The Cheltenham skittles teams are littered with rich history and tradition. However in recent years the interest has taken a hit for skittles due to pubs shutting on COVID losses.
Despite Cheltenham pubs closing, Mark Williams’ Celery Boys still fight on after a weird run of form this season. Four draws so far in the league is almost unheard of in skittles.
Williams, better known as Wilf, still has high hopes for this season. When asked about the mixed bag of results this season, he responded: “No no we aren’t down and out just yet. I promise you we are flying now. We might even get promoted for all we know.”
The team as far as the longest serving players can remember, a post Christmas Celery Boys are “different gravy” and often make a late charge at the start of a new year.
Wilf also gave a brief overview on how the ‘Celery Boys’ actually started all those 36 years back.
“The Celery Boys all started back in 1988. Three lads started at the Royal Union and I started at the Welsh Harp. The four of us then broke off and started up at The Hatherley. 16 of us, all went to school together all those years ago and we enjoyed the meet-up and we’ve enjoyed it ever since,” explained the captain.
With a long history of memories playing and being around the skittles environment the 57-year-old has seen a whole roster of Celery Boys come and go.
“I have seen some quality players for this team. Bobby, bless his soul. One of the best anchor-men we’ve ever had. Craig. He’s sound, sitting top of the averages. Mr. Doxey, the best setter we’ve had for years. Chrissy Marvin he’s been with me for the whole journey as well. 36 years deep we are,” Wilf reminisced.
A new wave of players have shown their interest through mutual connections to the team.
The Celery Boys could have folded if it wasn’t for the late entry of multiple new youngsters. Wilf, along with some of the other senior players, recognised the importance of this new lease of life.
“Listen, we know you’re going to be here every week, so that changes the dimensions of it all. We can relax now and don’t have to worry whether we have a team or not. You’ve seen it, we all get here early doors at the Bank House to discuss tactics and most of all bond with each other and have a laugh every week,” explained Wilf.
The Celery Boys have oddly drawn four of their games so far this season which is a rarity in the skittles world. They currently sit in 9th in a 14 team league with 18 points.
The league leaders, the Merriboys, sit on 36 points but despite the vast gap the captain still has a good feeling about the remainder of this season.
“I’m not even joking. We’re flying now. We could end up being promoted”
Wilf continued “There’s something about this group that just seem to click in the new year. We love the new year. For some reason it always happens and I do not know why. There’s something in our blood. We’re like werewolves!”
The forever hopeful Celery Boys still have a handful of games in hand to keep their promotion ambitions alive.
