Bill Longley was a former Australian international speedway

Motorcycle speedway

Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...

 rider who made his started his career with the New Cross Lambs

New Cross Rangers

The New Cross Rangers were a Speedway team which operated from 1937 until their closure in 1953. The track reopened in 1959 under Johnnie Hoskins for a series of open meetings and then in 1960 and 1961 operated in the National League...

 in 1936, where he remained until the outbreak of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, winning the National League

Speedway National League

The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...

 Championship in 1938

1938 Speedway National League

The 1938 National League Division One was the seventh season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. New Cross Rangers won their first national title.-Final table:...

.

Career summary

In 1946 he rode for Odsal

Bradford Dukes

The Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated from the Odsal Stadium in Bradford from 1986 until their closure in 1997.-History:...

 but returned to New Cross in 1947 and was again a member of the team that won the 1948 National League Championship

1948 Speedway National League

The 1948 National League Division One was the third post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. The entrant list was the same as the previous season. New Cross Rangers won the National League for the second time.-Final table:...

. Longley finished ninth in the Speedway World Championship

Speedway World Championship

The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...

 in 1949

1949 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1949 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Qualification:# August 8, 1949 - London, Wimbledon Stadium# August 10, 1949 - London, New Cross Stadium# August 22, 1949 - Birmingham, Perry Barr Stadium# August 25, 1949 - London, Wembley Stadium...

 and remained with New Cross until they closed in 1953. He joined Bradford for a short spell with the Tudors

Bradford Tudors

The Odsal Tudors were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1950 to 1956.-History:At the end of July 1950 the Odsal Tudors replaced the Odsal Boomerangs. At the time it was said that the name change was due to the riders hating the Boomerang nickname, or maybe they believed...

 before returning to London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 with the Wimbledon Dons

Wimbledon Dons

The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...

.

Longley was a member of the Wimbledon team that won the 1954 National League Championship

1954 Speedway National League

The 1953 National League Division One was the ninth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Bristol dropped out of the league and joined the National League Division Two. Wimbledon won their first National League Championship.-Final table:...

. In 1955 he had a short spell with the Rayleigh Rockets

Rayleigh Rockets

The Rayleigh Rockets were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1973 from the Rayleigh Weir Stadium in Rayleigh, Essex . The Rockets closed in 1958 but re-opened again in 1960 and entered the Provincial League and then the Metropolitan League in 1964...

 before riding in one meeting for the Wembley Lions

Wembley Lions (speedway)

The Wembley Lions were a motorcycle speedway team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. Their track was located at Wembley Stadium, London. The original stadium which hosted speedway has been redeveloped.-Pre-war:...

. He then decided to retire.

World Final Appearances

• 1949
  1949 Individual Speedway World Championship
  The 1949 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Qualification:# August 8, 1949 - London, Wimbledon Stadium# August 10, 1949 - London, New Cross Stadium# August 22, 1949 - Birmingham, Perry Barr Stadium# August 25, 1949 - London, Wembley Stadium...
  
   –   London
  London
  London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
  
  , Wembley Stadium – 9th – 8pts