THAMES BOARD MILLS

1936 - 1981

Formed in 1936, they were originally a factory team of board makers from Purfleet, Essex.

Pre-war they played in the London Metropolitan League, then post-war joined the Southern Counties Baseball Association. They won the SCBA cup in 1947 beating West London Pioneers. The following season TBM reached the first post-WWII National final, only to be well beaten by Liverpool Robins.

After seven years without any National playoffs contested, they won the National championship back to back in 1959 and 1960, beating Hull Aces and Liverpool Tigers respectively. Although TBM would never again play for the National championship, they were usually strong in the Southern league, in 1973 finishing unbeaten at 10-0.

In 1982, with the closure of the Thames Board factory, they renamed themselves Essex Raiders. This saw the team struggle and they were relegated. In 1985 the team found a new home in Basildon and became Basildon Raiders to end over 40 years of the Thames Board Mills baseball club.

TBM from 1959.