MIL_CAN=41–37

|match_MIL_CRY=50–28

|match_MIL_ED=34–44

|match_MIL_EP=44–34

|match_MIL_EX=46–32

|match_MIL_GLA=53–25

|match_MIL_MID=38–40

|match_MIL_MK=45–33

|match_MIL_NEW=38.5–39.5

|match_MIL_OX=40–38

|match_MIL_PET=48–28

|match_MIL_RH=41–37

|match_MIL_SCU=47–31

|match_MIL_STO=48–30

|match_MIL_WEY=53–25

|match_MIL_WOL=57–20

|match_MIL_WOR=48–30

|name_MK=Milton Keynes

|match_MK_BER=43–35

|match_MK_BOS=38–40

|match_MK_CAN=41–37

|match_MK_CRY=35–43

|match_MK_ED=34–44

|match_MK_EP=37–41

|match_MK_EX=38–40

|match_MK_GLA=38–40

|match_MK_MID=32–46

|match_MK_MIL=34–44

|match_MK_NEW=36–42

|match_MK_OX=37–41

|match_MK_PET=33–45

|match_MK_RH=40–38

|match_MK_SCU=34–41

|match_MK_STO=37–40

|match_MK_WEY=27–51

|match_MK_WOL=36–42

|match_MK_WOR=52–26

|name_NEW=Newcastle

|match_NEW_BER=45–32

|match_NEW_BOS=45–32

|match_NEW_CAN=44–34

|match_NEW_CRY=55–23

|match_NEW_ED=44–34

|match_NEW_EP=58–20

|match_NEW_EX=50–27

|match_NEW_GLA=51–27

|match_NEW_MID=39–39

|match_NEW_MIL=60–18

|match_NEW_MK=53–24

|match_NEW_OX=49–29

|match_NEW_PET=50–28

|match_NEW_RH=52–26

|match_NEW_SCU=54–24

|match_NEW_STO=47–31

|match_NEW_WEY=44–34

|match_NEW_WOL=42–36

|match_NEW_WOR=53–25

|name_OX=Oxford

|match_OX_BER=44–34

|match_OX_BOS=42–36

|match_OX_CAN=37–40

|match_OX_CRY=44–34

|match_OX_ED=43–35

|match_OX_EP=46–30

|match_OX_EX=41–37

|match_OX_GLA=42–36

|match_OX_MID=33–45

|match_OX_MIL=35–43

|match_OX_MK=49–29

|match_OX_NEW=36–42

|match_OX_PET=42–36

|match_OX_RH=43–35

|match_OX_SCU=43–35

|match_OX_STO=44–34

|match_OX_WEY=34–43

|match_OX_WOL=44–34

|match_OX_WOR=62–15

|name_PET=Peterborough

|match_PET_BER=40–38

|match_PET_BOS=52–26

|match_PET_CAN=44–33

|match_PET_CRY=54–24

|match_PET_ED=34–44

|match_PET_EP=44–34

|match_PET_EX=43–35

|match_PET_GLA=48–30

|match_PET_MID=48–29

|match_PET_MIL=44–34

|match_PET_MK=56–22

|match_PET_NEW=43–35

|match_PET_OX=52–26

|match_PET_RH=42–36

|match_PET_SCU=47–31

|match_PET_STO=54–24

|match_PET_WEY=45–33

|match_PET_WOL=44–33

|match_PET_WOR=58–20

|name_RH=Rye House

|match_RH_BER=42–36

|match_RH_BOS=42–35

|match_RH_CAN=48–30

|match_RH_CRY=43–35

|match_RH_ED=33–44

|match_RH_EP=45–33

|match_RH_EX=34–44

|match_RH_GLA=31–46

|match_RH_MID=37–41

|match_RH_MIL=38–39

|match_RH_MK=51–27

|match_RH_NEW=45–33

|match_RH_OX=37–41

|match_RH_PET=59–19

|match_RH_SCU=55–22

|match_RH_STO=41–36

|match_RH_WEY=34–44

|match_RH_WOL=37–41

|match_RH_WOR=63–15

|name_SCU=Scunthorpe

|match_SCU_BER=n/a

|match_SCU_BOS=24–54

|match_SCU_CAN=38–40

|match_SCU_CRY=36–42

|match_SCU_ED=35–43

|match_SCU_EP=42–36

|match_SCU_EX=35–43

|match_SCU_GLA=44–34

|match_SCU_MID=31–47

|match_SCU_MIL=40–38

|match_SCU_MK=49–29

|match_SCU_NEW=38–40

|match_SCU_OX=34–43

|match_SCU_PET=39–39

|match_SCU_RH=28–49

|match_SCU_STO=31–47

|match_SCU_WEY=26–52

|match_SCU_WOL=33–45

|match_SCU_WOR=44–33

|name_STO=Stoke

|match_STO_BER=42–36

|match_STO_BOS=43–35

|match_STO_CAN=38–40

|match_STO_CRY=35–39

|match_STO_ED=38–40

|match_STO_EP=37–41

|match_STO_EX=40–37

|match_STO_GLA=37–41

|match_STO_MID=23–54

|match_STO_MIL=28–50

|match_STO_MK=48–30

|match_STO_NEW=40–38

|match_STO_OX=41–37

|match_STO_PET=37–4`

|match_STO_RH=48–30

|match_STO_SCU=56–22

|match_STO_WEY=37–41

|match_STO_WOL=45–33

|match_STO_WOR=57–21

|name_WEY=Weymouth

|match_WEY_BER=42–36

|match_WEY_BOS=49–29

|match_WEY_CAN=44–34

|match_WEY_CRY=43–35

|match_WEY_ED=40–38

|match_WEY_EP=52–26

|match_WEY_EX=50–28

|match_WEY_GLA=51–27

|match_WEY_MID=45–33

|match_WEY_MIL=54–24

|match_WEY_MK=56–22

|match_WEY_NEW=48–30

|match_WEY_OX=44–34

|match_WEY_PET=47–31

|match_WEY_RH=54–24

|match_WEY_SCU=47–31

|match_WEY_STO=53–25

|match_WEY_WOL=39–39

|match_WEY_WOR=63–15

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton

|match_WOL_BER=45–32

|match_WOL_BOS=42–36

|match_WOL_CAN=36–42

|match_WOL_CRY=48–29

|match_WOL_ED=35–43

|match_WOL_EP=44–34

|match_WOL_EX=46–32

|match_WOL_GLA=32–45

|match_WOL_MID=28–50

|match_WOL_MIL=48–30

|match_WOL_MK=41–37

|match_WOL_NEW=31–46

|match_WOL_OX=36–39

|match_WOL_PET=44–34

|match_WOL_RH=55–23

|match_WOL_SCU=60–18

|match_WOL_STO=38–40

|match_WOL_WEY=37–41

|match_WOL_WOR=51–27

|name_WOR=Workington

|match_WOR_BER=32–45

|match_WOR_BOS=46–32

|match_WOR_CAN=39–39

|match_WOR_CRY=41–35

|match_WOR_ED=29–49

|match_WOR_EP=36–42

|match_WOR_EX=36–42

|match_WOR_GLA=28–49

|match_WOR_MID=24–54

|match_WOR_MIL=33–45

|match_WOR_MK=36–42

|match_WOR_NEW=36–40

|match_WOR_OX=37–41

|match_WOR_PET=42–36

|match_WOR_RH=49–29

|match_WOR_SCU=47–31

|match_WOR_STO=34–44

|match_WOR_WEY=36–42

|match_WOR_WOL=41–36

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1981.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1981 fixtures & results |access-date=25 March 2025 }}

}}

National League Knockout Cup

The 1981 National League Knockout Cup was the 14th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Edinburgh Monarchs were the winners of the competition.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/07/national-league-ko-cup-1981.html|title=1981 National 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

29/03Mildenhall58-38Canterbury
04/04Canterbury52-44Mildenhall
17/04Ellesmere Port47-49Wolverhampton
19/04Wolverhampton43-53Ellesmere Port
23/04Middlesbrough69-27Glasgow
29/05Glasgow55-40Middlesbrough
11/04Stoke51-45Milton Keynes
07/04Milton Keynes38-58Stoke

Second round

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

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

29/05Edinburgh65-31Exeter
01/06Exeter56-40Edinburgh
04/06Oxford59-34Scunthorpe
01/06Scunthorpe46-49Oxford
07/06Mildenhall76-20Ellesmere Port
29/05Ellesmere Port30-64Mildenhall
29/05Peterborough70-26Rye House
07/06Rye House32-64Peterborough
06/06Berwick53-42Newcastle
08/06Newcastle52-44Berwick
09/06Weymouth74-20Workington
29/05Workington31-59Weymouth
07/06Boston69-27Crayford
02/06Crayford42-51Boston
07/06Middlesbrough55-41Stoke
06/06Stoke48-48Middlesbrough

Quarter-finals

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

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

14/08Edinburgh65-31Oxford
13/08Oxford41-54Edinburgh
05/07Mildenhall61-35Peterborough
26/06Peterborough49-47Mildenhall
17/07Berwick51-45Weymouth
14/07Weymouth48-48Berwick
02/08Boston57-39Middlesbrough
?Middlesbrough45-51Boston

Semi-finals

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

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

27/09Edinburgh64-32Mildenhall
11/09Mildenhall46-50Edinburgh
14/10Berwick64-32Boston
27/09Boston58½-37½Berwick

=Final=

First leg

{{footballbox

|date = 21 October 1981

|team1 = Berwick Bandits
Steve McDermott 13
Wayne Brown 11
Mike Caroline 9
Rob Grant 6
Brett Saunders 5
Brian Collins 3
Jim Beaton 2

|score = 49 – 46

|report = {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1980record-4.pdf|title=1981 KO cup final|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=27 September 2021}}

|team2 = Edinburgh Monarchs
Dave Trownson 10
Neil Collins 9
Ivan Blacka 9
Chris Turner 8
George Hunter 7
Scott Robson 3
Ian Westwell 0

|stadium = Shielfield Park

}}

Second leg

{{footballbox

|date = 6 November 1980

|team1 = Edinburgh Monarchs
George Hunter 13
Dave Trownson 11
Ivan Blacka 11
Neil Collins 7
Chris Turner 7
Roger Lambert 6
Ian Westwell 0

|score = 55 – 40

|report =

|team2 = Berwick Bandits
Charlie McKinna (guest) 14
Steve McDermott 9
Mike Caroline 7
Rob Grant 5
Brett Saunders 3
Brian Collins 2
Jim Beaton 0

|stadium = Powderhall Stadium

}}

Edinburgh were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 101–89.

Riders' Championship

Mike Ferreira won the Riders' Championship, held at Wimbledon Stadium on 26 September 1981.{{cite news |title=Tigers crash out |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=28 September 1981 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19810928/012/0012 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

class=wikitable

!width=25px|Pos.

width=180px|Riderwidth=100px|Ptswidth=50px|Total
align=center {{speedway color|g}}

|1

align=left|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Mike Ferreira3 3 3 3 315
align=center

|2

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Wigg1 3 3 3 313
align=center

|3

align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Bruce Cribb3 3 2 0 311
align=center

|4

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Perks3 1 2 2 210
align=center

|5

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Collins2 3 2 2 110
align=center

|6

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Wilcock2 2 1 2 29
align=center

|7

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Lawson2 0 3 38
align=center

|8

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Barry Thomas2 0 3 2 18
align=center

|9

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Kelvin Mullarkey0 2 1 3 28
align=center

|10

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Finch0 2 2 16
align=center

|11

align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Wayne Brown3 25
align=center

|12

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Gledhill0 2 1 14
align=center

|13

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Maxfield1 1 1 1 04
align=center

|14

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} David Gagen2 0 1 03
align=center

|15

align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} David Bargh1 1 1 03
align=center

|16

align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Humphreys1 0 01
align=center

|17

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} John Barclay11
align=center

|18

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Neville Moore00

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

Pairs

The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 18 July and was won by Canterbury Crusaders.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1980record-1.pdf |title=1981 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 May 2023}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-4}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan="4"|Group A

width=20|Pos

!width=80|Team

!width=20|Pts

!width=100|Riders

style="background:#ACE1AF;"

!1

|Mildenhall

13Gledhill 9
Bales 4
2

|Middlesbrough ||11||Wilcock 8
Dixon 3

3

|Rye House||6||Mullarkey 6
Naylor 0

4

|Edinburgh|| 5||Turner 4
Collins N 1

{{col-4}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan="4"|Group B

width=20|Pos

!width=80|Team

!width=20|Pts

!width=100|Riders

style="background:#ACE1AF;"

!1

|Wolverhampton

13Cribb 8
Evitts 5
2

|Glasgow||10||Lawson 8
McKinna 2

3

|Oxford||7||Perks 5
Harrison 2

4

|Peterborough||6||Greer 6
Buck 0

{{col-4}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan="4"|Group C

width=20|Pos

!width=80|Team

!width=20|Pts

!width=100|Riders

style="background:#ACE1AF;"

!1

|Berwick

11Brown 9
McDermott 2
2

|Newcastle||11||Hunter 7
Bargh 4

3

|Weymouth||8||Yeates 5
Wigg 3

4

|Exeter||6||Maxfield 6
Hewlett 0

{{col-4}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan="4"|Group D

width=20|Pos

!width=80|Team

!width=20|Pts

!width=100|Riders

style="background:#ACE1AF;"

!1

|Canterbury

12Ferreira 9
Kent 5
2

|Crayford||12||Thomas 7
Sage 5

3

|Boston||7||Gagen 4
Lomas 3

4

|Ellesmere P||3||Jackson 2
Finch 1

{{col-end}}

Semi finals

  • Canterbury bt Wolverhampton
  • Berwick bt Mildenhall

Final

  • Canterbury bt Berwick

Fours

Edinburgh Monarchs won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 26 July.{{cite news |title=Tigers miss the boat in four teams final |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=27 July 1981 |access-date=23 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19810727/015/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1980record-1.pdf |title=1981 full season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=23 May 2023}}

Semi finals

  • SF1 = Wolverhampton 16, Edinburgh 16, Mildenhall 13, Crayford 3
  • SF2 = Middlesbrough 16, Newcastle 16, Peterborough 11, Weymouth 4

Final

class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;"

!width=25px|Pos

width=150px|Teamwidth=50px|Ptswidth=400px|Riders
align=center

|1

align=left|Edinburgh Monarchs15Turner 4, Collins 4, Trownson 4, Blacka 3
align=center

|2

align=left|Newcastle Diamonds13Bargh 5, Emerson 3, Hunter 3, Blackadder 2
align=center

|3

align=left|Middlesbrough Tigers11Courtney 5, Pusey 3, Wilcock 2, Havelock 1
align=center

|4

align=left|Wolverhampton Wolves9Burton 5, Evitts 2, Stead 2, Cribb 0

Leading final averages

class=wikitable

!

! Rider

! Nat

! Team

! C.M.A.

align="center" | 1

| Mike Ferreira

| {{Flagicon|ZIM}}

| Canterbury Crusaders

| 10.87

align="center" | 2

| Steve Lawson

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Glasgow Tigers

| 10.55

align="center" | 3

| Mark Courtney

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Middlesbrough Tigers

| 10.44

align="center" | 4

| Les Rumsey

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Weymouth

| 10.19

align="center" | 5

| Dave Perks

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Oxford Cheetahs

| 10.13

Riders & final averages

Berwick (withdrew from league)

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Boston

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Canterbury

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Mike Ferreira 10.87
  • Denzil Kent 7.75
  • Barney Kennett 6.81
  • Mark Martin 4.69
  • Darryl Simpson 4.43
  • Kevin Brice 4.21
  • Brendan Shiletto 4.07
  • Jamie Luckhurst 3.78
  • Rob Dolman 3.30
  • Graham Knowler 2.67

{{div col end}}

Crayford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Barry Thomas 9.02
  • Alan Sage 7.88
  • Laurie Etheridge 6.90
  • Mike Pither 5.72
  • Trevor Barnwell 5.70
  • Mike Spinks 4.83
  • Paul Hollingsbee 4.47
  • Keith Pritchard 4.15
  • Paul Bosley 2.24

{{div col end}}

Edinburgh

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Ellesmere Port

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Exeter

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Rob Maxfield 9.07
  • Bob Coles 8.24
  • Martin Hewlett 8.10
  • John Barker 7.85
  • Les Sawyer 7.68
  • Andy Campbell 6.53
  • Keith Wright 6.00
  • John Williams 5.99
  • Keith Millard 4.30
  • Tony Sanford 3.20

{{div col end}}

Glasgow

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Middlesbrough

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Mildenhall

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Milton Keynes

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Bob Humphreys 9.14
  • Graham Plant 6.38
  • Andy Hibbs 6.00
  • Mick Blaynee 4.77
  • Barry Allaway 4.41
  • Mark Baldwin 4.36
  • Steve Payne 4.30
  • Nigel Davis 4.20
  • Brett Alderton 4.15

{{div col end}}

Newcastle

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Oxford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Peterborough

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Rye House

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Scunthorpe

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Kevin Teager 7.56
  • Nicky Allott 7.51
  • Mark DeKok 5.71
  • Tony Featherstone 5.33
  • Rob Woffinden 5.19
  • Tony Childs 3.62
  • Graeme Beardsley 3.45
  • Julian Parr 2.99
  • Phil Kynman 2.73

{{div col end}}

Stoke

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Weymouth

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Wolverhampton

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Bruce Cribb 9.99
  • Les Rumsey 8.77
  • Neil Evitts 7.80
  • Billy Burton 6.74
  • Tony Boyle 5.95
  • Paul Stead 5.51
  • Mike Wilding 4.11
  • Rob Carter 3.55
  • John Hough 3.49
  • Steve Crockett 1.41

{{div col end}}

Workington

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

  • Terry Kelly 6.97
  • Wayne Jackson 6.22
  • Mark Dickinson 5.67
  • Guy Wilson 4.47
  • Des Wilson 4.42
  • Kevin Clapham 3.67
  • David Blackburn 3.51
  • John Frankland 2.69
  • Michael Irving 0.89

{{div col end}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway British League Division Two seasons}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}

Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League