Page 14 - Spring 2019

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IS THIS THE LAST YEAR FOR
IS THIS THE LAST YEAR FOR
14
INDOOR BOWLER MAGAZINE?
INDOOR BOWLER MAGAZINE?
A startling headline you may say but I nearly
A startling headline you may say but I nearly
said “is this the last issue of Indoor Bowler”
said “is this the last issue of Indoor Bowler”
But as I had just asked a large number of sub-
But as I had just asked a large number of sub-
scribers to renew, this might have been a bit of
scribers to renew, this might have been a bit of
a shock! And I will only take money if I can fulfil
a shock! And I will only take money if I can fulfil
my commitments, so those who have renewed
my commitments, so those who have renewed
can be assured you will get all your magazines.
can be assured you will get all your magazines.
Most things cease in the end through lack of finance but that is
not the main case with the magazine, it will be the lack of articles and news and I don’t want this
to happen. I can walk away having done my best over the years. There are hundreds of club
and open tournaments going on every year but only a very few individuals send in a story and
even fewer do it regularly.
I realise that we are approaching the end of our main season
I realise that we are approaching the end of our main season
with this issue but what I would like is for some of you to contact
with this issue but what I would like is for some of you to contact
me with a firm promise to send something in next season.
me with a firm promise to send something in next season.
I will give you all the help that is needed to write or prepare your story for the magazine. I have
been producing the magazine for over 26 years and this issue has been the most difficult to
put together, especially as I have a lot of other things to do and this even excludes my
holidays. Preparing to move house is pretty traumatic with 35 years of double clutter and
a court case in Spain. I am definitely running out of steam and I need your help!
You may ask what about others? The ESMBA is a pretty useless body when it comes to
publicity and many other things, it seems they are not interested in publicity, despite our drastic
fall in English numbers. In 2005 we had 25,605 registered players and last year we had 18,337.
This was a drop of 7,268, which is a fall of over 28%. For me they suffer from “AJ Smith Syn-
drome”. Who the hell is he you may ask. Well, he was the Captain of the Titanic, who ignored
the Iceberg warnings and we all know what happened there. Declining numbers have only one
outcome in the end and we have lost and average of 559 bowler each and every season over
the last 13 years.
There are rumours that some may break away from the ESMBA and start another Associ-
ation. If this happens we will no doubt be asked to pay more fees so that the ESMBA can con-
tinue to run several England teams and pay Committee Expenses as well. The Short Mat Players
Tour were also invited to cover their tournaments in the magazine, in addition to their outstanding
internet coverage. However, they declined and appear to be only interested in their own events
and not the sport in general.
Everyone is of course free to do what they want and if they are not interested in things
other than their own events, they are of course fully entitled to this. However, the whole subject
for me is the AJ Smith Syndrome in action. I get nothing from the Welsh, Scots nor Sweden or
Norway despite several promises to the contrary. It seems that Publicity is a dirty word in our
declining sport. One big exception is Seamus Kyne of the Irish Association who understands
about publicity and sends in regular items to the magazine - thanks Seamus!
So folks it is up to you, if you want to go beyond the Spring or Summer
So folks it is up to you, if you want to go beyond the Spring or Summer
issue next year, I need to hear from you. I had hoped to get in 30 years
issue next year, I need to hear from you. I had hoped to get in 30 years
but the Autumn 2019 issue will complete 27 years. I will keep it going
but the Autumn 2019 issue will complete 27 years. I will keep it going if if
you support it with News and Views and of course I retain some advertis-
you support it with News and Views and of course I retain some advertis-
ing! I would add that anyone who renews will get their FULL run of maga-
ing! I would add that anyone who renews will get their FULL run of maga-
zines, come what may. Call or email me for a discussion on writing an
zines, come what may. Call or email me for a discussion on writing an
article. Tel:0121 - 286 - 9449 Email bob@indoorbowler.com
article. Tel:0121 - 286 - 9449 Email bob@indoorbowler.com