1965 British League Season

The 1965 British League season was the 31st season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was also the first known as the new British League which was formed in 1965, along with the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA). The league was an amalgamation of the National League and the Provincial League.

Summary

Middlesbrough Bears did not join the new league and Norwich Stars had closed for good. Halifax Dukes were new entrants.1929-1977

West Ham Hammers were the first ever British League winners. It was their first league success since 1937. The West Ham team included Scot Ken McKinlay who finished the season third in the averages at 10.72 and the Norwegian champion Sverre Harrfeldt who finished fifth in the averages. They were supported well by British internationals Norman Hunter and Malcolm Simmons. The West Ham team completed the double when winning the British League Knockout Cup. In the final they defeated Exeter Falcons 63-33. The season was not a complete success because during a challenge match at West Ham Stadium a junior rider called David John Wills was killed in a race after crashing. Wimbledon Dons headed by leading Swedish rider Olle Nygren fought West Ham throughout the season and only lost the league by a single point.

Final table

M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

Leading Riders by Averages

Knockout Cup

West Ham Hammers won the Knockout Cup and completed the double of league and cup.

Teams

Belle Vue Aces

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Coventry Bees

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Cradley Heath

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Edinburgh Monarchs

*
*
*
*
*
*
*+ (+ rode under the name Tyburn Gallows)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Exeter Falcons

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Glasgow Tigers

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*+ (+ rode under the name Bernie Lagrosse)

Hackney Hawks

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Halifax Dukes

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Long Eaton Archers

*
*
*+ (+ rode under the name of Kid Brodie)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*+ (+ rode under the name of Tich Read)
*
*
*

Newcastle Diamonds

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Newport Wasps

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Oxford Cheetahs

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*+ (+ rode under the name Tyburn Gallows)
*
*
*
*
*
*

Poole Pirates

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Sheffield Tigers

1965
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Swindon Robins

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

West Ham Hammers

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Wimbledon Dons

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Wolverhampton Wolves

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

See also

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

References

{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons

British League
1965 in British motorsport
1965 in speedway