Ford bowlers are no more as the club folds

Bowling has ended at Ford after 85 years and they have withdrawn all their teams from all the leagues they used to play in.

The Shrewsbury village club's Wem League team was first to go, followed by a Shrewsbury Division side, but now the whole lot have gone to the wall.

Club stalwart and league secretary Andy Price said: "It is with great regret that Ford Bowling Club have had to withdraw from the Tanners Claret Shropshire League with immediate effect.

"Having being unable to fulfil the financial requirement of the proprietors and consequently losing a number of players, Ford are no longer in a position to use the green and so will be winding up in the next few weeks.

"This is a very sad time for all concerned with Ford Bowling Club, but it does give current players the chance to relocate if that is their wish.

"On a personal note, I would like to thank all bowling friends for their support and we will see you all around the greens."

Ford had been hoping to secure grant assistance to try and buy the green from former Shrewsbury Town footballer Jake King, the owner of the adjacent Smoke Stop, but they simply ran out of time.

They were the first club from outside the Premier League to successfully win a play-off in 2001, after beating Bylet, and regularly finished mid-table until a player exodus forced them to withdraw in 2012.

Ford were also losing finalists in the County Cup in 2004 and 2010 and won numerous honours in the Tanners League over a proud history.

Even the club's senior citizens team, who had been offered a new home at Old Shrewsbury, has disbanded.

Club stalwart Geoff Davies, who is now joining Prince of Wales Hotel, claimed the Ford officials now had one month to clear their belongings from the site.