British League Division Two
Sport | Speedway |
---|---|
Founded | 1968 |
Ceased | 1994 |
Competitors | Varied |
Country | United Kingdom |
The British League Division Two was created in 1968 and was the second tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom until the restructuring of British speedway in 1995. It was renamed the New National League in 1975 and the National League between 1976 and 1990.[1][2]
History[]
After the formation of the British League in 1965, riders wanting to break into teams found it more difficult to do so. The idea of forming a Second Division was suggested and in 1968 the idea became a reality when ten teams formed the league. The ten teams were: Belle Vue Colts, Berwick Bandits, Canterbury Crusaders, Crayford Highwaymen, Middlesbrough Teessiders, Nelson Admirals, Plymouth Devils, Rayleigh Rockets, Reading Racers and the Weymouth Eagles.[3]
The league was renamed the New National League (to avoid confusion with the original National League) in 1975 after Promoters of the Division Two tracks decided to form their own league after they became dissatisfied with the way the league was being run by the BSPA, the name shortened to National League in 1976. It was again named the British League Division Two in 1991 and system of promotion and relegation was introduced between the British League and the British League Division Two. The league existed up until 1994 when the top two League Divisions of Speedway in the UK were amalgamated for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. In 1997 the Premier League became the second tier when the Elite League was formed.[4]
Champions[]
Season | Champions | Second |
---|---|---|
1968 | Belle Vue Colts | Nelson Admirals |
1969 | Belle Vue Colts | Reading Racers |
1970 | Canterbury Crusaders | Eastbourne Eagles |
1971 | Eastbourne Eagles | Bradford Northern |
1972 | Crewe Kings | Boston Barracudas |
1973 | Boston Barracudas | Workington Comets |
1974 | Birmingham Brummies | Eastbourne Eagles |
in 1975, it was renamed the New National League | ||
1975 | Birmingham Brummies | Newcastle Diamonds |
from 1976-1990, it was named the National League | ||
1976 | Newcastle Diamonds | Ellesmere Port Gunners |
1977 | Eastbourne Eagles | Rye House Rockets |
1978 | Canterbury Crusaders | Newcastle Diamonds |
1979 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Rye House Rockets |
1980 | Rye House Rockets | Newcastle Diamonds |
1981 | Middlesbrough Tigers | Weymouth Wildcats |
1982 | Newcastle Diamonds | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
1983 | Newcastle Diamonds | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
1984 | Long Eaton Invaders | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
1985 | Ellesmere Port Gunners | Poole Wildcats |
1986 | Eastbourne Eagles | Poole Wildcats |
1987 | Eastbourne Eagles | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
1988 | Hackney Kestrels | Poole Pirates |
1989 | Poole Pirates | Wimbledon Dons |
1990 | Poole Pirates | Middlesbrough Bears |
in 1991, the name reverted to British League Division Two | ||
1991 | Arena Essex Hammers | Glasgow Tigers |
1992 | Peterborough Panthers | Berwick Bandits |
1993 | Glasgow Tigers | Long Eaton Invaders |
1994 | Glasgow Tigers | Long Eaton Invaders |
See also[]
List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
References[]
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Competitions". Speedway Archive. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- Speedway leagues
- Speedway competitions in the United Kingdom