Welcome to the Clifton Softball League

Welcome to the Clifton Softball League, Bristol's most informal and friendly softball league. Every Wednesday from 6.30pm, in the summer, we can be found near The Water Tower on Durdham Downs.

Since starting in the early 1990s Clifton Softball League has developed into 14 mixed sex teams with players of all abilities from a variety of backgrounds.

We do use gloves, regulation bats and balls, but don't have marked pitches or umpires in blue uniforms and caps. For us softball is about relaxing after work and hitting things yet being competitive in a fun sense. It's a great way for sport and social lives to mix with around 250 players spread across the teams.

Softball invariably leads us to Roger the landlord at the Port of Call for cheesy chips and drinks. It's not just a rule it's the law! We also organise a number of major socials through the season, the annual fancy dress party being an absolute must.

We have very limited space for new teams but individual players can be slotted in easily. You can be taught the basics outdoors by us at the start of the season, or indoors from January to April as we link closely with Bristol Softball Association (they're a bit bigger than we are, with 3 Divisions).

To find out more check the Softball page which has FAQs and a Rules pdf. Our teams, with contact details, are listed on the Team page, with Fixtures and Results on the League page.

Finally, before you go any further, the ball is not soft. Softballs are not soft balls. So why call it softball? Ah, that's because the game originated indoors as a development of baseball and was played with, yes you guessed, soft balls. All clear? Excellent. Catch you soon!