British Clubs: Glasgow (1953, 1970-1972), Motherwell (1954), Ipswich (1956), Edinburgh (1960-1967), Coatbridge (1968, 1969, 1975, 1976), Berwick (1972-1974)
Newport (1972), Reading (1973)
Honours: Scottish Open Champion 1960, 1962
Doug Templeton is one of the best Scottish riders ever, but may have been even better had his career not suffered from the slump in the sport during the 1950's.
He was spotted racing grasstrack in 1953 by Ashfield rider Larry Lazarus, and incredibly on Lazarus' recommendation was included in Glasgow's team for the first match of the 1953 season!
He also made his Scottish international debut in 1953, scoring a creditable 6 against New Zealand and earning great praise from Ian Hoskins. Sadly Tigers lasted only two meetings in 1954, and Doug joined Motherwell. The Eagles folded too though, and the only speedway Doug had in the next five seasons was a few outings at Glasgow and Ipswich (1956) and a spell with the Motherwell team who rode a short season in 1958. Perhaps he would have ventured south had it not been for his family and his farm.
So Doug was in his thirties when he joined Edinburgh in 1960, and really established his reputation. He was made captain of the Monarchs and held that position for almost ten seasons. It was the Templeton brothers for a while because Willie was also a Monarch 1960-64.
Doug was one of the icons of sixties speedway at Old Meadowbank, a tough and uncompromising character but also a very skillful rider. Over the five seasons of the Provincial League he was certainly one of the very top men, along with the likes of Ivor Bown and latterly Ivan Mauger.
He won the Scottish Open in 1960 and 1962, represented Scotland and Britain many times, and reached the Provincial Riders' Championship Final in 1960, 1962 and 1963. He also made the British Final of the World Championship in 1963 after some brilliant displays at Coventry and Belle Vue especially.
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| Willie & Doug Templeton |
During the late sixties he was still a fine and well respected performer, though riders like Bernie Persson and Reidar Eide as well as fellow Scot George Hunter took much of the limelight.
Doug retired briefly in 1969 after a disagreement with Hoskins, and although he came back the captaincy had passed to Bert Harkins. With over 9 years as team leader Doug was at that point the longest serving captain in speedway history.
Coatbridge speedway closed in 1969, so that was it for Doug as a Monarch. He returned to Glasgow Tigers and later Berwick Bandits, racing on until May 1976. A great career, but what might he have achieved without losing these late fifties years when he should have been at his peak.
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| Bert Hawkins & Doug Templeton |
| Year | Team | Meet | Race | Pts | Bon | Ave | M | Paid |
| 1953 | Glasgow | |||||||
| 1954 | Glasgow | |||||||
| 1954 | Motherwell | |||||||
| 1955 | Glasgow | |||||||
| 1956 | Ipswich | |||||||
| 1957 | Glasgow | |||||||
| 1958 | Motherwell | |||||||
| 1959 | Glasgow | |||||||
| 1960 | Edinburgh | |||||||
| 1961 | Edinburgh | |||||||
| 1962 | Edinburgh | |||||||
| 1963 | Edinburgh | |||||||
| 1964 | Edinburgh | |||||||
| 1965 | Edinburgh | 29 | 127 | 218 | 15 | 7.34 | 1 | |
| 1966 | Edinburgh | 36 | 151 | 270 | 10 | 7.42 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | Edinburgh | 40 | 166 | 236 | 32 | 6.46 | 1 | |
| 1968 | Coatbridge | 36 | 150 | 208 | 19 | 6.05 | 1 | |
| 1969 | Coatbridge | 33 | 116 | 131 | 19 | 5.17 | ||
| 1970 | Glasgow | 37 | 138 | 150 | 35 | 5.36 | 1 | |
| 1971 | Glasgow | 38 | 140 | 144 | 20 | 4.69 | ||
| 1972 | Glasgow | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4.00 | ||
| 1972 | Berwick | 30 | 129 | 258 | 4 | 8.12 | 3 | |
| 1973 | Berwick | 30 | 129 | 258 | 4 | 8.12 | 1 | |
| 1973 | Reading | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 | ||
| 1974 | Berwick | 22 | 88 | 137 | 8 | 6.59 | ||
| 1975 | Coatbridge | 13 | 51 | 56 | 7 | 4.94 | ||
| 1976 | Coatbridge | 8 | 27 | 33 | 2 | 5.18 |