Keith Parsons, website manager for the Paulton & District Skittle League and player, says he is saddened at the rate skittle alleys are being lost and fears for the future of the game.

“We’ve been losing them at a steady rate for years now, but this pandemic has really accelerated the process as pubs rip up their alleys to make restaurant space. With no mid-week skittles being played, they have to make an income somehow.

Mr Parsons, 66, said: “Every time we hold our AGM, it’s a case that more alleys have been lost. Now, as the league enters its Christmas break, there are growing fears that in January things could get even worse.

“It’s getting harder to fit the fixtures in. League matches are booked in advance, but Cup matches need to be organised as and when we can nearer the time and that’s getting hard. We have seen the numbers of teams decline as alleys disappear. We’ve have about eighty teams now in the league – but we did have 128 teams around fifteen years ago.”

“When an alley closes, players often give up, because they can’t find another one. It’s sad because we all love skittles, and now people, especially the over 60’s, are not taking the risk of mixing in pubs and clubs with Covid still prevalent in our society.

“We have around thirty pubs and clubs in the league, that’s in a ten-mile radius of Radstock & Midsomer Norton. Some, like Radstock Working Men’s Club & Peasedown Cricket Club have more than one alley.

“Our members need this social interaction because for some, it’s the highlight of their week, getting out, meeting friends at the local and having a chat, then there is the friendly banter between teams, it’s all jolly good fun and food for the spirit.

“Skittles is a good night out and the teams buy drinks which keep our local pubs ticking over in mid week. It would be a crying shame to see this much loved tradition

disappear.”

New members and teams welcome in 2022. Please visit the website for further information: www.p-d-s-l.com