Besthorpe Badminton Club

01/10/2025

The new season has well and truly started, with all three teams playing their opening games. Match reports to follow shortly 😃

04/04/2024

CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So without another shuttle being hit, a victory for our good friends Tasburgh over Lingwood last night means that the Mighty Besthorpe Boys are Division 2 champions and are into the top flight of league Badminton for the first time ever in our history (this was the first time ever in div 2 so that goes without saying 🤣).

What makes this even more impressive is that we still have a game to play!!!

The start of the season I didn't know what to think. We had lost a number of players due to University, health, moves away and local rivals!!

Add to this I was literally one day away from deciding not to play this season due to injuries (trust me I was still riddled with them throughout the season 👴)

My expectations in all honesty were limited!!!

Then in the final few weeks/ maybe even days before the Men's season started (and Amy screaming at me that I needed to choose a six) a few players new to the club committed to play, my foot actually started to work, and partnerships started to form! My confidence grew, but I still wasn't fully aware of how good we could be!!

Then the first game against title favourites SOS, wow!!!! Safe to say we battered them!!

Then an exceptionally close game v Tasburgh, but we showed great resilience and composure to get over the line

A dominant win over UEA followed.

Christmas over indulgence (and another injury to my increasingly fragile body 🤣)meant we got off to a slow start in the return game v Tasburgh, despite a roaring comeback, they took revenge in a game that couldn't have been tighter 5-4 (11-10.in games last match ended 25-23!!!)

A few weeks later and we took on Lingwood in a top of the table clash, and proved why we were top of the league with an extremely impressive win!!

Another win v SOS followed!

Last match we steam rolled UEA to put us on the verge of greatness (overhyping out achievements.....me....no!!!)

We still have a game to go v Lingwood, but other results mean we have done it

Champions

I couldn't be happier!!!

The Bestie Boy legends:

Natahan: His full debut for the first team this year. I had the pleasure of coaching him at a young age, had the honour of being his partner this season. What a player! Moans more than me!!! Will surely go onto to great things in the sport, easy to forget he's only 17, needs to stop making me look short!

Desmond: Not sure I've seen such an all round player for sometime!!! Smash....defence....net play....speed.... he's got it all....he's even ridiculously clever, and with the added bonus as a doctor he can save your life and things🤣 Turns out he used to be coached by Lee Chong Wei's old coach 🤯

Minh: Another newcomer this year, formed a strong partnership with Michael initially, then an unbeatable one with Desmond. A really intelligent badminton player, who comes to life in the front court. Has an invaluable ability of neutralising oppositions strength. This was sometimes in part to his figure hugging cat suits, but I'm a fan of the dark arts 🤣

Eric: A stalwart of the Besties first team, he's been with me for three promotions now, starting with our demolition of division 4 a few years back. He doesn't like it but I've mixed his partnerships up a bit this year 🤣 . His defence is second to none! It's that good he likes to lift for fun 👀, cat-like reflexes makes him.an expert in counter attacking badminton.

Michael: Another who has been with me since I started captaining the side, we've progressed up every division in the league! His net play is at times unbelievable!! The speed at which he can take a net shot, and the tightness he can play it to the net is a thing of beauty!! Hasn't missed one game for the first team since his very first match 👏👏

Abdul: Stepped up from the second team twice in Two massive games, and showed why any other year he would be in the first team!! A clever player who can adapt his game to most styles, has a strong attack, but his defence is insane!

Me:.......an injury riddled ald fart who used to have a good smash, and the odd clever counter attack.

Up the "gold collecting" Bestie Boys!!!

17/02/2024

Jobs I've had at some point in my life!

Paperboy
Supermarket assistant
Barman
Professional football player
Coach
Sports Scientist
Personal trainer
Sports Development Manager
Leisure Facilities Manager

Well I'm updating my C.V and based on the skills you'll see below, photo editor supreme!!! What with these glorious match reports and my new found photo shop skills I'm surely a modern media outlets dream!?!?!?!?!?!

So whilst I wait for Google, Instagram, Meta etc to contact me to offer me my next employment challenge, I'll try and update you on the latest goings on, on the Bestie Bus.......

The Bestie Bus is coming and everybody's jumping, New York to San Francisco an Attleborough disco.....Yep I've had a glass of wine and ripping off the Venga Boys!!

So tonight the Men's 1st team took on UEA 2.
A win would put us within breathing distance of clinching the league championship and putting Besthorpe into the premier division of the Norfolk badminton world for the first time in its history.

Drama, you want drama...........well.........

We turned up, and to my horror I spied two of the UEA's 1st team??? I need to point out at this point that the UEA 1st team are the current top division champions, and this was their first pair of that team from last season 🤬🤯💩😱😨😭

I was fuming, ringers!!! What's all that about!!!

Nathan though, full of the exuberance and confidence of youth, and not the injury riddled shattered body of a 47 year old (48 on Wednesday if you thinking of getting me something 😉) said "So, and what doesn't matter, we are Besthorpe, the Besthorpe bus is coming and everybody's jumping........."

Drama, you drama, controversy you want controversy, ringers you want ringers..........errrrrrr........no!
They came up to me and explained, they could only get 5 players due to illness so brought two ineligible players just to allow their 5th player to get some games under his belt.

So with out a shuttle being hit we were 3-0 up......what a team!!

Two official wins needed

Lee and Nathan started us off playing their official 1st Pair. Controlling the first game to win 21-17, before clicking into top gear and dismantling them in extremely confident fashion 21-8.

Drama you want drama........well........sorry next game Michael and Eric played excellently to beat the second pair 21-10/14
Match won, drama, you want drama....you'll find more on the one show!!!!

In the first of the 3 forfeited games Minh and Super Sub Abdul (Desmond back in his homeland for a few weeks) played well to beat the UEA's 5th player and his "ringer" partner in two sets

Eric and Michael then played the next scoring game against the official visiting 1st Pair, it was a cracker but they narrowly missed out in two of the tightest of sets 19/19-21

Minh and Abdul then contributed properly to the score dismantling the UEA 2nd pair 21 17/9

Next up Lee and Nathan, in the forfeited game, remember it was to give the 5th player a game!?!?!? Well all of a sudden we were playing the proper 1st team, 1st Pair partnership, no sign of the 2nd team player!!

Anyway, if we wanted a taste of what is possibly to come next season, this was it. 1st set and before we knew it we were 9-1 down, sh*t.....they are a bit good!!!!! Like a boxer we went down to the canvas, but before the ref could wave the fight off we jumped back up, shook off the initial bombardment then started hitting back, pulling even at 10-10, a proper, tight game then ensued, some quality badminton on both sides, we eventually went down 19/18-21 but loads to be happy about!

Minh and Abdul then played the official 1st Pair......what a game.....drama you want drama.....this had everything. First set 24-26 🤯, second set the Besties won 21-10 yes boys, final set another epic 19-21 to the UEA, what game!

Lee and Nathan finished off the point scoring games against the 2nd pair. 1st set so weird, somehow they found themselves 8-16 down 🤷‍♂️, then we rattled off 13 unanswered points to take it 21-16, before showing out authority 21-8

Final game saw a few arguments, mainly between me, the centre member of staff (remember my previous and current roles, well he definitely still wouldn't have a job if he worked in my centres), and people playing basketball (whilst badminton is played!!! Errr again with my work head on, no risk assessment should ever allow it, sorry I'm boring my self!!!!)

Anyway with time against us (when did we no longer book until 10pm???) Minh and a now exhausted Abdul (if only you knew an ex Shop assistant, bar tending, ex football playing personal trainer, who has access to facilities 🤣) played the friendly game, the 5th player was bow back in action with one of the ringerd. To be honest I do know who won but Eric and Michael seemed happy!!

So the record books show a 7-2 win for Besthorpe.

Now the mad permutations!!! We win our last game, title won, simple!!!!

Everyone else plays all their games before we play again, Lingwood and SOS lose one before we play, title won.

If we were to lose our last game (not planning to🤞🤞) the best only one other team can achieve is to equal our current 12 points.....then what happens?????? Year's ago it was head to head record, or is games won difference, I don't know .....then that would be drama!!!

One match left to play, we may not even have to hit another shuttle to win the league, we may have to do what we have shown we are more than capable of in a final match... So well spend the next two months eagerly watching the others, we've done our bit, they have to match us! For them that is drama!!

Up the magnificent photoshopping Besties Boys 1st team!

26/01/2024

https://youtu.be/xeXVo_iXKqs?si=8K4P9nyV7P8AbmtK

🔵 YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...​"Boom Boom Boom" is a 1995 song by the American hip house duo The Outhere Brothers from their d...

26/01/2024

https://youtu.be/xeXVo_iXKqs?si=8K4P9nyV7P8AbmtK

Boom, Boom, Boom let me hear you say Besthorpe, Besthorpe.......

That's enough 90's Hip House!

Today the Outhere Brothers of Besthorpe (see what i did there??? No? ) were back in action.

It was First v Second, a match that could have major significance on where the title ends up this Season as the Bestie Boys currently top of the table took on 2nd placed SOS.

Historically we haven't won many v SOS as they have previously dominated the local league scene, and have a large pool of talent to call upon.

This year however we bucked the trend with a scintillating 7-2 victory against them in the 1st match of the season, however they have been unbeaten since, rattling off some impressive wins, to keep hot on our heels.

It was always going to be tough, but things were made a little tougher when Desmond called off ill earlier in the week.

However we have a secret weapon, a 7th member of the gang, a shiny toy we have kept in a box until now, step forward Abdul.

Losing a player of Desomonds quality is a blow, but no many teams can call up a player of Abdul's quality!!

That's enough of that, time to ask the question I know you've all been asking, the thumb, how is the thumb, what happend to the thumb, will the thumb ever be the same again, have I still got a thumb, how do I hail a taxi, gesture things are good, when eating a Christmas pie how do I pull out a plum????

After a quick thumb wrestle as way of fitness test, I was good to go!!

Oh yes, the badminton...

First game Lee and Nathan took on the very strong SOS first pair. The visitors got the better of a well contested first set, but controlled the second as the Besties made a few too many unforced errors, and struggled to deal with the smash power of Freddie for SOS, absolute beast of a shot!! Going down 17/14-21

Michael and Eric played out an exciting three set match, but went down 14-21 21-12 16/21

Minh and Abdul up next, Abdul was a little nervous but needn't have been as they won 21-18/18. Abdul was very complimentary about the encouragement and support Minh offered during the match.

1-2 to SOS

It was Eric and Micheals turn to take on the SOS 1st Pair, and had similar problems dealing with the Power and attacking play, losing 10/14-21

Minh and Adbul then played a cracking three setter, losing 17-21 but flying back to with the second 21-12, and an important 3rd 21-18

Lee and Nathan blew through the SOS third pair 21-13/12, showing that they too possess a little bit of power in their attack!

So final three games coming up, score 3-3, tension you say??? I'd 👍 if I had one!

Eric and Micheal started first, and raced into a commanding lead in the first set before being pegged back, eventually winning a thumbnail biting set 22-20.

Second set, equally as tense but going the other way 19-21. Final set, a must win....and they did 21-17 👏👏

4-3 🫣🫣

Tension, you want tension...........well..........your ............not...........going...........to..........get it as Lee and Nathan won comfortably 21- 14/16

Before we stepped on court we had a chat with Abdul and Minh who were due to play the impressive SOS no1 pair, their match was a free hit, no expectations just play, enjoy yourself, if you win brilliant, if not, they are quality so nothing lost...........then, Nathan said something that would add tension, not for you or me, but to Nathan.........."Abdul, if you win i promise to give you a big kiss 💋" were his words!

Nathan and I finished our games comfortable in the knowledge the team had won, we sat down to watch the rest of the Abdul Minh game, Nathan "what's the score"....Micheal replied "Abdul and Minh won the first set 22-20".....Tension, you want tension.....Nathan quickly concerned about his promise.

What a match this was, SOS pair playing front foot attacking badminton, Minh and Abdul more that matching them with their more defensive counter attacking game.

Second set SOS 14-21

Final set was an absolute cracker, a real joy to watch, 20-22 it ended to SOS, round of applause around non more loudly than Nathan!

So 5-4 it ended to the Bestie Boys, what a result, and one that maybe, just maybe means we have a real chance of winning this thing? Two games left 🫣🫣 tension, you want tension

Boom, Boom, Boom, let me hear you say Besthorpe.........

12/01/2024

Hot on the designer heels of the ladies the Bestie Boys were in action today against another team with title ambitions, Lingwood 1.

After queing up behind 1500 netball parents, Besthorpe, the current league leaders entered the hall.

Then enter stage left, the pantomime villain, Claudia Winkleman would be proud of him in her show (check BBC1 if you've never seen it, or don't it's not that good!)

To make it worse, he was my doubles partner last year....what had I done....why had he left me....why would he hurt me so......my heart was broken....shattered in two....

He entered......we booed....booooooooooooooooooooooo!! Hes's behind you!!! Oh no he isn't!!!!

Craig......even the sheer mention of his name brings a rage, a deep relentless, resentful rage grrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Only messing Craig (as I'm sure you're reading this!!) It was good to see you, even if it was for the opposition (hang on I've got something in my eye ).

So first up Craig and his new Lingwood partner formed the opposition 1st pair (oh no he didnt) and took on the Bestie 1st pairing of Lee and Nathan. It was a quality game which was close but both sets saw the Besties pull away near the end to win 21- 16/16

Next up Desmond and Minh, they too got off to a great start winning 21- 16/15

Finally Eric and Michael, played out a tense 3 setter, Ross who was an avid spectator and cheerleader tells me that there so some brilliant rallies throughout, but unfortunately the besties lost out 21-19, 11-21, 11-21

Next up it was Desmond and Minhs turn to take on the Sheriff of Nottingham (pantomime villain, get it???? Sorry, not sorry) They had the magic beans (I know wrong pantomime)and won 21- 13/17

Eric and Michael couldn't find their glass slipper and lost 11/11-21

Lee and Nathan finished off the 2nd round of games with another straight sets win 21-15/17
So final 3 games, Besthorpe 4-2 up

Eric and Michael finished their night playing Captain Hook (I'll get my coat!!!!) But Craig and Partner (no you're crying) won 7/11-21

4-3 tension.......

Last two games started at the same time, and Lingwood won the first set in both!!!!!

Lee and Nathan losing an epic 21-23
Demond and Minh another tight one 18-21

Would we falter at the final hurdle, would we sell Bessie the cow, but not get any beans, would the goose lay a normal egg, would the lamp get a light dusting and not a proper rub, would we kiss the sleeping princess and just get a slap, would Cinderella get asked get asked for I.D and be turned away, would Peter Pan just get old with knackered knees and a bad back (oh sorry that's just me!!)

Lee and Nathan hit back 21-17

So to did Desmond and Minh 21-12

Tension..........Oh no its not

The final sets were won comfortably by the Besties, L&N 21-12, D&M 21-6

6-3 it ended up, and the happy ending all good pantomimes need!

This win further strengthens the Bestie Boys grip at the top of the league, oh no its doesn't...oh yes it does!!!!!!!!!!!!!

30/11/2023

UEA v Besthorpe 1

OK straight to it, no nonsense this week, no 15 minute monologue of Olympic cities, or detailing the meaning of the word optometrist, or how the Tudor dynasty came into power, or why and how Axolotls can grow back lost limbs????

Nope just straight up badminton talk, I'm not even going to question how a £150 badminton racket can break after only 4 weeks of play!!!!!!

The Bestie bus was on the road against a youthful, energetic and very Spirited U.E.A student side.

A win for Besthorpe would place them top of Divison 2 with the only 100% record, but they needed to get past the University team first.

So 1st game and 1st Pair of Lee & Nathan got us off to the perfect start winning 21-18/12

Eric and Desmond followed this up with an equally strong 21-16/18 win

Michael and Minh soon followed suit again winning superbly 21-15/19

3-0 Besthorpe, so far so good!!

Lee and Nathan made it 4 with a little wobble in the middle 21/13 17/21 21/12

Eric and Desmond then made it 5-0 again winning in straight sets 21- 10/14

With the match won the UEA came out for the final 4 games desperate for it not to be a whitewash

They got one back as their first pair defeated Minh and Michael 16/15 -21

Lee and Nathan made it 3 wins out of 3 I'm a really close and entertaining 3 setter 22/20 20/22 21/13

Eric and Desmond went down to the home 1st Pair in another entertaining 3 setter 17/22 21/15 18/21

To finish the night Mink and Michael played out yet another exciting 3 setter but just missed out 21/7 16/21 18/21

So 6-3 win for Besthorpe, and the boys sit pretty at the summit!!

The Bestie Bus is coming
And everybody's jumping
New York to San Francisco
A Bestie Badders disco (sorry!)

24/11/2023

Besthorpe 1 v Tasburgh 2

Sochi, Salt Lake City, Lillehammer, Albertville, Calgary, Lake Placid, Innsbruck, some of the most famous winter Olympic venues, a contender for 2030 host city (or Town) has the be the Attleborough Alps!

The sport hall would be a perfect venue for the ice skating! The surface would be perfect for the art of gliding effortlessly with out friction ( don't be mucky!!!).

In the warm up the floor was shocking, embarrassingly so....

Then, I looked down to write the team sheet, looked up to see one of the opposition selflessly V mopping the courts (I didn't even know the centre had one). This was the first indication of the spirit in which today's match would be played thanks Simon!!!

So onto the game, we'll not quite, as I looked up from writing the team sheet, I also noticed something else.....Minh's outfit!!!!!! It was the definition of sartorial elegance....it was the definition of tailored....it was tight....very tight....I saw things I can never unsee.....lycra....the full lycra.....top to toe lycra......well, he carried it off, boy did he carry it off!

So now on to the game.........

Tasburgh, won promotion as champions from the division below last season, full of players I have regularly played with for the County old farts team, we knew this was going to be a challenge.

First up, first pair of Lee and Nathan took on the Tasburgh first pair, the besties combination of youthful exuberance and experienced nouse proved the perfect combination as they won impressively 21- 13/16

Next up, our Malaysian marvels, Eric and Desmond, they had a tough 3 setter but showed their skills to win 21/17 18/21 21/17

Finally the M&M's of Michael and Minh catwalked onto court, another really tight 3 setter, winning the first in an epic 23/21, before losing out 13-18/21

2-1 Besthorpe

Eric and Desmond then continued their fine form winning in straight sets 21/13-19

Michael and Minh had another 3 set battle, this time lycra did the trick as they overcame a 14/21 first set loss, picking up the next two 21/19-15

It was now Lee and Nathan's turn to have a 3 set battle, winning the first 21/17, but the visitors came battling back to win the next two really tight sets.

So 3 games left 4-2 Besthorpe, one more win needed!!!

Tasburgh had other ideas.

They soon made it 4-3 as Michael and Minh went down 19-16/21

Eric and Desmond soon followed losing 19-10/21

4-4 Final game, the tension was palpable, Minh's lycra couldn't handle the tension.

Lee and Nathan knew what was expected of them, and got off to the perfect start winning 21/16. 2nd set Tasburgh changed tactics and won a pulsating game 18/21. So final set..........be patient, be calm was the basis of our talk, 5 points in, errrrrr Nathan you might have to do my running as my knee decided to have a serious word!! And running he did, as he held firm to weather the storm. Going into the lead at the change of ends. This change of ends seemed to do the knee the world of good as my (what some may say is already limited) movement returned and we achieved the win 21/16 and gained that vital match winning point.

5-4 win for the Besties and the only undefeated team left in the league, such a close game, but a great advert for Division 2 badminton.

I really need to highlight how enjoyable tonight was, the match was played in a brilliant spirit, Tasburgh were great fun, and great opposition to play against, we definitely look forward to the reverse fixture.

25/09/2023

If something is good in Liverpool, from clothing to footie results, it's "boss" or "sound". Something that's boss never gets old or goes out of fashion. It's just boss. The two phrases are used interchangeably as positive descriptions such as 'it was sound' meaning it was good, or "that was Boss".

Badminton is back baby, and so too are my inane scribblings!!

Today the New look Bestie Boys kicked their div 2 campaign off with an extremely tough trip to S.O.S

Our record against SOS hasn't been great down the years, as they can call on a raft of talent, full of current or ex county players.

Last season we lost Home and Away, today we were up against pretty much the same group of players!

Lee (yep, still referring to my self in the second person) watched the warm up and tried to be clever. Changing the order slightly, mainly because he wanted a warm up game before he played their top pair. Then stepping on court noticed that the warm up had absolutely no relevance to their actual pairings, and he stared at their best pair opposite.

So off we started, and Lee and Nathan straight in at the deep end. The SOS tactic to begin with was clear......play on Nathan........that didn't go so well for them as Nathan was Boss! It's safe to say this tactic failed and didn't last too long! As the players at opposite ends of the age spectrum made comfortable work of the first set 21-15, second set was there for the taking, but some inexplicable missed kills allowed the opposition to sneak a 19-21 win. Final set was so, so close, but Bestie pair showed cools nerves to win 22-20

Another new pairing of Eric and Desmond, up next, another 3 set thriller, a few contentious calls, a bit of ni**le, and some boss badminton, but the SOS pair took it 19-21, 21-15, 16-21

Final match of the initial round was yet another new pairing of Micheal and Minh. Yet another 3 set thriller, but again the SOS pair managed to take it 18-21, 21-19, 14-21

2-1 to SOS, was history about to repeat itself???????

Nope!!! From here on in the Besties Boys were simply Boss (ok not, every shot 😉, but nearly!)

Eric and Desmond won 21- 17/12

Lee and Nathan won 21- 16, 28-26 (🥵🥵)

And Michael and Minh won another 3 set thriller 21-16, 16-21, 21-14

Going into the final 3 matches the Besties 4-2 up, it would very sound to get one more win!!

We didn't have to wait long as Nathan and Lee ignored a little bit of gamesmanship, and produced a confident display to win 21-11/13

Eric and Desmond followed thus up with an equally confident win over the SOS 3rd pair 21- 17/13

Finally Michael and Minh decided they had had enough of 3 setters! And won in straight sets 21- 19/16

7-2 win to the Bestie Boys, winning is Sound, beating SOS is Boss!!

Up the beetroot faced, size mismatched Besties!!!

06/06/2023

Please use this link to order club T-shirts and other items. Happy to collect from Dereham for anyone to save a trip.

https://www.4sportskitshop.co.uk/category-s/2225.htm

Amy

😊