The 1931 Southern League was the third season of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams, and its final season before amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Leagues.[1] The Northern teams also had their third season known as the 1931 Speedway Northern League.[2][3][4]
Summary
Both Birmingham teams based at Perry Barr and Hall Green had left the league but the latter did ride in the National Trophy.
Harringay Canaries resigned in June to be replaced by a Belle Vue team, who then rode both in the Northern and Southern Leagues, the latter as Manchester. Nottingham closed in July but they were not replaced and their results stood. The league season was the longest in the short history of the competition as teams met each other four times instead of twice.[7]
The Wembley Lions won their second consecutive title[8] finishing three points clear of 1929 champions Stamford Bridge. The league suffered a fatality during the match between Belle Vue and Wembley at Hyde Road. James Allen (known as Indian Allen) was thrown from his bike and hit his head on a fence, trying to avoid a rider who had fallen in front of him. He died three days later in hospital on 12 September 1931.[9] Another rider Noel Johnson of Plymouth had been killed in a challenge match against Coventry reserves on 25 August. [10]
Stamford Bridge Frank Arthur 12 Arthur Warwick 11 Bill Stanley 8 Cliff Watson 3 Dick Smythe 2 Percy Dunn 2 Hal Herbert 2 Gus Kuhn 1 Mick Murphy 1
45 – 49
Wembley Wally Kilmister 9 Lionel Van Praag 8 Colin Watson 8 Jack Ormston 6 George Greenwood 5 Harry Whitfield 5 Norman Evans 4 Charlie Shelton 3 Jack Jackson 1 Col Stewart 0
Wembley were declared National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 120-69.
London Cup
First round
Team one
Score
Team two
Wimbledon
46–50, 45–49
Wembley
West Ham
41.5–53.5, 36–58
Stamford Bridge
Lea Bridge
60–35, 48–46
High Beech
Crystal Palace bye
Semi final round
Team one
Score
Team two
Lea Bridge
41–55, 27–69
Crystal Palace
Stamford Bridge
50–46, 41.5–35.5
Wembley
Final
First leg
Crystal Palace Ron Johnson 12 Tom Farndon 9 Joe Francis 9 Nobby Key 7 Roger Frogley 6 Triss Sharp 6 Harry Shepherd 5 Alf Sawford 5
59–36
Wembley Colin Watson 7 Jack Ormston 7 Norman Evans 7 Lionel Van Praag 5 Wally Kilmister 4 Jack Jackson 3 Charlie Shelton 2 Col Stewart 1 Cliff Parkinson 0
Wembley Norman Evans 8 Colin Watson 7 Jack Ormston 6 Jack Jackson 5 George Greenwood 5 Wally Kilmister 3 Lionel Van Praag 2 Buster Frogley 2 Charlie Shelton 2
40–55
Crystal Palace Tom Farndon 12 Ron Johnson 12 Joe Francis 11 Nobby Key 9 Roger Frogley 6 Triss Sharp 3 Alf Sawford 2 Harry Shepherd 0
