The 1952 Southern League was the first season of the newly created regional third tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. From the defunct National League Division Three of the previous season, only Poole Pirates did not join the new league. Ipswich Witches and Southampton Saints were new entrants.

Rayleigh Rockets were champions whilst Long Eaton Archers withdrew mid-season. George Wall of Plymouth topped the averages.

Final table

Withdrawal (Record expunged) : Long Eaton Archers

Leading Averages

National Trophy Stage Three
 For Stage Two - see Stage Two
 For Stage Three - see Stage Three

The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third tier clubs, stage two was for the second tier clubs and stage three was for the top tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Plymouth won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.

Third Division qualifying first round

Third Division qualifying second round

Third Division qualifying semifinals

Qualifying final
First leg

Second leg

Riders & final averages

Aldershot

Ivor Powell 7.90
Bert Edwards 7.83
Basil Harris 7.05
Doug Papworth 6.71
Vic Gooden 6.60
Arch Windmill 5.91
Ron Burnett 5.37
Bill Grimes 5.18
Charles Frenzel 4.75
Jack Taylor 2.24
John Dore 1.28

Cardiff

Gerald Pugh 8.55
Mick Holland 8.34
Hugh Geddes 8.27
Chum Taylor 8.15
Bert Edwards 7.85
Paul Best 7.00
Frank Johnson 6.56
Charlie May 6.43
Kevin Hayden 6.42
Jimmy Wright 6.21

Exeter

Goog Hosking 9.20
Don Hardy 7.53
Vic Gent 7.66
Ron Barrett 7.38
Jack Geran 6.79
Johnny Sargeant 5.39
Colin Selley 4.67
Maurice Barnett 4.45
Neil Street 4.18
Ron Swaine 4.06
Eric Minall 3.83

Ipswich

Sid Clarke 9.08
Harold McNaughton 7.43
Dick Shepherd 7.04
Charlie Mugford 5.42
Tich Read 4.92
Geoff Woodger 4.44
Dennis Day 4.27
Rod Laudrum 4.27
Vic Sage 4.27
Alby Smith 4.17
Arthur Pigrim 3.86

Long Eaton (withdrew)

Lionel Watling 8.30
Peter Moore 7.01
Wilf Plant 6.83
Bill Harris 6.73
Cyril Page 6.08
Johnny Jones 5.81
Jack Winstanley 5.57
Roy Browning 4.83
Frank Malouf 4.65
Fred Siggins 3.29

Plymouth

George Wall 10.78
Alan Smith 10.14
Pete Lansdale 9.77
Bill Thatcher 8.09
Johnnie Bradford 5.43
Brian Hitchcock 4.90
Ray Moreton 4.63
Ted Stevens 4.49
Doug Fursey 4.41
Dennis Hoyle 3.43
Frank Wheeler 4.00
Bill Rundle 2.63

Rayleigh

Jack Unstead 9.62
Gerry Jackson 9.54
Peter Clark 9.26
Maury McDermott 8.64
Tom O'Connor 8.40
Les McGillivray 6.71
Alby Smith 6.50
Ron Howes 5.80
Jules Benson 5.51
Johnny Applegate 2.43

St Austell

Norman Street 8.05
Allan Quinn 7.77
Ken Monk 6.13
Max Rech 6.06
Harold Bull 5.98
George Newton 5.86
Johnny Bradford 4.96
Aston Quinn 4.62
Ken James 4.46
Charlie Hayden 4.33
Derek Timms 4.32
Don Prettijohn 3.65
Gordon Leigh 2.50

Southampton

Brian McKeown 8.10
Bert Croucher 7.50
Ernie Brecknell 6.73
Mike Tamms 6.34
Dudley Smith 5.90
Maury Mattingley 4.86
Jack Vallis 4.30
Ted Moore 4.27
Dennis Cross 4.16
Dennis Hayles 3.78

Swindon

Frank Evans 8.09
Danny Malone 7.37
Bob Jones 7.32
Bob Wells 7.04
Buster Brown 6.82
Reg Lambourne 6.36
Ian Williams 6.11
Ray Ellis 5.77
Ken Wiggins 4.21

Wolverhampton

Benny King 8.97
Cyril Quick 8.28
Jimmy Grant 7.75
Eric Irons 7.62
Jack Cunningham 6.24
Ken Brown 6.24
Bill Jemison 5.90
Dick Howard 5.89
Charlie Hayden 5.19
Roy Moreton 4.75
Stan Bradbury 4.44
Derek Timms 4.00

See also
List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
Knockout Cup (speedway)

References

Speedway Southern League
Speedway Southern
1952 in speedway