# 1980 British League season

The 1980 British League season was the 46th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 16th season known as the British League.

## Summary

The league comprised 17 teams - one fewer than the previous season. Exeter Falcons had dropped down to the National League. Hackney Hawks underwent a dramatic transformation from being the bottom side in 1979 to title contenders in 1980, but their challenge faded in the last few weeks and Reading Racers were crowned champions for the second time.
Reading's success came down to three strong heat leaders, Swedish champion Jan Andersson, their new American signing Bobby Schwartz and England international John Davis. All three produced season averages around the 10 mark, which enabled the team to constantly pick up victories. Cradley Heathens successfully retained their Knockout Cup crown overcoming a huge first leg deficit in the final.
Hans Nielsen topped the averages for the first time in his career. Neither Ivan Mauger or Ole Olsen finished in the top 10 in averages, as well as both failing to qualify directly for that years’ World Final (Olsen went as reserve). The young American riders continued to improve as more arrived in Britain, with Bruce Penhall qualifying for the World Final and Dennis Sigalos pipping Mauger to be Hull Vikings' top scorer.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Reading Racers | 32 | 24 | 1 | 7 | 49 |
| 2 | Hackney Hawks | 32 | 23 | 0 | 9 | 46 |
| 3 | Belle Vue Aces | 32 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 43 |
| 4 | Coventry Bees | 32 | 20 | 2 | 10 | 42 |
| 5 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 32 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 40 |
| 6 | Ipswich Witches | 32 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 34 |
| 7 | King's Lynn Stars | 32 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 34 |
| 8 | Swindon Robins | 32 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 34 |
| 9 | Poole Pirates | 32 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 32 |
| 10 | Halifax Dukes | 32 | 15 | 1 | 16 | 31 |
| 11 | Leicester Lions | 32 | 14 | 0 | 18 | 28 |
| 12 | Hull Vikings | 32 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 27 |
| 13 | Wimbledon Dons | 32 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 26 |
| 14 | Birmingham Brummies | 32 | 11 | 1 | 20 | 23 |
| 15 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 32 | 9 | 2 | 21 | 20 |
| 16 | Eastbourne Eagles | 32 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 19 |
| 17 | Sheffield Tigers | 32 | 8 | 0 | 24 | 16 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | BV | BIR | COV | CH | EAS | HAC | HAL | HV | IPS | KL | LEI | PP | RR | SHE | SWI | WIM | WOL |
| Belle Vue | | 41–37 | 40–38 | 42–36 | 53–25 | 49–29 | 44–34 | 43–35 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 41–37 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 47–30 | 52–25 | 46–31 | 41–37 |
| Birmingham | 37–41 | | 35–43 | 45–33 | 33–45 | 44–34 | 41–37 | 44–34 | 42–36 | 34–44 | 41–37 | 41–37 | 32–46 | 41–37 | 35–43 | 46–32 | 36–42 |
| Coventry | 44–34 | 45–33 | | 36.5–41.5 | 47–31 | 52–26 | 47–31 | 52–26 | 42–36 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 47–31 | 40–38 | 48–30 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 45–33 |
| Cradley Heath | 42–36 | 49–29 | 44.5–33.5 | | 57–21 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 45–33 | 53–25 | 40–38 | 39–38 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 50–28 | 46–32 | 51–27 | 44–34 |
| Eastbourne | 45–33 | 37–41 | 47–31 | 45–31 | | 34–43 | 41–37 | 37–41 | 40–38 | 42–36 | 31–47 | 34–44 | 26–52 | 46–32 | 30–48 | 39–39 | 41–37 |
| Hackney | 45–33 | 41–37 | 44–34 | 37–40 | 44–34 | | 45–32 | 46–31 | 46–32 | 40–38 | 43–35 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 53–25 | 43–35 | 56–22 | 52–26 |
| Halifax | 46–32 | 44–34 | 37–41 | 40–38 | 52–26 | 38–39 | | 48–30 | 44–34 | 42–36 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 39–39 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 40–38 | 51–27 |
| Hull | 38–40 | 51–27 | 39–39 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 38–40 | 32–46 | | 39–39 | 41–37 | 42–36 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 60–18 | 42–36 | 44–33 | 41–36 |
| Ipswich | 41–36 | 54–24 | 43–35 | 46–32 | 48–30 | 49–28 | 56–22 | 43–35 | | 40–38 | 48–30 | 45–33 | 31–47 | 59–19 | 48–30 | 50–27 | 38–40 |
| King's Lynn | 43–34 | 49–29 | 46–32 | 52–26 | 63–15 | 43–35 | 48–30 | 56–22 | 40–38 | | 44–33 | 50–28 | 38–40 | 58–20 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 41–37 |
| Leicester | 37–41 | 46–32 | 42–36 | 40–38 | 49–29 | 38–40 | 51–27 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 40–38 | | 42–36 | 32–46 | 48–30 | 38–40 | 45–33 | 43–35 |
| Poole | 43–35 | 43–35 | 37–41 | 48–30 | 46–32 | 45–32 | 57–21 | 39–39 | 47–31 | 41–37 | 41–37 | | 38–40 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 43–35 | 43–32 |
| Reading | 47–31 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 40–38 | 52–26 | 47–31 | 48–30 | 43–35 | 56–22 | 52–26 | 53–25 | 47–31 | | 54–24 | 38–40 | 53–25 | 49–29 |
| Sheffield | 27–51 | 38–40 | 31–47 | 48–30 | 46–32 | 38–40 | 34–43 | 43–35 | 37–41 | 43–35 | 28–50 | 34–43 | 41–37 | | 45–33 | 41–37 | 44–34 |
| Swindon | 39–39 | 52–26 | 43–35 | 35–43 | 43–35 | 32–46 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 45–33 | 49–29 | 33–45 | 59–19 | | 41–37 | 46–32 |
| Wimbledon | 36–42 | 43–35 | 39–39 | 44–34 | 47–31 | 37–41 | 51–24 | 47–31 | 40–37 | 40–38 | 44–34 | 47–31 | 35–43 | 49–29 | 43–35 | | 40–38 |
| Wolverhampton | 49–29 | 39–39 | 36–42 | 34–43 | 43–34 | 34–43 | 42–36 | 39–39 | 37–41 | 36–42 | 43–35 | 44–34 | 27–51 | 61–17 | 35–43 | 44–34 | |

## Top ten riders (league averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Peter Collins | Belle Vue | 10.70 |
| 2 | Hans Nielsen | Wolverhampton | 10.70 |
| 3 | Dave Jessup | King's Lynn | 10.52 |
| 4 | Bo Petersen | Hackney | 10.46 |
| 5 | Bruce Penhall | Cradley | 10.46 |
| 6 | Michael Lee | King's Lynn | 10.17 |
| 7 | Chris Morton | Belle Vue | 10.11 |
| 8 | Jan Andersson | Reading | 10.08 |
| 9 | Scott Autrey | Swindon | 9.97 |
| 10 | Bobby Schwartz | Reading | 9.95 |

## British League Knockout Cup

The 1980 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 42nd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Cradley Heath were the winners.
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 06/05 | Leicester | 59-49 | Poole |
| 05/05 | Poole | 53-55 | Leicester |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 17/07 | Coventry | 54-54 | Birmingham |
| 09/07 | Cradley Heath | 60-48 | Kings Lynn |
| 04/07 | Wolverhampton | 53-55 | Sheffield |
| 09/06 | Birmingham | 56-51 | Coventry |
| 06/06 | Eastbourne | 52.5-55.5 | Swindon |
| 05/06 | Sheffield | 56-52 | Wolverhampton |
| 03/06 | Hull | 67-41 | Hackney |
| 31/05 | Belle Vue | 60-48 | Wimbledon |
| 31/05 | Halifax | 57-50 | Reading |
| 31/05 | Swindon | 62-46 | Eastbourne |
| 30/05 | Hackney | 45-63 | Hull |
| 29/05 | Wimbledon | 57-51 | Belle Vue |
| 29/05 | Ipswich | 66-42 | Leicester |
| 27/05 | Leicester | 54-54 | Ipswich |
| 25/05 | Kings Lynn | 58-50 | Cradley Heath |
| 21/04 | Reading | 62-46 | Halifax |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 03/09 | Birmingham | 76-30 | Sheffield |
| 23/08 | Belle Vue | 68-40 | Hull |
| 21/08 | Cradley Heath | 54-54 | Reading |
| 21/08 | Sheffield | 49-58 | Birmingham |
| 04/08 | Reading | 53-55 | Cradley Heath |
| 19/07 | Swindon | 63-45 | Ipswich |
| 17/07 | Ipswich | 55-53 | Swindon |
| 09/07 | Hull | 66-42 | Belle Vue |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 01/10 | Cradley Heath | 67-41 | Birmingham |
| 24/09 | Belle Vue | 59-49 | Swindon |
| 15/09 | Birmingham | 56-52 | Cradley Heath |
| 30/08 | Swindon | 56-52 | Belle Vue |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Cradley Heath were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 116-100.

## Riders' Championship

Les Collins won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 18 October and sponsored by Gauntlet (Leyland Used Cars).
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Les Collins | 3 3 3 3 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Bruce Penhall | 1 2 3 3 3 | 12 |
| 3 | Larry Ross | 3 3 1 2 2 | 11 |
| 4 | Jan Andersson | 2 1 3 3 1 | 10 |
| 5 | Peter Collins | 2 1 2 2 3 | 10 |
| 6 | Hans Nielsen | 3 2 2 1 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Kenny Carter | 3 3 0 0 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Scott Autrey | 2 2 1 0 3 | 8 |
| 9 | Ole Olsen | 2 3 1 1 0 | 7 |
| 10 | Dennis Sigalos | 0 0 2 2 2 | 6 |
| 11 | Steve Bastable | 0 1 1 2 1 | 5 |
| 12 | John Louis | 1 1 3 0 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Bo Petersen | 0 0 0 3 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Michael Lee | 1 2 0 - - | 3 |
| 15 | Malcolm Simmons | 1 0 2 0 0 | 3 |
| 16 | Bernie Collier (res) | 1 1 - - - | 2 |
| 17 | Gordon Kennett | 0 0 0 1 - | 1 |
| 18 | Mike Wilding (res) | 0 - - - - | 0 |
* ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Hans Nielsen | Wolverhampton | 10.69 |
| 2 | Peter Collins | Belle Vue | 10.67 |
| =3 | Dave Jessup | King's Lynn | 10.39 |
| =3 | Bruce Penhall | Cradley | 10.39 |
| 5 | Bo Petersen | Hackney | 10.27 |
| 6 | Michael Lee | King's Lynn | 10.14 |
| 7 | Chris Morton | Belle Vue | 10.09 |
| 8 | Jan Andersson | Reading | 10.04 |
| 9 | Bobby Schwartz | Reading | 10.00 |
| 10 | Scott Autrey | Swindon | 9.92 |

## Midland Cup

Cradley Heath won the Midland Cup, sponsored by the Trustee Savings Bank. The competition consisted of six teams.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Swindon | Wolverhampton | 43–35, 39–39 |
| Cradley | Birmingham | 51–27, 48–30 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Swindon | Coventry | 41–37, 36–42 |
| Leicester | Cradley | 35–43, 30–48 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Cradley Heath won on aggregate 88–68

## London Cup

Wimbledon won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Wimbledon | 43–35 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 42–36 | Wimbledon |

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Peter Collins 10.67
* Chris Morton 10.09
* Rob Maxfield 7.69
* Mike Lohmann 6.33
* Derek Richardson 6.24
* Pekka Hautamaki 5.35
* Louis Carr 5.17
* Larry Kosta 4.91
* Dave Allen 4.25
* Steve Wilcock 4.22
Birmingham
* Steve Bastable 8.57
* Kelly Moran 8.24
* Andy Grahame 7.39
* Zdeněk Kudrna 6.22
* Phil Herne 6.09
* Ari Koponen 5.97
* Finn Jensen 5.93
* Alan Emerson 5.56
* Ladislav Hrádecký 3.70
* Mick Blaynee 2.70
Coventry
* Ole Olsen 9.52
* Mitch Shirra 8.54
* Tommy Knudsen 8.10
* Alan Molyneux 6.83
* Kevin Hawkins 6.27
* Gary Guglielmi 5.83
* Alf Busk 5.61
* Rob Hollingworth 4.00
Cradley Heath
* Bruce Penhall 10.39
* Alan Grahame 8.32
* Phil Collins 8.17
* Dave Perks 8.13
* Erik Gundersen 8.09
* Ila Teromaa 5.32
* Steve Lawson 5.16
* Mike Sampson 4.84
* John Hack 4.23
* Derek Harrison 4.05
* Craig Featherby 1.78
* Paul Bosley 0.73
Eastbourne
* Gordon Kennett 9.71
* Kai Niemi 8.35
* Paul Woods 6.28
* Veijo Tuoriniemi 6.12
* Dave Kennett 5.57
* Trevor Geer 4.87
* Eric Dugard 4.64
* Richard Greer 4.24
* Steve Naylor 3.87
* Jan Davidsson 3.61
* Sigvart Pedersen 1.81
Hackney
* Bo Petersen 10.27
* Zenon Plech 8.12
* Finn Thomsen 7.76
* Sean Willmott 5.49
* Barry Thomas 5.29
* Roman Jankowski 5.19
* Keith White 4.94
* Andrzej Huszcza 4.24
Halifax
* Kenny Carter 8.92
* Ian Cartwright 7.92
* Mick McKeon 6.54
* Merv Janke 6.06
* Piotr Pyszny 5.80
* Craig Pendlebury 5.39
* Les Sawyer 3.50
* Alan Stansfield 2.86
Hull
* Dennis Sigalos 9.32
* Ivan Mauger 9.00
* Joe Owen 7.57
* Bobby Beaton 6.68
* Shawn Moran 6.47
* Frank Auffret 5.17
* John McNeill 4.84
* David Bargh 4.67
* Rod Hunter 4.65
* John Cook 4.17
Ipswich
* Kevin Jolly 9.09
* John Louis 8.80
* Billy Sanders 8.34
* Mike Lanham 7.20
* Preben Eriksen 6.37
* Nigel Flatman 5.82
* Tim Hunt 5.77
* Tony Davey 5.33
* Kevin Teager 4.80
* Andy Hines 4.72
King's Lynn
* Dave Jessup 10.39
* Michael Lee 10.14
* Richard Hellsen 8.95
* Melvyn Taylor 6.52
* Bent Rasmussen 5.22
* Pete Smith 4.26
* Nigel Sparshott 3.82
Leicester
* Les Collins 8.93
* John Titman 7.69
* Rolf Gramstad 7.42
* Andrzej Huszcza 6.38
* Mark Courtney 6.20
* Bob Garrad 5.91
* Colin Cook 5.60
* Ian Clark 5.23
Poole
* Malcolm Simmons 9.40
* Ron Preston 9.11
* Peter Prinsloo 7.26
* Neil Middleditch 6.96
* Vaclav Verner 6.76
* Danny Kennedy 4.95
* Martin Yeates 4.77
* John McNeill 4.00
* Kevin Bowen 1.11
Reading
* Jan Andersson 10.04
* Bobby Schwartz 10.00
* John Davis 9.59
* Jiří Štancl 7.37
* Bernie Leigh 5.87
* Martin Ashby 5.30
* Tony Briggs 4.98
* Ashley Pullen 1.80
Sheffield
* Reg Wilson 8.00
* Doug Wyer 7.11
* Eric Broadbelt 6.37
* Phil White 6.20
* Aleš Dryml Sr. 5.56 (6 matches only)
* Neil Collins 5.09
* Nicky Allott 5.04
* Klaus Lohmann 4.86
* Jan Ząbik 4.37
* Henny Kroeze 3.67
* Paul Stead 3.23
Swindon
* Scott Autrey 9.92
* Phil Crump 9.59
* Bob Kilby 7.41
* Steve Gresham 7.24
* Milan Špinka 6.53
* Steen Mastrup 5.54
* Mike Ferreira 5.42
* Malcolm Holloway 5.31
* Bob Humphreys 5.00
* John Barker 2.72
* Nigel Boocock 2.00
Wimbledon
* Larry Ross 9.12
* Roger Johns 8.22
* Edward Jancarz 8.08
* Colin Richardson 6.36
* Stefan Salomonsson 5.82
* Mick Hines 5.08
* Rudy Muts 3.06
* Peter Johns 2.46
* Dave Brewer 2.24
Wolverhampton
* Hans Nielsen 10.69
* Reidar Eide 7.08
* Jimmy McMillan 7.01
* Petr Ondrašík 5.85
* Bruce Cribb 5.73
* Dave Morton 5.36
* Hasse Danielsson 5.33
* Billy Burton 5.07
* Ivan Blacka 3.93
* Wayne Brown 3.68
* Hans Christensen 2.62