Welcome to Rainhill Bowling

We're open to all visitors. Please have a look around our website for information on how to find us, becoming a member, and our calendar.

Membership

We welcome all new members. To join contact xxxx on xxxx@xxxx.xxxx or call xxxxxxx. Membership fees are £0.00.

Calendar

See when our teams are playing on our calendar. You're welcome to come along and cheer us on!

Three crown green bowling balls, each held by a different person.

Club History

It was the establishment of Rainhill Recreation Club in 1920 that brought cricket, tennis, football and bowls together at the current location.

During the early years bowling was a social event with only in-house competitions being played, namely the Harold Bradshaw Trophy, which is still played for today with notable winners as Liverpool and England footballer Alan A’Court.

It wasn't until the 1980s with a thriving social membership that the club entered competitive bowls with teams being entered in the St Helens Pensioners League and the Prescot Night Leagues.

Into the 1990s and the club continued to expand with a membership of over 100 people, teams now entered the St Helens Night League and Newton Pensioners.

Floodlights and other various improvements to the green and surroundings continued through the 1990s.

By the early 2000s a ladies team was entered in the Halton League and the men's teams moved to the Widnes League. The club now boasts multiple teams with competitive bowls on a daily basis throughout the summer.

Into the 2020s and the club continues to go from strength to strength. Our current team structure

Club Teams 2026

Widnes League (mixed)

Rainhill 1 (Div 1)

Captain: John Searson (Ces)

Team photo of Rainhill 1 in Widnes league

Rainhill 1 in Widnes league team photo

Playing in the Widnes league as Rainhill 1, Rainhill A beat Prescot Manor in the final at USC’s ground, after giving them a handicap of 40 chalks. A great final that the gents deserved to win after a fantastic season of bowling.

Front row: John Stirzaker, Keith Macklin, Paul Gartside, Tony Maley

Back row: Robbie Marshall, Ian ?, Joe ?, Dave Swain, Matty Gartside, Alan Heaton, Eric Davies

Rainhill 2 (Div 2)

Captain: Dave Moss

Rainhill 2 Widnes team photo

Awaiting narrative...

Rainhill 3 (Div 2)

Captain: Ken Brogan

Rainhill 3 Widnes league team photo

Halton League - Ladies

Widnes Pensioners

Rainhill Ladies 1

Captain: Joan Rylance

Rainhill Ladies team photo

Our ladies team has benefitted from new players this season and once again we’ve performed consistently well, maintaining a top of the league position in 2026. Captain Joan Rylance gives all players a game, rotating newer players into the team list every week.

Playing in the Halton league with 9 teams sees us travel to Prescot, Halewood and widnes for matches.

Front row: Margaret Hughes (club secretary), Greta Jones, Mary King, Joan Rylance (Captain), Ann Smith, Jackie Maguire

Back row: Nancy Waine, Joan Pinnington, Angela Brennand, Nora Stott, Pat Sharples, Louise Potter, Jo Campbell, Kathy Brogan, Elaine Byrnes, Pat Frost

Rainhill 1

Captain: Neil Aconley

Widnes Pensioners A team photo

Awaiting narrstive

St Helens League - Men

Rainhill A

Captain: Paul Garts

Rainhill A St Helens Men team photo

Playing in the Halton league with 9 teams sees us travel to Prescot, Halewood and widnes for matches.

Front row: Margaret Hughes (club secretary), Greta Jones, Mary King, Joan Rylance (Captain), Ann Smith, Jackie Maguire

Back row: Nancy Waine, Joan Pinnington, Angela Brennand, Nora Stott, Pat Sharples, Louise Potter, Jo Campbell, Kathy Brogan, Elaine Byrnes, Pat Frost

Rainhill B

St Helens League (Rainhill B)

Rainhill B St Helens Mens League team photo

The second team in the St Helens Mens league is Rainhill B, Captained by Derek Grimes. They play in the Third division on a Tuesday evening. This league is a 10 player league and Derek. has a healthy squad of 17 players.

Derek regained his role of Captain, after a year in the hands of Gordon Lowe, and has led a fantastic season of bowling with his team lifting the league trophy and earning promotion into the second division next season.

Derek is very proud of the effort and commitment shown by all players and thanks the squad for their attendance, support and dedication. With 17 on the team, he wants to thank everyone for their patience in what's been a tough year for playing opportunities. He sends his congratulation to all players for their tremendous effort.

Front row:

St Helens Pensioners League

A Team

Captain: Paul Gartside

St Helens Pensioners A team photo

Rainhill A cup winners in St Helens Pensioners leagueAnother successful season for Rainhill A in the St Helens Pensioners league, pictured here having won the Presidents Cup final at Windle Bowling Club.

Rainhill A beat Unison 'B' in the final giving them a handicap of 30. The men’s team had all six winners on the day, and also had the Man of the Match winner in Tony Pownall.

Team from left to right:-

Front Row :- John Stirzaker, Paul Gartside (capt), Keith Macklin.

Back row :- Keith Williams, Fred Laff, Alan Heaton, Tony Pownall (m.o.m), John Macklin.