NEWCASTLE Bowling Club completed an extraordinary rise when they were promoted to Division One at the weekend.
In two seasons, they have earned back-to-back promotions and will now compete in Division One next year.
The club’s chairman Gary Glavin said: “It is another fantastic year for the club, and we look forward to marking our 90th anniversary by returning to top-flight competition in Division One.”
Club secretary Damian Scarlett attributes the success to the camaraderie and spirit that exists within the club.
“It was a combination of factors but at the heart of it was belief in the team,” he said.
“We have had an influx of experienced players but it is also about teamwork and togetherness. We really have come together.
“Everyone is delighted. We are all on cloud nine.”
In 2023 the club won a treble of titles, the Irish Junior Cup, the NIBA Division Three title and NIBA Junior Cup.
They were on a high after those successes, but weren’t expecting to follow that with another great year immediately afterwards.
Damian said: “At the start of the season we thought if we could consolidate in Division Two that would be an achievement in itself.
“We had a brilliant start and we won our first five games. We thought that was good.
“Then we suffered our first defeat but we bounced back and went on a run of five wins.
“On July 3 we won the NIBA Intermediate Cup, which is like the league cup. That was only the second time we had ever won that. The first time was in 2014.
“After that we thought ‘hang on, maybe we can do this (win promotion)’.
“As the season went on the belief got bigger. The same as it did in 2023.
“Belief and teamwork have really driven this club forward.
“The season ended with us winning three of our last four games and picking up 21 points from 28 and that got us over the line for promotion.”
In the full report find out why Covid helped Newcastle Bowling Club.