Provincial League 1960-1964

Rayleigh Rockets
The Provincial League name was resurected in 1960 it had previously been used for the second tier of the National League before changing it's name to National League Division Two. The League was formed in 1960 by a group of promoters who were unhappy with the National League the idea was to re-introduce speedway to lost towns who had lost teams. The league had considarble success with crowds outstripping the National League. In 1964 the Provincial League operated outside of Speedway Control Board authority following a major dispute over how Speedway should be run. The controversy was brought about by the refusal of Wolverhampton to move up to the National League, which only had six teams at the time, after winning the Provincial League title in 1963. This caused a split between the leagues, and the Provincial League was outlawed by the Speedway Control Board and all National League riders were forbidden to ride on Provincial tracks. Provincial League riders were warned by the Speedway Control board that they were in breach of ACU regulations and could be suspended from all competitive racing. 
They were also barred from the World Speedway Championship. The Provincial League objected and went black the 1964 season, racing under their own rules and arbitrator, and appointing their own officials and referees. An enquiry was held that year set up by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) and chaired by Lord Shawcross who decided that the SCB was acting illegally. He recommended that the SCB be re-formed with a new Secretary/Manager and a new Chairman appointed from the RAC. During the winter of 1964/65, meetings were held between the promoters of the two leagues and the SCB led to a reconciliation between the two bodies and the merger of the two leagues leading to the establishment of a single 18 team British League for the 1965 season. This reorganisation also led to the formation of the British Speedway Promoters Association.
Season Champions Second Third
1960 Rayleigh Rockets Poole Pirates Bristol Bulldogs
1961 Poole Pirates Plymouth Devils Stoke Potters
1962 Poole Pirates Neath Welsh Dragons Exeter Falcons
1963 Wolverhampton Wolves Stoke Potters Poole Pirates
1964 Newcastle Diamonds Hackney Hawks Wolverhampton Wolves
All Time League Table
M W D L pts
Poole 108 72 1 34 146
Sheffield 108 54 3 51 111
Edinburgh 108 49 7 52 105
Cradley Heath 108 50 3 55 103
Stoke 86 48 2 36 98
Newcastle 90 47 1 42 95
Wolverhampton 90 45 3 42 93
Exeter 90 45 2 43 92
Middlesborough 90 35 5 50 75
Rayleigh 62 32 1 29 65
Hackney 46 25 2 19 52
Plymouth 44 24 2 10 50
Bradford 60 21 1 38 43
Long Eaton 46 15 2 29 32
Neath 24 14 1 9 29
St Austell 24 13 2 9 28
Newport 22 11 1 10 23
Glasgow 22 6 2 14 14
Yarmouth 18 7 0 11 14
Leicester 24 6 0 18 12
Liverpool 3 4 0 14 8
League Membership
Rayleigh 1960 1961
1963
Poole 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Bristol 1960



Sheffield 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Stoke 1960 1961 1962 1963
Cradley Heath 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Yarmouth 1960



Edinburgh 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Liverpool 1960



Bradford 1960
1962

Plymouth
1961 1962

Exeter
1961 1962 1963 1964
Middlesbrough
1961 1962 1963 1964
Newcastle
1961 1962 1963 1964
Neath

1962

Wolverhampton

1962 1963 1964
Leicester

1962

St Austell


1963
Hackney


1963 1964
Long Eaton


1963 1964
Newport



1964
Glasgow



1964