After huge success developing an existing bowls club in Darlington, making it inclusive to children and disability and increasing numbers, I was seeking a new challenge, writes Scott Morland.
In 2025 I was looking for a vacant bowls green to form a new club with the ambition of initially starting a social bowls club, and developing it over time.
After seeking a contact I received a call from Cllr Sue Reece who appeared keen to increase usage and footfall at Pavilion Park with the potential investment that was already being made to refurbish the facility, this was music to my ears. We met Sue and the Croquet Club about the facility and also the amazing volunteer Cllr David English that looks after the Park. After discussions we decided to form a new bowls club in October 2025 called ‘Chilton Excavators’.
We have managed to build a team of 25 people and have entered 3 leagues:
Tuesday Evenings – The Durham Midweek League where we travel to teams from Durham to Shildon. We are currently 5th.
Thursday Evenings – The Darlington & District League where we travel to teams from Spennymoor down to Richmond. We are currently 3rd.
Saturday Afternoons – The Cleveland & Teesside League where we travel East to Stockton & Middlesbrough. We are currently 4th.
The challenge now is to people involved of all ages from Chilton & Ferryhill, we are looking for beginners, or people who have played before. I can be contacted on 07863 282918 and scottm3472[@]gmail[.]com – we can arrange free taster sessions for anyone interested.
It is important to us to give the sport to the local community and we want to see families and an emphasis on a modernised version of bowls and not how it is perceived.
Very soon we also hope to have our partners ‘That’s How We Roll 24 Bowls Club’ joining us at Chilton who specialise in childrens bowling and potentially disability bowls at the green as well.
To try and support others in the community we have donated to be part of the Buy a Brick Scheme at the refurbished Pavilion and have also sponsored Chrissy Smith of Chilton Club Football Club.
We also have local support with sponsorship from 2 local taxi firms in Terrys & Joes Travel, also The Daleside Arms in Croxdale and Soul Peri Peri of Darlington & Middlesbrough.
We would be grateful for anyone interested to get in touch and get involved, we have a great set of people!
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
