Read the posts from both sides of this story,Having played in Leeds for 9yrs in the fives im very disapointed that the league has been given this treatment,Edwin you say this now about open play but some teams have played for 20yrs togeather how much has each player spent in those years and where is the loyalty gone from the centres bowling isnt about now its got history with the older companies of course as a buisness you want profits but big companies with lots of centres can cover each other as im sure your aware some centres are quiet some are busy but it goes into the same pot.I hope the league can find somewhere to play and continue and im sure it will be a great loss to Leeds in the long run.

If you look at it from a league point of view yes it is terrible news, when leagues disband or centres close people who bowled together for years might lose touch and it is a shame. Maybe they could relocate to another day. I don't think they would be able to find another centre willing to take then on a Friday for the price they want to pay. Over the last couple of years Worsley, Leigh, LA Leeds and Blackpool have closed for various reasons. I don't want to see any other centres closing.

Edwin i think the way things are going more will close as people keep their money in their pockets open and league players alike bowling isnt cheap anymore cant see a way out at the moment for our industry its bleak at the moment.

I think the real annoyance is that there was (initially) no option for the league. It was we're cancelling the league. Not even an offer for the continuation of the league, but not at subsidised rates...at least then bowlers had the choice. It was suggested that the prize giving should be done elsewhere. Players have asked for refunds on lockers they've probably had since they were installed.

Edwin's correct in that the league starts first week in September, plays 2 times round and that's that until the next year. This coming Friday is the last week of the season. Had we been told this a couple of weeks ago, 1) the league could have walked out and 2) there might have been a fair amount of comment (mostly negative) during the Scott Banks Trios.

The open lanes are certainly not always full until perhaps 8:30pm.

One problem that I can see, that was not raised by the bowl, was slow play. When I used to play, whilst I was at University, the league finished at 9:30pm. That was when the last team was off the lanes and even then we moaned about not being given enough time to pack up our equipment before open bowlers were allowed onto the lanes. Nowadays if you're off by 9:30pm you're one of, if not, the first to finish. The other week it was nearly 10pm when we finished. Apparently, bowling can be boring...

The other thing that open bowlers do, is spend money at the bar. There are plenty of teams that spend nothing (or very little) in the bar. Years ago, when the league finished the bar would be full of league bowlers having a drink, playing cards discussing their game etc. Then Wetherspoons opened across the road. No attempt was made to keep the league bowlers in the bar - but how can you compete with £1.50 a pint?

There are plenty of people that won't pay inflated lineage, but there are enough that will, so we may get another season. Unless another center wants the league..., which as discussed is very unlikely.

When I moved back up north, a reason to be close to Leeds was the Friday Fives, it was a great league to bowl in. No other league I've bowled in is the same.

My understanding now, is that there are two options open to the league (to carry on running).

1. Pay £4 a game, season remains September to May/June.


2. Move to a March to October schedule, with some lineage reduction over the summer months.

I don't play in the F5's, but do play at Leeds AMF.

Lineage in Leeds has gone up to about £3 now I think, so surely 5 high standard bowlers can bowl 3 games nearly twice as fast as Joe Public could do the same, whilst they ar$e around dancing on the lanes and spilling beer all over the approach.

If AMF Leeds want to make some incremental income and get people off the lanes earlier, maybe they should look at having the machinery fixed properly/replaced rather than p*ssing off 90 loyal Friday night customers.