Crown Green Bowling as we watch it today has been around since the early 1900’s. The history of the game of bowls in general has a much longer past as I have found out through some research. Many historians believe that the game originally came from the ancient Egyptians. A game of skittles that they played using rounded off stones had its similarities. Artefacts from these games have been found in tombs dating back to around 5000bc.
It is also widely thought that using a green to play came from northern and middle England. This is, however, refuted by records that show greens being used since the turn of the 14th century.
The most famous historical story comes from the times of the Spanish Armada. When Sir Francis Drake was informed of the approaching enemy fleet he is reported to have said “We still have time to finish the game and to thrash the Spaniards too.” Upon losing his game of bowls he then proceeded to inflict one of the heaviest military defeats on Spain in its history.
Last week I met with a gentleman called Charles Cooper. He is living testament to the dedication that players, officials and followers across the country have to their chosen sport. When I met him at his sister’s house in Dukinfield he had just returned home after refereeing a Wales V Lancashire match. I asked him about his time involved with the sport and what he has got out of it.
So Charles, how did you get into bowling? Where did it all start?
“It’s a game I have got a lot of pleasure out of. I played for over 35 years. It’s a relaxing game and very easy to start playing. I played a lot and with practice became quite good at it. I played with a few teams and represented the county.”
What made you decide to become a referee and umpire? My roots are in football and being a referee has always been a thankless task.
“When I captained a team it was in the rules that the captain should take a referees course. I thoroughly enjoyed learning the finer points of the rules and regulations. When the exam came round I was awarded an A grade. I decided to take that further and after being assessed while refereeing a junior county game I was made an official county referee.”
You have taken that even further now though haven’t you and are at international level?
“Yes I have. I have actually recently umpired the World Short Mat Bowls Championships.”
Short Mat Bowls is an indoor variant of the classic game. Two South African gentlemen are credited with the first version of the game. Used to playing outdoor bowls at home, they came to work in South Wales. The climate at the time made outdoor play impossible so rolled out a strip of carpet in a local church hall. They then moved to Northern Ireland where rules and regulations were drawn up and the game spread across the province. The Irish then brought the game back over and its popularity began to grow in the early 1980’s. In 1984 the English Short Mat Bowling Association was formed and is the governing body for the sport in this country. The game is played on a mat no less than 12.2 metres and maximum of 13.75 metres in length and 1.83 metres wide. In the middle of the mat is a centre block which cannot be touched by a bowl. This prevents high speed shots directly at the jack. There are also wooden fender pieces at the rear of the mat to simulate the ditch.
How was the experience at a world championship?
Firstly I would say it was tiring. The day started at 9AM and lasted 12 hours. Each umpire had a rota of an hour and a half on and half an hour off. On top of that there was the travelling to and from Leigh each day. With that aside it was a fantastic occasion. A privilege to oversee matches of such a calibre with players from all over the world.
I notice your uniforms are very smart and well tailored. Who supplies those
“We have to supply them ourselves. All of our uniforms are purchased at our own expense. There isn’t the money in the sport itself to supply everybody. We get our own uniforms and the badges are supplied that we then have attached to our jackets.”
What about other events that are further afield, how do you get on with travelling and accommodation.
“Some expenses are covered such as travelling expenses and basic accommodation. I will be going to the Isle of Man in early July to referee their game against Derbyshire. I spent many years using the public transport system as I couldn’t drive. I can now but I was 67 years old when I passed my test.”
So do you still play or does officiating take up most of your time?
“Oh I still play yes. Anything up to 6 times a week. I play with three different teams when I can and these days it’s an all weather sport. I have no plans on stopping anytime soon.
Meeting Mr Cooper today has given me a new found respect for the people behind the scenes at some of these sporting occasions. This man has followed his sport with pure dedication with hardly a single penny of reward. Next time I watch the indoor bowls championships on BBC2 I will give more notice and a tip of the hat to those smartly dressed men and women that officiate so professionally and properly. It has also inspired me to make sure I have a game of bowls sometime in the near future.
If you fancy having a game of bowls you will find a comprehensive list of facilities in and around the area at http://www.online-bowls.com/greens/greens.php
If you would like to know more about Short Mat Bowling then you will find the English Short Mat Bowling Association at http://www.esmba.co.uk/
