Badminton aces still calling the shots

Despite the popularity of the sport decreasing over the years, members of the club based at Erasmus Darwin Academy in Chasetown still get together every week.

Five of their teams still compete in the South Staffordshire Badminton League.

Formed on May 4, 1976, the club is fresh off celebrating its 40th anniversary and they are far from done yet.

Chris Finch has been a member since 1986 and chairman for the best part of a decade.

Founder members Ros Appleton and her husband Trevor, Inez Edwards and Kevin Gittus are all still involved as well.

Finch said: "The competitive side of badminton, league badminton, has been declining for the last 10 to 15 years.

"It's all over the country, but I think we're the only club with five teams in the South Staffordshire Badminton League.

"We have three mixed teams. All three mixed teams were in Division One last season and that's the first time a club has had that many in the history of the league.

"We have a mens team who did well but finished second to Aston Villa, who are largely made up of Warwickshire county players.

"The ladies finished second in their league but there were only three teams, so everybody played each other four times.

"Next season, we are not sure whether there will be a ladies' league but they will still be able to play in the mixed league and the men's league as well if they wish."

Going back to the late 70s, the club started out as Furzebank Badminton Club as it was based at Furzebank Community School, now called Willenhall E-ACT Academy.

At first, they had just one team in Division Seven of the South Staffordshire Badminton League but over time that number grew to 11.

They compete in both the SSBL and Stafford & District League and some members also playing for other sides in the Cradley and Worcestershire leagues.

On 12 September 1990, the club moved to TP Riley Community School in Bloxwich and hence changed its name to TP Riley Badminton Club.

After 14 fruitful years there, the club had to move again due to the school becoming Walsall Academy, as it is still known now.

They set up temporarily at a host of venues including Bloxwich Leisure Centre.

Ten years ago, they settled at Erasmus Darwin and in 2008 merged with Norton Canes Badminton Club to become TP Riley-Norton.

Some of Norton's longest-serving members such as Sue Benton, Paul Burton, Andy Reaney, Matt Brookes and Jonathan Hassall are still playing.

Other members competing in the County and County Veterans leagues.

While many have stayed loyal to the club, there has been a lot of effort to get more youngsters through the ranks but with limited success.

Finch said: "We have tried on quite a few occasions over the years to promote junior badminton.

"We have done it time and time again but it never seems to generate the sorts of numbers you would think.

"What surprises people, though, is that the standard is very high. We get people aged around 25 to 30 enquiring all of the time and we'll ask 'have you played before?'

"They will be like 'I have played with my mates' then they come along and realise the standard we have here.

"We have got a few young guys who have been here for several months now and they're coming on well and pushing towards being in the men's team.

"We'd like more youngsters to come along through the summer. At our place, we have four courts and through the summer there's usually a couple free, so we'd like them to come down and give it a try."

Competing in the SSBL with TP Riley-Norton are the likes of Cannock, Wolverhampton-based sides Tiki and Novus, and Three Spires from Lichfield.

Finch insists the members enjoy it as much as ever and there are plans in place to ensure the club keeps moving forward.

He added: "All the club members are friends, we are mates, we love our badminton and then going for a drink together afterwards.

"I'm still playing, and I'm 69, but I can't say I will personally be playing much longer.

"If the league implodes, and it is something we have discussed among ourselves, then we would look to start our own league to keep that competitiveness going.

"We all love the sport, that's why we are here still. There's a magical feeling you get when you're playing."