Bill Longley (speedway rider)

William Mowbray Longley (11 November 1911 in Dandenong, Victoria – 15 April 2005) was an Australian international speedway rider.

Bill Longley

Born	(1911-11-11)11 November 1911 Dandenong, Victoria
Died	29 April 2005(2005-04-29) (aged 93)
Nationality	Australian
Career history
1937–1939, 1947–1953	New Cross Rangers
1946	Odsal Boomerangs
1953	Bradford Tudors
1953–1954	Wimbledon Dons
1955	Rayleigh Rockets
1955	Wembley Lions
Individual honours
1946	Northern Riders' Champion
Team honours
1938, 1948, 1954	National League Champion
1947	London Cup
1954	RAC Cup Winner

Career summary

Longley noted as being only 5 ft 1 inch in height, began his British career with the New Cross Rangers in 1937,^[1][2] where he remained until the outbreak of World War II, winning the National League Championship in 1938.^[3][4]

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.^[2] Longley finished ninth in the Speedway World Championship in 1949^[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.^[6]

In 1950, he finished runner up in the Australian Championship.^[7]

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 – London, Wembley Stadium – 9th – 8pts^[5]