National Development League

{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway league}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

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

{{for multi|the league that operated between 1932 and 1964|National League (1932–1964)|the renamed second tier of British speedway between 1975 and 1990|British League Division Two}}

{{Infobox sports league

| title = National Development League

| current_season = 2025 National Development League and National Trophy speedway season

| current_season2 =

| last_season =

| upcoming_season =

| logo =

| pixels =

| caption =

| formerly = Conference League

| sport = Speedway

| founded = 2009

| folded =

| replaced =

| inaugural =

| teams = 6

| singles =

| country = United Kingdom

| venue =

| confed =

| champion = Leicester Lion Cubs

| most_champs = 3 titles:
Leicester Lion Cubs

| tv =

| sponsor =

| website = [https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/homepage SpeedwayGB]

| footnotes = Leagues above
SGB Premiership (div 1)
SGB Championship (div 2)

}}

The National Development League formerly called the National League was formed in 2009 as the third division of speedway in the United Kingdom, replacing the Conference League.{{Cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/nationalleaguetable09|title=British Speedway Official Website|website=www.speedwaygb.co|access-date=2017-12-06}} It follows the same rules and regulations as the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship, including the use of rider averages. It is however regarded as the league for junior riders or in some cases other riders returning to the sport.

History

There were two previous speedway leagues in Britain sharing the 'National League' name, the main league that operated from 1932 to 1964, and British League Division Two, which was renamed the National League between 1975 and 1990.

The rebranded league started in 2009 and consisted of eleven teams. Over the following years the teams have changed significantly with only four of the original eleven teams still operating in 2023.{{Cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/historyarchive|title=HISTORY ARCHIVE - British Speedway Official Website|website=www.speedwaygb.co|access-date=2017-12-06}} In recent years, the majority of the clubs that compete are junior sides of teams from the top two divisions.

Rules

The rules follow those of the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship with some relaxation of regulations. Riders who hold a non-British FMN licence are not permitted to compete in the National League."[http://www.scbgb.co.uk/files/rulebook.pdf SCB Rulebook]", SCB, retrieved 2012-03-31

Champions

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"

! width=50|Season

! width=200|Champions

! width=200|Second

! width=20|Ref

2009

| Bournemouth Buccaneers

| Plymouth Devils

|

2010

| Buxton Hitmen

| Newport Hornets

|

2011

| Scunthorpe/Sheffield

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

|

2012

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| Dudley Heathens

|

2013

| Dudley Heathens

| King's Lynn Young Stars

|

2014

| Cradley Heathens

| Coventry Storm

|

2015

| Birmingham Brummies

| Eastbourne Eagles

|

2016

| Birmingham Brummies

| Eastbourne Eagles

|

2017

| Belle Vue Colts

| Eastbourne Eagles

|

2018

| Eastbourne Eagles

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

|

2019

| Leicester Lion Cubs

| Kent Kings

|

2020

| colspan="3"| Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| Berwick Bullets

|{{cite web |url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/newmarket/sport/fen-tigers-wrap-up-league-title-9222365/ |title=Mildenhall Fen Tigers wrap up National Development title |website=Suffolk News |access-date=10 October 2024}}

2022

| Leicester Lion Cubs

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

|{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaystar.net/news.php?extend.2091 |title=Lion Cubs clinch NDL title |website=Speedway Star |access-date=10 October 2024}}

2023

| Oxford Chargers

| Leicester Lion Cubs

|{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/23893266.oxford-chargers-crowned-national-league-champions/ |title=Oxford Chargers crowned National League champions |website=Oxford Mail |access-date=10 October 2024}}

2024

| Leicester Lion Cubs

| Belle Vue Colts

| {{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/24542487.leicester-lion-cubs-win-national-development-league-title/ |title=Leicester Lion Cubs win National Development League title |website=Oxford Mail |access-date=10 October 2024}}

See also

References