New teams now welcome to join Winter League

Winter League

The doors are now open for teams to apply to join the Huddersfield Winter League for the 2026-27 season. The closing date for new teams to apply to join the Winter League is Wednesday 1st July. We fully expect once again be able to satisfy the growing demand for more teams to join the League. Last year we had 17 new teams join the League to take the number up to 80 teams in total. The sooner you get your entry in, the higher up the pecking order you will be. We fully expect to be able to accept all applications made before the 1 July deadline as we have done every year since the League was formed in 2020.

However, there is a big advantage in submitting an application earlier rather than later. The number of teams in the League will always be dictated by the number of host clubs offering their greens to the League. To date we have always been able to match the number of new teams with the number of new host greens. Applications are considered in the order they are submitted. Delaying your team application could see you at the back of the waiting list and is dependent on sufficient places being available.

We already have two more clubs offering their greens for new divisions for the 2026-27 season. Currently places for 2026-27 are reserved for the four teams that played in the first half of the 2026-27 season in Division 10. That was supposed to be a 3-month trial for 8 teams at Lindley Lib who wanted to join the League after the 1 July 2026 deadline. That trial was extended when Netherton Cons stepped forward to offer their green for the second half of the season and complete a full 14-week fixture programme, We still have to confirm which green the Division 10 teams will be playing on next season and we can only do that when we know how many new teams are joining the League for the 2026-27 season.

The four teams already on our waiting list are the four that were unable to commit to Division 10 season's extension and they were New Mill D, Lindley Lib D, Lindley Lib E and Hemplow B. We are keen not to penalise these four teams so they have places reserved for next season and they have until this coming Friday, 1 May 2026, to accept that offer. New Mill D have already taken up that offer and are first in the queue to join the League. Teams that fail to take up that offer by that date will see them deleted from the waiting list and any further application this year will put them at the back of the queue at that time.

Any team considering joining the League for the 2026-27 season can now contact the League Secretary to get full details and the answers to all your question. Here are the answers to some of our most FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

• teams are made up of 4 bowlers who can be of any gender

• matches consist of 2 Singles and 1 Pairs games

• bowlers must have passed their 60th birthday to qualify to bowl

• all bowlers must be registered members of the clubs they are representing

• you don't use your own green in the League as each division is allocated a host green that they play on all season

• teams play once a week on the same day of the week throughout the season

• all matches are played on weekdays

• matches are played from October to mid-February

• there is a two-week break over the Christmas period

• League fees are £15 per team per season

• weekly match fees are £12 a team (£3 per bowler) which all goes to the host green club which covers green fees, raffle tickets, hot drinks and biscuits for each team member.

• hot drinks along with hot and cold food are always available for spectators at a modest charge.

• we have two individual competitions open to all Winter League bowlers. The Winter Cup is for individuals and attracted 162 entries last season. The Pairs KO had 93 pairs (186 bowlers) competing for the title in its second season in 2025-26. Both have Division-based qualifying competitions.

Any club interested in making over £3,500 in cash by hosting a 14-week season of the Winter League on their green should now contact the League Secretary.