Formby & District Bowling League

Formby League:
RULES for 2020
Averages
Division 1
Division 2
Green Finder
Arcari cup
Butterworth Shield

Archival:
Honours List from 1933
2019 ROLL OF HONOUR
Season Archives from 2012 onwards
The 1933 race for honours

Local:
Merseyside BCGBA
2019 MCCGBA AGM report
Aughton League
Birkenhead Bowls
Bootle Vets
Burscough League
Garston & Aigburth Leagues
Liverpool League
Maghull League
Ormskirk League
Sefton League
Silver Bullet Bowls
Southport Ladies League
Southport Parks League
Southport Vets
Westhead League

National:
BCBGA Competition Highlights
BCGBA
BCGBA Membership Form
Federation
Safeguarding

Admin:
League admin

WELCOME TO THE FORMBY & DISTRICT BOWLING LEAGUE WEBSITE

The Formby & District Bowling League run two divisions, playing on Wednesday evenings. Please scroll down for news and notices. 

IAN DELOOZE

It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of another loyal club member at Moorside Park, Ian Delooze. He will be sorely missed as for many years he served the Club as League Secretary, Committee member & Team Captain as well as assisting in many tasks around the Club premises. Our sympathies to his wife, Claire, and family.

31/12/2020

TREASURER

George Gough has informed me that he is resigning as our league treasurer. If anyone wishes to take on this role, please let me know. Our thanks to George for his work during his time in this role.

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Hopefully you have all managed to eventually open your greens for some limited form of bowling during the summer and autumn. However, with the latest lockdown from this January, that seems to be it again for some time. Needless to say, we cannot hold an AGM. 

When we finally see some light at the end of the Covid 19 tunnel, clearly we will need to assess how we will restart the league, addressing such issues as number of teams, player availability  etc. If anyone has any thoughts about this now or anytime during the winter months, please let me know.

I hope you are all staying safe and that we can resume our league at some point in 2021.

Regards

Ken Buckley, Secretary  7/1/2021

CORONAVIRUS

Any subs paid in 2020 will be held over to next season or on request be refunded this season.

SPORTS GRANTS

Sport England are looking at providing a grant fund for sports clubs to help them cover overheads during the closedown: see the web site

Ken Buckley, Secretary,31/5/2020 

COMMITTEE

President: vacant

Chairman: Dave Butterworth

Secretary: Ken Buckley 01704 872834 

Results Secretary: Chris Willan 07960267261

Treasurer: George Gough  County Delegate: David Halewood

BCGBA REGISTRATION FORMS CR1/CR2 and BCGBA/COUNTY INVOICES

Please note that the BCGBA Club Registration Form CR1/CR2 should be completed annually by 01 June each year  and returned  to your appropriate County Registrar (for all clubs in the Formby League, this will be to the Merseyside Registrar, Linda Howard). Please note that the CR1/CR2 form consists of two worksheets, “Club” and “Members”, and can be found through a link on the Merseyside County website. BOTH sheets must be completed and returned. Please also note that annual invoices from Merseyside County will not be sent out by post. They will appear on the Merseyside County website. Reminders will not be sent.

MEETINGS

The FORMBY LEAGUE AGM was held Monday January 20th 2020.

The following are the main points arising.

General

·  It was noted that the relocated Brooke Hotel club is now called Brownmoor Brooke.

·  It is currently believed that we will still have 24 teams for 2020.

·  For 2020, team fees will be halved from £60 to £30 per team.

·  The Spring Registration meeting will be on Monday 16^th March, 8pm, Northern. It is hoped Pat Crowther, Merseyside County Secretary, will be in attendance with handbooks.

Proposals and rule changes (as proposed by the Exec Committee, unless stated otherwise)

·  Rule 19     Change the last date for new player registration from June 30^th to “July 31^st”.                                                                                    Accepted

·  Rule 22          Delete the last sentence regarding play off matches deciding key league positions and replace with “In the event of two or more teams in key positions scoring the same number of league table points, their positions shall be decided by the results of the head to head games of the teams involved. The positions will be decided in the following priority order.

a)   Most league points scored in the head to head games.

b)   Best cumulative aggregate chalks difference in the head to head games.

c)   Most individual player wins in the head to head games”                                

Accepted

·  Appendix 2   Acari, Butterworth and Sykes cup  - Rule 3

Change this rule so that only the finals are played on neutral greens. Thus the proposed new rule to read “Up to and including the semi finals, matches are to be played on the basis of five individual matches on each of the two opposing teams’ greens. The Finals matches shall be played on neutral greens, with the host clubs providing standard jacks, footers, scorecards and measuring equipment. Where matches are split between the two greens, the away team players have the jack. Where matches are played on neutral greens, captains will toss for the first five jacks.”   Accepted

Also, associated with this proposed change to cup Rule 3, then Rule 7 is to be changed to read

 “No practice is allowed in any round”.                                                                     Accepted

·  Change start time in April from 6.30 to 6.15 (proposed by Hightown)                                     Rejected

It was noted that there is nothing to stop individual match captains mutually agreeing an earlier start time.

Composition of league for 2020

The proposal to have three divisions was rejected, so the league will continue with two divisions, with the calendar similar to 2019. First league games 1^st April, last league games 9^th September, cup semis and finals on Weds 16^th and 23^rd September.

County (re Merseyside County AGM held in Jan 2020 )

·  There was a ‘Bowls for Health’ presentation, promoting Training & Coaching at Bowls Clubs throughout Merseyside as part of a Programme to improve health in all age groups and abilities with the aim to get more people playing Bowls initially at a Social level but ultimately to join clubs at a competitive level. Any Clubs interested should contact the MCCGBA Development Officer (details will soon be posted on MCCGBA Website) or by using Google “Bowls for Health”

·  Roy Cooke (07990 764143) is now the county Safeguarding Officer. There is a D B S accreditation meeting on 2^nd February at Heswall RBL, but nothing so far in our area (minimum 10 required).

·  Of 200 Merseyside clubs, about 20 have no Safeguarding Officer, and invoices for fines have been issued. Any Club not paying these fines and not providing details of a Safeguarding Officer would not be allowed to play Bowls under BCGBA. Leagues would be advised of clubs in the area being barred.

·  The County Treasurer said that she would publish on the Web Site invoices which Leagues and Clubs could either print off to send payment of fees due or just make payment by Direct Bank Transfer ensuring that League/Club name and registration number were quoted. There would be no reminders.

·  It is likely that sandals would not be allowed to be worn on greens without a medical certificate.

·  Ron Holt is now the County Web Master. He said he had plans to improve the site and would ensure that it was brought up to date quickly and notices would appear on a regular basis.

If anyone would like a full copy of the AGM minutes, please contact the Secretary, Ken Buckley. 

 KB 22/1/2020

ROLL OF HONOUR

The 2019 roll of honour has been added to the website, please scroll down the page to view.

RULES FOR 2020

2019 ROLL OF HONOUR

BCGBA MEMBERSHIP CARDS

SAFEGUARDING

The 1933 Race for Honours

LEAGUE HISTORY

RULES FOR 2020

FORMBY AND DISTRICT BOWLING LEAGUE

CONSTITUTION AND RULES JANUARY 2020

Rules 19, 22 and Appendix 2 updated as underlined  following AGM January 2020.

1. ADMIN. The League is called ‘’Formby & District Bowling League, and is open to Male and Female members.
2. The objects of the League shall be to organise, encourage and develop the Game of Bowls in the Formby and District, and to play in conformity with the Laws of the Game as set out by the British Crown Green Bowling Association.
3. The headquarters of the League shall be the Northern Club, Elm Avenue, Moor Park, Crosby.
4. The Officials of the League shall consist of a President, Chairman, Secretary, Fixture/Competition Secretary, Treasurer and County Delegate, who will form the Executive Committee. The said Committee shall have the right to make those decisions necessary for the efficient running of the League, subject to the right of the Management Committee to over-rule by a simple majority any such decision. Any decision reached by the Executive Committee shall be subject to the right of any Club or Club Member to appeal, for a decision of the full Management Committee. Any appeal must be sent in writing to the League Secretary, to be received within 14 days of the decision reached by the Executive Committee, when such an appeal shall be put before the full Management Committee as soon as possible, whose decision shall be final. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt as it deems necessary.
5. The Executive Committee together with two Delegates from each Club will form the Management Committee. The said Delegates to be nominated by their respective Clubs and their names sent in Writing to the League Secretary. The Executive Committee will call for meetings of the Management Committee as occasion demands. Any Club not represented may be fined by the Management Committee, no Club shall be allowed to attend any meetings unless all due fees are paid. A quorum shall consist of four of the Executive Committee members.
6. The Formby & District Bowling League shall operate one Bowling League, all games scheduled for Wednesday evenings, consisting of Divisions containing a maximum of 12 teams per Division.
7. The number of Clubs that the League shall consist of will be at the discretion of the Management Committee. A Club desirous of becoming Affiliated with the League must be Proposed, Seconded and accepted by a majority of the League Management Committee. A Club shall not be accepted into the League unless in possession of a green upon which to play their Home games. All Clubs must notify the League Secretary not later than the first Monday of November of each year of how many teams they will be entering in the League.
8. Facilities shall also be given to the League secretary to attend various Club Headquarters and Greens, when engaged on League Business.
9. All Monies must be paid to the Treasurer, who will pay all accounts, any monies received by any other League Official must be handed to the Treasurer who shall Bank all monies in the name of the League. No liability exceeding £10 shall be undertaken without the sanction of the League Executive Committee. All cheques drawn on behalf of the League must be signed by any of two of League Treasurer, Chairman or Secretary.
10. An honorarium shall be paid to the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Fixture & Competition Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer at the end of the financial year, the respective amounts thereof to be decided at the AGM.
11. Winners and Runners-Up of all Divisions of the League may receive Prizes or Medals as appropriate. The amount for same to be decided upon a meeting of the Management Committee. They shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting. Divisional Winners to hold the appropriate Cup or Trophy to the end of the following season and to give written guarantees for their safe custody. These trophies and all individual trophies shall remain the property of the League, and cannot be won outright.
12. No alteration or addition to these Rules shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Forty two days notice in writing shall be given to the League Secretary setting forth in detail such proposed alterations or deletions. No Rule shall be altered or deleted, or added to unless carried by at least two-thirds of those voting and entitled to vote at the meeting.
13. Any changes in Rules will come into force upon completion of the Annual General Meeting. 
14. MEETINGS.  The Annual General Meeting shall be held in January of each year, when the Business shall Include (a) the election of the Executive Committee members (b) the League Secretary shall present his report for the past season, and (c) the Treasurer shall present a full account of receipts and disbursements, after it has been duly audited by the official auditors, who will be elected by the Management Committee. (d) The meeting will also consider any proposed Rule changes and (e) the composition of the League for the following season. (f) Awards of Prizes/Trophies.
15. Fourteen days notice in writing of the Annual General Meeting to be sent to each Club Secretary. Any player registered during the past season shall be eligible to attend the Annual General Meeting, but only three representatives from each Club will be allowed to vote on any subject under discussion. The League Chairman shall have a casting vote, except when a change of Rules takes place whenever there is a deadlock in the voting. The names of the Club Representatives to be sent in writing to the League Secretary prior to the Commencement of the Meeting.
16. A pre season Registration Meeting to be attended by club captains and/or nominees will be held in March to receive Player registrations, club fees and to finalise dates for the season. Players wishing to play in the League must register quoting their BCGBA number on an official schedule for the League. The schedule must be returned to the Membership & Competition Secretary for registration before the first Tuesday in April. Each Club shall pay a subscription (per team) as determined by the Annual General Meeting, this shall be paid to the Treasurer before 30^th April each year. Any amount outstanding after that date will be subjected to a 10% surcharge. Such surcharge will increase by a further 5% for each month, or part month any amount remains outstanding.
17. COMPETITIONS. All entries to league Competitions must be made through Club Secretaries, and each Club shall be responsible to the League for the payment of entrance fees in respect of its entrants, the fee to accompany the Competition Form.
18. All League and Cup Matches shall be played on the scheduled dates, except where individual Club Rules require otherwise. If through unfavourable weather or any other cause over which the Clubs or League have no control, a Match cannot be commenced or completed on the fixed date, the Clubs concerned must mutually arrange to play or complete the match within 21 days, and the Home Captain must notify the League Secretary accordingly. If this has not been done by the time stated, the Executive Committee will fix a date, and their decision will be final. It is essential that both Captains report to the Green on Match nights, irrespective of the weather, in order that the provisions of this rule can be strictly adhered to. Shortage of players will not be an acceptable reason for postponement. In any match which is awarded as a WALK OVER, then the points awarded to the non offending team shall be the maximum of either 12 or 13 depending if they were the home or away team.
19. Players must be registered three days before playing a League match (so by Sunday evening for a Wednesday match). Any Club playing an unregistered player shall forfeit the relevant points for each offence and shall be fined £2 by the League. Additional players may be registered after the first Tuesday in April. Registered players shall be eligible to play for only one Club in any one League, subject to the discretion of the Executive Committee. A player may be allowed to transfer to another Club provided he or she has not played more than three matches for his or her original club, and is not indebted to his original Club. No transfer will be allowed after 31^st May (during a given season). The last date for new registrations shall be July 31st. 
20. A Player shall not play two games in a match, nor play in more than one match on a night. Competing players shall be drawn against each other, including Captains, in sections of four players from each side. A Player, having played six or more games in a particular Division, shall not be eligible to play in a Lower Division of the league (during a given season). Where a Club has two or more Teams in the same Division, a Player having played six or more games for one side, cannot play for any other side (during a given season). In a rearranged game which corresponds with a game that was played on its original night (or rearranged date) by that club’s other team, a player cannot play in both games.
21. In League matches, the ‘Home Team’ is responsible for all Greenage charges.
22. All League games shall be played by 10 players on each side. Games to be 21 up and governed by the British Crown Green Bowling Association Laws of the Game. Two points awarded for the highest aggregate score for a Home win; three points if Away. If the Aggregate scores are equal, the Home team to receive one point and the Away team to receive two points. In addition teams receive one point for each individual winning player. At the end of the season the teams with the highest number of points to be declared the Divisional winners. The two Teams in each Division with the lowest number of points shall be relegated, and replaced by the two teams from the Division below them who have scored the highest number of points. In the event of teams in key positions scoring the same number of league table points their positions shall be decided by the results of the head to head games of the teams involved in the following priority order.     (a) Most league points cored in the head to head games. (b) Best cumulative aggregate chalks difference in the head to head games. (c) Most individual player wins in the head to head games.  
23. The Green shall be at the disposal of the Home team only from 30 minutes prior to the start of the match, then for the succeeding 15 minutes only, at the sole disposal of the Visitors for the 15 minutes immediately preceding the start of the match. In addition, the Visiting team captain has the option of starting his fifteen minute practice at any time during the Home team practice session. In Cup Competitions, other than the Presidents Cup, the Team drawn out first shall be deemed to be the Home team, and the Team drawn out second shall be deemed to be the Away team. In individual competitions no practice will be allowed on the day of play, except where a competitor had received a bye/walk over on the day of play, and is drawn against a player who has competed on that day.
24. All League games will commence at the times agreed by the Management Committee and stated in the League handbook or Fixture Card. Any club failing to have four players to commence play 20 minutes after the starting time shall forfeit full points for each absentee. Furthermore, any team not having sufficient players to keep the green fully occupied (not less than four sets), during the match, shall, on appeal of the opposing captain, have full points deducted for each absentee. Any team found to have entered the names and fictitious scores instead of declaring players absent will be fined £10 for each offence.
25. The Home Captain shall have full control of the Green. He shall act as Referee, and his decision shall be final. During such time as the Home Captain may actually be playing a Match, his duties as Referee shall be taken by the Home Sub-Captain, or failing him, by the Nominee of the Home Captain.
26. Official standard Jacks bearing a valid date stamp to be used in all League Matches and Open Competitions.
27. The Visitors to have the first throw of the Jack. Check markers to be used.
28. The Captain of the Home team shall ensure that all Match Scorecards reach the Fixture Secretary, by card delivery to his home address, or by electronic media, within 48 hours of the Match being completed. If sent by electronic media, the captain should retain the Scorecard.

Penalties for late submission of a Scorecard will be:

(a)    First instance, the League Secretary will issue a warning to the Secretary of the offending Club.

(b)    Second instance, the League Management Committee will impose a deduction of 2 points for every occurrence within a season.

  29. Any team member (player or spectator) being guilty of disorderly conduct, using objectionable language or violating the rules of the League may be subject to disciplinary action, including possible expulsion from the League.

  30. Protests of any such Match must be made to the League Secretary within seven days. The Club protesting must accompany the protest with a deposit of £10. The representatives of the Clubs concerned must leave the room after giving their evidence until the Executive Committee have arrived at their decision. The Executive Committee decision shall be subject to the right of appeal, and should they consider the complaint frivolous, The £10 shall be forwarded to the League.

January 2019 

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

The Player of the Season award is open to all registered players, and shall be awarded for each division of the league.

RULES

1. To qualify, a player must play in at least three quarters (75%) of league games in a division.
2. Games won will be divided by the games played to give an average.
3. Total points scored will be divided by points against to give an average.
4. These averages are added together to give the players a final average.
5. All league games played will count. (but not cup or Plate handicap)
6. If a player wins 21 – 0 by virtue of the opposing team being a player short this result will not count towards the player average, as it is a game not played.
7. Any player/club found to have abused rule 6 (i.e. put in a false name and score) will be dealt with by the Executive Committee.
8. Each club to be issued with a form at the end of the season, upon which they are to enter their top three players from each side within the club in each division, and return it by the date given.
9. The top player in each division with the best average will receive a trophy. The following is an example of the calculations.

• Games won 19 divided by games played 23           Average            = 0.826
• Points for 436 divided by points against 302         Average             = 1.444

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TOTAL AVERAGE                   = 2.270

Rule 1 Updated January 2016

ARCARI, BUTTERWORTH and SYKES CUP RULES

1. These competitions are run under the auspices of the Formby & District Bowling league, and all rules of the league shall apply to these competitions.
2. The Arcari Cup shall be for First Division teams, the Butterworth Shield shall be for Second Division teams and the Sykes Cup shall be for Third Division teams. Only those players registered to plsy in those teams shall be eligible to play in these competitions.
3. Up to and including the semi finals, matches are to be played on the basis of five individual matches on each of the two opposing teams' greens. The Finals matches shall be played on neutral greens, with the host club providing standard jacks, footers, scorecards and measuring equipment. Where matches are split between two greens, the away team players have the jack. Where matches are played on neutral greens, captains will toss for the first five jacks.        
4. All matches to be on merit (off scratch) and will be 21 up. The result is based on aggregate scores. In the event of a tie, the team which has won most individual games will be declared the winner. If it is still a tie, then for games up to and including the semi-final, the winner will be the team with the best individual winner, and so on.  For the final, the captains will nominate a player to play (21 up) to decide the match.
5. Players must have played three or more league matches before being allowed to play for a club in a semi –final, or final, of any cup competition.**. A Walkover in a league game counts as one of the three league games played, as long as the player was present and recorded on the match card, as witnessed by the opposing captain.
6. The two captains will toss a coin to decide which five players are to receive the jack (first five or second five).
7. No practice is allowed in any round.
8. Players may play in only one of these competitions.
9. Referees may be appointed for the finals.

Cup Rules 3 and 7 updated Jan 2020

** - Handicap Plate games excluded

2019 ROLL OF HONOUR

Division 1

League winners:  Our Lady;   Runners up:  Brooke Hotel A

Cup winners:   Our Ladys; Runners up:  Brooke Hotel A

Merit winner:   Mike Davies;  Runner up:   Steve McManus

(both Our Ladys)

Division 2

League winners:  Northern;    Runners up:  Crescent A

Cup winners:       Moorside Tigers;  Runners up: Meadows

Merit Winner: Alex Anderson (Northern); Runner up: Ian Hill (Hightown)

BCGBA MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Requests for membership cards must be accompanied by a BCGBA Membership Application Form.  (Follow the links on http://merseysidebowls.co.uk/)

The current fee for a BCGBA Membership Cards is now £12 (£4 for replacement cards) and all cheques must be made payable to Merseyside CCGBA.

Send to: Linda Howard, 65 Prospect Vale, Wallasey, CH45 6TG.

SAFEGUARDING

From BCGBA: All clubs must have a Safeguarding Official by 1st March 2019. If the official is a member of more than one club then they can cover all clubs they play for.  If not, such clubs will be subject to a £25 fine, increasing by a further £25 for each succeeding 3 months without such a person, with the ultimate sanction of being barred from playing.

Just to remind you all, the recommended Action Plan for Clubs is as follows:

1. Identify an individual

2. Arrange for a DBS application to be completed through the BCGBA

3. Show the certificate to the County Safeguarding Officer / Evidence Checker / Counter Signatory.

4. Advise Club Members who the nominated Safeguarding Officer is.  This can be done by printing a copy of the Safeguarding Policy from the Safeguarding Website, adding the name of your Safeguarding Officer and then posting it on your Club notice board.

5. Ensure your Safeguarding Officer has a place on your committee to feedback any updates in policy.

6. Let the Merseyside Registrar have full details of the Safeguarding Officer for your Club. (This must be done by 30/6/2019 to avoid a fine)

KB 7/3/2019

The 1933 Race for Honours

Earliest records found indicate that the Formby and District bowling League was founded in 1933,  as shown by the first league winners inscribed on the Lister Cup, which is still awarded to this day for the League Division 1 winners. (See also the  Archival section on this web site).

In fact the race for honours in 1933 was described in a 1933 newspaper article, as reproduced on a pillar in the Railway Hotel, Formby,  and shown as follows:-

‘’Formby League.

With only four more games, Formby Conservatives have a lead of four points. Their position was strengthened by the defeat of the Southport team, Railway Hotel, Ainsdale, who lost by one in their game with the Railway Hotel, Formby. There were several games decided by one or two points only, and the decision was in doubt to the last end, Ainsdale doing their utmost to save a point, or get both, in order that they should retain their position in the race for honours.

A four a side knock-out competition on neutral greens is attracting great deal of attention, and the surprise of the first series of games was the defeat of Formby Trinity ‘A’ by Formby Trinity ‘C’ by six points.’’

(KB note. The Lister Cup shows that the 1933 league winners were the Railway Hotel, Ainsdale, who in fact were league winners fourteen times between 1933 and 1959).

LEAGUE HISTORY

You can now view the history of league honours, going back to when the league started in 1933. To view, click the honours link in the links section.  If you can help to fill in the blanks or have any further info, please let me know.  Thanks to Phil Howlin for all the info.