A badminton club is on its knees after not one single person

turned up to play last Saturday – for the first time in its

25-year history.

The Purley United Reformed Church Badminton Junior Club is

going through a very rough patch with a record low membership

of just eight youngsters.

But last weekend was the ultimate no-show, with none of

those eight showing up either.

Joint club manager David Juster is now desperately appealing

for 10 to 15-year-olds to bolster the club.

He said: “We've been suffering from really poor numbers

since September but last weekend was the first time ever we

have had absolutely no one turn up.

“In the club's heyday we would get up to 20 or more people

at once, but we only average about five these days.”

A spat between two members hasn't helped the falling

numbers.

“Some of the kids want to come to us on Saturday mornings

but their schools are holding on to them for rugby or football

tournaments,” Mr Juster said.

“And at this time of the year it's school fetes that keeps

them away from us.

“But there was also recently a situation where two of our

young female members had a fight and neither they nor their

circle of friends have turned up since, as they are avoiding

each other.”

Mr Juster is keen to emphasise the benefits of badminton,

which he says provides youngsters with social skills as well as

exercise.

“I see the club as a release from school – the perfect

antidote to the end of a rigorous school week,” he said.

“It's a great sport but in my opinion it's an even better

social event. “Young kids get to muck about with each other and

release all their pent up energy.”

But they are often left exhausted by the lack of

numbers.

“Sometimes, when the numbers are really low and we have the

same group of kids playing non-stop,” Mr Juster said.

“They are completely worn out within an hour.”

The junior club's eight members pay £22 each year for the

weekly sessions from 10am until midday at the church hall in

Brighton Road.

Despite the crisis Mr Juster has vowed not to close the club

and is now willing to accept members slightly younger than the

usual limit of 10 to boost numbers.

He said: “I'm sure parents would love their children taking

part, instead of having them resort to other past-times, maybe

even violent and anti-social ones.”

An open day is being held for the club on Saturday, July 5,

from 10am until midday.

Otherwise, interested parties should contact David on 01689

800629 or visit

"http://www.purleybadminton.co.uk">www.purleybadminton.co.uk