Club History
The Lloyd Hotel Bowling Club has long been recognised as one of the oldest and most successfulclubs in the game of crown green bowling.
The green was laid in 1870 and it is apparent from our history books that even then the Lloyds were
involved in competitive matches and fund raising activities.
The first recorded honour our club won was in 1905 when we were "Runners up" in the Lancashire
& Cheshire County Bowling Association Supplementary Team Championship. The shield is still on
display in our clubhouse today.
In 1928 our club were one of the founder members of the South Manchester Bowling League and
acted as the league's headquarters from 1973 until 2000 when the league merged with the
Altrincham Institute League to form the Altrincham & South Manchester League.
We were also a founder member of the Manchester Evening News Premier League (now known as
the Manchester Premier League) in 1999, even though we did not actually play in the league until
2000. This league is without doubt the strongest crown green bowling league in the country. We
have been fortunate to win this league on five occasions in 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2022.
The club is also proud to organise the 2nd largest youth bowling competition in the country. The
"David Lloyd Youth Competition" is held in the memory of one of the great young players who
played for us until his tragic death in 1977. This event commenced in 1978 and it's past winners
include Gary Ellis and Andy Buckley to name but two. The competition regularly attracts a field of
over 50 youngsters, all of which are 21 or under. So much for bowling being an old man's game!
Over the years our club has raised in excess of £71,000 for various local charities including St Ann's
Hospice, Francis House Childrens Hospice, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and The British Heart
Foundation. We have raised money by holding raffles, tombolas and hosting celebrity bowling
matches between both Manchester football clubs. Our greatest achievement however has been to
break the Guinness World Record for the longest outdoor bowls match on no fewer than 3
occasions. Our latest successful attempt was in 2008 when from Saturday 25th October at 6.00pm
we played till the following Saturday 1st November at 5.00pm (168 hours). For this event alone our
members raised just over £19,000.
In 2016 our Vice-President Alan Mooney walked the Pennine Way (268 miles) in 19 days and raised
£1,500 for the Christie Hospital NHS Trust in the process.
We have been crowned the British Crown Green Team Champions on two occasions in 2000 & 2006.
In 2009 we won the British Crown Green Club Championship after a memorable days bowling at
Centre Vale Park in Todmorden. This was followed in 2012 when we won the British Crown Green
World Club Championship at Irlam Steel Sports and Recreation Club.
We have won the British Parks Crown Green Team Championship on thee occasions in 2011, 2013
and 2023 when we beat Pudsey B.C. at Fenton Bowling Club in Stoke.
In 2022 we emerged victorious in the Arthur Land Super Cup when we beat Garswood Hall in the final by
one chalk!. The final day was held at Sinclair Sports & Social Club in Telford.
In 2024 our club spent £8,200 refurbishing and improving the facilities we have at the Lloyds. We obtained
grants from the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund, Arnold Clark Community Fund and the BCGBA.
Our sincere thanks to all parties for their support.
As we approach the 2025 season the Lloyds continue to strive to be one of the most progressive
bowling clubs around. We have 10 teams playing in 8 different leagues. Over the past few years we have
developed our green and surroundings into one of the best you will find in the game of bowls.
We are very lucky to have a fantastic working relationship with the current brewery, J.W.Lees & Co
(Brewers) Ltd and along with a well organised, hardworking committee we hope to have continued
success on and off the green for many years to come.
Enjoy our website, and happy bowling to you all
