 |
| Rayleigh Rockets |
The Provincial League name was resurected in 1960 it had previously been used for the second tier of the National League before changing it's name to National League Division Two. The League was formed in 1960 by a group of promoters who were unhappy with the National League the idea was to re-introduce speedway to lost towns who had lost teams. The league had considarble success with crowds outstripping the National League. In 1964 the Provincial League operated outside of Speedway Control Board authority following a major dispute over how Speedway should be run. The controversy was brought about by the refusal of Wolverhampton to move up to the National League, which only had six teams at the time, after winning the Provincial League title in 1963. This caused a split between the leagues, and the Provincial League was outlawed by the Speedway Control Board and all National League riders were forbidden to ride on Provincial tracks. Provincial League riders were warned by the Speedway Control board that they were in breach of ACU regulations and could be suspended from all competitive racing.
They were also barred from the World Speedway Championship. The Provincial League objected and went black the 1964 season, racing under their own rules and arbitrator, and appointing their own officials and referees. An enquiry was held that year set up by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) and chaired by Lord Shawcross who decided that the SCB was acting illegally. He recommended that the SCB be re-formed with a new Secretary/Manager and a new Chairman appointed from the RAC. During the winter of 1964/65, meetings were held between the promoters of the two leagues and the SCB led to a reconciliation between the two bodies and the merger of the two leagues leading to the establishment of a single 18 team British League for the 1965 season. This reorganisation also led to the formation of the British Speedway Promoters Association. |
| Season |
Champions |
Second |
Third |
| 1960 |
Rayleigh Rockets |
Poole Pirates |
Bristol Bulldogs |
| 1961 |
Poole Pirates |
Plymouth Devils |
Stoke Potters |
| 1962 |
Poole Pirates |
Neath Welsh Dragons |
Exeter Falcons |
| 1963 |
Wolverhampton Wolves |
Stoke Potters |
Poole Pirates |
| 1964 |
Newcastle Diamonds |
Hackney Hawks |
Wolverhampton Wolves |
|
| All Time League Table |
|
M |
W |
D |
L |
pts |
| Poole |
108 |
72 |
1 |
34 |
146 |
| Sheffield |
108 |
54 |
3 |
51 |
111 |
| Edinburgh |
108 |
49 |
7 |
52 |
105 |
| Cradley Heath |
108 |
50 |
3 |
55 |
103 |
| Stoke |
86 |
48 |
2 |
36 |
98 |
| Newcastle |
90 |
47 |
1 |
42 |
95 |
| Wolverhampton |
90 |
45 |
3 |
42 |
93 |
| Exeter |
90 |
45 |
2 |
43 |
92 |
| Middlesborough |
90 |
35 |
5 |
50 |
75 |
| Rayleigh |
62 |
32 |
1 |
29 |
65 |
| Hackney |
46 |
25 |
2 |
19 |
52 |
| Plymouth |
44 |
24 |
2 |
10 |
50 |
| Bradford |
60 |
21 |
1 |
38 |
43 |
| Long Eaton |
46 |
15 |
2 |
29 |
32 |
| Neath |
24 |
14 |
1 |
9 |
29 |
| St Austell |
24 |
13 |
2 |
9 |
28 |
| Newport |
22 |
11 |
1 |
10 |
23 |
| Glasgow |
22 |
6 |
2 |
14 |
14 |
| Yarmouth |
18 |
7 |
0 |
11 |
14 |
| Leicester |
24 |
6 |
0 |
18 |
12 |
| Liverpool |
3 |
4 |
0 |
14 |
8 |
|
| League Membership |
| Rayleigh |
1960 |
1961 |
|
1963 |
|
| Poole |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Bristol |
1960 |
|
|
|
|
| Sheffield |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Stoke |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
|
| Cradley Heath |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Yarmouth |
1960 |
|
|
|
|
| Edinburgh |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Liverpool |
1960 |
|
|
|
|
| Bradford |
1960 |
|
1962 |
|
|
| Plymouth |
|
1961 |
1962 |
|
|
| Exeter |
|
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Middlesbrough |
|
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Newcastle |
|
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Neath |
|
|
1962 |
|
|
| Wolverhampton |
|
|
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
| Leicester |
|
|
1962 |
|
|
| St Austell |
|
|
|
1963 |
|
| Hackney |
|
|
|
1963 |
1964 |
| Long Eaton |
|
|
|
1963 |
1964 |
| Newport |
|
|
|
|
1964 |
| Glasgow |
|
|
|
|
1964 |
|
|
