History

The Atherley was founded on 15th April 1906 at a meeting of Directors of Southampton Football Club.

The clubs first clubhouse and green was at Atherley Fields in Shirley. The club moved to its present location in May 1926 and the clubhouse in Atherley Fields was taken over by the Civil Service Sports Club and remained in use by them until 1998.

The Indoor green was built in 1968 and was, at that time, one of the few Indoor Bowling greens in the country.

In its early days the club was, like many others, an all male club and ladies where only allowed into the club on one day a year. Eventually a ladies section was created but it was not until the 1980's that the club became fully equal.

A published 'First Seventy Five Years' is available for those that are interested and it is hoped an update for the next 25 years will be available shortly.