A potted history of the Club

Sanguine Short Mat Bowls Club was founded in 1990 at the Bryn Centre in Church Road, Basildon.  The original club was started by seven members of Basildon Council’s Social Services Department, and at that time the games were played on a purely social basis.  Mats and equipment for the club were financed with a loan of £2,000 granted by the Basildon Sports Council, which was repaid on a monthly basis by the club.

The choice of Sanguine for the club name is not always readily understood, but the club actually took their name from the blood red trimmings on the club shirts they played in.  It could, however, be imagined it was because club members have always been optimistic or positive in difficult situations. It has been a tradition over the years that club members keep their heads up and never get down over set-backs.

The club relocated to Ramsden Bellhouse Village Hall in October 2006, where we currently enjoy playing short mat bowls.

The weekly playing evening is Thursday, when teams of up to four play against each other in competitive, but friendly, roll-up matches.  As the positions within the team are rotated after six ends have been played, each member gets a chance to play in positions from lead to skip which is good experience for the players and, in turn, good for the club.

Sanguine SMBC are happy to consider applications for membership, either full or associate members, and to welcome visitors to roll-up with us on Thursday evenings for a nominal charge.

To read the full history visit the website