Two new host greens for the Winter League

Winter League

We are delighted to announce offers from two clubs to use their greens for the Winter League for the 2026-27 season. The demand from teams to join the League seems to be never-ending with a record 17 new teams joining the League last season. We already have applications from four new teams (more on this later) to join the League with the closing date two months away on 1 July.

New offers from Thorpe Green and Skel Central to provide hosting services for next season means that we are well on course to satisfy that demand and more. Thorpe Green is well known to Winter League bowlers as they have provided a key host green for the League's Pairs KO competition for the past two years.

Skelmanthorpe Central BC don't have any teams in the Winter League but there are many crossovers between Skel Central and Skel Windmill personnel. With the future of the Skel Windmill still uncertain and the club can only acquire one-year leases from the owners at present they have decided to concentrate on developing the Skel Central site to attract more bowlers into the club. The village centre location makes it more attractive to many bowlers and introducing Winter bowling sits well with their Management Committee.

There are a number of Skel Windmill bowlers who were bowlers in Division 10 of the Winter League last season. This means that they are very familiar with the demands of Winter bowling on the green and surrounds. Playing through the Winter months means that some days will be wet, cold and windy which in turn means some form of protection from the elements is always welcome but historically there has been litlle of that at Skel Central.

That is about to change with the club in the process of introducing a new covered area as shown in the mock-up picture below. They are confident that it will be in place before the start of the 2026-27 season and with all the other minimum facilities available, the League is pleased to welcome the club to the Winter League family of host greens.

The growth of the Winter League over the last six years is shown in the table below and the new season promises to continue that upward trend. There have already been four new team applications received so we are halfway there to a new Division 11. We are also looking for a new host green for the Division 10 teams as Lindley Lib and Netherton Con both provided 7-week half-seasons to enable this new Division to get up and running. We now need to move on and find a more permanent home green for the Division 10 teams.

The four new team applications already received are from Thongsbridge B, New Mill D, Lindley Lib D and Marsh Lib C. Despite the apparent insatiable and increasing demand the League has always managed to accept every new team application over the last six years. We are hopeful of maintaining that record but to do that we are looking for a third new host green for the 2026-27 season. If your club would be interested in making a minimum of £3,500 from hosting a 14-week season from October to February then please get in touch with the League Secretary, Jeff Jacklin, at jefftheref2000@yahoo.co.uk for full details.

THE YEAR-on-YEAR GROWTH OF THE WINTER LEAGUE