Club History

I hope to fill this page up with a chronological list of the club's history as it becomes available from various sources.

If anyone has any corrections or further information then please let me know

1921

The playing fields in Charles Street, Sandbeds were bought on behalf of Russell Street Methodist Church for £310 on June 29th. J.T. Kidson, H.H. Griffiths, R.E.Bailey, F.Smith, C. Griffiths, G. Hunt and E. Downing loaned the purchase money free of interest for 2 or 3 years. The church minute book records:"that the land purchased be conveyed to J.T. Kidson, H.H. Griffiths and Caleb Griffiths in trust for the sole use and benefit of Russell Street Society, and that on completion of payment for the land, this land reverts to the Russell Street trustees as their sole property" The land is now paid for, and the Deed of Conveyance of the Playing Fields to the present board of trustees is completed and enrolled. (Taken from "The Story of a Hundred Years 1850 - 1950" by George H. Parbrook)

1936

Club entered teams in the Willenhall League and the Church & Chapel League with the delegate to the C & C League "                 

test the meeting as to the advisability of reducing the playing strength of the teams from 16 to 12"

1937

E. Dainty of Willenhall Prims won Staffordshire Individual Merit

1940

Caleb Griffiths passed away on 24th May

        - Balance sheet for 1940

          INCOME                                        £ -  s  -d                       EXPENDITURE                                                     £ -  s - d                           

          Staffs Cup ties                                       0 - 16 - 0                 Entrance fee to Church & Chapel League       0 - 12 - 0

          Entrance fee Championship           0 - 11 -0                  Entrance fee to Consolation Cup                         0 -  5 - 0

          Entrance fee H. H. Griffiths Prize 0 - 10 -6                 7 doz minerals                                                             0 - 12 - 3

          Sale of Rule books                                0 -  3 - 0                 H. H. Griffiths winner Prize                                   1 -  1 - 0

          7 doz minerals @ 3d                           1 -  1 - 0                  H. H. Grithiths Runner up Prize                           0 -10 - 6

          Greenage                                                 0 -  0 - 6                  Willenhall League average winner                    0 -  5 - 0

          Donation from H. H. Griffiths         1 -  1 - 0                 Church & Chapel League average winner          0 -  5 - 0

                                Total Income                    4 -  3 - 0                                                  Total Expendture                       3 - 10 - 9

                                                                                                                           Cash in Hand                                                         0 - 12 - 3

                                                                                                                                                                Total                                     4 -  3 - 0

1942

A second team was entered in the Willenhall League.

1946

H.H. Griffiths passed away on October 9th

1949

F. Stringer of Willenhall Prims won Staffordshire Individual Merit

New ruling by County commiting club's neede to have a Vice President before they could enter the Staffordshire Cup.

 E  Stringer volunteered to be new Vice President.

1952

First Presentation Evening was held at the British Restaurant on Thursday October 16th

1953

The club's delegate to the Willenhall League was asked to "bring before the League, comments passed as regards the  Prims action in claiming ends when opposing teams are player short, which suggests that we are taking unsporting  steps." (Outcome unknown)

1961

Staffordshire Consolation Cup - Willenhall Prims lost by 35 shots to Amery Unionist 'A' on Willenhall Liberal green.

First A.G.M. Supper held on March 13th at the Neptune Public House

1965

With the amalgamation of various churches it was decided to change the name of the club from Willenhall Prims to   Willenhall Trinity

Willenhall Trinity bacame the first non works side to join the Wolverhampton Works League

1966

 The Russell Street Methodist Playing Fields ceased leaving just the Bowling Club on the original land, From it's purchase in 1921, the sports of tennis, football, cricket & putting had taken place, leaving just crown green bowls on the site

1967

New Clubhouse completed. Building was originally on part of barracks on Cannock Chase, it was cut in half, modified   and erected in it's present position.

1968

A proposal to pay 6d extra on match money was defeatedby an amendment to hand out Gift Envelopes for each member to put in what they could afford. This money to help defray the debt on the new clubhouse.

1969

It was announced at the A.G.M. that the new Clubhouse was paid for and £37-10-0 was available towards the approx £45 needed for "inserting electricity"

1971

Bert Boughey who had been secretary of the Club for 35 years sadly passed away on January 6th

A.G.M. & Presentation Suppers were moved to the Red Lion in Bentley.

1972

Approx 1/3 of the green was taken up and relaid at a cost of £120

Score board presented to the club by M Beard.

1973

The Trust gave the club £100 and lent it another £100 (to be paid back in 5yrs) to pay for the new toilet in the clubhouse.

All members who had won prize money during the season gave it back to pay for a new set of jacks.

1974

Possibly the first year that members had collected newspapers, which raised £29.80p

1977

A.G.M. & Presentation Suppers moved to the Manor Club.

Club entered a team into the Wolverhampton Senior Citizens League

1979

The A.G.M. minutes for this year state that this was the league's 50th year but the 1936 minutes state that we joined the Willenhall League, a discrepancy of 3yrs.? Eaton Yale & Willenhall Prims (Trinity) were the only two clubs that had held continuous membership.

Shed Roberts celebrated 50 yrs as a member of the bowling club

1980

Match subs increased to 15p

Richard Brown resigned as Secretary to be replaced by Norman Bentley

 1981

Trophy donated by family in memory of Elroy Squire, also £100 left in his will to club. Trophy to be used for Club Championship Winner

1982

Trophies were awarded for the first time at presentation evening instead of cash.

1983

Championship board constructed by Fred & Ken Bowen and hung in the Clubhouse

 1984

In an attempt to keep tea at 10p all members were asked to donate tea bags or a bag of sugar

1985

Caleb Cup changed to Over 60's singles competition

Members wives, girlfriends or sisters allowed associate membeship, at a membership of £1-50 (Full membership for men was £5). This would allow them to play in afternoons

1986

1987

1988

A team was entered into the Cannock Thursday League

A second score board was presented to the Club by Mark Beard

1989

New  electrical supply installed on overhead poles

Floodlighting installed at a cost of £1200

1991

New path laid around the green at a cost of £510

A second team was entered into the Wolverhampton Senior Citizens League

 1992

All members required to be registered with British Crown Green Bowls Association (BCGBA) at a one off cost of £1-20

1993

Gypsies entered the land around the green and although there was no damage caused during their stay it left the club with a bill of £150 for clearing the rubbish from the site. 

1994

New gates fitted to the entrance at a cost of £475

1995

Female relatives (wifes, daughters, sisters)  of Club members were now accepted as full members of the club.

1996

Lady members attended AGM for the first time.

Urinal installed in clubhouse

We got to quarter final of Staffordshire Cup. John Andrews has never been the same since a streaker (male) ran across the green.

 1997

BCGBA introduced an insurance against injury while travelling to or bowling in matches at a cost of 60p per member

1998

A team was entered into the Walsall Veterans League

Majority of field adjacent to Green sold by the Circuit to Nightfreight. sufficient room left for car parking.

1999

Pavilion broken into, 2 measures, 1 tape and 3 old jacks stolen.

Green vertidrained at end of season

2000

Sale of Scratch cards introduce to raise funds

John Tew stepped down as captain of the A team after 25years

2001

Wives, girlfiends and sisters of members now allowed to be full members

Club rules replaced by Club Constitution

Staffs County recommend that smoking be banned on green

Large hole appeared in green, Coal board investigate for mine shaft but after digging out a 6ft cube find all sides and bottom are sound, mystery remains where soil went to. Boards place around hole while repairs take place. Any wood/jack hitting wood was replayed

Second Championship board obtained

New fencing sposored by members together with slabs was installed by Probation Service at no cost. However No 1 mower and a hired post hole borer was stolen. Committee knew what had happened but could not prove it. Club had to reimburse hire company cost of post hole borer.

2002

Trophy donated to Club in memory of Harry Davis and will be awarded to the winner of a Senior Citizens Doubles Competition

New BCGBA rule banning phones on green

Tea money scrapped

2003

2004

First Bowls Club  Choral Concert held a Short Heath Methodist Church and 175 people attended making a profit of £669

Lottery Bonus Ball Competition started to raise funds

A second hand Ransome Superbowl mower purchased at a cost of £1410

First Sporting Evening held to raise funds for Club

2005

Thieves broke into mower shed and stole petrol strimmer,pressure sprayer and fuel can

Championship winner and runner up trophieswere in a bad state of repair so new glass trophies were purchased to replace them, but trophies kept there original name

2006

A large quantity of slabs, kitchen units and wooden cladding obtained from Allens Rough Methodist Church prior to its demolition

Grant of £2500 from Methodist Circuit towards proposed clubhouse alterations

2007

First Quiz arranged to raise money for club funds

Book table started to raise money for club funds

Grant of £9990 obtained from Lottery towards propoosed clubhouse alterations

Secondhand spiker purchased fro Essington Bowls Club for £320

2008

Old allotment car park hard cored with grant from Methodist Circuit

New engine fitted to spiker at a cost of £287 + vat

Front of mower shed cladded

New shed purchased and urinal installed

Completion of alterations to clubhouse was completed. This comprised new underground power supply, new disabled toilet, new kitchen, improvements to paving from carpark to enable disabled access.. An official opening day  attended by over 100 people was held on June 20th, with unveiling of  commemorative plaques by the Club President Eric Shepherd. This was followed by strawberries & cream together with non alchoholic drinks.

First Fun day was held for bowlers, family & friends

Wall owned by Willenhall Commercials was in dangerous condition, after pointing this out to them they replaced it with steel cladding

2009

The start of the bowling season was filled with sadness with the loss of Eric Shepherd, our President