Winter League
With the Winter League's 4th season now well advanced our thoughts turn to looking further ahead and making plans to expand the League even further in the 2024-25 season. It is clear that the League will expand again next season with applications from three new teams already received. The closing date for new teams is July 2024 but the sooner you put your team name forward the higher up the waiting list you are.
With 54 teams playing this season on 6 greens we are now at our maximum number of teams that we can support. To accept even one more new team would pitch the balance over the 9 teams per division model that we consider to be our maximum. Our preferred model moves towards 8 teams in a division providing matches every week for every team over a 14-week season.
Our expectation is that we will need a minimum of two new host greens to satisfy the growing demand for new teams to join the League.
The number of teams in the League has increased every year. We started in 2020 with 14 teams in two divisions of 7 teams. The number of teams we are able to support has increased each year since and there is no indication that the demand is reducing at all. Our working assumption for the 2024-25 season is that we will receive applications from at least 10 new teams to join the League. Three have already been received with 6 months to go before the deadline. These figures are factored into the table below to show that we will need at least two new host clubs for next season.
SEASON | TEAMS | DIVISIONS | NEW TEAMS | WITH DRAWN | NET GAIN | HOST CLUBS |
2020-21 | 14 | 2 x 7 teams | 14 | 0 | +14 | 2 |
2021-22 | 27 | 3 x 9 teams | 13 | 0 | +13 | 3 |
2022-23 | 40 | 5 x 8 teams | 13 | 0 | +13 | 5 |
2023-24 | 54 | 6 x 9 teams | 17 | 3 | +14 | 6 |
2024-25 | 64? | 8 x 8 teams? | 10? | 0? | +10? | 8? |
As for new teams joining the League, at present, we can only accept new team applications to add them to a waiting list which is dependent on sufficient new host clubs stepping forward. So any team thinking of entering the League for next season would be advised to put forward that application now to ensure that they are further up the waiting list. We are very hopeful of meeting the future demand as we have done each season so far but nothing can be guaranteed.
Our priority now is to work with prospective new host clubs to ensure that we have sufficient greens for the anticipated increase in the number of teams and bowlers that want to bowl through the winter months.
There are a number of reasons that any club takes on the role of a host green but the prime incentive is undoubtedly the financial one. Experience shows that host clubs can expect to make between £2,500 to £3,500 clear profit over a 16-week winter bowling season. That is just bowling one day a week from October to February. For lots of clubs that will provide a financial winter lifeline when none existed before. For those that are already financially sound then the funding can be used to enhance your green and facilities.
There is a lot more to learn about winter bowling and we would be delighted to meet informally with any club that would like to learn more. There are two steps that anyone can take before declaring any interest to anyone.
Learn more by reading The Ultimate Guide to Winter Bowling
Experience the Winter League model for yourself by visiting any of our match days all of which have an 11.30am start time. Mondays at Primrose Hill Lib and Lindley Lib Wednesdays at Milnsbridge BC and Springwood Thursdays at Netherton Cons and Huddersfield RUFC
Then if you have more questions or want to learn what the next steps are then please get in touch. We would be delighted to come and talk to you about an exciting time in local bowling. You can be part of it. The League can only expand and satisfy the increasing demand if it has sufficient capacity to satisfy the number of teams coming forward to enjoy the extension to their bowling seasons. New host clubs and new team applications are welcome now. Come and join us!