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There are a wide range of sporting facilities, clubs and societies in the town, comprehensive details are to be found on the website www.bishopsstortford.org

Almost every sport is catered for, with the Football and Cricket Clubs being amongst the oldest in Hertfordshire.

Bishop’s Stortford Cricket Club (located in Cricketfield Lane) was founded in June 1825, its first match played was against Royston.

Hockerill Cricket Club is located in Beldams Lane where the Bishop’s Stortford Running Club is also based.

Bishop’s Stortford Football Club, ‘The Blues’ founded in 1873, has had its share of successes over the years and was the first Club to win both the FA Amateur Cup and the FA Trophy. In recent years the Club, who play in the Conference South, has moved to a purpose build stadium at Woodside Park.

Rugby is played at Silver Leys on the Hadham Road, a ground originally given to the Town by the late Sir Walter Gilbey to be used primarily for equestrian sports; the same complex is home to the Bishop’s Stortford Squash Club and the Swifts Association Football Club.

There are a number of local Golf Clubs, including the Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club founded in 1910, located in Dunmow Road close to Junction 8 of the M11.

Swimmers are catered for at the Grange Paddocks Swimming Pool which also has a gym. Next to the Swimming Pool are a number of soccer pitches which are well used by local amateur football teams.

Keen tennis players may become members of the Bishop’s Stortford Lawn Tennis Club in Cricketfield Lane or use the three hard courts in the Castle Gardens. Nearby is a Paddling Pool which is a big favourite of young children during the summer months. Close by is a fenced Children’s Play area which contains some excellent play equipment. The Adventure Playground includes Skate Board facilities and is located in the same area of Sworders Field where visiting fairs and the Town Carnival take place.

Indoor sports and recreation such as badminton are played at the Bishop’s Stortford Sports Hall which is situated in the grounds of Bishop’s Stortford High School in London Road and is administrated by a charitable trust comprising Town and District nominees together with school representatives. St Mary’s Catholic School and Birchwood High School possess excellent new sports facilities.

There are many Arts Organisations and Societies in the Town and these are listed on the Town Council website www.bishopsstortford.org where contact details can be found.

Bishop’s Stortford is proud to boast of its amateur dramatic and operatic societies which regularly produce shows of the highest standards. Bishop's Stortford is also the headquarters for ‘Theatre Is’ (formally SNAP), which is funded by the Regional Arts Organisation and Hertfordshire County Council.

The newly refurbished Rhodes Arts Complex has a varied programme of professional events. Pam Ayres recently performed to a capacity audience and the annual pantomime is well received.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. Credit for photographs: Les Pinnell, Jan Richardson, Alex Andrijevic, Jill Daniels, Paul Ailey.