Flitwick & Forest Baseball Club, normally known as Flitwick & Forest, or just Flitwick, is a professional baseball club located in Flitwick, Castlewright, Ianoia. They are the only professional baseball club from the city, and turned professional in 1907. They are affectionately known as “The Owls”.
History
Under the guidance of George Wilson, Flitwick Community Club was established in 1903. Primarily emphasizing gymnastics and track and field, the club served as a fitness outlet for all inhabitants of Flitwick. It aimed to provide a platform for residents to engage in physical activities and maintain their well-being.
With the growth of baseball within the country of Ianoia growing exponentially through the 1900s, a baseball-only club called Flitwick Foresters was formed in late 1906 and joined the Nationwide Baseball Alliance (NBA) alongside Donyatt-Burstwick, a club voted out of the I-League earlier that year. George Wilson, sensing an opportunity to expand his fitness club, absorbed Flitwick Foresters on the 7th of January 1907, adopting their current name. Just a few months later, Flitwick & Forest played their first game of competitive baseball, losing 6-4 at home to Athletic Ragdale, before collecting their first win the following day on 6th April, 4-3. Despite spending a period of May at the foot of the 14-team NBA, the Owls eventually finished 10th with a 29-14-35 record.
In the 1908 campaign, Flitwick & Forest showed improvement, securing a 9th-place finish. They maintained that position for the majority of the season before achieving two consecutive 10th-place finishes in 1909 and 1910. However, a challenging period ensued in 1911, resulting in the club’s slump to 13th place – the clubs lowest finish – following a series of disappointing performances towards the end of the season. In response to this downturn, Flitwick & Forest discontinued their gymnastics program, redirecting funds to bolster their baseball program. This strategic shift yielded immediate results as the Owls achieved their highest-ever finish, securing 8th place in 1912. Their performance was hindered by a stretch of only three wins in 16 games during July and August. The subsequent year mirrored the previous one, with Flitwick & Forest finishing in 9th place after their form dipped significantly in the middle of the season, winning just two games out of 21, briefly slipping to 11th place in the standings.
The decline in performance during those years foreshadowed future challenges for Flitwick & Forest. In 1914, the club finished in 12th place, the final year of the Nationwide Baseball Alliance before it transitioned into the second tier of baseball in Ianoia. It was also the year when the club participated in the Social Cup for the first time, although they were eliminated in the first Qualifying Round by Rhosferig Amateurs. During this time, the Owls made significant changes, discontinuing their track and field program and selling their athletic track to the city. This enabled them to fully focus on their baseball endeavors. Another notable change was the introduction of fan ownership, with a Board of Directors consisting of seven members, including the permanent presence of George Wilson until his passing in 1927.
Stadium
Flitwick & Forest have established their home ground at The Old Jester, a stadium that holds historical significance. The stadium’s name pays tribute to a pub that used to exist across the road, a popular haunt for the founders of Flitwick Foresters. Situated in a residential area to the north of the city, the stadium has an intriguing backstory. It was initially earmarked by the water board to be transformed into a sewerage plant. However, the idea was eventually discarded in 1896, leading to the acquisition of the land by the club.
The layout of The Old Jester is unique and features distinctive elements. The stadium is characterized by its close proximity to an old textile factory in the left field, which has now been converted into a giant shop with concessions, restaurants and bars on each of its 6 floors, along with balconies on every floor featuring tiered seating. On the other side, the stadium’s right field hugs Loggers Road, creating an interesting boundary line. The stadium’s design contributes to its reputation as a batter-friendly ballpark, primarily due to the remarkably shallow left field. With 11-foot high walls that gradually drop down to 10 feet at center-right, hitters have a greater chance of achieving home runs. Additionally, grandstands are strategically positioned above Loggers Road, an area that was acquired by the club in 1958, which now completely surrounds the ballpark.
The club is believed to have got it’s nickname from a Southern Owl that used to nest near the stadium in the early 1910s.