Cobbetts Boules Club club was formed in 1974 and originally played behind Cobbetts Restaurant (now Reggina’s) in Botley Square, hence the name. The club moved to Botley Recreation Ground in 1981 before moving to a new terrain built at Burridge in 1996. This terrain has been extended twice and there is now room for 19 matches in an area measuring approximately 52m x 15m. In February 2019, the floodlights were upgraded to LEDs. Many thanks to Closewood for helping to fund this.
(More detail on the history of the terrain can be found here.)
The club has about 60 members of all ages from 7 years old to over 70. There are players of all abilities from those with just a few weeks experience and those who just play on club nights, to the regular league players and those who have represented the Southern Counties region, England and Great Britain.
The club is affiliated to the Southern Counties Petanque Association (SCPA) which is one of the 15 member regions of Petanque England (PE). The club currently has three teams entered in the 6-a-side league and for 2022 has entered one team into the SCPA 9-a-side League.
All members old and new are invited to attend Tuesday club nights, Monday afternoon sessions and all other club events. There is a bar in the pavilion for players to enjoy a drink afterwards. Family and friends are most welcome at club social events and, of course, to come and try petanque. However if, after 2 or 3 come and try sessions, they want to keep coming we would be obliged to ask them to join. This is to ensure that they are covered by insurance.
Also regularly played at the Burridge terrain are a number of regional events such as the SCPA Mixed Doubles, SCPA Winter Doubles Final, SCPA Summer Doubles Final and the SCPA 9-a-side Salver (hosted by the winners!). It has also held the SCPA Juniors v Isle of Wight Juniors Inter-regional and, in 2011, one of the SCPA Qualifiers for the EPA Inter-Regional.
Members are welcome to play on the Burridge terrain at any time although if access is required to the car park, pavilion or floodlights when the club is not in use then one of keyholders will need to be contacted.
The club also has a long running twinning with Le Havre.