11:20am Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Five Croydon secondary schools stand a smashing chance of producing the badminton champions of the future after a local sports club won lottery funding.
Pupils from Archbishop Lanfranc, Woodcote, Riddlesdown Collegiate, Warlingham and Thomas More Catholic schools are to receive ten weeks of coaching classes.
GCSE and A-level students will also be invited to play at South Croydon Sports Club, which is funding the project after securing £6,395 from Sport England.
It will also pay for a student or staff member at each school to take a badminton coaching certificate to enable them to run after-school clubs and keep pupils playing after the project ends.
Hannah Bladen, Sport England’s regional leader for the South East and London, said: "The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug.
"The South Croydon Sports Club project is a great way for all ages and all standards of player to try badminton and have a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved."
South Croydon Sports Club is also starting a club night for adults keen to try the badminton. It will run on Mondays at Thomas More School on Russell Hill Road, Purley from 8pm to 10pm, beginning on January 7.
Entry costs £5 and players of all abilities are welcome.
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