Club History

There was an “Alsager Bridge Club” operating around 1954 and it is thought that it had links with the Golf Club. Bridge was played at the old Golf Club and at the “Bridge Club” which met at The Alsager Arms, near the station.

Each session consisted of about 4 tables and it is believed that a form of Rubber Bridge was played.  It did not continue for long at the Alsager Arms. The number of tables declined to 2 and subsequently sessions were held at members' houses.

In 1969 several couples who enjoyed a game of bridge got together to form a new Bridge Club. The first members included some of the current membership (e.g. Howard and Sheila Riley and June Ross). Together with several others, they started duplicate bridge sessions at the old Golf Club and attracted 4 plus tables. They were joined by some of the members of the original bridge club.

The old Golf Club was not really a suitable venue and Percy Edwards, who was then Chairman of the “13 Club”, suggested a move to the 13 Club's premises. In September of that year two things happened:

1) A club naming itself The Alsager 969 Bridge Club was established.
2) The new club moved to the 13 Club premises after negotiating with the 13 Club committee and agreeing that bridge members would become full members of the social club and thereby incur no room hire charges. 

A Committee was formed, with Howard Riley as Chairman and his Bridge partner Colin Goodger as Secretary. Colin’s first task was to write the Constitution and Rules which were adopted without amendment. The membership was soon in excess of 50 and, when the ICL Bridge Club lost its premises and its members joined the Alsager Bridge Club, the membership list had to be temporarily closed because a maximum 12 tables could be accommodated comfort.

Within two years the situation changed when the ICL members were relocated to other ICL sites and our membership gradually declined to the point where we could not continue on a viable basis and in 1992 the club had to close when the attendance was down to three Tables at the most! So after nearly 20 years it was reluctantly decided to wind the bridge club up. Club assets were sold to members, and the proceeds plus bank balance shared among current members according to their length of membership.

Ten years later Howard Riley was asked by Audrey Lowe if he would start duplicate Bridge again in the village. After checking there would be enough support and the “13Club” would accept us on the same terms as before, Howard duly did so! He became the Chairman and Ted Gibbins the secretary.

Few committee minutes can be found for the early years of the re-established club, but they show there was an inaugural Committee meeting on Thursday 15 April 1999. The club re-started with 3-4 tables.

Since this date, the club has blossomed and now boasts a membership well in excess of 100.