The 1952 Southern League was the first season of the newly created regional third tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. From the defunct National League Division Three of the previous season, only Poole Pirates did not join the new league. Ipswich Witches and Southampton Saints were new entrants.[1]
The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third tier clubs, stage two was for the second tier clubs and stage three was for the top tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Plymouth won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.[7]
Third Division qualifying first round
Date
Team one
Score
Team two
22/04
Southampton
49-58
Cardiff
18/04
Wolverhampton
74-33
Long Eaton
17/04
Cardiff
75-33
Southampton
17/04
Long Eaton
58-50
Wolverhampton
Third Division qualifying second round
Date
Team one
Score
Team two
26/04
Swindon
52-56
Cardiff
25/04
Wolverhampton
49-59
Exeter
24/04
Cardiff
74-32
Swindon
24/04
Ipswich
50-57
Rayleigh
21/04
Exeter
73-34
Wolverhampton
19/04
Rayleigh
60-48
Ipswich
19/04
Aldershot
48-60
Plymouth
17/04
Plymouth
76-31
Aldershot
Third Division qualifying semifinals
Date
Team one
Score
Team two
08/05
Cardiff
59-48
Rayleigh
03/05
Rayleigh
70-38
Cardiff
01/05
Plymouth
67-41
Exeter
28/04
Exeter
57-51
Plymouth
Qualifying final
First leg
Plymouth Devils Pete Lansdale 17 George Wall 16 Bill Tatcher 14 Alan Smith 11 Brian Hitchcock 5 Denis Hayles 3 Doug Fursey 3 Frank Wheeler 0
69 – 38
Rayleigh Rockets Jack Unstead 10 Peter Clark 8 Julie Benson 6 Ron Howes 5 Tom O'Connor 3 Gerald Jackson 3 Les McGillivray 2 Maurice McDermott 1