| League | National League Division Three |
|---|---|
| Season | 1949 |
| No. of competitors | 13 |
| Champions | Hanley Potters |
| National Trophy (Div 3 final) | Hanley Potters |
| Highest average | Billy Bales |
| Division/s above | Division One Division Two |
The 1949 National League Division Three was the third season of British speedway's National League Division Three.[1] [2]
The league expanded to 13 teams from 12. Cradley Heath, Southampton and Coventry had all moved up to Division Two whilst Wombwell dropped out. The five new sides were Liverpool Chads,[3] Leicester Hunters, Rayleigh Rockets,[4] Oxford Cheetahs[5] and Halifax Dukes. The latter racing on a new speedway track at The Shay.[6]
Swindon Robins joined the league late in the season, when Reg Witcomb applied to the Speedway Control Board to take over the remaining fixtures of Hull Angels, who had withdrawn from the league.[7]
Hanley Potters won the title on race points difference from Yarmouth Bloaters[8] and Billy Bales of Yarmouth topped the averages.[9]
- ^ "Home". speedwayresearcher.org.uk.
- ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
- ^ "Liverpool's Restart". Liverpool Evening Express. 19 January 1949. Retrieved 8 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "League speedway reaches Central Essex". Essex Newsman. 18 March 1949. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Langton Returns - As Director". Yorkshire Evening Post. 4 February 1949. Retrieved 12 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Hull Speedway". Hull Daily Mail. 3 September 1949. Retrieved 27 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Major League Competitions". Speedway Archive.
- ^ "National League Division 3 1949" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 11 November 2021.