National Development League

Last updated

National Development League
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg 2025 National Development League and National Trophy speedway season
Formerly Conference League
Sport Speedway
Founded2009
No. of teams6
CountryUnited Kingdom
Most recent
champion(s)		 Leicester Lion Cubs
Most titles3 titles:
Leicester Lion Cubs
Official website SpeedwayGB
Notes
Leagues above
SGB Premiership (div 1)
SGB Championship (div 2)

The National Development League formerly called the National League was formed in 2009 as the third division of speedway in the United Kingdom, replacing the Conference League. [1] It follows the same rules and regulations as the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship, including the use of rider averages. It is however regarded as the league for junior riders or in some cases other riders returning to the sport.

Contents

History

There were two previous speedway leagues in Britain sharing the 'National League' name, the main league that operated from 1932 to 1964, and British League Division Two, which was renamed the National League between 1975 and 1990.

The rebranded league started in 2009 and consisted of eleven teams. Over the following years the teams have changed significantly with only four of the original eleven teams still operating in 2023. [2] In recent years, the majority of the clubs that compete are junior sides of teams from the top two divisions.

Rules

The rules follow those of the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship with some relaxation of regulations. Riders who hold a non-British FMN licence are not permitted to compete in the National League. [3]

Champions

SeasonChampionsSecondRef
2009 Bournemouth Buccaneers Plymouth Devils
2010 Buxton Hitmen Newport Hornets
2011 Scunthorpe/Sheffield Mildenhall Fen Tigers
2012 Mildenhall Fen Tigers Dudley Heathens
2013 Dudley Heathens King's Lynn Young Stars
2014 Cradley Heathens Coventry Storm
2015 Birmingham Brummies Eastbourne Eagles
2016 Birmingham Brummies Eastbourne Eagles
2017 Belle Vue Colts Eastbourne Eagles
2018 Eastbourne Eagles Mildenhall Fen Tigers
2019 Leicester Lion Cubs Kent Kings
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Mildenhall Fen Tigers Berwick Bullets [4]
2022 Leicester Lion Cubs Mildenhall Fen Tigers [5]
2023 Oxford Chargers Leicester Lion Cubs [6]
2024 Leicester Lion Cubs Belle Vue Colts [7]

See also

List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions

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References

  1. ↑ "British Speedway Official Website". www.speedwaygb.co. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "HISTORY ARCHIVE - British Speedway Official Website". www.speedwaygb.co. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "SCB Rulebook", SCB, retrieved 2012-03-31
  4. ↑ "Mildenhall Fen Tigers wrap up National Development title". Suffolk News. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Lion Cubs clinch NDL title". Speedway Star. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Oxford Chargers crowned National League champions". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "Leicester Lion Cubs win National Development League title". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
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