The story of Clydebank Bowling Club is also the story of industrial Scotland
and the game of bowls in Scotland. When the club was founded in 1884 it
was a time of industrial expansion when heavy industry was flourishing,
when new industrial towns like Clydebank
were growing up either from smaller communities or as in Clydebank’s
case from green fields and when the workers in these industries and the
citizens of these towns were seeking recreation and bowls was helping to
fulfil that need.
When the Annual General Meeting of 1895 is reported fully, the club had
already been established for 11 years on the site which it occupied
continuously for 100 years, with the west green as the one green and the
Club-house or Bowling Pavilion as it was then sometimes called, the small
Club-house of today.

Clydebank Bowling Club Clubhouse 1899- 1907

It is not clear if the founding fathers who met in September1884 to set up the Clydebank Bowling and Quoiting Club were entirely employees of J. and G. Thompson’s Shipyard, called the Clydebank Yard. This
was set up in 1871 and gave its name to the town which grew up around it. It seems likely because it was James R. Thomson, partner and principal of the Yard who got a lease of land of 1 acre, 37 poles and 12 yards from Miss Grace Hamilton of Cochno and Barns to set up a club and the first President
of the club was Samuel Crawford, the Shipyard Manager.
What is certainly true was by 1896 there were members of Clydebank Bowling Club who were not Shipyard employees and who paid higher fees than members of the Yard. Indeed the first heated debate recorded in the Minutes is on this very topic. The motion was put to the A.G.M. of 1896 that all members should pay a standard rate of 15/- per year. This eventually won against two opposing views. The first was status quo, Thomson’s employees pay 2/6d annually, every one else 17/6d, but there was a further interesting amendment, “all workers pay 12/6d and that all merchants, managers and employers of labour pay 17/6d”. The motion won and so all club members paid 15/- per year, a fee that
remained relatively stable for in 1914 the fees were 18/- per year.
Although Clydebank Bowling Club was no longer a monopoly of the Yard, which became John Brown’s Yard in 1889, a very close link between the Yard and the club had been forged. Shipyard employees
continued to be the main strength of the club and from the time of the aforesaid Samuel Crawford, Shipyard Managers continued to keep a benevolent eye on the activities of the club. When John Rannie, C.B.E. became the club’s only Honorary President in 1971 this was not just a tribute
to Mr Rannie’s great qualities of head and heart and the interest he had shown in the club but it symbolised the connection down through the years between the club and the Yard and evoked memories of names like Sir Thomas Bell and Sir Stephen Piggott.

These early years of the club also established another enduring link, that between the club and the civic authorities. James R. Thomson was not only the partner and, as he is described, principal of Thomson’s Yard and probably the leading spirit in the founding of Clydebank Bowling Club but he was also the first Provost of Clydebank when it was declared a Burgh in 1886 and he held this position till 1888. From that time on a great many members have been Provosts, Councillors or Officials of the Burgh and, after 1975 as it then became, of the District.

1907New Clubhouse at Clydebank Bowling Club

                  A handsome new clubhouse in connection with Clydebank Bowling Club was opened on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering including among the latter representatives from many other clubs. The building which has its main entrance facing John Knox Street is of red freestone and brick, faced with rough cast. The clubhouse is capable of comfortably seating 200 persons, while there are also a smoke room, a committee room, billiard room for two tables and a room and kitchen house for the green keeper. Mr Thomas McGuire the President of the club in presenting Mr. David McGhee, manager of Clydebank yard, with a silver key to open the clubhouse, said the club owed its inception to Messrs James and George Thompson who in 1884 laid out the green for the benefit of their workers on ground granted by Messrs Hamilton of Cochno. In 1896 additional ground was taken and a second green formed and last year members decided to proceed with the erection of a new clubhouse, better suited for the accommodation of the large and increasing membership. The result is the building which is now completed, and of which the estimated cost was £1850. Throughout the 23 years of its existence the club has maintained an honourable position in the bowling world and many of its members have been recognised as excellent exponents of the game. The clubhouse having been formally declared open, light refreshments were served to the company. Mr William Mark vice president presented to Mrs McGhee a silver jack and the first bowl of the season was thrown amid applause and the green was declared open.

Extract from Evening Times Monday 6th May 1907

Current Clubhouse

With the end of the war, the gradual lifting of restrictions on building general desire in the country for more social activities the club too sought ways of expanding.

plans had been accepted for the renovation of the club which resulted in the greenkeeper’s house, which had been at the entrance to the clubhouse and down the east side, being replaced by a new house built on to the north side between the original club-house and the railway. This was completed in May, 1955,

In 1968 at the AGM it was comment that the board had been too modest in the previous expansion of the club buildings,  and for the next few years a variety of schemes of differing degrees of ambitiousness and cost were mooted. Most agreed that there should be change. Some argued that this should be radical – that for instance the whole face of the 1907 club-house should be changed with building at two levels. It was further argued that the old 1886 club-house between the greens should be scrapped and a modern complex for changing facilities built there. In the end a mood of caution, perhaps realism, prevailed. At a Special General Meeting in December 1972, the decision was taken, in principle, that there should be further renovations that this should consist of refurbishing the hall and extending the lounge at the expense of the greenkeeper’s house.

In 2009 the club celebrated its 125th Anniversary of the opening of the club

Two years before the landmark year, a proposal was put forward by a member, that a special committee be put in place, with the sole purpose “to organise e Clubs pending 125th Anniversary”. The committee would consist of 5 Members chaired by Ex President Billy Adams , who was to guide the committee with his many years of experience.

The group met for the first time on the 13th. of June 2007. In the ensuing months the committee worked very hard and in a very harmonious manner and with the help of local companies and friends over £21,000 as raised, to ensure that each and every member had the opportunity feel part of this special year

The year’s celebrations began on the evening of the 27th. March, with the Club Member’s Dinner. In attendance were the Provost of West Dunbartonshire Council, Mr Dennis Agnew, accompanied by representatives from the S.B.A. / .B.A. and President John (Jazz) Smith of the C.D.B.A. Also in attendance were fellow bowlers from S.S.R.I.B.A. and the Lennox League. They were accompanied by our sponsors, who had committed funds from their various companies to help make 2009 a memorable year for the members.

President Jimmy Somerville opened the 125 Year season with opening day on the 4th April, and throughout the year some special competitions for the members and open competitions for guest to attend w ere held over the following months.

In June, the Jonathan Harvey Trophy was played just one of the sponsored days, through out the season various SBA, DBA and CDBA finals were held a the club to mark the special year.

On the 12th September the 125 Anniversary day was held with all members taking part  where the unveiling of the 125 anniversary Granite commemoration stone was unveiled by the Centenary President and the 125 President.

The age range of the participants from youngest junior at 10 years old, to the oldest member at 93 was a testament to the game of bowls for enjoyment throughout the generations, this was followed by a celebration dinner for all playing and non-playing members who attended on the day.

In 2018 with a declining membership, the board of management in October 2018, called a special EGM to discuss the financial situation and explore the possibility for the sale of the West Green with the members. After discussion it was agreed by the members for the board to investigate the sale of the West Green.

In March 2020 the club was closed due to covid for a couple of months reopening in May  with a limited Ties programme.

By May, the board of management had 3 parties interested in the purchase of the West Green so in July a 2nd EGM was called and the offers presented to the members for consideration and final decision on the sale.

After discussion the preferred buyer was agreed as the JR Group for the provision of building social housing on the site for the local authority.

By January 2021 West Dunbartonshire Council agree the plans presented by JR Group and the Offer was officially accepted by the club.

Payment was received and work the installation of the sprinkler system commenced and the refurbishment work in the Members and Bar areas of the club commenced immediately.

In October the club again closed due to covid with the club reopening in November and normality was returned to the club.

Like many sporting clubs and organisations, Covid had a big impact on the membership with the clubs membership reducing  season on season. However looking forward to the future, the club membership is increasing with new members of all ages to in the last 24 months.