George Newton (speedway rider)
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image = George newton.jpg
| name= George Newton
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1913|1|27}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1984|10|5|1913|1|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ash Vale, Surrey, England
| death_place = Plymouth, Devon, England
| years1 = 1932-1933
| career1 = Crystal Palace Glaziers
| years2 = 1934-1938, 1948
| career2 = New Cross Rangers
| years3 = 1949
| career3 = Fleetwood Flyers
| years4 = 1950
| career4 = Walthamstow Wolves
| years5 = 1951-1952
| career5 = Liverpool Chads
| years6 = 1952
| career6 = St Austell Gulls
| teamhonour1 = National League Champion
| teamyear2 = 1934, 1937
| teamhonour2 = London Cup Winner
}}
George William Newton (27 January 1913 in Ash Vale, EnglandAddison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited – 5 October 1984) was an international speedway rider who featured in the first Speedway World Championship in final in 1936.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}} Newton also rode under the alias of Bill Bennett and he earned 12 international caps for the England national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=23 December 2023}}
Career
Newton started his career with the Crystal Palace Glaziers in 1932 and stayed with the promotion when they moved to New Cross in 1934.Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. Stroud: Tempus Publishing {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}} He made his England debut in 1936 and qualified for the World final, his first of three. At the end of the 1938 season Newton retired due to illness, but not before helping New Cross to the National League championship.Jacobs, N. (2008) Out of the Frying Pan, The History Press LTD {{ISBN|978-0-7524-4476-5}}
After the war Newton made a surprise comeback, after a benefit meeting was arranged for him in 1947 as he was still suffering from illness. He returned to the New Cross team in 1948 as they won the Championship for the second time.
Further surgery at the end of 1948 was needed and it was assumed that Newton would retire but in 1949 he joined the Fleetwood Flyers in the National League Division Two,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003239/19490916/029/0003 |title=George Newton was star of the match |website=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=16 September 1949 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 October 2024 }} where he recorded eight maximum scores in fifty appearances.
1950 saw Newton at Walthamstow Wolves{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003239/19501229/088/0007 |title=George Newton |website=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=29 December 1950 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 October 2024 }} followed by a season with the Liverpool Chads in 1951.Pavey,A. (2004) Speedway in the North-West, Tempus Publishing Ltd. {{ISBN|0-7524-3192-7}} He started 1952 with the Chads but moved to St Austell Gulls of the Southern League for the remainder of the season, before becoming their team manager for the following two seasons.Jackson, J. (2006) St Austell Speedway, Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-3789-5}}
World Final Appearances
File:George_Newton_motorcycle_speedway_rider_cigarette_card.png
- 1936 - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 9th - 4pts + 12 semi-final points
- 1937 - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 9th - 5pts + 11 semi-final points
- 1938 - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 15th - 2pts + 5 semi-final points
Players cigarette cards
Newton is listed as number 33 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/playerscigarettecards7.html|title=Speedway Riders|website=Speedway Museum Online|access-date=14 October 2021}}