Short Mat Bowling Clubs in Herefordshire

Short Mat Bowling Clubs are to be found mostly in the south of the county.

They range from clubs with outdoor greens to quite small clubs meeting in village halls. 

As an independent organisation The Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling Association came into being in June 1999. However, the origins of the association go back to 1992 when five local clubs, three from Gloucestershire and two from Herefordshire, formed a group to play the first MacMillan Charity match. Lea and Fownhope from Herefordshire with Listers, Quedgeley  and Brockweir representing Gloucestershire formed this group. (Brockweir were the first winners of the trophy.)

These five clubs became the founding members of a joint association of Short Mat Bowling Clubs in the two counties. The rules of the English Short Mat Bowling Association at that time required a minimum of five clubs to form a county representation. Because of this, recognition of a 'dual county' status was sought.

Herefordshire and Gloucestershire SMBA was duly accepted by the ESMBA. The inexperience of players, coupled with limitations because of club size, restricted the group to playing friendly games in those early days. These included competitions in conjunction with Worcestershire and Shropshire.

Norman Davies of the Lea SMBC (Herefordshire) was appointed as first chairman of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire SMBA which was appropriate for he was a driving force behind the establishment and growth of Short Mat Bowling in the area. Others on the founding committee were: Treasurer - Norman Allen of Fownhope SMBC (Herefordshire) and Secretary - Tom Hughes (Gloucestershire).

Norman always held that the joint status of the original association was of a temporary nature, however this arrangement was maintained until 1999. At this date, by mutual agreement, both groups decided that they were each strong enough to support individual membership of the ESMBA. This was duly acknowledged by the ESMBA.

Following this rearrangement both counties were accepted for the inter-county ‘A’ Team competition in the millennium year.

A quote from the Gloucestershire County Website.

"It should be noted here that the late Norman Davies of Herefordshire was the mainstay of the original organisation and we all owe a great deal for his unstinting work for the cause........thank you Norman".