my-server
← Wiki

1979 National League season

The 1979 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom.

Summary

The league was reduced from 20 teams to 19 from the previous season. White City Rebels closure saw their riders move to Eastbourne Eagles, who moved up to the British League and Barrow Furness Flyers dropped out. Teesside Tigers changed their name to Middlesbrough Tigers and Scunthorpe Saints changed their name to Scunthorpe Stags and left the Quibell Park Stadium for Ashby Ville Stadium. Long Eaton Stadium saw the return of speedway under the promotion of Dan McCormick but his decision to call the team the "Nottingham Outlaws" upset the supporters club.

Tom Owen of Newcastle topped the averages for the third consecutive year and Ian Gledhill, riding for Stoke won the Riders' Championship but both Newcastle and Stoke finished well behind Mildenhall Fen Tigers and Rye House Rockets in the league table. In a season that would go down to the last match, Mildenhall won their first title in their history. The consistency of four riders, Ray Bales, Mick Hines, Melvyn Taylor and Robert Henry was the crucial factor to their success.

There was a controversial end to the season when Rye House visited Mildenhall, needing a draw to win the title. Needing a 5-1 in the last heat to tie the match, Rocket Karl Fiala's exclusion prompted team-mate Bob Garrad to withdraw from the re-run in protest. Mildenhall went on to win at bottom club Scunthorpe Saints in the last match of the season to win the title by one point.

Final table

Fixtures and results

National League Knockout Cup

The 1979 National League Knockout Cup was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Rye House Rockets were the winners of the competition.

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg

Second leg

Rye House were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 92–64.

Riders' Championship

Ian Gledhill won the Riders' Championship, sponsored by Gauloises and held at Wimbledon Stadium on 29 September 1979.

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

Pairs

The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 21 July and was won by Milton Keynes Knights.

Semi finals

  • Milton Keynes bt Newcastle
  • Ellesmere Port bt Nottingham

Final

  • Milton Keynes bt Ellesmere Port

Fours

Ellesmere Port Gunners won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 29 July.

Semi finals

  • SF1 = Peterborough 18, Ellesmere Port 14, Rye House 12, Oxford 4
  • SF2 = Mildenhall 18, Berwick 11, Newcastle 10, Boston 9

Final

Final leading averages

The top ten averages of the National League.

Riders & final averages

Berwick

Boston

  • David Gagen 9.27
  • Rob Hollingworth 8.91
  • Dave Allen 8.23
  • Tony Featherstone 6.12
  • Dennis Mallett 4.85
  • Andy Fisher 4.48
  • Dave Mortiboys 3.80
  • Andy Hibbs 3.67
  • Colin Ackroyd 2.60

Canterbury

Crayford

  • Steve Naylor 9.03
  • Alan Sage 8.14
  • Laurie Etheridge 8.00
  • Paul Woods 7.63
  • Les Rumsey 4.76
  • Richard Davey 4.26
  • Paul Gilbert 3.53
  • Paul Hollingsbee 3.37
  • John Hooper 3.31
  • Jack Bibby 0.94

Edinburgh

Ellesmere Port

Glasgow

  • Merv Janke 9.06
  • Steve Lawson 9.06
  • Derek Richardson 8.05
  • Andy Reid 6.25
  • Colin Caffrey 6.12
  • Charlie McKinna 5.89
  • Jim Beaton 5.76
  • Keith Bloxsome 5.23

Middlesbrough

Mildenhall

Milton Keynes

Newcastle

Nottingham

Oxford

Peterborough

Rye House

Scunthorpe

Stoke

  • Ian Gledhill 8.21
  • Billy Burton 7.06
  • Tony Lomas 6.76
  • Chris Turner 6.42
  • Ian Robertson 6.19
  • Stuart Mountford 6.17
  • Nicky Allott 5.57
  • Frank Smith 5.53
  • Alan MacLean 3.33
  • Ian Jeffcoate 2.94
  • Paul Evitts 2.31

Weymouth

Workington

See also

References