On the trail of the old Crawley league

Jun 15, 2007 8:35:48 GMT tommo said:
Use this thread to enquire on the health of a fondly- remembered League which may or may not be in existence.

Crawley League (Sussex). Sadly no more. I had three enjoyable seasons there 1977-80. The last six teams remaining were accepted into the Horsham League in the mid-eighties. Crawley League well documented here:
docs.google.com/document/d/19lxPToWUtMa1ZfQxqfSrbWMkHBDqhSjc0Je69Gq7aic/pub

Investigations reveal that the Crawley league started in 1953 and disbanded in 1989. In its heyday there were 3 divisions and at one stage nearly every pub in the town had a table and a team. There were also many clubs attached to manufacturing firms based on the Industrial estate (most of whom eventually moved their operations out of town).

Archive of known Crawley League venues (1953-89)

Abergavenny Arms, Copthorne - closed c.1980and demolished for housing development
Airport Hotel, Crawley -renamed the Crest Hotel, Holiday Inn now the Crowne Plaza
Apple Tree, West Green, Crawley - became Shilma Indian restaurant, reverted back still trading
B.A.A. Club - was in Beehive building, now part of City Place (Gatwick) office complex
Black Dog, Northgate, Crawley - still trading
Black Swan, Pease Pottage - renamed James King, reverted back still trading

Blue Anchor, Balcombe Road, Horley  - renamed Parsons Pig  still trading

Bourners SC (later Deltaflow SC, Tinsley Lane, Crawley - now closed
Brewery Shades, High Street, Crawley - renamed the Hogshead, now The Shades still trading
British Rail SC, Three Bridges - closed, used to be down lane to right of Three Bridges station.
Charcoal Burner, Furnace Green, Crawley - still trading
Cherry Tree, Faygate, Horsham - still trading
Coppingham Arms, Balcombe Road, Horley - closed, now an Indian restaurant
Copthorne Mens/Social Club, Copthorne - still trading
Crawley Club, Brighton Road, Crawley - closed 2012
Crawley Conservative Club -was in the Boulevard, up some stairs-reopened as a nightclub.
   (NB. Con Club H/Q now moved to Jubilee Walk, Three Bridges)
Crawley Royal British Legion Club (now Goffs Park SC ) still trading
Crown (renamed Rose&Crown), West Green, Crawley - closed 2009;now a cash’n’carry
Deltaflow SC, Tinsley Lane, Crawley - now closed
Downsman, Southgate, Crawley - still trading
Dukes Head, Copthorne Rd, Crawley Down - still trading
Fountain, Handcross - demolished 2012 for housing development
Fox, Three Bridges, Crawley - rebuilt 1993, renamed the Snooty Fox still trading
Grapes, Pease Pottage - closed 2008 demolished 2010 for housing development
Grasshopper, Tilgate, Crawley became Hoppers then the Tilgate, now reverted still trading
Greyhound, Tinsley Green, Crawley still trading
Half Moon, Southgate, Crawley - renamed New Moon in 2014 still trading
Handcross Social Club, Handcross - still trading
Holmbush, Faygate, Horsham - still trading
Locomotive, Three Bridges, Crawley - became The Moonraker in 1977 still trading
Longleys SC, East Park, Crawley - closed, club converted to offices in 2000
Lowfield Heath RBL - closed 2007, demolished in 2008 for offices
Maid of Sussex, Three Bridges - refurbished,reopened in 2007 as Life Bar 1 still trading
Moonraker Three Bridges, Crawley formerly the Locomotive still trading

Parsons Pig, Balcombe Road, Horley  - formerly Blue Anchor - still trading

Plough, Smallfield, Horley - renamed the Plough & Furrow still trading
Plough, Three Bridges, Crawley - still trading
Prince Albert , Copthorne - still trading
Prince of Wales, East Grinstead - closed in 2014
Rediffusion Club, Tinsley Lane, Crawley - closed 1985
Rocket, Southgate, Crawley - renamed Firecracker & Firkin, now the Railway still trading
Rowfant House, Turners Hill Road, Crawley - closed
Silentbloc Club, off Newton Road, Crawley - closed
Smallfield Hospital SC, Smallfield, Horley - closed 1983
Star, Rusper, Horsham - still trading
Sun, Northgate, Crawley - closed, demolished in town centre development
Sussex Arms , East Grinstead - still trading
Swan, West Green, Crawley - still trading
White Hart, High Street, Crawley - still trading
White Knight, Pound Hill, Crawley - now The Knight still trading
* Windmill, Gossops Green, Crawley - still trading

*Windmill a current venue in the Horsham league.

And, of course, Crawley League had a brief persona as a 4-Pin Summer League, which used 6 venues over a 2-year period:

Archive of Crawley & Dist. 4-Pin League venues, 2013 & 2014

Bull, Mock Bridge, London Road, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9AD
Mill House, Hyde Drive, Ifield West, Crawley RH11 0PL
Windmill, Gossops Drive, Gossops Green, Crawley RH11 8HQ
Ye Old Stout House, Carfax, Horsham RH12 1EE
Malt Shovel, 15 Springfield Road, Horsham RH12 2PG
Dun Horse, Brighton Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham RH13 6HZ