David Olney - Derbyshire Junior Badminton
At Derbyshire Junior Badminton, everyone from the chairman to coaches and administrators are volunteers who put in countless hours a week between them to make the club a success.
The club is for girls and boys aged eight to 18, and one of the many people working behind the scenes is David Olney.
He has been involved with the club for two years and in his current role as U13 Parent Representative has assisted the U13 team manager Anne Bitton.
He has just started to play an active part in coaching and looks after the club’s website, updating it with match reports, and other information.
He said: “Most of us have got children who play here, and I play badminton as well so decided to offer my services.
“It is nice to see the kids improve, especially the young ones who start at nothing – it is great to see them flourish and get so much out of the game. It has also been a great way of meeting new friends with a common interest.”
The efforts of David, Anne and others at the club have seen the U13 team make a big leap in the league, finishing third this season.
David said: “It was an amazing feat considering the young age of some of the squad members but if you and the children are prepared to put the work in, you see the benefits.
“All the kids who come here want to learn and it’s nice to see them go and win medals.”
To find out more about the club go to: www.derbyshirejuniorbadminton.co.uk