IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT AFFECTING MONDAY'S CLUB PLAY 16 MAY - 4 JULY
Dear Members,
As the school needs the hall for exams from 13 May to 8 July, we’re unable to use our normal sports hall for club nights. We can only apologise for this unfortunate situation.
We’ve already explored a number of different options including other venues, but none are suitable without a large amount of disruption. This includes Palmer’s Hall, Highworth, Lechlade, Cricklade and Cirencester, and nothing is viable on Monday nights.
However, there is a glimmer of hope and we’ve been offered the Farmors School interior sports hall for the duration of the above dates still 8-10pm but the hall only has one court sadly. We’ve accepted this starting immediately from next week – 16 May. During this period, please come to the School car park from the High Street (opposite the church) and we’ll direct from there!! There will be NO club night fees payable during this period as we realise this is a far cry from what we are used to and is a huge inconvenience to us all.
Obviously with only one court available for two hours and circa 30 members if everyone turns up then this will very much limit the amount of play per person. So, for our first week in the new venue - Monday 16 May - the Committee suggests that we stagger arrival/departure time and play shorter games and we’ll see how it goes from there.
For your consideration and feedback we have several potential options for you, namely;
Option 1 - Staggering the start times e.g., one block 8-9pm and another 9-10pm on the same evening. Ideally this would have to work on preference but clearly, we can’t have everyone electing for the earlier time.
Option 2 – Allocating members into alternate weeks so at least when coming to play, more time can be on court.
Either will involve a fair amount of organising.
Option 3 - Brainwave of alternative option. Anyone got a spare sports hall at home?
Option 4 - There has also been a suggestion of a Monday night social at a local pub if that is of interest. Again feedback is needed for us to arrange this.
We want to work with you over the next eight weeks so please reply ASAP, or let us know on Monday with your thoughts on the options. We also realise that we’re moving into holiday season so there are likely to be less players per night during these Summer months.
We also apologise for the late notice and hope you’ll continue to work with the committee to find the best solution for us all.
Kind wishes and thanks in advance for you understanding.
Jo, Deric, Emma, Louise, John, Rod and Steve
Fairford Badminton Committee
Please note that there will be no club nights on Monday 28 February and 7 March 2022.
Message from the school:
'As the school now uses the sport centre as its main exam hall this means all club bookings will be cancelled from Monday 28th February until Friday 11th March. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience this causes, we could not realistically let you know any sooner as we are governed by the very fluid changes made by government departments during these difficult times.'
Dear FBC club members and new players,
(post updated 16 August 2021)
Dear FBC member & potential member,
At long last, yes, we've started club nights again - as of Monday 19 July - Welcome back!
While there are no legal limits on social contact the committee would ask you to consider the following for everyone’s protection;
- Please bring the exact fee amount of £5, to be placed in a box/bag, trying to ensure there is as little cross contact with the money as possible (we are looking at trialling a contact less payment system in the future but this is still working progress and not ready just yet).
- Until (expected) 16th August we will be playing within the same 6 on court for the evening - effectively forming a "bubble of 6". This means if anyone gets "pinged" by track and trace just the members within the bubble would have to self isolate, not the whole club!
- Wearing a face mask is discretionary, but helpful when off court (it will help minimise the risk of having to isolate should a club member subsequently prove positive).
- As a further precaution hand sanitiser will be available throughout the evening, e.g. for use on arrival, when coming off court and at the end of the evening.
- The commitee members will take responsibility for the putting up and taking down of the nets to minimise contact.
Welcome back!
FBC Chair
On behalf of the committee
NEW return to play date: 19 July 2021!
Dear FBC member and potential members!
I am sure this will not come as a great surprise to you, but following the recent announcement of the postponement of the lifting of restrictions, I am so sorry to report that we have to delay resumption of club nights.
Due to the rule of six still being in place and the complexity and restrictions that would be involved in following these rules, sadly and reluctantly, the committee have made the decision not to return to play until 19th July.
There is the added issue of the hall not being available to us on a few early July dates anyway, as it's being used for exams.
We appreciate this is frustrating for us all, especially when we have had a wonderfully positive response from members about getting back on court.
Let's all keep our fingers crossed for 19th July and we really look forward to seeing you then.
Prior to that date we will send another email to reconfirm that we will be able to play then. We will also keep this page up to date, so please feel free to use it as a reference point.
In the meantime keep fit and well and we'll see you soon.
Kindest wishes,
Jo Blair, FBC chair
I am extremely pleased to confirm that club plans to resume club nights on Monday 28th June (subject to restrictions and continuation of government roadmap) and I hope to see as many of you as possible on court. We do still have to await further updates from the government between now and 21 June so we will reconfirm the date closer to then, but please put the date of 28 June in your dairy and keep your fingers crossed.
When you come along you will see procedures in place to help protect you from the spread of Covid – hand sanitiser applicators and name recording on arrival and social distancing off the court, which we know you will all respect, and I believe it goes without saying that if you feel unwell in any way, please don’t come that week. In addition to what the government has to say we do also have to liaise with Farmors School. We know that we will NOT be able to play Monday 12 July, but we are hoping we may be able to play on Bank Holiday Monday’s should the demand from the members be there.
As a thank you for your subscriptions during 2019 (for which Covid 19 halted play), and in line with Badminton England, we are offering club membership extension until 1st November 2021.
Now that we’re cautiously getting back to a sense of normality, the committee has reviewed the club’s financial year and agreed to change it to the start of the playing year. Previously it was June, and now we shall bring the year in line with Badminton England and membership season, starting 1 November.
Re-joining fees for the year ahead will remain unchanged at £50 for adults and £30 for students and juniors. Nearer the time we will email you to request payment of the annual fee for the period November 2021-October 2022. Playing fees also remain unchanged at £5 for the two hours on club nights.
We have all missed playing our favourite racket sport and chatting to other club members so do come along during the summer period and ‘re-acquaint’ yourself with the pleasure and exercise gained from our Monday nights. Just one word of caution though as the risk of injury on court or niggling aches and pains following extensive lay off are higher than normal, please make sure you warm up arm and leg muscles prior to play. To help you we’ve put together some simple and effective exercises to minimise the risk, just click on this link,
https://www.fairfordbadmintonclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FBC-return_to_play_safely.pdf
So pick up your racket, dust it down and come along on 28 June.
