Bill Longley (speedway rider)

Infobox Speedway rider


ridername= Bill Longley
nationality = flagicon|Australia Australia
dateofbirth = birth date|1911|11|11
dateofdeath = death date and age|2005|4|29|1911|11|11|df=y
cityofbirth = Dandenong
countryofbirth = Australia
retired = Retired
career = New Cross Rangers
Odsal Boomerangs
Bradford Tudors
Wimbledon Dons
Rayleigh Rockets
Wembley Lions
years = 1937-1939, 1947-1953
1946
1953
1953-1954
1955
1955
indivhonour = None
indivyear =
teamhonour = National League Champion
teamyear = 1938, 1948, 1954

Bill Longley (born 11 November 1911 in Dandenong, Australia- died 15 April 2005) was a former international speedway rider who made his started his career with the New Cross Lambs in 1936, Jacobs, N. (2008) "Out of the Frying Pan", The History Press LTD ISBN 978-0752444765 ] where he remained until the outbreak of World War II, winning the National League Championship in 1938. [Addison J. (1948). "The People Speedway Guide". Odhams Press Limited]

Career summary

In 1946 he rode for Odsal but returned to New Cross in 1947 and was again a member of the team that won the 1948 National League Championship. Jacobs, N. (2008) "Out of the Frying Pan", The History Press LTD ISBN 978-0752444765 ] Longley finished ninth in the Speedway World Championship in 1949 [Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). "A History of the World Speedway Championship". Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5] and remained with New Cross until they closed in 1953. He joined Bradford for a short spell with the Tudors before returning to London with the Wimbledon Dons.Jacobs, Norman (2001). "Speedway in London". Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2221-9 ]

Longley was a member of the Wimbledon team that won the 1954 National League Championship. In 1955 he had a short spell with the Rayleigh Rockets before riding in one meeting for the Wembley Lions. He then decided to retire.

World Final Appearances

*1949 - Flag|GBR Wembley - 9th - 8pts [Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). "A History of the World Speedway Championship". Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5]

References