2021 National Development League speedway season

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2021 National Development League speedway season
LeagueNational Development League
ChampionsMildenhall Fen Tigers
Knockout Cupnot held
Pairsnot held
Foursnot held
Division/s aboveSGB Premiership 2021
SGB Championship 2021

The National Development League 2021 is the third tier/division of British speedway for the 2021 season.[1]

Due to pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided that the league would be decided by the final table standings only, with no play offs being held. For the same reason no Knockout Cup would be held.[2]

Team changes[]

There were significant changes from the previous 2019 National Development League speedway season. Plymouth Gladiators and Kent Kings moved up a division to the SGB Championship but the latter formed a junior side called the Kent Royals to compete in the development league. The Cradley Heathens had withdrawn after the 2019 season[3] and the Isle of Wight Warriors withdrew from the league in early 2021.[4] Stoke Potters lost their stadium and were unable to compete but there were three teams formed junior sides which joined the league, called the Armadale Devils (parent club Edinburgh Monarchs) the Berwick Bullets (parent club Berwick Bandits) and Eastbourne Seagulls (parent club Eastbourne Eagles).

Summary[]

Newcastle Gems had started the season but dropped out after in June after a couple of fixtures due to financial difficulties. This was followed on 26 August by the Eastbourne Seagulls after parent club, the Eastbourne Eagles withdrew from the league because of financial problems. Their results were expunged.[5] Mildenhall Fen Tigers won their fourth Division 3 title since 2003.[6][7]

2021 National Development League speedway season is located in the United Kingdom
Armadale
Armadale
Belle Vue
Berwick
Berwick
Eastbourne
Kent
Kent
Leicester
Mildenhall
Mildenhall
Locations of the 2021 National League teams

Final table[]

Pos Team P W D L 4W 3W D 1L L F A Pts
1 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 10 4 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 488 408 26
2 Berwick Bullets 10 5 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 455 440 22
3 Belle Vue Colts 10 3 0 2 0 1 0 2 2 433 464 14
4 Kent Royals 9 1 0 3 1 1 1 1 1 409 396 13
5 Armadale Devils 9 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 385 424 12
6 Leicester Lion Cubs 10 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 429 467 11
Eastbourne Seagulls withdrew 26 August, results expunged
Newcastle Gems withdrew, results expunged

League scoring system

  • Home loss by any number of points = 0
  • Home draw = 1
  • Home win by any number of points = 3
  • Away loss by 7 points or more = 0
  • Away loss by 6 points or less = 1
  • Away draw = 2
  • Away win by between 1 and 6 points = 3
  • Away win by 7 points or more = 4

The fixture between Kent and Armadale was not held following several postponements.[8]

2021 teams[]

Armadale Devils[]

  • Sheldon Davies
  • Nathan Greaves
  • Gregor Millar
  • Lewis Millar
  • Danny Phillips
  • George Rothery
  • Tom Woolley

Belle Vue Colts[]

  • Paul Bowen
  • Connor Coles
  • Benji Compton
  • Harry McGurk
  • Sam McGurk
  • Jake Parkinson-Blackburn
  • Ben Woodhull

Berwick Bullets[]

  • Kyle Bickley
  • Greg Blair
  • Kieran Douglas
  • Leon Flint
  • Ryan MacDonald
  • Ben Rathbone
  • Mason Watson

Kent Royals[]

  • Jacob Clouting
  • Jamie Couzins
  • Daniel Gilkes
  • Ryan Kinsley
  • Rob Ledwith
  • Jake Mulford
  • Josh Warren

Leicester Cubs[]

  • James Chattin
  • Jamie Halder
  • Joe Lawlor
  • Mickie Simpson
  • Tom Spencer
  • Dan Thompson
  • Joe Thompson
  • Ben Trigger
  • Kai Ward

Mildenhall Fen Tigers[]

  • Sam Bebee
  • Jason Edwards
  • Sam Hagon
  • Jordan Jenkins
  • Elliot Kelly
  • Luke Muff
  • Luke Ruddick

Withdrew and results expunged[]

Eastbourne Seagulls[]

  • Nathan Ablitt
  • Richard Andrews
  • Henry Atkins
  • Connor King
  • Jake Knight
  • Nick Laurence
  • Danno Verge
  • Chad Wirtzfled

Newcastle Gems[]

  • Joe Alcock
  • Max Clegg
  • Kelsey Dugard
  • Josh Embleton
  • Arche Freeman
  • Danny Smith
  • Ryan Terry-Daley

National Development League Knockout Cup[]

The 2021 National Development League Knockout Cup would have been the 23rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams. However it was cancelled due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "NATIONAL LEAGUE CLUBS". Speedway GB. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "NDL changes explained". Speedway GB. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. ^ "NO GO FOR HEATHENS - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. ^ "ISLE OF WIGHT SPEEDWAY TEAM WITHDRAWS FROM NATIONAL LEAGUE". Isle of Wight Radio. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Eastbourne Speedway withdraw from 2021 season". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. ^ "National League table". Speedway GB. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  7. ^ "FEN TIGERS ARE CHAMPIONS". Speedway GB. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  8. ^ "ROYALS v ARMADALE, POSTPONED". Kent Speedway. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
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