History of Bowmen of Birstall

After a nomadic start around the Birstall area, our Founder Members eventually settled at a field behind the Red Lion pub in Rothley – hence the red lion on the top of our Club badge giving it the old “thumbs up”! Several happy years were spent here before we were on the move again back to Birstall, to Stonehill School & eventually renting our own field from Birstall Parish Council at the bottom of Meadow Lane. The ground; although an odd shape; was pretty much ideal & Members worked hard levelling & fencing it, then holding numerous fund raising events to build a Clubhouse at what was to be our home for the next 28 years. Many events were held here from Beginners Courses to Club Championships, fun shoots with other local Clubs, our Annual friendly match with Bowmen of Rutland(every other year), the L&RCAA County Novice shoot & even the Leics V Northants Inter County Match was hosted for several years until the size of the event outgrew the size of the field! Unfortunately 2002 was to be our last year at that venue & after much searching we eventually relocated to Leicester Forest East at the Old Newtonian’s Rugby FC. We spend our outdoor season here from April to September & the Indoor season from September to the end of March is still in Birstall at Longslade School so the Club elected to keep its original name.