Ban on sex-change darts player, claim

A ladies' darts team in Cheslyn Hay has disputed the reason for being been banned from a league - and instead insist it is because one of their players used to be a man.

Melanie Partlow, aged 57, from Norton Canes, underwent a sex change operation in Thailand in 2003, and has been a member of Colliers B ladies for the past three years.

But now the team has been unceremoniously kicked out of the Cheslyn Hay women's league - and members think prejudice against their player is to blame.

Officials have said the Colliers B team has been given the chop because members used foul language during a match back in April.

But team captain Paulette Gould, aged 44, said: "That's rubbish, we haven't really been given a proper reason - nobody will speak to me. They just wanted us out of the league - this is about Mel.

"Some people are funny about it, but she's one of us so it's like 'get over it'."

The factory worker, who lives in Cheslyn Hay, said the committee had voted the team out of the league behind their backs. "It was all done so slyly," she said.

"The committee held a meeting last week but we couldn't go because it was my birthday party, and we told them that.

"Apparently they had a vote, and we're out," she added. Melanie, formerly known as Mick, went ahead with the £21,000 sex change operation following a £250,000 Lottery win. The one-time forklift truck driver divorced his then wife Susan and began a new life as a woman.

"I get on with most people, but there's always some who don't like me," she said.

"Mainly it's new players who find out about me and think it's unfair that the team have a "bloke" playing for them - although nobody has ever said anything to my face.

"The funny thing is I'm not even that good at darts," she added.

Melanie, who lost part of one leg as a result of an illness and no longer works, said she was much handier with a pool cue. "I used to play pool for the county," she said.

No-one from the league was available for comment.