# 1972 British League season

The 1972 British League season was the 38th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the eighth season of the British League.

## Summary

Ipswich Witches moved up from Division Two but London lost two clubs, when the Wembley Lions closed due to extra football fixtures and West Ham Hammers withrew during the early part of the season, reducing the league to eighteen teams.
Belle Vue Aces won their third consecutive title. Their team was littered with great riders including Ivan Mauger, Sören Sjösten and the young Peter Collins; they were backed up by the consistency of Chris Pusey, Eric Broadbelt, Alan Wilkinson and Ken Eyre, which led to a comfortable title win by a clear 12 points.
Oxford Cheetahs had a bizarre season when they were rebranded as Oxford Rebels following a takeover by a new consortium, which included former riders Bob Dugard and Danny Dunton, Dave Lanning and the famous musician Acker Bilk. The team under performed badly finishing 17th from 18 teams despite the new image. To make matters worse they signed a new Norwegian rider Svein Kaasa, who was quickly transferred to Glasgow following poor results. He died riding for Glasgow towards the end of the season (on 29 September) at Hampden Park. Kasa clipped Martin Ashby's bike in a race and hit the wooden fence receiving fatal injuries.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Belle Vue Aces | 34 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 63 |
| 2 | Reading Racers | 34 | 25 | 1 | 8 | 51 |
| 3 | King's Lynn Stars | 34 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 51 |
| 4 | Sheffield Tigers | 34 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 49 |
| 5 | Leicester Lions | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 39 |
| 6 | Ipswich Witches | 34 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 35 |
| 7 | Poole Pirates | 34 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 32 |
| 8 | Hackney Hawks | 34 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 32 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 34 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 30 |
| 10 | Coventry Bees | 34 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 28 |
| 11 | Exeter Falcons | 34 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 28 |
| 12 | Halifax Dukes | 34 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 28 |
| 13 | Wimbledon Dons | 34 | 14 | 0 | 20 | 26 |
| 14 | Glasgow Tigers | 34 | 12 | 2 | 20 | 25 |
| 15 | Swindon Robins | 34 | 12 | 1 | 21 | 25 |
| 16 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 34 | 11 | 3 | 20 | 25 |
| 17 | Oxford Rebels | 34 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 20 |
| 18 | Newport Wasps | 34 | 9 | 0 | 25 | 18 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | BV | COV | CH | EX | GLA | HAC | HAL | IPS | KL | LEI | NW | OX | PP | RR | SHE | SWI | WIM | WOL |
| Belle Vue | | 47–30 | 47.5–30.5 | 59–19 | 46–32 | 53–25 | 56–21 | 57–21 | 43–35 | 52–26 | 56–22 | 55–22 | 51–27 | 53–25 | 48–30 | 45–33 | 55–23 | 50–28 |
| Coventry | 32–45 | | 49–29 | 42–36 | 50–28 | 47–31 | 48–30 | 38–39 | 49–29 | 39–39 | 50–28 | 59–19 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 38–40 | 45–33 | 48–30 | 43–35 |
| Cradley Heath | 29–49 | 43–34 | | 39–39 | 40–38 | 37–41 | 41–37 | 35–43 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 60–18 | 43–35 | 41–37 | 33–45 | 29–49 | 41–37 | 46–32 | 42–36 |
| Exeter | 38–40 | 49–29 | 51–27 | | 41–37 | 52–26 | 35–43 | 51–27 | 39–39 | 38–40 | 44–34 | 46.5–31.5 | 40–38 | 41–37 | 35–43 | 46–32 | 50–28 | 42–36 |
| Glasgow | 34–44 | 45–33 | 39–39 | 42–35 | | 43–35 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 38–40 | 39–39 | 56–22 | 43–35 | 51–27 | 37–41 | 28–50 | 43–35 | 51–27 | 53–25 |
| Hackney | 35–43 | 48–29 | 51–27 | 45–32 | 51–27 | | 50–28 | 41–37 | 37–41 | 46–32 | 40–38 | 60–18 | 40–37 | 41–37 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 46–32 | 45–33 |
| Halifax | 39–39 | 41–37 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 47–30 | 42–36 | | 37–41 | 37–41 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 47–31 | 40–38 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 38–40 |
| Ipswich | 36–42 | 44–34 | 51–27 | 38–40 | 45–32 | 41–36 | 45–33 | | 39–39 | 38–40 | 52–26 | 43–34 | 41–36 | 38–40 | 31–47 | 49–29 | 56–22 | 41–37 |
| King's Lynn | 35–43 | 42–36 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 42–36 | 44–34 | | 40–38 | 59–19 | 50–28 | 57–21 | 40–38 | 42–36 | 51–27 | 44–33 | 43–35 |
| Leicester | 38–40 | 47–31 | 41–37 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 48–30 | 46–32 | 50–28 | 42–36 | | 42–36 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 39–39 | 38–40 | 45–33 | 47–31 | 44–34 |
| Newport | 31–46 | 38–40 | 36–42 | 40–38 | 46–32 | 43–35 | 41–37 | 37–41 | 24–54 | 41–37 | | 48–29 | 37–41 | 32–46 | 30–48 | 42–36 | 42–36 | 50–28 |
| Oxford | 35–43 | 36–41 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 50–27 | 47–30 | 45–33 | 40–38 | 33–45 | 38–40 | 51–27 | | 36–42 | 35–42 | 36–42 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 41–37 |
| Poole | 33–44 | 40–38 | 53–25 | 54–24 | 44–34 | 51–27 | 46–32 | 47–31 | 35–43 | 40–38 | 42–36 | 49–29 | | 36–42 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 51–27 | 41–37 |
| Reading | 40–37 | 55–23 | 45–33 | 47–31 | 51–27 | 48–30 | 44–34 | 41–36 | 49–29 | 49–29 | 53–25 | 43–35 | 50–28 | | 47–31 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 51–27 |
| Sheffield | 37–41 | 41–37 | 41–37 | 52–26 | 58–20 | 48–30 | 45–33 | 38–39 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 54–24 | 58–20 | 56–22 | 56–22 | | 45–33 | 58–20 | 38–40 |
| Swindon | 36–42 | 47–30 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 45–33 | 38–40 | 54–24 | 41–37 | 44–34 | 39–39 | 46–32 | 43–35 | 50–28 | 34–44 | 38–40 | | 45–33 | 46–32 |
| Wimbledon | 43–34 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 40–37 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 44–33 | 41–37 | 37–41 | 45–33 | 55–22 | 41–36 | 44–34 | 38–40 | 43–35 | 40–38 | | 45–33 |
| Wolverhampton | 31–47 | 42–35 | 40–38 | 43–35 | 48–30 | 51–27 | 49–29 | 38–40 | 37–41 | 42–36 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 42–35 | 43–35 | 40–38 | 52–26 | |

## Top ten riders (league averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Ivan Mauger | Belle Vue | 11.42 |
| 2 | Ole Olsen | Wolverhampton | 11.36 |
| 3 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.53 |
| 4 | Anders Michanek | Reading | 10.51 |
| 5 | Bernt Persson | Cradley Heath | 10.50 |
| 6 | Terry Betts | King's Lynn | 10.46 |
| 7 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 10.38 |
| 8 | Ronnie Moore | Wimbledon | 10.31 |
| 9 | Ray Wilson | Leicester | 10.16 |
| 10 | Martin Ashby | Swindon | 10.07 |

## British League Knockout Cup

The 1972 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 34th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Belle Vue were the winners.
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 09/05 | Ipswich | 46–32 | Sheffield |
| 08/05 | Exeter | 48–30 | Swindon |
| 06/05 | Halifax | 42–36 | Leicester |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 03/07 | Exeter | 50–28 | Wimbledon |
| 26/06 | Hackney | 52–26 | Cradley Heath |
| 21/06 | Poole | 52–26 | Halifax |
| 16/06 | Newport | 42–36 | Coventry |
| 16/06 | Wolverhampton | 38–40 | Reading |
| 15/06 | Oxford | 35–42 | Kings Lynn |
| 10/06 | Cradley Heath | 39–39 | Hackney |
| 03/06 | Belle Vue | 41–37 | Glasgow |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 31/08 | Ipswich | 38–40 | Reading |
| 05/08 | Belle Vue | 58–20 | Newport |
| 05/08 | Kings Lynn | 56–22 | Exeter |
| 04/08 | Hackney | 45–33 | Poole |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 27/09 | Kings Lynn | 38–40 | Belle Vue |
| 22/09 | Hackney | 40–38 | Reading |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Belle Vue Aces were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 82-73.

## Riders' Championship

Ole Olsen won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 21 October.
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Ole Olsen | 3 3 3 3 3 | 15 |
| 2 | Martin Ashby | 2 3 3 3 3 | 14 |
| 3 | Ronnie Moore | 3 3 2 3 2 | 13 |
| 4 | John Louis | 1 1 3 3 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Anders Michanek | 3 2 1 2 1 | 9 |
| 6 | Terry Betts | 2 2 2 1 2 | 9 |
| 7 | Ivan Mauger | 3 3 ef ef 2 | 8 |
| 8 | Garry Middleton | 2 2 2 2 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Christer Löfqvist | 2 0 1 1 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Bernt Persson | ef 2 3 ex 1 | 6 |
| 11 | Ray Wilson | 0 1 2 2 0 | 5 |
| 12 | Bengt Jansson | 1 0 1 1 1 | 4 |
| 13 | Bob Kilby | 1 0 0 0 2 | 3 |
| 14 | Eric Boocock | 0 1 1 0 1 | 3 |
| 15 | Nigel Boocock | 1 ef 0 1 0 | 2 |
| 16 | Jim McMillan (res) | 2 | 2 |
| 17 | Arnie Haley | 0 1 0 0 0 | 1 |
* ef=engine failure, f=fell, ex=excluded

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Ole Olsen | Wolverhampton | 11.39 |
| 2 | Ivan Mauger | Belle Vue | 11.36 |
| 3 | Terry Betts | King's Lynn | 10.51 |
| 4 | Anders Michanek | Reading | 10.51 |
| 5 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 10.38 |
| 6 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.36 |
| 7 | Ronnie Moore | Wimbledon | 10.34 |
| 8 | Bernt Persson | Cradley | 10.27 |
| 9 | Ray Wilson | Leicester | 10.14 |
| 10 | Martin Ashby | Swindon | 10.08 |
| 11 | Bob Kilby | Exeter | 9.89 |
| 12 | John Boulger | Leicester | 9.46 |
| 13 | John Louis | Ipswich | 9.39 |
| 14 | Bengt Jansson | Hackney | 9.38 |
| 15 | Garry Middleton | Oxford | 9.24 |
| 16 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 9.23 |
| 17 | Howard Cole (a.k.a. Kid Brodie) | King's Lynn | 8.94 |
| 18 | Sören Sjösten | Belle Vue | 8.92 |
| 19 | Christer Löfqvist | Poole | 8.90 |
| 20 | Jim McMillan | Glasgow | 8.86 |

## Midland Cup

Leicester won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of six teams.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Oxford | Swindon | 44–34, 34–44 |
| Wolverhampton | Cradley | 40–38, 39–39 |
| Swindon | Oxford | 39–39, 36–41 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Swindon | Leicester | 42–36, 30–48 |
| Coventry | Wolverhampton | 41–37, 37–41 |
| Coventry | Wolverhampton | 42–36, 33–45 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Leicester won on aggregate 82–74

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Ivan Mauger 11.36
* Sören Sjösten 8.92
* Peter Collins 8.44
* Chris Pusey 8.20
* Eric Broadbelt 6.72
* Alan Wilkinson 6.68
* Ken Eyre 5.56
* Paul Tyrer 5.11
Coventry
* Nigel Boocock 9.23
* Tony Lomas 8.10
* John Harrhy 7.07
* Jan Simensen 6.85
* Rick France 5.61
* Roy Carter 5.33
* Roger Hill 5.19
* Les Owen 4.52
* Pete Bailey 4.14
Cradley Heath
* Bernt Persson 10.27
* Bob Andrews 7.30
* Roy Trigg 6.95
* Pete Jarman 4.90
* John Hart 4.61
* Mick Handley 4.57
* Jimmy Squibb 3.73
* Ian Ross 2.00
* Dave Perks 0.91
Exeter
* Bob Kilby 9.89
* Edgar Stangeland 8.23
* Bob Coles 6.29
* Kevin Holden 6.06
* Peter Ingram 5.85
* Bruce Cribb 5.75
* Dave Hemus 5.28
* Chris Julian 4.89
* Phil Woodcock 4.00
* Clark Facey 1.18
Glasgow
* Jimmy McMillan 8.86
* Bobby Beaton 8.58
* George Hunter 8.41
* Charlie Monk 6.91
* Svein Kaasa 4.94
* Robin Adlington 4.00
* Jimmy Gallacher 3.72
* Paul O'Neal 3.47
* Kjell Gimre 2.09
* Jim Beaton 1.82
Hackney
* Bengt Jansson 9.38
* Barry Thomas 7.79
* Dave Kennett 6.38
* Geoff Maloney 6.32
* Hugh Saunders 6.27
* Laurie Etheridge 6.24
* Eddie Reeves 5.78
* Roger Wright 4.00
* Allen Emmett 3.20
Halifax
* Eric Boocock 10.36
* Göte Nordin 8.16
* Dave Younghusband 7.39
* Alan Jay 5.87
* Greg Kentwell 5.70
* Tommy Roper 5.36
* John Titman 4.03
* Mike Hiftle 3.57
* Malcolm MacKay 3.53
Ipswich
* John Louis 9.39
* Olle Nygren 7.78
* Tommy Johansson 7.67
* Sándor Lévai 6.96
* Pete Bailey 5.07
* Alan Sage 4.61
* Billy Sanders 4.46
* Tony Davey 4.35
King's Lynn
* Terry Betts 10.51
* Howard Cole (Kid Bodie) 8.94
* Malcolm Simmons 8.36
* Phil Crump 7.30
* Bob Humphreys 6.21
* Ian Turner 5.72
* Barry Crowson 5.47
* Arthur Price 4.75
* Clive Featherby 4.33
Leicester
* Ray Wilson 10.14
* John Boulger 9.46
* Dave Jessup 8.68
* Norman Storer 4.98
* Malcolm Shakespeare 4.81
* Geoff Ambrose 4.47
* Malcolm Brown 3.93
* Alan Cowland 3.25
Newport
* Ronnie Genz 7.45
* Tony Clarke 7.15
* Graham Plant 6.41
* Neil Street 5.28
* Phil Woodcock 4.49
* Bo Wirebrand 4.36
* Ted Laessing 3.75
* Barry Duke 3.49
Oxford
* Garry Middleton 9.24
* Øyvind S. Berg 7.97
* Colin Gooddy 6.49
* Malcolm Ballard 6.25
* Rick Timmo 5.14
* Ken McKinlay 4.81
* Norman Strachan 4.37
* Preben Rosenkilde 3.64
* John Davis 3.00
Poole
* Christer Löfqvist 8.90
* Pete Smith 8.00
* Odd Fossengen 6.71
* John Langfield 6.47
* Brian Collins 5.75
* Frank Shuter 5.42
* Mike Cake 4.66
Reading
* Anders Michanek 10.51
* Dag Lövaas 8.78
* Geoff Curtis 7.73
* Geoff Mudge 7.07
* Richard May 6.38
* Mick Bell 6.24
* Bernie Leigh 5.02
* Graeme Smith 3.77
Sheffield
* Reidar Eide 8.85
* Arnold Haley 8.81
* Doug Wyer 7.46
* Reg Wilson 7.34
* Bert Harkins 7.15
* Bob Valentine 7.15
* Bob Paulson 6.33
Swindon
* Barry Briggs 10.38
* Martin Ashby 10.08
* Norman Hunter 6.08
* Mike Broadbank 4.88
* Brian Leonard 4.62
* Clive Hitch 4.21
* Mike Keen 3.88
* James Bond 3.56
* David Ashby 2.00
Wimbledon
* Ronnie Moore 10.34
* Trevor Hedge 8.13
* Tommy Jansson 7.45
* John Dews 5.02
* Graeme Stapleton 4.45
* Peter Murray 3.96
* Jim Tebby 3.53
* Neil Cameron 3.26
* Pete Wigley 1.71
Wolverhampton
* Ole Olsen 11.39
* Jan Simensen 7.76
* Norman Hunter 6.67
* Dave Gifford 5.88
* Tom Leadbitter 4.59
* Jon Erskine 4.04
* Dave Baugh 3.75
* Colin Meredith 1.65