Brighton Baseball Club celebrates 60th anniversary at Waterhall

Brighton Baseball Club has played at Waterhall near Patcham for decades and won a national title in 2002.

The sport is growing in the UK and the club is keen to help younger players get stuck in.

Matt Locke, who coaches and plays for one of the club’s teams, said: “I started playing in 1986 and it was almost impossible to get footage of games in America. Now, kids go on social media and can see clips easily.

Brighton Baseball Club's 2002 national title winning team (Image: Brighton Baseball Club)

“I think it’s more accessible to follow in the UK these days and that’s leading to more people wanting to play.

“It’s a really accessible, social sport.”

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The club formed in Brighton in 1962 and it moved to Waterhall two years later. There are now three senior teams and more than 100 registered players of all ages.

The club building a new pitch in Waterhall (Image: Brighton Baseball Club)

The club said it has seen an increase in people playing the sport, which is most popular in America, since Major League Baseball teams from the United States began playing games in London every year.

Despite taking a hit during the Covid-19 lockdowns the club has continued to grow after its seasons were curtailed in 2020 and 2021.

A clipping of Brighton Baseball Club from The Argus in 1964 (Image: Brighton Baseball Club)

Now it wants to raise £10,000 to rebuild its youth facilities and get more children into the sport.

The club also wants to work with schools to get baseball into PE lessons and provide a space for those interested to continue playing outside school.

Matt said the team had already nurtured a number of young players who have gone on to play for the UK in international fixtures.

Brighton Baseball Club is now looking to build it’s “field of dreams” as it celebrates its 60th anniversary of moving to Waterhall this year.