View source for 1953 Speedway National League

{{Short description|British speedway season}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox speedway league season
| competition = National League
| season  = 1953
| competitors  = 9 
| domesticcup1  = [[List of United Kingdom speedway league champions|Champions]]
| domesticcup1 winners = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| domesticcup2       = [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]]
| domesticcup2 winners  = [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| domesticcup3       = Coronation Cup
| domesticcup3 winners  = [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| domesticcup4         = [[London Cup (speedway)|London Cup]]
| domesticcup4 winners = [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| domesticcup5 = [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]]
| domesticcup5 winners  = [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| highestaverage = [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]
| leagues below        = [[1953 Speedway National League Division Two|National League (Div 2)]]<br>[[1953 Speedway Southern League|1953 Southern League]]
| prevseason = [[1952 Speedway National League|1952]]
| nextseason = [[1954 Speedway National League|1954]]
}}

The '''1953 [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] Division One''' was the 19th season of [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] in the [[United Kingdom]] and the eighth post-war season of the highest tier of [[motorcycle speedway]] in Great Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}}</ref>

== Summary ==
[[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] won their fifth consecutive title and their eighth overall.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>

[[Wimbledon Dons]] won the [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|National Trophy]] for the fourth time and [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]] completed a cup double winning the Coronation Cup and London Cup.

[[New Cross Rangers]] folded part way through the 1953 season because MD Fred Mockford stated attendances were down to 5,000 and racing was being staged at a loss.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19530615/008/0008 |title=New Cross Speedway has closed |website=Evening Despatch |date=15 June 1953 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 February 2025 }}</ref>

Novice rider Harry Eyre died in [[Poplar Hospital]] on 7 July 1953. He suffered fatal injuries earlier that evening at [[West Ham Stadium]], in a second half novices match against Bradford.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/34.shtml|title=Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages|website=Cycle Speedway History|access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Speed-rider killed |work=Daily Herald |date=8 July 1953 |access-date=13 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530708/002/0001| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== National League final table ==
{| class=wikitable width="450" style="background:#FFFFFF;"
! Pos
! Team
! PL
! W
! D
! L
! Pts
|-
|1
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 11
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 23
|-
|2
| [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 11
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 5
| align="center" | 22
|-
|3
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 6
| align="center" | 19
|-
|4
| [[Bradford Dukes|Bradford Tudors]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 17
|-
|5
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 16
|-
|6
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 14
|-
|7
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 6
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 12
|-
|8
| [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 5
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 11
|-
|9
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 5
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 11
| align="center" | 10
|}
[[New Cross Rangers]] withdrew mid-season - record expunged.

== Fixtures & results ==
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=BV|team2=BIR|team3=BRA|team4=BRI|team5=HAR|team6=NOR|team7=WEM|team8=WH|team9=WIM

|name_BV=Belle Vue
|match_BV_BIR=39–45
|match_BV_BRA=37–47
|match_BV_BRI=46–37
|match_BV_HAR=52–32
|match_BV_NOR=62–22
|match_BV_WEM=42–42
|match_BV_WH=48–36
|match_BV_WIM=53–31

|name_BIR=Birmingham
|match_BIR_BV=48–36
|match_BIR_BRA=51–33
|match_BIR_BRI=53–31
|match_BIR_HAR=37–47
|match_BIR_NOR=56–28
|match_BIR_WEM=46–38
|match_BIR_WH=49–35
|match_BIR_WIM=48–36

|name_BRA=Bradford
|match_BRA_BV=56–28
|match_BRA_BIR=42–42
|match_BRA_BRI=55–29
|match_BRA_HAR=37–47
|match_BRA_NOR=51–33
|match_BRA_WEM=40–43
|match_BRA_WH=58–26
|match_BRA_WIM=43–41

|name_BRI=Bristol
|match_BRI_BV=63–21
|match_BRI_BIR=50–34
|match_BRI_BRA=58–26
|match_BRI_HAR=41–43
|match_BRI_NOR=56–28
|match_BRI_WEM=40–43
|match_BRI_WH=62–22
|match_BRI_WIM=39–45

|name_HAR=Harringay
|match_HAR_BV=47–37
|match_HAR_BIR=53–30
|match_HAR_BRA=51–32
|match_HAR_BRI=51–33
|match_HAR_NOR=56–27
|match_HAR_WEM=33–51
|match_HAR_WH=60–24
|match_HAR_WIM=49–35

|name_NOR=Norwich
|match_NOR_BV=51–33
|match_NOR_BIR=37–47
|match_NOR_BRA=36–48
|match_NOR_BRI=59–25
|match_NOR_HAR=54–30
|match_NOR_WEM=44–39
|match_NOR_WH=55–29
|match_NOR_WIM=51–32

|name_WEM=Wembley
|match_WEM_BV=51–33
|match_WEM_BIR=57–27
|match_WEM_BRA=59–25
|match_WEM_BRI=51–33
|match_WEM_HAR=50–34
|match_WEM_NOR=59–25
|match_WEM_WH=39.5–44.5
|match_WEM_WIM=58–26

|name_WH=West Ham
|match_WH_BV=57–27
|match_WH_BIR=54–30
|match_WH_BRA=51–33
|match_WH_BRI=46–38
|match_WH_HAR=26–58
|match_WH_NOR=57–27
|match_WH_WEM=33–51
|match_WH_WIM=50–34

|name_WIM=Wimbledon
|match_WIM_BV=56–28
|match_WIM_BIR=46–36
|match_WIM_BRA=39–45
|match_WIM_BRI=52–32
|match_WIM_HAR=59–25
|match_WIM_NOR=59–25
|match_WIM_WEM=42–41
|match_WIM_WH=50–34

|update=complete|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1953 fixtures & results |access-date=20 January 2025 }}</ref>
}}

== Coronation Cup ==
The Coronation Cup was run in a league format. [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]] came out on top.
{| class=wikitable width="450" style="background:#FFFFFF;"
! Pos
! Team
! PL
! W
! D
! L
! Pts
|-
|1
| [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 12
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 24
|-
|2
| [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 18
|-
|3
| [[Bradford Tudors]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 17
|-
|4
| [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 16
|-
|5
| [[Norwich Stars]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 15
|-
|6
| [[Wimbledon Dons]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 14
|-
|7
| [[West Ham Hammers]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 14
|-
|8
| [[Bristol Bulldogs]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 14
|-
|9
| [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 6
| align="center" | 0
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 12
|}
[[New Cross Rangers]] completed 14 of their 16 fixtures before withdrawing and their record was expunged.

{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=BV|team2=BIR|team3=BRA|team4=BRI|team5=HAR|team6=NC|team7=NOR|team8=WEM|team9=WH|team10=WIM

|name_BV=Belle Vue
|match_BV_BIR=51–33
|match_BV_BRA=50–34
|match_BV_BRI=56–27
|match_BV_HAR=44–40
|match_BV_NC=50–34
|match_BV_NOR=59–25
|match_BV_WEM=38–46
|match_BV_WH=54–30
|match_BV_WIM=50–34

|name_BIR=Birmingham
|match_BIR_BV=58–26
|match_BIR_BRA=51–33
|match_BIR_BRI=52–32
|match_BIR_HAR=56–28
|match_BIR_NC=45–39
|match_BIR_NOR=46–38
|match_BIR_WEM=34–50
|match_BIR_WH=43–42
|match_BIR_WIM=38–46

|name_BRA=Bradford
|match_BRA_BV=47–36
|match_BRA_BIR=43–41
|match_BRA_BRI=55–27
|match_BRA_HAR=46–38
|match_BRA_NC=41–43
|match_BRA_NOR=42–42
|match_BRA_WEM=55–29
|match_BRA_WH=44–40
|match_BRA_WIM=49–35

|name_BRI=Bristol
|match_BRI_BV=63–21
|match_BRI_BIR=50–34
|match_BRI_BRA=56–27
|match_BRI_HAR=36–48
|match_BRI_NC=41.5–41.5
|match_BRI_NOR=56–28
|match_BRI_WEM=36–48
|match_BRI_WH=44–35
|match_BRI_WIM=48–36

|name_HAR=Harringay
|match_HAR_BV=51–33
|match_HAR_BIR=67–17
|match_HAR_BRA=48–36
|match_HAR_BRI=54–30
|match_HAR_NC=n/a
|match_HAR_NOR=58–26
|match_HAR_WEM=52–32
|match_HAR_WH=58–26
|match_HAR_WIM=45–39

|name_NC=New Cross
|match_NC_BV=47–37
|match_NC_BIR=43–40
|match_NC_BRA=42–42
|match_NC_BRI=41–43
|match_NC_HAR=56–28
|match_NC_NOR=63–21
|match_NC_WEM=49–35
|match_NC_WH=41–42
|match_NC_WIM=44–40

|name_NOR=Norwich
|match_NOR_BV=57–27
|match_NOR_BIR=48–36
|match_NOR_BRA=46–38
|match_NOR_BRI=38–46
|match_NOR_HAR=36–48
|match_NOR_NC=37–47
|match_NOR_WEM=47–37
|match_NOR_WH=50–34
|match_NOR_WIM=56–28

|name_WEM=Wembley
|match_WEM_BV=40–44
|match_WEM_BIR=54–30
|match_WEM_BRA=39–45
|match_WEM_BRI=59–25
|match_WEM_HAR=38–46
|match_WEM_NC=n/a
|match_WEM_NOR=48–36
|match_WEM_WH=49–35
|match_WEM_WIM=51–33

|name_WH=West Ham
|match_WH_BV=55–29
|match_WH_BIR=44–40
|match_WH_BRA=45–39
|match_WH_BRI=58–26
|match_WH_HAR=52–32
|match_WH_NC=40–44
|match_WH_NOR=51–33
|match_WH_WEM=40–44
|match_WH_WIM=32–52

|name_WIM=Wimbledon
|match_WIM_BV=46–38
|match_WIM_BIR=60–24
|match_WIM_BRA=56–28
|match_WIM_BRI=34–50
|match_WIM_HAR=31–53
|match_WIM_NC=44–40
|match_WIM_NOR=52–32
|match_WIM_WEM=47–37
|match_WIM_WH=41–43

|update=complete|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1953 fixtures & results |access-date=23 June 2025}}</ref>
}}

== Top ten riders (league only) ==
{| class=wikitable
! 
! Rider
! Nat
! Team
! C.M.A.
|-
| align="center" | 1
| [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]
| {{Flagicon|NZL}}
| Wimbledon
| 10.63
|-
| align="center" | 2
| [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]
| {{Flagicon|AUS}}
| West Ham
| 10.61
|-
| align="center" | 3
| [[Alan Hunt (speedway rider)|Alan Hunt]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| Birmingham
| 10.47
|-
| align="center" | 4
| [[Olle Nygren]]
| {{Flagicon|SWE}}
| Bristol
| 10.25
|-
| align="center" | 5
| [[Freddie Williams (speedway rider)|Freddie Williams]]
| {{Flagicon|WAL}}
| Wembley
| 10.13
|-
| align="center" | 6
| [[Arthur Forrest (speedway rider)|Arthur Forrest]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| Bradford
| 9.94
|-
| align="center" | 7
| [[Split Waterman]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| Harringay
| 9.84
|-
| align="center" | 8
| [[Eric Williams (speedway_rider)|Eric Williams]]
| {{Flagicon|WAL}}
| Wembley
| 9.66
|-
| align="center" | 9
| [[Aub Lawson]]
| {{Flagicon|AUS}}
| Norwich
| 9.19
|-
| align="center" | 10
| [[Tommy Price]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}}
| Wembley
| 9.13
|}

==National Trophy==
The 1953 National Trophy was the 16th edition of the [[Knockout Cup (speedway)|Knockout Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1953.html|title=1953 National Trophy|publisher=Speedway archive}}</ref>

'''First round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|25/04||Ipswich	||57-51	||Southampton
|-
|25/04||	Swindon||	68-40	||Exeter
|-
|24/04||	Plymouth	||54-54	||Oxford
|-
|23/04||	Cardiff	||80-28	||St Austell
|-
|23/04||	Oxford	||66-42	||Plymouth
|-
|21/04||	Southampton	||74-33	||Ipswich
|-
|21/04||	St Austell	||55-53	||Cardiff
|-
|20/04||	Exeter	||60-48	||Swindon
|}
'''Second round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|19/05||	Cardiff||	42.5-65.5	||Leicester
|-
|15/05||	Leicester	||70-38	||Cardiff
|-
|15/05||	Motherwell	||78-30	||Swindon
|-
|15/05||	Wolverhampton	||71-37	||Southampton
|-
|14/05||	Oxford	||51-57	||Rayleigh
|-
|12/05||	Southampton	||49-59	||Wolverhampton
|-
|11/05||	Liverpool	||40-68	||Coventry
|-
|09/05||	Coventry	||76-32	||Liverpool
|-
|09/05||	Edinburgh	||47-61	||Glasgow White City
|-
|09/05||	Rayleigh	||67-41	||Oxford
|-
|09/05||	Stoke	||69-39	||Yarmouth
|-
|09/05||	Swindon	||62-46	||Motherwell
|-
|06/05||	Glasgow White City	||75-33	||Edinburgh
|-
|05/05||	Yarmouth	||52-55	||Stoke
|}
'''Third round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|24/06||	Glasgow White City	||76-32	||Wolverhampton
|-
|29/05||	Leicester	||68-40	||Rayleigh
|-
|29/05||	Motherwell	||73-35	||Poole
|-
|29/05||	Wolverhampton	||49-59	||Glasgow White City
|-
|25/05||	Poole	||62-46	||Motherwell
|-
|23/05||	Coventry	||69-39	||Stoke
|-
|23/05||	Rayleigh	||72-36||	Leicester
|-
|21/05||	Stoke	||71-37	||Coventry
|}
'''Fourth round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|11/07||	Bradford Odsal	||63-45||	Bristol
|-
|04/07||	Belle Vue	||50-58	||Wimbledon
|-
|04/07||	Harringay	||85-23	||Motherwell
|-
|04/07||	Norwich	||71-37	||West Ham
|-
|04/07||	Rayleigh	||64-44	||Glasgow White City
|-
|03/07||	Bristol||	65-42	||Bradford Odsal
|-
|03/07||	Motherwell	||63-45	||Harringay
|-
|01/07||	Glasgow White City	||69-39	||Rayleigh
|-
|30/06||	West Ham	||59-49	||Norwich
|-
|29/06||	Wimbledon	||77-31	||Belle Vue
|}
'''Quarterfinals'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|01/08||	Stoke	||38-70	||Wimbledon
|-
|25/07||	Norwich	||58-49	||Bristol
|-
|24/07||	Bristol	||64-44	||Norwich
|-
|20/07||	Wimbledon	||89-19	||Stoke
|-
|18/07||	Harringay	||40-68	||Wembley
|-
|16/07||	Wembley||	60-48	||Harringay
|-
|15/07||	Glasgow White City	||56-52	||Birmingham
|-
|11/07||	Birmingham	||70-38	||Glasgow White City
|}
'''Semifinals'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date
!width=250| Team one
!width=80| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|10/08||	Wimbledon	||59-49||	Bristol
|-
|08/08||	Birmingham	||62.5-45.5	||Wembley
|-
|07/08||	Bristol	||46-62	||Wimbledon
|-
|06/08||	Wembley	||78-29	||Birmingham
|}
===Final===

'''First leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 7 September 1953
|team1 = [[Wimbledon Dons]]<br>Ronnie Moore 17<br>Cyril Brine 14<br>Norman Parker 11<br>Geoff Mardon 10<br>Peter Moore 9<br>Barry Briggs 3<br>Don Perry 1<br>Reg Trott 0
|score = 68 – 40
|report = <ref name=SR>{{cite web |url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1953.html|title=1953 National Trophy|website=Speedway Archive|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>
|team2 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]<br>Eric Williams 11<br>Tommy Price 9<br>Bill Kitchen 5<br>Eric French 4<br>Trevor Redmond 4<br>Jimmy Gooch 3<br>Brian Crutcher 2<br>Freddie Williams 2
|stadium = [[Wimbledon Stadium]] 
}}

'''Second leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 10 September 1953
|team1 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]<br>Freddie Williams 17<br>Tommy Price 15<br>Eric Williams 8<br>Brian Crutcher 7<br>Trevor Redmond 7<br>Bill Kitchen 5<br>Eric French 4<br>Jimmy Gooch 3
|score = 66 – 42
|report = <ref name=SR/>
|team2 = [[Wimbledon Dons]]<br>Ronnie Moore 11<br>Norman Parker 8<br>Peter Moore 7<br>Barry Briggs 6<br>Geoff Mardon 5<br>Don Perry 3<br>Cyril Brine 1<br>Reg Trott 1
|stadium = [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]
}}

Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate '''110–106'''.

==London Cup==
'''First round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=250| Team one
!width=120| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|Wimbledon	||61–46, 56–52	||Wembley	
|}

'''Semi final round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=250| Team one
!width=120| Score
!width=250| Team two
|-
|Wimbledon||46–58, 38–69	||West Ham
|-
|Harringay||64–44, w/o	||New Cross	
|}

===Final===

'''First leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 1 August 1953
|team1 = Harringay<br>Jack Biggs 1<br>Maury Dunn 12<br>Jeff Lloyd 12<br>Split Waterman 10<br>Ron How 8<br> Frank Lawrence 5<br>Ken Walsh 1<br>Allan Quinn 0
|score = 60–48
|report = 
|team2 = West Ham<br>Jack Young 18, <br>Bert Roger 10<br> Malcolm Craven 6<br> Wally Green 4<br> Howdy Byford 4<br> Keith Gurtner 4<br>Kid Curtis 2<br>Pat Clarke 0
|stadium = [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]
|attendance =
}}

'''Second leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 4 August 1953
|team1 = West Ham<br>Jack Young 17<br>Bert Roger 11<br>Keith Gurtner 8<br>Malcolm Craven 7<br> Basse Hveem 6<br>Howdy Byford 4<br> Pat Clarke 4<br> Wally Green 4  
|score = 58–50
|report = <ref>{{cite news |title=Harringay beaten, but they win cup |work=Daily Herald |date=5 August 1953 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530805/115/0006 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=26 September 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|team2 = Harringay<br>Maury Dunn 11<br>Jack Biggs 12<br> Jeff Lloyd 9<br>Ron How 8<br> Split Waterman 7<br> Frank Lawrence 2<br> Arthur Atkinson 0<br>Alan Quinn 0
|stadium = [[Wimbledon Stadium|Plough Lane]]
|attendance = 
}}

Harringay won on aggregate '''110–106'''

==Midland Cup==
Birmingham won the [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]], which consisted of six teams. There were two teams from division 1 and four teams from division 2.

'''First round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=150| Team one
!width=150| Team two
!width=120| Score
|-
|Leicester||Stoke || 65–31, 46–50
|}

'''Semi final round'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=150| Team one
!width=150| Team two
!width=120| Score
|-
|Leicester||Coventry	||50–46, 43–53
|-
|Birmingham||Bradford	||73–25, 59–37
|}

===Final===

'''First leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 26 September 1953
|team1 = Birmingham<br>Alan Hunt 15<br> Graham Warren 9<br> Harry Bastable 9 <br>Arthur Payne 7<br> Ron Mountford 6<br> Ron Barrett 6 <br>Eric Boothroyd 5 <br>Bob Roger 4
|score = 61–35
|report = <ref>{{cite news |title=Bees well beaten at Birmingham |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=28 September 1953 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19530928/123/0009 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=18 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|team2 = Coventry<br>Charlie New 13<br> Johnnie Reason 9 <br>Derrick Tailby 5 <br>Vic Emms 3 <br>Reg Duval 2 <br>Les Hewitt 1<br> Jack Wright 1 <br>Stan Williams 1
|stadium = [[Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium|Perry Barr Stadium]]
|attendance =
}}

'''Second leg'''
{{footballbox
|date = 3 October 1953
|team1 = Coventry<br>Charlie New 14 <br>Derrick Tailby 7 <br>Stan Williams 4 <br> Vic Emms 4<br> Reg Duval 4<br> Johnnie Reason 3<br>Les Hewitt 2<br> Jack Wright 0
|score = 38–58
|report = <ref>{{cite news |title=Birmingham's easy win in Midland Trophy |work=Birmingham Weekly Mercury |date=4 October 1953 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19531004/020/0020 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]| access-date=18 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|team2 = Birmingham<br>Alan Hunt 14<br>Ron Mountford 12<br>Graham Warren 9<br>Harry Bastable 7 <br>Eric Boothroyd 7 <br>Arthur Payne 6<br> Ron Barrett 3 <br>Bob Roger 0
|stadium = [[Brandon Stadium]]
|attendance = 
}}

Birmingham won on aggregate '''119–73'''

==Riders & final averages==
'''Belle Vue'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Ron Johnston]]}} 7.88
*{{player||ENG|[[Peter Craven]]}} 7.74
*{{player||ENG|[[Ken Sharples]]}} 8.27
*{{player||ENG|[[Jack Parker (speedway rider)|Jack Parker]]}} 7.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Louis Lawson]]}} 6.69
*{{player||ENG|[[Dick Fisher (speedway rider)|Dick Fisher]]}} 4.62
*{{player||ENG|Harry Edwards}} 4.22
*{{player||SCO|[[Jock Grierson]]}} 3.87
*{{player||SCO|[[Willie Wilson (speedway rider)|Willie Wilson]]}} 3.86
*{{player||ENG|Bob Fletcher}} 3.74
*{{player||SWE|[[Olle Segerström]]}} 2.00
*{{player||ENG|Val Morton}} 2.00
{{div col end}}

'''Birmingham'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Alan Hunt (speedway rider)|Alan Hunt]]}} 10.47
*{{player||AUS|[[Graham Warren]]}} 7.67
*{{player||SWE|[[Dan Forsberg]]}} 7.64
*{{player||ENG|[[Eric Boothroyd]]}} 7.19
*{{player||AUS|[[Arthur Payne (speedway rider)|Arthur Payne]]}} 7.19
*{{player||ENG|[[Harry Bastable]]}} 6.36
*{{player||ENG|[[Ron Mountford]]}} 5.97
*{{player||ENG|Phil Malpass}} 4.57
*{{player||ENG|[[Bob Roger]]}} 4.48
*{{player||ENG|Ron Barrett}} 4.21
*{{player||ENG|Ron Mason}} 3.00
*{{player||AUS|Bill Jemison}} 1.25
*{{player||ENG|Lionel Watling}} (James Goldingay) 1.18
{{div col end}}

'''Bradford'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Forrest (speedway rider)|Arthur Forrest]]}} 9.94
*{{player||ENG|[[Eddie Rigg]]}} 8.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Wright (speedway rider)|Arthur Wright]]}} 7.14
*{{player||AUS|[[Dick Seers]]}} 6.26
*{{player||ENG|[[Ron Clarke (speedway rider)|Ron Clarke]]}} 6.20
*{{player||ENG|[[Keith Milner]]}} 5.50
*{{player||ENG|[[Dent Oliver]]}} 5.69
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Atkinson (speedway rider)|Arthur Atkinson]]}} 5.04
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Bush]]}} 5.00
*{{player||AUS|[[Bill Longley (speedway rider)|Bill Longley]]}} 3.69
*{{player||ENG|[[Wal Morton]]}} 4.27
{{div col end}}

'''Bristol'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||SWE|[[Olle Nygren]]}} 10.25
*{{player||ENG|[[Dick Bradley]]}} 8.13
*{{player||ENG|Eric Salmon}} 7.88
*{{player||ENG|[[Billy Hole (speedway rider)|Billy Hole]]}} 7.55
*{{player||ENG|[[Jack Unstead]]}} 6.67
*{{player||ENG|[[Johnny Hole]]}} 6.10
*{{player||ENG|[[Chris Boss]]}} 5.80
*{{player||AUS|[[Chum Taylor]]}} 4.37
*{{player||ENG|[[Geoff Pymar]]}} 4.24
{{div col end}}

'''Harringay'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Split Waterman]]}} 9.84
*{{player||AUS|[[Jack Biggs]]}} 9.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Jeff Lloyd]]}} 8.14
*{{player||NZL|[[Maurice Dunn]]}} 7.73
*{{player||ENG|[[Ron How]]}} 7.60
*{{player||ENG|[[Frank Lawrence]]}} 5.87
*{{player||ENG|Stan Clark}} 5.33
*{{player||AUS|Ken Walsh}} 5.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Arthur Atkinson (speedway rider)|Arthur Atkinson]]}} 4.68
*{{player||AUS|Allan Quinn}} 4.00
{{div col end}}

'''New Cross''' (withdrew)
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||SCO|[[Jock Grierson]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Roger]]}}
*{{player||SWE|[[Olle Nygren]]}} 
*{{player||ENG|[[Bert Roger]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Merv Harding]]}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Bill Longley (speedway rider)|Bill Longley]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Bob Roger]]}}
*{{player||IRE|[[Eric French]]}}
*{{player||ENG|[[Frank Lawrence]]}}
{{div col end}}

'''Norwich'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Aub Lawson]]}} 9.19
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Roger]]}} 7.48
*{{player||ENG|[[Fred Rogers (speedway rider)|Fred Rogers]]}} 6.76
*{{player||ENG|[[Billy Bales]]}} 6.40
*{{player||NZL|Merv Neil}} 5.60
*{{player||ENG|[[Phil Clarke (speedway rider)|Phil Clarke]]}} 5.49
*{{player||ENG|[[Fred Pawson]]}} 5.12
*{{player||ENG|[[Roy Craighead]]}} 3.40
*{{player||AUS|Alec Hunter}} 2.29
*{{player||ENG|Jack Freeman}} 2.00
{{div col end}}

'''Wembley'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||WAL|[[Freddie Williams (speedway rider)|Freddie Williams]]}} 10.13
*{{player||WAL|[[Eric Williams (speedway rider)|Eric Williams]]}} 9.66
*{{player||ENG|[[Tommy Price]]}} 9.13
*{{player||ENG|[[Brian Crutcher]]}} 7.87
*{{player||ENG|[[Bill Kitchen (speedway rider)|Bill Kitchen]]}} 6.26
*{{player||ENG|[[Jimmy Gooch (speedway rider)|Jimmy Gooch]]}} 4.78
*{{player||IRE|[[Eric French]]}} 6.23
*{{player||NZL|[[Trevor Redmond]]}} 6.05
*{{player||ENG|[[George Wilks]]}} 4.57
{{div col end}}

'''West Ham'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||AUS|[[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]}} 10.61
*{{player||NOR|[[Basse Hveem]]}} 8.00
*{{player||ENG|[[Wally Green]]}} 7.43
*{{player||ENG|[[Pat Clark (speedway rider)|Pat Clark]]}} 7.72
*{{player||ENG|[[Howdy Byford]]}} 4.68
*{{player||ENG|[[Bert Roger]]}} 4.49
*{{player||ENG|[[Malcolm Craven]]}} 5.50
*{{player||AUS|[[Keith Gurtner]]}} 3.92
*{{player||ENG|[[Kid Curtis]]}} 2.86
*{{player||AUS|[[Cliff Watson (speedway rider)|Cliff Watson]]}} 2.29
{{div col end}}

'''Wimbledon'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{player||NZL|[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]}} 10.63
*{{player||NZL|[[Geoff Mardon]]}} 8.66
*{{player||SWE|[[Sune Karlsson]]}} 8.00
*{{player||AUS|[[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]]}} 6.97
*{{player||NZL|[[Barry Briggs]]}} 6.31
*{{player||ENG|[[Norman Parker (speedway rider)|Norman Parker]]}} 7.50
*{{player||IRE|Dom Perry}} 5.57
*{{player||AUS|[[Bill Longley (speedway rider)|Bill Longley]]}} 5.05
*{{player||ENG|[[Reg Trott]]}} 4.49
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Brine]]}} 4.42
*{{player||ENG|[[Cyril Maidment]]}} 2.72
*{{player||ENG|[[Dennis Gray (speedway rider)|Dennis Gray]]}} 1.60
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions]]
* [[Knockout Cup (speedway)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}
{{National League speedway seasons 1932–1964}}

[[Category:Speedway National League]]
[[Category:1953 in speedway|National League]]
[[Category:1953 in British motorsport|Speedway National League]]