2021 National Development League speedway season

2021 National Development League speedway season
LeagueNational Development League
ChampionsMildenhall Fen Tigers
Knockout Cupnot held
Pairsnot held
Foursnot held
Highest averageDan Gilkes
Division/s aboveSGB Premiership 2021
SGB Championship 2021

The National Development League 2021 is the third tier/division of British speedway for the 2021 season.[1]

Due to pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided that the league would be decided by the final table standings only, with no playoffs being held. For the same reason no Knockout Cup would be held.[2]

Team changes

There were significant changes from the previous 2019 National Development League speedway season. Plymouth Gladiators and Kent Kings moved up a division to the SGB Championship but the latter formed a junior side called the Kent Royals to compete in the development league. The Cradley Heathens had withdrawn after the 2019 season[3] and the Isle of Wight Warriors withdrew from the league in early 2021.[4] Stoke Potters lost their stadium and were unable to compete but there were three teams formed junior sides which joined the league, called the Armadale Devils (parent club Edinburgh Monarchs) the Berwick Bullets (parent club Berwick Bandits) and Eastbourne Seagulls (parent club Eastbourne Eagles).

Summary

Newcastle Gems had started the season but dropped out after in June after a couple of fixtures due to financial difficulties. This was followed on 26 August by the Eastbourne Seagulls after parent club, the Eastbourne Eagles withdrew from the league because of financial problems. Their results were expunged.[5] Mildenhall Fen Tigers won their fourth Division 3 title since 2003.[6][7][8]

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Locations of the 2021 National League teams

Final table

Pos Team P W D L 4W 3W D 1L L F A Pts
1 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 10 4 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 488 408 26
2 Berwick Bullets 10 5 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 455 440 22
3 Belle Vue Colts 10 3 0 2 0 1 0 2 2 433 464 14
4 Kent Royals 9 1 0 3 1 1 1 1 1 409 396 13
5 Armadale Devils 9 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 385 424 12
6 Leicester Lion Cubs 10 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 429 467 11
Eastbourne Seagulls withdrew 26 August, results expunged
Newcastle Gems withdrew, results expunged

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away ARM BV BER EAS KR LEI MIL NEW
Armadale Devils 48–42 48–42 n/a 47–43 50–40 34–56 43–46
Belle Vue Colts 51–39 51–38 46–43 39–50 47–42 39–51 n/a
Berwick Bandits 50–40 52–38 n/a 52–38 53–36 46–44 n/a
Eastbourne Eagles n/a n/a n/a 43–46 32–54 n/a n/a
Kent Royals n/a 44–46 39–48 45–45 59–31 44–45 n/a
Leicester Lion Cubs 50–40 54–36 45–45 47–43 45–45 45–45 n/a
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 50–39 46–44 61–29 n/a 43–47 47–41 n/a
Newcastle Gems 55–33 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a –n/a
Source: [9]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

The fixture between Kent and Armadale was not held following several postponements.[10]

National Development League Knockout Cup

The 2021 National Development League Knockout Cup would have been the 23rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams. However it was cancelled due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Teams and final averages

Armadale Devils

  • Nathan Greaves 9.03
  • Danny Phillips 8.39
  • Tom Woolley 7.92
  • Archie Freeman 6.86
  • George Rothery 5.20
  • Gregor Millar 4.30
  • Lewis Millar 3.02
  • Sheldon Davies 2.29

Belle Vue Colts

Berwick Bullets

  • Leon Flint 10.62
  • Luke Crang 10.29
  • Kyle Bickley 9.25
  • Greg Blair 7.91
  • Kieran Douglas 5.60
  • Ben Rathbone 5.41
  • Mason Watson 4.45
  • Ryan MacDonald 2.76

Kent Royals

Leicester Cubs

Mildenhall Fen Tigers

Withdrew and results expunged

Eastbourne Seagulls

Newcastle Gems

  • Joe Alcock
  • Max Clegg
  • Kelsey Dugard
  • Josh Embleton
  • Arche Freeman
  • Danny Smith
  • Ryan Terry-Daley

See also

References

  1. ^ "NATIONAL LEAGUE CLUBS". Speedway GB. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "NDL changes explained". Speedway GB. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. ^ "NO GO FOR HEATHENS - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. ^ "ISLE OF WIGHT SPEEDWAY TEAM WITHDRAWS FROM NATIONAL LEAGUE". Isle of Wight Radio. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Eastbourne Speedway withdraw from 2021 season". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. ^ "National League table". Speedway GB. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  7. ^ "FEN TIGERS ARE CHAMPIONS". Speedway GB. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Mildenhall Fen Tigers wrap up National Development title". Suffolk News. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  9. ^ "2021 fixtures & results". British Speedway. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  10. ^ "ROYALS v ARMADALE, POSTPONED". Kent Speedway. Retrieved 2 November 2021.