Fixture News 2025
Welcome to the 2025 edition of “Fixture News”!
Over view
A lot to pack in this year so here goes!!
This fixture outlook should be read in conjunction with your clubs President and Captain’s introduction letter’s for the new season which have just been circulated. The fixture book will be printed during March and will be available to all members at the pre-season Cheese and Wine get together on 12th April.
Last season was, at times, challenging for our Captain’s in being able to field full team’s for some friendly matches, away matches being particularly difficult. At the end of the season the committee again reviewed the fixture programme and these were outlined in my secretaries report at the AGM. I do not intend to reiterate or go over the changes in full again but will touch upon some during this report. Some same sex friendly matches are now mixed which has given our Ladies more opportunities to play as Lady only friendly matches were generally poorly supported. The Jubilee league and the three matches covering the Ladies Orpett competition with Petts Wood BC are unaffected, and of course, the Ladies still have an interest in the NWK which is covered later.
The friendly match with Tonbridge BC which, up to now, has been traditionally played at our green only has now been changed to a home and away fixture at Tonbridge's request. The May fixture will still be played at our green but the away fixture has been arranged for Sunday 3rd August. The response from members to play in the away match will determine whether the away fixture will continue after this season!
I’m assuming that the club will once again put in a team to represent OBC in the winter indoor BOIL, and, alongside that, we intend to keep the existing four winter indoor friendly fixtures at least for another winter with the addition of a further friendly fixture against the BB&DBA in October. The BB&DBA are keen to increase their number of indoor friendly fixtures at BIBC, and, as well as the fixture against OBC, have also arranged further friendly matches against other local clubs.
Five away day fixtures have been arranged for this coming season and are covered in more detail below.
Myself as Fixture Secretary, the Committee and our respective Captain’s put in a lot of time, effort and thought into preparing the fixture programme for you each season. As last season, the club has unfortunately lost a number of key players so it is doubly important that those joining this coming season make every effort to support the club and maintain the current fixture programme by putting their names down to play as often as they can, WE NEED YOU!! thankyou!
Nigel Chambers Fixture Secretary OBC
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Away Day Fixtures
The away day fixtures have been discussed at length by the Committee, the results of which are as follows.
Last season, with the one season cancellation of the away day fixture at Whitstable, a one off fixture was arranged with Deal - Victoria Park BC. On the whole the feedback from those who attended was favourable and as a result I discussed with the club the possibility of making the match a permanent fixture in our respective fixture programmes to replace the fixture with Broadstairs & St.Peter’s that has been deleted due to lack of interest. Initially it didn’t seem that the two clubs could find a mutually acceptable date, but, eventually a date was found in May. As it initially looked unlikely that a date could be found, I looked at other possible venues and eventually settled on Rottingdean BC. Rottingdean BC sounds like a very friendly club and boasts one of the best greens in the county!! hence we now have five away day fixtures, one in each of the summer month’s. Dates and travel details are listed below to help members decide and consider which fixture(s) they might be interested in.
To make the away day fixtures more attractive to members, the Committee have made the decision to book coaches for the first four away day matches. The first two, to Deal and Rottingdean have already been booked. Whether we go ahead and book coaches for the next two matches at Birchington-On-Sea and New Romney depends on the interest we get for the first two away day matches. It was decided that as the fixture at Whitstable has traditionally been with members making their own way there, we would keep that as it is. I shall contact the nearby indoor bowling facility nearer the time to see if members could park in their car park if sea front spaces prove difficult to find. The Secretary will put round details of cost for the first two away day matches in due course.
The away day fixture details are as follows, for your diaries, giving distance and travelling time which I know is a consideration for some members:-
Sunday 11th May - Deal (Victoria Park) 73miles 1hr 23mins
Monday 16th June - Rottingdean 57miles 1hr 8mins
Sunday 20th July - Birchington-On-Sea 63miles 1hr 8mins
Tuesday 12th August - New Romney 60miles 1hr 11mins
Tuesday 9th September - Whitstable 51mile 1hr 0mins
As you can see, the fixtures are nicely spaced out over the season with two at weekends for those members still working to consider so hopefully they will appeal to members.
Inter Club Competition With Orpington Excelsior BC
“The Orpington Town Cup”
This competition was again dogged by bad luck last season but despite this a result was achieved and I’m glad to say that the first winners of the cup were Orpington BC so well done to all those who took part. Let’s see if we can hang onto it again this season!
Men’s NWK
The following shows which clubs are in our respective divisions for the coming season. Clubs “underlined” are those clubs promoted or relegated into the respective leagues. Our first team had it’s best ever result to date in 2023 and again improved on that last season to finish a very creditable second in league 1. so a tough act to follow. Our second team maintained it’s position in league four finishing mid table. League four has been completely transformed with only three teams (including OBC 2) remaining and five new teams.
Orpington 1 Division 1 - Petts Wood 1, Sidcup 1, Bromley 2, West Wickham 1,
Blackheath & Greenwich, Eltham 2, Woolwich & Plumstead 2
Orpington 2 Division 4 - Belvedere Social, Kings, Danson Park, Halls 1, Cray Cottage,
Petts Wood 2, Crayford
Ladies NWK
The following shows which clubs are in our Ladies division for the coming season. After our Ladies won promotion the previous season, it didn’t go so well last season with our Ladies ending up being relegated. As a result they will be playing a completely new line up of opponents this season.
Division 3 - Bethlem Royal, Bromley Town 3, Eltham, Woolwich & Plumstead,
Bexleyheath & Barnhurst, Bellingham
It would appear there will be some amount of travelling again this year Ladies!
Men’s LX League
Having won the competition the previous season the club was due to host the end of season LX match between the winners and a team of LX delegates on Friday 27th September, however, the weather had other ideas and unfortunately the match had to be cancelled.
There doesn’t appear to be any changes to the teams taking part again this season.
Ron Ault Cup
Orpington will play in the preliminary round this year which will be played by Sun 8th June
and our opponents are:- Bethlem Royal BC Home
Fred Tyler Cup
The first round for this competition is on Tuesday 1st July and our opponents are as follows:- Both at home this year!
Orpington 1 - Bexley Park Home
Orpington 2 - Langley 1 Home
Glady’s Tyler Competition
The first round is on Monday 14th July. OBC will be in the second Round on Monday 28th July and will be playing:-
Bexleyheath & Barnhurst OR Forest Hill Home (TBC)
Mollie Cleggett
Orpington will play in the preliminary round this year which will take place on Tuesday 15th July
and our opponents are:- Eltham Home & Away
Have a great season and lets hope the weather is kind!!!!