History of SDBA

SOUTHAMPTON & DISTRICT BOWLING ASSOCIATION

A very brief history of the S&DBA and its member clubs.
The Association was founded in December 1919, to commence playing in 1920 by:
1920 ATHERLEY, founded 1906, and situated at Raymond Road, Hill Lane, Southampton
1920 BANISTER PARK, founded 1906. Originally situated in Northlands Road, Southampton but moved in 1990 to Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh.
1920 Eastleigh, founded 1912. It confirmed its railway roots by becoming Southern Railway, Eastleigh in 1925. Despite nationalization of the regions in 1948 it didn’t change its name until 1953, becoming British Rail, Eastleigh, and finally to EASTLEIGH RAILWAY in 1991. Their original green was off Market Street before moving to 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh in 1982.
1920 Southampton, founded c1299. In 1926 it rebranded to SOUTHAMPTON (OLD) GREEN. The green being situated in Lower Canal Walk, Southampton.
1920 Woolston, founded 1913. It has become WOOLSTON & DISTRICT, but at what stage in its history I can’t determine. The green is at Temple Road, Woolston, Southampton.
1921 COUNTY, founded 1889, and situated at Northlands Road, Southampton. (On the opposite side of the road to the original Banister Park green).
1922 HYDE ABBEY, founded 1812. Originally situated in the shadow of North Walls, Winchester before moving in 1990 to Riverside Park, North Walls, Winchester. For two years (2003/04) matches had to be played at Friary BC. (Somebody please tell me why!!!).
1924 Harland & Wolff, founded 1924, disbanded 1937.
1924 Civil Service, founded 1924. Originally shown as playing at Stafford Road, Southampton. This changed in 1956 to Malmesbury Road, Shirley, Southampton until closed in 1998. Civil Service continued playing at Atherley BC in 1999 and then as nomads thereafter until finally disbanding in 2010.
1925 East Park. The green was situated off East Park Terrace, Southampton. They succumbed at the end of the 1976 season
1933 Cunard, became Cunard White Star in 1935 and then withdrew in 1937. (No other information, but did they play on Harland & Wolff green?).
1934 Southampton Gas Company, founded c1934. Their green was originally situated in Redbridge, Southampton. By 1968 they had rebranded as Southern Gas and played on the Civil Service, Malmesbury Road green. From 1975 they then moved to the Sports Centre, Hill Lane, Southampton becoming British Gas in 1987, before resigning in 1996.
1935 Swaythling. The green was situated at Wide Lane, Swaythling, Southampton. The club closed at the end of 1956.
1935 Bitterne, founded 1925. This club has had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the S&DBA. Having joined in 1935 they withdrew in 1945. They rejoined in 1968 before withdrawing again at the end of the 1973 season. However they were to rejoin in 1991. Their green was adjoining Bitterne Parish church, White’s Road, Bitterne, Southampton. However at the end of 2016 they were evicted and for the 2017 season played at the Silverlake Stadium, Portsmouth Road, Sholing, Southampton. In 2018 they became known as OLD NETLEY.
1938 PIRRIE PARK, founded 1938. The old Harland & Wolff green was purchased and renamed as Pirrie Park. (For more information visit the Pirrie Park website, history section). The green address was originally Wilton Crescent, Shirley, but from 1968 it was shown as 21 Harland Crescent before going back to 78a Wilton Crescent, Shirley, Southampton from 1997. (Front door to back door to Front door!).
1938 Millbrook. The green was near the railway line off Millbrook Road, Southampton. The club was to fold in 1967.
1939 The SPORTS CENTRE, founded 1936. The green is situated at the Sports Centre, top of Hill Lane, Bassett, Southampton.
1945 FLEMING PARK, founded 1937. The green address was originally Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh until 1986 when it became, ‘Rear of Civic Offices’, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, then back to Passfield Avenue in 1991 until the current Kornwestheim Way, off Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh.
1945 Southampton Police, founded 1945. Originally played at the Millbrook Road green until 1956, when they moved to the Sports Centre, before settling down at Southampton Old Green in 1968. They disbanded in 2005.
1947 WINCHESTER CITY, founded 1923. Originally played at the Recreation Ground, North Walls, Winchester. In 1958 they moved to Highfield Lodge, Worthy Lane, Winchester. In 1969 this became the Conservative Club, Highfield Lodge, Worthy Lane, Winchester.
1948 Pirelli General, founded 1906. The green was situated off Dew Lane, Eastleigh until the associated club and grounds were sold off at the end of 2002. From 2003 they rebranded as PARKSIDE and moved across the road to play on the artificial surface at the Fleming Park ground.
1949 Folland Aircraft, founded 1938. Became just Folland (prior to 1969). Then to Aerostructures in 1991, then GE Hamble for 2011/12. Finally settling back to FOLLAND from 2013. The green is at Kings Avenue, Hamble. (They did go up market by changing it to Hamble-le-Rice in 2010!!).
1951 ESSO (Fawley), founded 1950. Following some separation from the parent company the club changed its name to WATERSIDE in 2002. The green is at 179-181, Long Lane, Holbury, Southampton.
1952 Winchester Police, only to finish at the end of 1953. They played at the Recreation Ground, North Walls, Winchester.
1955 FRIARY, founded 1820. The green is at St. Michaels Road, Winchester.
1956 BTC (BRITISH TRANSPORT COMMISSION) founded 1950. They play at Stoneham Lane, Southampton. (The posh end!).
1956 A.S.T. (Hamble). Withdrew in 1959.( Other than noting that they played at Hamble I have no idea what AST stands for. I assume they played at Folland. A staff team?).
1957 Eastleigh NALGO. Played at Fleming Park till finishing at the end of the 1980 season.
1957 Saunders – Roe. This team played on the Wide Lane, Swaythling green but folded in 1960
1959 MAYFIELD PARK, founded 1959. The green is at Weston Lane, Woolston, Southampton.
1962 Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police. Originally played at the Recreation Ground, North Walls, Winchester before moving to Fleming Park for the 1977 – 1979 seasons. Their final move was to Banister Park in 1980 until their time with the Association was arrested in 2015.
1971 MMI (Moorgreen Metal Industries), founded 1971. Initially played at the Sports Centre. From 1975 they played at County BC, but from 1996 they went back to the Sports Centre before folding at the end of 2009.
1971 TWYFORD, founded 1901. Their green is at Roman Road, Twyford, Winchester
1974 BROCKENHURST, founded 1936. They play at Brookley Road Car park, Brockenhurst.
1974 ROMSEY, founded 1973. Their green is in the Memorial Park, The Meads, Romsey.
1977 Southampton Electricity, before becoming Southern Electricity in 1980. Apparently didn’t provide the necessary spark as they withdrew at the end of the 1982 season. They played at East Park BC.
1985 LITTLETON, founded 1972. They play at the Recreation Ground, The Hallway, Littleton, Winchester. (As far from the road as you can get!!).
1986 MEON VALLEY, founded 1984. This club was very patient, having affiliated from this date they had no green to play on till the 1998 season. They played at Priory Park, Elizabeth Way, Bishops Waltham. In 2012 this changed to Howard Pavilion, then in 2013 back to Priory Park.
1992 HEDGE END, founded 1991. Their green is at Pavilion Road, off Woodhouse Lane, Hedge End.
1992 LOCKSWOOD, founded 1990. Their green was originally shown as Priory Park Community Hall, Upper Brook Drive but has now settled on Coltsfoot Drive, Priory Park, Locksheath.
1999 TOTTON & ELING, founded 1998 Their green is at Crabbs Way, Totton.
2003 COLDEN COMMON, founded 1993 The green is at Colden Common Park, Boyes Lane, Colden Common, Winchester.