SCUNTHORPE AND DISTRICT BOWLS LEAGUE – CENTENARY YEAR
2025 sees the Scunthorpe & District Bowls League celebrate its Centenary Year.
It was on 7th May 1925 that 14 enthusiastic bowlers, representing seven clubs already established in Scunthorpe, met at the Crosby Hotel, and decided to form a league to compete for a trophy donated by Schweppes Limited and so was born the Schweppes League, later to become the Scunthorpe & District Bowls League.
Clubs represented on that day were Crosby Hotel, United Services, Ashby Mill Road, Highfield House, North Lindsey, Frodingham Works, and St Lawrence. The later three continue today with Brumby Hall (Frodingham) and Scunthorpe (St. Lawrence).
Each club paid a fee of 5 shillings to the league. The first Annual General Meeting was held in December 1925 and members heard the bad news that the league had a deficit of 8/2d so each club had to play a levy of 1/2d to clear it out! Mr Woolsey was elected Chairman. The league held its first dinner at The Crosby Hotel in October 1925 at a cost of 3/6d per head. In 1926 the number of teams rose to twelve. In 1928 the Scunthorpe Hospital Carnival Committee presented a cup for competition. Also, in 1928 the Scunthorpe & Frodingham Star Newspaper presented a shield for competition for rinks of three – The “Star Sheild” that we continue to play for today.
In 1954 bowling continued to increase in popularity and a third division of the league was formed. In 1959 promotion and relegation systems were introduced for the first time. It wasn’t until 1960 that a ladies league was formed.
2025 sees the league comprise of 20 different clubs consisting of 38 teams playing in four divisions, with a ladies league consisting of 9 teams. We continue to enter SDBL competitions to win trophies presented in memory of past officials: Messrs. W & G Woolsey, W Eland and J Hopper.