Ivy Shore Swans Baseball Club, normally known as Ivy Shore, or simply, The Swans, is a professional baseball club based in the city of Soham, Novainsula. The club was a founding member of the Elite 14 and Novainsula Baseball Federation.
History
The Ivy Shore Swans baseball club was founded in 1904 in the Soham suburb of Ivy Shore. A group of local men, led by George ‘Jolly’ Harling, formed the club to stay fit and maintain friendships. Initially, they played informal games in the area, with the first recorded match in 1905 against a group of school teachers. Both teams claimed victory with a disputed score of 1-0.
Over the next decade, the Swans played regular friendly matches against other local teams, building a small but dedicated following. Despite lacking formal league competition, the club steadily improved and gained recognition in Soham and surrounding areas.
In 1916, the Ivy Shore Swans joined the Novainsula Baseball Federation (NBF), a regional league founded by Jonathan Harrowood. The Swans’ entry was facilitated by Thomas Harrowood, a club member related to the NBF founder. This marked the team’s first participation in an organized competition.
In 1917, the Ivy Shore Swans became one of two teams from Soham to join the newly-formed professional league, the Elite 14. Soham Town was the other local team selected for the inaugural season. The Swans’ transition to professional baseball marked a significant step in the club’s history, as they moved from informal local play into a structured, competitive environment.
Stadium
Bridgeway is the home field of the Ivy Shore Swans. The stadium is located on a former disused piece of land next to a bridge construction company in the Soham suburb of Ivy Shore. The ballpark is known for its neutral playing conditions, neither favoring pitchers nor hitters. However, its deep center field has led to a slight increase in doubles and triples compared to league averages.
By 1976, the Ivy Shore Swans began considering the construction of a new stadium, citing the aging condition of Bridgeway. Despite these efforts, the club decided in 1982 to renovate the existing stands instead. This renovation preserved Bridgeway’s status as one of the oldest stadiums in the Southern Union.