The Cheltenham and District Skittle League is believed to have started in 1906 in league formed by Charles Baker and William Leonard, but it is  known that skittles has been played in Cheltenham during 1700's and the first mention  of skittles alley  was in 1768 situated in Albion Street somewhere to the rear of Marks and Spencer in Albion Street. This project is still 'work in progress' and may well unearth records that give an earlier date for the league. The earlier teams had 9 players and divided into 3 set of 3  each set bowling 3 balls (1 hand ) only playing 3 hands.      

1906-07

 Played  Won  Points
 Crown Inn  20

15

30

 Vine Tree Inn      
 Beehive Inn      

work in progress

 

 1907-08

 Played Won  Points
 Crown Inn 15 13 26
 Fountain Inn 15 11 22
 Vine Tree Inn 15 3 6
 Wellington Bar 15 3 6

Crown Inn played friendlies against Royal Oak and Hanover Inn during the season.

 

       Echo Saturday 15th.April 1907

 The Crown Inn Skittles Club paid a visit to   Prestbury to play return matches with Beehive Inn and Vine Tree Inn and came off victors in both matches beating the former by 15 points and the  latter by 21 points . Their record now stands won 15 and lost 5

Echo Wednesday 19th. April 1907

     
The Crown Skittles Club received a visit from a crack Gloucester team formed by  Bob Townley of the Robin Hood but found the homesters too strong for them. The Crown winning by 5points to 1      
 
 The above appears to be the first recorded  skittles match between Cheltenham and Gloucester teams. I don't know how the points system worked.

Next league 1908-09 click here

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