Three teams withdraw from Winter League

Winter League

The Winter League is coming up to its 7th season and in the previous six seasons, has only ever had two team withdrawals. Even then one of those (Rastrick) had a rethink and then re-entered the League in time for the start of the same season but had to start in the bottom Division of last season.

Coming up to the 1 July 2026 deadline date for new team applications this time around. Three teams have submitted notice of their intent to withdraw from the League for the coming season. Those three teams and reasons for withdrawing are:

Thorpe Green C (Division 3) Joined the League in 2021. Division 5 Champions in 2022-23 and won Division 4 title the following season. Four team members moving membership to play for Outlane and will reappear in the Winter League in the Outlane B team currently heading for Division 11 (although under review) after relegation from Division 10 last season.

Huddersfield Recreation Club A (Division 5)

An original member of the League when it was first formed in 2020. This team finished in the top two or bottom two of every division they played over the last six years. Team numbers reducing for various reasons, primarily age-related, are the reasons for their withdrawal. Led by the ever-happy Margaret and Mike Pointon although they say that they intend to be regular spectators. A sad loss to the League.

Meltham B (Division 8)

Initially joined the League for the start of the 2024-25 season. Team captain standing down and no member prepared to take over the captaincy role for the 2026-27 season.

The League is not used to having team withdrawals, as the table below shows, but on the positive side it does mean that it opens up the opportunity to move teams up a level. This may be because they finished one place out of the promotion places in the division below where the vacancy has arisen. Or it could be to promote a team more than one division that has seriously outperformed the level they were at last season. Or it could be that a team is new to the League and are too strong on paper to start at the bottom level. It gives the League some flexibility to move teams around for good reasons.

Back to the positive news that we already have five new teams joining the League next season to more than compensate for the three withdrawals, and those five are New Mill D, Thongsbridge B, Lindley Lib D, Marsh Lib C and Lowerhouses C. The fact that these new teams come from clubs already in the League, and once bowlers have experienced Winter bowling, it gets a hold of them, hence the extra club teams coming every year.

New applications are now welcome for the 2026-27 season, with the closing date being Wednesday 1 July which is just 2 weeks away. We are looking to introduce a new Division 11 next season so that provides for another 8 teams. With three withdrawals and five new teams, that means we now have vacancies for a further six new teams to step forward and claim their place in the League. Contact the League Secretary for more details or to submit your application.

And we are still looking for a new host green for the 2026-27 season. If your club could be interested in making £3,500-£6,000 for hosting a 14-week season of Winter League matches then get in touch now to learn how rewarding it can be.