Booth rolls back for bowls' Crosfield Cup final

A former Shropshire bowling favourite is braced for a noisy 'homecoming' at Sunday's Crosfield Cup final – when he returns with rivals Yorkshire, writes JAMES GARRISON.

Ian Booth – who lists Chester Road, Childs Ercall and Archibald Worthington amongst his former clubs – will be part of the Yorkshire away team heading to Old Shrewsbury for the showpiece match in the Endsleigh British County Championship.

The 27-year-old played all his early bowls in Shropshire, winning the Junior Merit in 2000 and 2001, and went on to play for the senior team 14 times.

But, after moving up to Yorkshire in 2008, his full focus is now on heaping misery on his former team-mates on Sunday. "I'm looking forward to it," said Booth. "It will be my first Crosfield Cup final and it's strange that it will be against Shropshire.

"After the semi-finals, I received a couple of text messages telling me to bring my ear plugs with me!

"I'm sure there will be plenty of banter but hopefully it's all in jest, we can have a pint after and I can catch up with some old friends."

Booth is convinced a thrilling final is in store. "I know both teams really well now and I don't see a lot in it at all," he added. "Both sides have really good players all through and I think there will be less than 20 in it."