Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
ARCHIBALD WORTHINGTON (1994-2015)
Archibald Worthington had been an ever present in the Shropshire Premier League, but only after being invited as Castlefields had declined their place in the inaugural season. Their first few seasons were spent in the lower half of the table, only finish above the bottom placed side in 1994 and 1996. However their form improved which saw them finish 5th in 1998 and 2002 and 4th in 2001, their highest ever finish and points total. Since then they have finished 10th or lower, finishing bottom twice but surviving playoffs against Rhos BC in 2004 and Hanwood in 2013, the latter by only 3 chalks at Hadley USC. In 2015 they finished bottom by 3 points due to having 5 points deducted because of ineligible players or walkovers. They played Hanwood at Allscott and lost by 46 chalks with only 2 winners, the biggest margin in a playoff match, to lose their place in the league.
They have never reached the final of a team competition, but did reach the semi finals of the Alan Mayhew in 2009, losing to winners Ifton by 19 chalks. Their only individual success was by Andrew Foster, who won the 2008 Top 16 competition at Craven Arms.
They now ply their trade on a Friday in the Market Drayton League.
Archibald Worthington 2015
Back from left: Dave Ridgway, Matt Benbow, Les Markham, Jack Hewitt, John Paddington, John Digby & Ian MacDonald.
Front from left: Rob Adams, Greg Fordham, Dave Gourlay (captain), Steve Heath & Alan Ball.
Team History 1994-2015
| League | Competitions | |||
| Year | Pos. | Points | Alan Mayhew | Pool A/B |
| 1994 | 11th | 135 | ||
| 1995 | 9th | 155 | ||
| 1996 | 12th | 136 | ||
| 1997 | 11th | 141 | ||
| 1998 | 5th | 172 | A 1st | |
| 1999 | 8th | 171 | ||
| 2000 | 10th | 175 | ||
| 2001 | 4th | 198 | A 1st | |
| 2002 | 5th | 194 | A SF | |
| 2003 | 13th | 130 | 1st | B 1st |
| 2004 | 14th | 131 | 1st | B SF |
| 2005 | 11th | 137 | 1st | B SF |
| 2006 | 10th | 158 | 1st | B 1st |
| 2007 | 10th | 162 | 1st | B SF |
| 2008 | 11th | 157 | QF | |
| 2009 | 12th | 158 | SF | B 1st |
| 2010 | 12th | 153 | 1st | |
| 2011 | 10th | 147 | 1st | |
| 2012 | 11th | 130 | QF | B 1st |
| 2013 | 14th | 135 | QF | B 1st |
| 2014 | 13th | 138 | W/D | B W/D |
| 2015 | 14th | 128 | 1st | B W/D |
The next team tomorrow will be one who broke their duck this season.