Welcome to the home of the Nomads Badminton Club. The club plays on Wednesday nights at Stretford leisure centre, south Manchester between 8:00 and 10:00pm. The club is open to all adults and abilities. You do not need to be a member to join in and play.

Why not come along and have a go yourself, as a visitor?

Continue reading for basic information or click the links on the left hand side for more details.

Club details (frequently asked questions)

When and where is it?

We play at Stretford leisure centre between 8.00 and 10:00 on Wednesday nights. Stretford leisure centre is located south of Manchester city centre, just off the A56 near both the Old Trafford football and cricket grounds. Click the location link on the left hand side for more details. It's easy to find, there's plenty of parking and it's only a short walk from the Old Trafford Metrolink stop.

Who plays and who's welcome? 

The club consists of 40 or so members of ages ranging from 16 to 60, and beyond. Both men and women play in mixed or single sex matches.
Abilities are varied too. The club has a number of teams that play in the South Manchester badminton league but not everybody plays in the teams. Because we're an informal club, games often involve players of mixed abilities so don't worry if you don't think you're very good.
Anyone above a minimum standard is welcome to come and play with us one Wednesday night. For the minimum standard, we request that you've played badminton before enough to be able to serve consistenly and be familiar with the rules of game.

Do you play singles or doubles?

We only play doubles. That way, more people get to play, it's more sociable and we don't have to be quite so fit! It also helps keep our costs low.

Can I just turn up?

Please contact Iyinka before arriving for the first time (see Contact Us page).

Aim to arrive at Stretford leisure centre for 8.00pm or just after and go straight through to the sports hall. You don't have to play for the full two hours - some members leave early or arrive late. There is no need to pay at reception as we organise monies by the courtside. We will either have two or all four courts on the left hand side as you walk into the sports hall. Just ask somebody who's wielding a badminton racquet to direct you to someone who can help.

Do you take it seriously?

Not particularly, no. We all play for fun, the social side of the game and to keep fit. The most serious we get is when playing league games but even then, it's quite an informal league and we still play for the same reasons.

How many games will I get?

It depends on how many courts we have for the club on the night, how busy it is and how long your games last. Usually, there's a short wait between games but on average, you can expect to be on court for at least as much time as you are off court. Generally, it's quieter in the summer months.

Do you offer coaching?

At the time of writing, we don't. If you are an absolute beginner therefore, you would need to have some basic training before coming to the club. Playing every week improves your game pretty quickly though!

Do you play in a league?

We currently enter three teams into the South Manchester badminton league. Each team consists of three men and three women. Home matches are played on two of the four courts on Wednesday nights and away matches are played on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday nights.

What equipment do I need?

To play, you will need a badminton racquet and suitable clothing, namely non-marking training shoes and clothes suitable for running around in. Shuttlecocks are provided. Racquets can be hired from the leisure centre reception if required.

How much does it cost?

As a visitor, it costs £6.00 per night to play. You can play for up to three sessions as a visitor. After that, we would request that you join the club.

How do I join?

First, come along for at least one night paying just £6.00 and if you like it, speak to someone about joining. Membership currently costs £120 per year, which works out about £2 per week. If you join part way through the season, you will only pay for the remaining part of the season. It's not necessary to pay the whole £120 in one go either.

Who runs the club?

The first members to turn up just start playing. We do have a committee for the more mundane aspects of the club. The committee for the 2005/2006 season consists of:

Chairperson: Iyinka Abibi
Vice chair: Shabir Mohammed
Treasurer: Howard Woolley
Secretary: Adrian Hodgson

See the contact page for how to get in touch.

The club is run by its members and is a non-profit making organisation. The fees you pay go only to cover our costs.

I want to ask a question…

Click the Contact Us link on the left hand side and send us an email.

page last updated 23/02/2008

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