NLFCBA 2026 AGM will be held on Sunday 25th January at 12pm, at the Canberra Club, Samlesbury Aerodrome, A59 Samlesbury, BB2 7LF.
There will be a short presentation on the BCGBA disciplinary procedure, followed immediately by the NLFCBA AGM.
It is mandatory that a committee member from each of the North Lancs & Fylde’s affiliated leagues attends this meeting.
Officials and players from all bowling clubs are invited to attend.
Please find the latest Safeguarding newsletter from the Bowls Development Alliance
To all Clubs and playing members,
This is to advise that the individual lifetime player membership with the BCGBA has increased from £15 to £20
Junior bowler who is under 18 years of age will receive free membership until they attain the age of 18 years when they will pay the full membership fee.
Any individual can apply for BCGBA membership by completing a BCGBA Membership Application Form, which is available from the NLFCBA website or from the County Membership Co-ordinator. The completed form should be sent to the County Membership Coordinator for processing.
Membership Cards lost or damaged will be replaced upon application to the County
Membership Co-ordinator and on payment of the appropriate fee.
To download the new application form please visit the NLFCBA website by clicking this link:
Bowls Development Alliance are running a ‘Week of Learning’ programme, which next takes place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th October. For those who are unaware, it offers ‘Free’ Webinars to members of any Club Affiliated to British Crown Green Bowling Association.
There will be sessions of the following topics:
Club Health Checker – How to complete
Positive Experiences for All People
Movement Fund
Your Culture and Values
Safeguarding: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Club Environment
Creating a Marketing Strategy
Developing an Inclusive Environment
Crowdfunding
Club Health Checker – Q & A
You can read what each session will cover and register your free space by clicking on the Blue Box below each session. Please click this link to visit the BDA website: https://bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com/week-of-learning/
Registration for each session will be open up until the morning of the session. Once registered, you will receive an email with the session link and further information. Please feel free to promote ‘Week of Learning’ to Club, Members, Committee etc.
If you encounter any problems, please email the BDA at clubdevelopment@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
The Semi Finals and Final of the North Lancs & Fylde 2025 County team Competition takes place this Saturday 20th September at the Crown Hotel Bowling Club, High Street, Garstang, PR3 1FA – Games start at 11am, No practice
All spectators are most welcome.
Semi Finals –
Hambleton v Two Gates
Reserves: –
Steve Jackson Colin Crawford
Eric Rawcliffe John Bentley
Hoghton v Lostock Cons
Reserves: –
Mark Hinchcliffe
Graham Myers
Winner and Runner-up will qualify for the 2026 BRITISH CROWN GREEN BOWLING ASSOCIATION CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
If any club or bowler is interested in undertaking a Crown Green Bowling coaching course, which is certified by Coach Bowls, we are asking for you to complete the following survey to register your interest by clicking on the web link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XDFDFMW
or using the QR code with the camera on your phone:
The information from the survey will be provided by the BCGBA to Coach Bowls, so they can plan and arrange courses around demand and postcode areas.
Coach Bowls currently run two courses of which 50% bursaries will be available on completion of the course:
Level 1 Coach Bowls Course
2 × 3-hour Zoom sessions
A learning portfolio
A practical day
Minimum of 2 practice sessions back at your club
An assessment day
Cost: £150 (includes insurance) – 50% bursary available on completion
Once we have 12 names local to you, we will arrange a venue and date with Coach Bowls.
Level 2 Coach Bowls Course
3 × 3-hour Zoom sessions
A learning portfolio
Two practical days
Minimum of 4 linked practice sessions back at your club (with bowlers who are not beginners)
An assessment day
Cost: £235 (includes insurance) – 50% bursary available on completion
Once we have 12 names, we will arrange the course with Coach Bowls. You may need to travel outside your county for the practical days and final assessment.
British Heart Foundation are currently offering free defibrillators to community organisations, and Crown Green Bowling Clubs are eligible to apply.
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, and having a defibrillator on site could save lives – not just for club members, but for visitors and the wider community. The application process is simple, and the BHF also provides guidance and training to help clubs use their equipment confidently.
You can find full details and apply here by clicking the web link:
Please consider applying for your club, and share this information with other clubs in your area. Together we can help make Crown Green Bowling a safer, more welcoming community for everyone.
Please find below the first two editions of the BCGBA Funding Focus newsletter, created to support bowls clubs in finding and applying for relevant funding opportunities
🔹 August 2025 – Facilities
A county-by-county guide to grants for greens, pavilions, and community spaces.
🔹 September 2025 – Youth Development
Funding opportunities to help clubs engage young people, develop coaching programmes, and build links with schools and youth groups.
Both newsletters are practical and easy to use, with local opportunities listed first and national grants at the end.
Any questions or requests for support can be directed to the National Development Officer by email to nationaldevelopment@bcgba.org.uk
Entries are being taken from Ladies teams for the County team competition which will be held on the weekend of the 4th and 5th October 2025. Venue is to be confirmed.
Teams for the event will consist of eight players, from a squad list of a maximum of twelve players, from which the team must be selected. Players must be bona fide members of the Club which is affiliated to NLFCBA.
The winner of the event of the event will go onto represent North Lancs & Fylde at the BCGBA Ladies Club Championship finals in 2026.
The format of the county qualifying event, competition rules, and entry fee will be determined by the Management Committee dependent upon entries.
If any Ladies team would like to register their interest, please contact Competition Secretary, Sarah Edmondson on 07855 799389
Announcement of the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer for the BCGBA
The British Crown Green Bowling Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Dan Newton as our new Chief Executive Officer.
Dan joins the Association with over 22 years of senior leadership experience across the sports development sector, having successfully led strategic transformation, governance reform, and programme delivery within a range of high-profile sporting National Governing Bodies.
Although Dan is new to crown green bowling, his passion for inclusive and community-led sport, combined with a deep-rooted belief in participation growth and sustainability, makes him an exciting and forward-thinking appointment. His arrival marks a significant step forward in the BCGBA’s ambition to revitalise the sport, modernise its structures, and drive fresh momentum across all levels of the game.
Dan has forged a distinguished career by delivering impactful change in national sport organisations. His previous roles have included strategic leadership positions with organisations such as Parkour UK, Rounders England, and Inclusive Aquatics. Notably, he has secured over £5.9 million in sport funding, including £1.8 million from Sport England through the System Partner programme, underlining his ability to align sport with national priorities and unlock new growth opportunities.
At Parkour UK, Dan led a major organisational transformation, shifting the body from a volunteer-led group to a fully funded NGB with increased staff capacity and professionalised governance. This included transitioning from 0 to 10 employees and embedding Tier 3 governance, safeguarding frameworks, and sustainability strategies. He also spearheaded national engagement programmes that led to a 120% increase in participation across the sporting landscape, with a clear focus on insight-led, inclusive delivery models.
Similarly, at Rounders England, Dan helped secure £3.9 million in funding, delivering high-impact community engagement initiatives and driving up participation across a broad demographic. His work has consistently demonstrated the ability to bring diverse stakeholders together, unite them behind a shared vision, and build resilient systems that sustain long-term growth.
Dan’s reputation as a collaborative and values-driven leader is well known within the wider sporting landscape. He brings a wealth of experience in stakeholder alignment, digital transformation, financial governance, safeguarding, and inclusive recruitment – all essential elements for a modern, progressive governing body. His strong working relationships with Sport England, the Bowls Development Alliance, and other key national partners will be invaluable as BCGBA looks to build on its recent strategy and position the sport for future success.
While Dan does not come from a crown green bowling background, he has already expressed a genuine enthusiasm to learn about the sport, its history, its culture, and its people. He recognises the unique heritage and community spirit that defines crown green bowls, and is committed to working alongside the BCGBA Board, County Associations, and Club volunteers to understand what makes the game special. The Board is fully confident that Dan’s fresh perspective and professional skillset will bring much-needed momentum and new thinking into the sport.
BCGBA Board Members, Association Officers, and National Advisory Council will provide Dan with the guidance and insight required to help him transition into his new role. His leadership will not replace the sport’s traditions – rather, it will help protect them by supporting growth, relevance, and engagement in a rapidly changing sporting landscape.
Dan’s priorities as CEO will include increasing participation across all age groups – particularly juniors, ladies, and over-35s – as well as building sustainable Club and County structures. He is particularly enthusiastic about supporting the development of digital engagement, and creating better governance and funding models within the sport. His approach will be rooted in evidence-based planning, cross-sector collaboration, and inclusive governance.
In his own words, Dan describes himself as “passionate about building pathways that make sport accessible to all,” and he brings a clear vision of how to align BCGBA’s ambitions with national trends in sport and leisure. His experience delivering innovative solutions at both grassroots and elite levels makes him well-equipped to lead the Association through its current period of transformation and beyond.
The BCGBA believes that Dan’s appointment signals a new era of opportunity for crown green bowling. With the sport facing challenges around participation decline, perception, and modernisation, his ability to unite people behind a shared vision and drive positive change will be critical.
We encourage all members, Clubs, and County Officials to welcome Dan into the bowling community and support him as he begins this exciting chapter. His leadership represents not just change, but the promise of growth, professionalism, and a sport that’s fit for the future.
Welcome to the BCGBA, Dan – we’re excited to have you on board.
North Lancs & Fylde County Bowling Association 