History of the EBUA

Prior to 1974, umpires were nominated by counties to the EBA who then made appointments mainly to cover Middleton Cup matches and National Competitions, but during that year the English Bowling Association through its Coaching and Training Subcommittee initiated the formation of a national panel of qualified umpires and organised two series of written and practical examinations which produced 173 qualifiers. This was done with the full Support of the English Indoor Bowling Association.

Within a short space of time a number of the newly qualified umpires realised that in order to obtain and maintain uniformity of the interpretation of the Laws of the Game the formation of an Umpires Association should be considered.

To this end a small number of umpires in the Midlands Area took positive action and on the 20th December 1975 the Midland Counties (E.B.A.) Bowls Umpires Association was formed at a meeting in Nottingham.

Other areas became interested and on the 28th June 1976 the secretary of the
English Bowling Association wrote to all qualified umpires stating that the General Purposes Committee of that Association had expressed the view that a National Umpires Association should be formed.

An inaugural meeting was held at the Rugby Thornfield Indoor Bowling Club on the 25th September 1976 and the present Association was formed.

From its early days the Association has undertaken the task of holding practical examinations of applicants, providing qualified umpires for all major games played under the jurisdiction of the English Bowling Association and the English indoor Bowling Association and with particular reference to giving guidance on the Laws of the Game.

The Association has been blessed with a number of excellent officers including
number who have held high office in the English Bowling Association and the English Indoor Bowling Association.

Above all most of its experienced members are first class umpires and that position we seek to maintain.