Hi all,

Well, believe it or not, the year is almost over, and another year of great badminton. So, how would you evaluate your year, would you say it has gone well or bad. What about any achievements, and where do you think your goals lie next year, so you can improve on them.
My year has gone pretty well. Obtained sponsorship, with which i have now settled down with Karakal. I have been trying many clubs lately trying to find one that suits me. My play has come on leaps and bounds. I have been asked by an elite badminton club in London to join and play for the B team in the Essex league, which means playing against the best clubs in the south. In this club though, they are all county adults and some internationals there too.
My targets for next year? To get into the ICT tournaments and satellite tournaments, and get into the national squad. I feel next yera is THE year for me, but lets see.
What about your year?

Matt :)

Let's see:

Moved house twice
Had a baby
Moved jobs

so you can guess how bad my badminton year was.

During the summer: 18hrs of training/playtime per week ---> BOOYA!!
Currently: havn't touched a racket since 1 month ago!!!! ----> ugh... stupid University :(
After Dec16th ---> Did anyone mention 18hrs of training/playtime per week... AGAIN? :D

well not much has changed for me... same 'ol thing. Slight improvements in shot placement and power, but i think I actually worsened strategy-wise. Not as hardcore as some of you guys though... 18 hours a week! Thats like a part-time job!btw

Congrats Matt, maybe we'll see you on TV next time CBC shows the Canadian Open again!

graduated from university and got a job, now I got my own financial backing to my badminton needs. playing time doubled to about 10-12 hrs per week. Just playing and learning, try to make some tournaments and see how that works out. congrats matt, quite some achievements there.

Originally posted by Matt Ross


I have been asked by an elite badminton club in London to join and play for the B team in the Essex league, which means playing against the best clubs in the south. In this club though, they are all county adults and some internationals there too.



Frenford?

Hmm.. up and down. Got picked to play singles for my Uni A team. Won most of the games I played. Beat at least 1 of the 2 singles players in every other Uni team we've played.
Found a brilliant coach who took my level up. But level has been going down since I moved away.
Got picked to have a guaranteed singles place in the Uni individuals but sprained my ankle 2 days before :mad:
Played a tournament on the Sattelite circuit and got a ranking.
Next year I hope to be in my County team again by doing better in the County Restricted.
Overall I'll be pleased if my level goes up and I keep enjoying badminton, which reminds me, I must go for a run.

UKP,

Yup, Frenford is the team that asked me to join. Why, do you know anyone there, or of the club itself?

Matt

yeah, funnily enough I played for Frenford B when I was your age, would have been playing against them this year if I was still in Essex

Uk player
I played for Frenford A team for about 5 years, we must of crossed paths?
Matt
Glad my mates at frenford are looking after you? I spoke to john howley a couple of days ago and he was fairly impressed with you and your game.
If you get in the team make sure you win as many games as possible, as this club is highly competitive.I have been involved with matches which have been won 8-1 and the pair that lost have been dropped.
This is what makes the club strong and as a player keeps you on your toes

Hi Steve
No I think I was there before you. Left in 1993 to go to Uni first time around. Just before Frans et. al moved in.

Do you rememder Barry nilson ? The veteran of the club

Steve,

Yup, they are a good set of lads, really the club i want for my next level. What one was John? I had a real bad off week that first time i went up there, so i wasn't fantastic. Found my base again now, i dont think the continous changing between shuttles is doing alot of favours (feathers to plastics). Funny how many ashaway rackets i see them have, i wonder why? :) ;). I intend to try my best, it's all i can do, but i will try not to let the boys down if do. I will be going up there again this Thursday, so i'm looking foward to it. Mind you, there was a lefty up there with a Tash, was he the one you was talking to me and Alan about, because he was bloody phenominal! Like you say, it is a phenominal club and has boosted my confidence up greatly.

Matt

Ps all my karakal stuff arrived Monday, can't look at the stuff till christmas though :(.

The left hander with the tash sounds like one of the spurlings brothers.
Was he white or indian origin

Steve,

He was white, quite a well built bloke. I really dont think i made an impression on the boys, i wasn't playing well at all.

Matt

Originally posted by Steve willis
Do you rememder Barry nilson ? The veteran of the club

Yeah, of course that guy is a legend. :cool:

Originally posted by Steve willis
The left hander with the tash sounds like one of the spurlings brothers.
Was he white or indian origin

I know them too, though they weren't at Frenf when I was there.

Originally posted by Matt Ross
I will be going up there again this Thursday, so i'm looking foward to it.

Thursday, that's Wanstead right? My old stomping ground.

UKP,

Certainly is, Redbridge Lane, Wanstead. A nice hall actually. Well, would you believe it, i have trod on the same ground as you did many years ago. By the way, was talking to Bishy about you. He said when you first came on the scene, he thought you was brilliant because you were so small and covered alot of court. He said you was one of the smallest he had seen play badminton :D

Matt

The Spurlings have been at Frenford for a bout 2-3 years know.They was turned away many times in the past.
They would join clubs just to play the matches and demand they always play together. This was never going to be Frenfords BC way.
But with getting older and wiser, they have come round to being good members of this fien Essex club

Barry Nilson had a lot to do with this clubs success story, sadly due to poor health his badminton came to an end several years ago. He has become the club mascot, going to club nights and never misses a match as a spectator.
Did you know Barry Francis? who turned out to become my best friend and each others best man at our weddings

Steve,

Sadly, Barry Francis wasn't there when i went, i hope he is there on Thursday, i doubt, as always, you'll be able to make next Thursday? I said hi to Suresh for you, and he was wondering where you are etc and says hi back. I found it funny though when i walked in and found about 70% of people had ashaway stuff.

Matt

Originally posted by Matt Ross
UKP,

Certainly is, Redbridge Lane, Wanstead. A nice hall actually. Well, would you believe it, i have trod on the same ground as you did many years ago. By the way, was talking to Bishy about you. He said when you first came on the scene, he thought you was brilliant because you were so small and covered alot of court. He said you was one of the smallest he had seen play badminton :D

Matt

LOL that was a long time ago. Yeah I was really small for my age which made my achievements all the more sweeter. There were other players who were also small, and you can see who learned the jump smashes early on in life :D

Originally posted by Steve willis
Barry Nilson had a lot to do with this clubs success story, sadly due to poor health his badminton came to an end several years ago. He has become the club mascot, going to club nights and never misses a match as a spectator.
Did you know Barry Francis? who turned out to become my best friend and each others best man at our weddings

Sad to hear about Barry's health. Yes I remember Barry F. Phew, we're going back a bit here! :)

Hi all,

More success to report. My coach got a call from the county squad on Saturday and said i have a place in it if i want. I started training last night, with Ian and Alyson Pearson as my coaches. Was good to see the boys again actually.

Matt

Ah congrats Matt, that's really cool !!