The 1980 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom.
Summary
The league was increased from 19 teams to 20 from the previous season. Exeter Falcons dropped down from the British League to join the 19 incumbent sides.
Rye House Rockets who had been pipped to the title in the previous season in the last meeting, won the title by just one point from Newcastle Diamonds to win their first National League title. Rye House had managed to retain all of their top riders from the previous season and the solid performances of Bob Garrad, Karl Fiala, Kelvin Mullarkey and Kevin Smith for the second year running made up for the disappointment of 1979. Newcastle's second-place finish was remarkable bearing in mind that they had lost the league's leading rider Tom Owen to Hull Vikings in the highest division. Despite signing 1979 Riders' champion Ian Gledhill, the defending champions Mildenhall suffered after losing Melvyn Taylor and Mick Hines to other teams.
Final table
Crayford v Weymouth fixture was never ridden.
National League Knockout Cup
The 1980 National League Knockout Cup was the 13th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Berwick Bandits were the winners of the competition for the first time, having been runners-up three times in the previous four seasons.
First round
Second round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
First leg
Second leg
Berwick were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 79–76.
Riders' Championship
Wayne Brown won the Riders' Championship, sponsored by Toshiba and held at Wimbledon Stadium on 28 September 1980.
f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure
Pairs
The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 19 July and was won by Middlesbrough Tigers.
Semi finals
Middlesbrough bt Crayford
Boston bt Peterborough
Final
Middlesbrough bt Boston
Fours
Crayford Kestrels won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 27 July.