Bowls clubs told to turf out the anti-social rolling drunks

HOOLIGAN spectators are often associated with sports such as football. But the problem of badly behaved fans has reached a more unlikely venue: crown green bowls.

A rise in alcohol-related trouble and anti-social behaviour at matches has forced one association to implement tougher rules. Shropshire Crown Green Bowls Association has sent every club a new code of conduct that addresses the subject.

Barry Jennings, the chairman, said he believed “society” was behind a rise in heckling, bad language and raised voices among spectators who were having “half a pint too much beer and getting abusive”.

“It’s got slightly worse in the last three or four years. It’s not really the young element – it’s sort of between 25 and 40ish. I think it’s more or less the general way of the world,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

He said “lack of policing” was one factor. “There used to be more police on the streets and you don’t have any of that now,” he said, adding: “It’s certainly not teenagers. They take notice of what they’re told.”

Mike Caddick, the outgoing county president, said players could now be fined, suspended or banned if the new rules regarding drunken behaviour were not followed.

The tougher guidelines received overwhelming approval at the association’s AGM at Bagley BC, Shrewsbury.

Mr Caddick said: “It started to creep in a bit last year, mostly among spectators. They were being over-enthusiastic, mainly as a result of alcohol.

“When it starts to get a bit too noisy and a bit too personal with the bad language, then it spoils everybody’s enjoyment. The general opinion is that it is not wanted in bowls, it is not what bowls is about.”

Mr Caddick said one player had already been banned from playing and watching matches because of antisocial behaviour.