There's a wide range of local sports clubs in Caversham - details of the specific ones we know about appear below. We've also put details of the two local sports centres at the end of the list.

Latest Update: Women's Rugby at Abbey RFC added.

» Backgammon
» Badminton
» Bowling
» Canoeing
» Chess
» Cricket
» Croquet
» Cycling
» Football
» Golf
» Hockey
» Karate
» Kung Fu / Qigong
» Rowing
» Rugby
» Rugby (Women's)
» Tennis
» Table Tennis
» Swimming
» Water Skiing

» Sports Centres

» Social Clubs

Backgammon

The Mapledurham Playing Fields Society of Beneficiaries has launched a Backgammon Club. Further details are available from Ben Mendes or via 07788 155108.

Badminton

The Chiltern Badminton Club provides many players from Caversham and the Caversham Heights area with the opportunity to play in the Reading Badminton League.(Thanks to Octopush for this information.)
» website.

Bowling

Caversham Bowling Club welcomes both playing and non-playing (social) members of all ages and degrees of experience. They also have instructors for new members and coaching options too. They currently have some 150 members so are obviously doing something right - if bowls is (or might be) your thing, get in touch. » website.

We have also recently been contacted by the Island Bohemian Bowling Club (excellent name), who operate as a friendly, family club based on Reading's de Montfort Island on the Thames. They have a nice website, and can be contacted as well on Tel: 0118 957 6593.

Caversham Short Mat Bowls Club is described as “a sports club with a leisurely outlook on life”. There is no formal uniform, but players must wear clean, flat-soled shoes. Players meet on Mondays, 1.30pm – 3.30pm at Rivermead Leisure Centre in Richfield Avenue, for £2.50 per session. For further details, contact Ruby Bateman on Tel: 0118 958 5093

Canoeing

The Warren Canoe Club operates 'taster' sessions for potential canoeists on Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the year. Call 0118 901562 for further details.

Chess

The Mapledurham Playing Fields Society of Beneficiaries has recently launched a Chess Club. Further details are available from Ben Mendes or via 07788 155108.

Cricket

If you're based in Caversham and you're keen to get involved in cricket (particularly if you're a younger player), the local club to join will be the Kidmore End CC. The club's ground is at the end of the Hamlet, Gallowstree Common (about three miles to the north of Caversham) - one of the best situated cricket grounds you're likely to find anywhere. (The adjoining beech woods are also well worth a look.) » website.

Croquet

Caversham has a thriving Croquet Club at the Albert Road Recreation Ground. They welcome new members and provide coaching for beginners. Telephone numbers of main officers are displayed on the gate. There are open days on Summer Bank Holiday mondays (£1 to cover insurance etc). Contact: John Wakeford, Development Officer, 0118 901 7120.

Cycling

Cycling. It makes sense - whether for health, (to save your) wealth, sport, the environment, friendship or fun. And the riding around here is pretty good, particularly if you head north from Caversham. Given that one of the 'Caversham' team regularly rides some 5,000 miles a year, forgive us if this entry is longer than some of the others in this section!

Reading Cycling Club was established back in '74 and has over 200 members. It's there to give cyclists "the opportunity to race, ride and enjoy life on two wheels", it's the one to join for all sporting riders. Their regularly updated website gives plenty of further information.

If the sporting side of things isn't your scene, the Reading Cycling Campaign is there to work 'for a cycle friendly Reading'. Given the fairly dismal performance of councils on this front over many years, it's an uphill task. But it's a task worth undertaking, nevertheless. And one to support too: some 500 members already do and you'd be a very welcome addition to their ranks if you haven't signed up already. Their website will tell you more.

For another angle on riding a bike, there's also the Cycle Touring Club, and Reading has its own active branch, organising rides and other events for all types of cyclist, on and off road. They welcome visitors too - so you can try and ride for free. Their website tells you more.

The Palmer Park Velo is another active local club. Aside from everything else (coaching, accreditation with national bodies and plenty more), it actively caters for children from age four upwards. So if your family includes youngsters, this might well be the one for you. Find out more here.

Of course, none of the above are mutually exclusive!

Football

Caversham AFC is the large and popular local football club - it uses the playing fields at Highdown School, at Bishopswood and at Mapledurham for its facilities. It has over 300 members, including girls and ladies' teams.
» website.

Golf

Reading Golf Club is located on the edge of Caversham and their Web site gives you all the information you need - non-members can play there Monday-Thursday.

Hockey

Sonning Hockey Club, based at the Royal Berks Sports and Social Club in Sonning, fields six mens and five ladies teams as well as junior (Colts) teams. The Colts section was awarded the 'Club 1st' National Hockey accreditation for junior coaching and development in December 2004 - the first club in Berkshire to receive the award, and at the time, one of only 20 clubs in the UK to achieve this accreditation. From November 2008, after a concerted fund-raising effort, the club now plays on its own astroturf home pitch. » website.

ThePhoenix and Ranelagh Hockey Club trains at the Rivermead sports centre (over Caversham Bridge towards Reading, then off Richfield Avenue). Again, it has a large number of younger players (under 18s), although the club actively encourages the playing of adult hockey. » website.

Or, for something different, Octopush is in fact underwater hockey(!, and their website explains what you need to get started. They're always on the lookout for new players, so if you fancy something new - try it out. Seems to us that it's going to be a better way of getting fit than jogging around the streets. Also check out the 'mother' site for further information.

Karate

We've been contacted concerning the local teaching of Traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate in Caversham (and also in Reading). This is an ancient Japanese martial art that originated in Okinawa. Organiser Terry Tozer has passed on the following details: "Apart from learning karate as a martial art you will also learn self defence skills and become fitter as a result, as well as meeting and making new friends. The club is run in a family club atmosphere and we teach from ages 8 and above (ages 6-7 may train if the parent trains as well). We have clubs in Reading, Caversham & Bracknell and there is teaching on most days of the week. Please call, text or email for further details, or visit the website, find a club and just come along for a trial lesson. No appointment necessary and you're under no obligation to join if you train with us for 3 trial lessons (£4 a lesson)". Tel: 0118 947 8420 mobile: 077 900 32354.

Kung Fu / Qigong

The Jade Dragon School of Kung Fu and Qigong meets every Thursday from 7th October at Caversham Hall, St Johns Road between 8-10 pm. They say you'll learn the principles of generating effortless whole-body power, along with exercises that relieve the effects of stress. Can't be bad. Check out their website for further information.

Rowing

Reading Rowing Club, formed in 1867, is a well-established and successful club based at the boathouse by Caversham Bridge. With crews regularly competing at Henley and the National Championships of Great Britain, the club always welcomes new members of all ages and abilities. To contact the club, please visit the club website.

Rugby

The Abbey Rugby Club on the main road out of Emmer Green is Caversham's local rugby club. It has a large youth section (under 7s - under 16s) and a Colts (under 19) squad. If you want to join, or attend any of the training sessions, either as a newcomer or as an existing rugby player, then go along on a Sunday morning during the season (September - April) and ask for the respective age group manager. » website.

Rugby (Women's)

The Reading Abbey RFC (follow the Peppard Road out of Emmer Green, it will be at Rosehill on your left) has begun a new ladies' club offering skills and development training each Monday evening from 7pm to 8.00pm. All ages and abilities are welcome – please note that there will be a limited amount of physical effort required! The emphasis is on fun & enjoyment along with learning the basics of Rugby. If you'd like more information on what goes on at the Abbey, how they do things (and whether you'll love it) call Kev on 07590 688 356.

Table Tennis

The Mapledurham Playing Fields Society of Beneficiaries has recently launched a Table Tennis Club. Further details are available from Ben Mendes or via 07788 155108.

Tennis

Caversham Lawn Tennis Club, situated in Queensborough Drive (off Conisborough Avenue) says in its literature that it provides opportunities for everyone to play tennis socially and competitively. From experience, this seems to be the case - it's a thriving and busy local club, with 9 outdoor and 2 indoor courts. At over 80 years old, it's pretty well established! It's a non-profit-making organisation with events for everyone, from toddlers to veterans (we wonder if that includes any founder members!?).

Mapledurham Lawn Tennis Club is a thriving, family oriented tennis club based just off the Woodcote Road in Caversham - next to the Mapledurham playing fields. They are always on the lookout for new members. » website.

Caversham Park Tennis Club is a small, friendly community tennis club where the LTA's 'Tennis For All' slogan applies, based at Clayfield Copse off Caversham Park Road. (And it comes with a witty website too!)

Swimming

The Reading Swimming Club is based at Central Pool but does have some sessions at Queen Anne's School, and has a number of members north of the river. For further details, contact Phil Tanner (the RSC's vice-chairman and press officer) on 0118 959 6701. » website.

Water Skiing

The Isis Water-Ski & Wakeboard Club operate from the Caversham Lakes on the Henley Road. You can find out more via their website.

Sports Centres

The Morgan Sports Centre is based at Queen Anne's School, and provides a wide range of excellent facilities including a 25 metre swimming pool, gym, tennis and squash courts and a dance studio. Further details are available from Francis Kelly (the Centre's Manager) on 0118 918 7411.

Just over the bridge (on Richfield Avenue) there's the Rivermead Leisure Complex, a council-owned sports centre which also hosts concerts, meetings and similar. Their website has all the details.

Social Clubs

The Caversham Active Retirement Club was launched in 2008 by Reading East MP Rob Wilson at St Barnabas Church Hall in Emmer Green. The club can be contacted via Marveta Hinds at Age Concern Berkshire on 0118 959 4242.

The Caversham Park Village Association has been going for yonks, provides a good range of facilities - squash club, rooms for local club meetings, an older residents lunch club and so on - and it has a cheap bar too! It is NOT restricted to CPV residents. You can't ask for more from an Association - it's a really useful local resource. The Milestone Centre office can be contacted on 0118 947 2589. Even if you don't want to join, do remember it as a place to hire - there's both a hall and a coffee lounge.

Emmer Green Youth Club is open to teenagers every Monday night. Young people aged 13 to 19 can use the club in Grove Road between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, while 11 to 13-year olds can enjoy the club on Friday nights from 7pm to 9.30pm.

The Royal Berks Sports And Social Club, just over the river in Sonning Lane, is one of those things that you either know about and (probably) are in, or you've never heard of it. It's another excellent local resource, family oriented with cheap food and drink as well. Membership starts from less than £40.00 a year the last time we renewed. Call 0118 969 1340 for more information.