County status was granted in 1951 under the title of the North Midlands Counties Crown Green Amateur Bowling Association. This followed two years of canvassing and hard work by representatives of the Coventry & North Warwickshire Amateur Bowling League supported by the Nuneaton & District Bowling League, Coventry & District Thursday Bowling League, Coventry & District Club Union Bowling League, Atherstone & District League, Warwick, Kenilworth & District Bowling League. and the Coleshill & District Bowls League. These comprised a total of 65 clubs. A notable absentee was the Coventry & District Works Bowling League. Prior to this the Coventry & North Warwickshire Amateur Bowling League and the Coventry & District Works Bowling League were affiliated to the Warwickshire & Worcestershire Counties Bowling Association who were based in Birmingham.
The first application in 1950 was rejected but the second in 1951 succeeded.
The Warwickshire & Worcestershire Association strongly objected to the breakaway and insisted that nowhere in the title could ’Warwickshire’ be included. This led to the title ‘North Midlands Counties Crown Green Amateur Bowling Association’ being created virtually on the spur of the moment at the BCGABA meeting granting the application.
At that time the British Crown Green Amateur Bowling Association County Championship was divided into two sections - north and south with the newcomers being placed in the southern section.
They commenced operating in 1952. and the Officers were as follows:
President W.H. Wagstaff,
Hon. Secretary, T.R. Ryder,
Assistant Secretary & Treasurer, M.L. White.
The Coventry & North Warwickshire League devolved into the North Midlands C.C.G.A.B.A. the remaining Leagues under their own titles.
Their County Championship debut was against North Wales winning by 1 shot at home losing by 47 away. They fared no better in the other three matches against Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwick & Worcester.
A new President, Alderman H. Weston took office in 1953 with R. Williams becoming Chairman and H. Bissell, Treasurer.
In 1954 the County competed in the northern section for the County Championship against Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire gaining success against the latter but struggling against the other three. In the same year the B.C.G.A.B.A. ruled that the situation of the Coventry & District Works League affiliating to the Warwickshire & Worcester Association could not be allowed. Having little or no option the Coventry Works League affiliated to the North Midlands in 1955 adding a further 13 clubs to the Association. A much-needed fillip on the green came in 1956 with two North Midlands players - Bill Baldwin and Eric Orton - reaching the semi-finals of the All England. Hopes were high for an all North Midlands final, Orton was defeated but Baldwin was successful. Sadly he lost 21-14 in the final but became the first North Midlands player to reach the final. The Coleshill & District League ceased to function in 1956 with the Atherstone League following in 1957.
Prior to the start of the 1958 season the Association had suffered a setback with the untimely death of Secretary Ron Ryder. He had worked tirelessly to establish the Association. The fruits of his labours were becoming apparent, competitions were firmly established, Leagues were running full programmes and whilst the County could defeat Derbyshire in the County Championship the might of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire were still proving too strong.
The Association were fortunate in that the Assistant Secretary & Treasurer - Mr. T. Whealey willingly took over the office of Secretary.
At the close of the 1958 season discussions took place to reform the North Midlands League and become a separate entity under the title of the Coventry Suburban League with its own officers and operate from 1959. In line with other Leagues it had two representatives on the Management Committee of the County Association.
The 1959 season saw the establishment of the Coventry & Suburban League with Senior and Junior Sections. The end of the season saw the demise of the Warwick, Kenilworth & District League.
The British Crown Green Association altered the composition of the County Championship placing the County in the Southern Section against Warwick & Worcester, North Wales and Staffordshire.
In 1960 the Association staged the finals of the B.C.G.A.B.A. Merit finals – popularly known as the All England – at the Alfred Herberts Bowls Club on Monday 1st August. The Social Club and the Company gave tremendous assistance to ensure the success of the event. At the semi-final stage hopes were high of seeing the first North Midlands winner of this prestigious event through either Reg Skidmore and Bill Baldwin . Alas both failed to win their semi-finals but it gave a much needed fillip to the Association.
However, the County had reached the final of the County Championship and were up against Lancashire and the hopes of bringing off a major upset. Sadly, it was not to be, the opposition proving far too strong. At least progress was being made in many directions. Locally the standard of play was steadily improving but players were yet to make their mark nationally.
Again in 1961 they reached the final of the County Championship and were up against Lancashire. Again the opposition was far too strong.
The Coventry Works Sports Association League were producing some fine players and performances, dominating the Association competitions. In particular the Morris Motors and Alfred Herbert Clubs were very strong. The bulk of the County teams were players from this League.
1965 was a landmark year in two respects. At long last the Association provided their first winner of the B.C.G.A.B.A Merit Bill Baldwin of the Standard BC. He was an outstanding player and richly deserved the honour. Secondly, there was a change of Secretary with Eddie Elson taking over. Later he was to become well known throughout the crown green world.
Open competitions came into fashion with Alvis, Dunlop, Kenilworth, Stockingford AA and Wickman having no difficulty in obtaining full entries. Prize money varied from £30.00 to £42.00 with entry fees at 10/- to £1.00.
The 1968 A.G.M. of the B.C G.A.B.A. saw the installation of our President - Alderman Harry Weston as President of the governing body. A well known Coventry personality he had been North Midlands President since 1953.
The County team again reached the final of the County Championship for the third time. Their opponents on this occasion being Yorkshire but they were much too strong winning at home and away.
Although there were now ten County Associations, it became our turn to again in 1969 to stage the All England. This took place at the Alfred Herbert Club who pulled out everything to make the day a success. Hopes were high for a local victory when Dick Burdett (Wickman BC) reached the semi-final but after a great effort he was defeated.
The Coventry Works League whose membership had always been confined to Works clubs were the strongest League in the Association. In 1963 they amended their Rules to accept non-works clubs of good standing into membership. There had been a gradual move of clubs to that League to the detriment of the Coventry Suburban League. In November 1969, at the request of the latter League the Secretary of the Association convened a meeting of both Leagues. As a result of the meeting the Works League agreed to accept the remaining clubs from the Coventry Suburban League which then ceased to function.
County Secretary Eddie Elson had given six months notice that he would not seek re-election in 1972. He attended what he anticipated would be his last B.C.G.A.B.A. meeting, at which, the then Secretary – Harold White – to everyone’s surprise tendered his resignation. Eddie was prevailed upon to accept nomination for the post and at the AGM was elected Secretary/Treasurer. He held office for 13 years standing down in February 1985.
Locally the Association and the Leagues were proceeding smoothly but nationally little or no headway was made. Time and again they failed to impress in the Southern Section of the County Championship. 1974 saw a change of President when Harry Weston stood down after 21 years in office. Well known former Coventry City footballer , Harry Barratt took over.The County badly needed a fillip and it came in 1975 when the County provided three in the last eight of the All England. It seemed at last it would be celebration time but alas Cliff Bordley was defeated 21-12 in the final.