PRESTON RACKETEERS

TEAM HISTORY

Shuttlebusters Home West Dorset League Preston Racketeers

Season 2010-2011

Preston Badminton Club started as a spin-off from Shuttlebusters playing matches on Fridays at Preston Sports Centre with entries in Division 2 of the West Dorset Mixed League and in the WD Four Two League (this latter a joint venture including players from Crewkerne Badminton Club) with a separate team in Division 3 of the Taunton Badminton League.

Season 2011-2012

With Preston no longer a viable option as a venue the West Dorset teams played as Prestonians with matches on Fridays at Oxley Sports Centre, this time with the Mixed team in Division 1 being a joint venture with Crewkerne and the two clubs playing separately in the FourTwo league. The Taunton League team reverted to our previous team name as Preston Racketeers with matches at Westlands on Saturdays.

Season 2012-2013

Prestonians disbanded at the end of the 2011-2012 season (after being relegated, 2nd bottom) and the Rackeeters withdrew from the Taunton League (after finishing 2nd in the division) to enter a new team in the West Dorset League with another change of venue (Saturdays aren't allowed in the WDL) and a 1st place finish in Divison 2.

Season 2013-2014

Racketeers survived the season in Division 1 with the other promoted team being the team to be relegated. Three wins included one against an established 1st division side. One opponent went to the wrong venue and another went somewhere else entirely, both in spite of being provided with maps and instructions.

Season 2014-2015

Racketeers finished bottom of Division 1 with only one win, being hampered by injuries and absences and stronger opposition. Results actually improved with a lot more close games, but the season showed that to be effective we need to have a team in the bottom division so that new players can start out in games that are more balanced - not playing pick-up-the-shuttles against county players.

Season 2015-2016

Racketeers finished top of Division 2 with only one defeat - a close game away at the end of a long road trip - to earn a place back in Division 1.

Season 2016-2017

Another yo-yo season finishing bottom of Division 1 with only one win but with better scores against the non-county teams.

Season 2017-2018

Racketeers finished second in Division 2 behind a team fielding county players looking for even cheaper wins, even further below their proper level. Even so, this would have been winnable but for some players not making their best efforts.

Season 2018-2019

This season saw a change of venue to East Coker and a better team ethic with new players introduced to replace those not invited back. This was a rebuilding season, but we were standing top of the Division 2 table when Covid struck and the league had to stop.

Season 2022-2023

The West Dorset League restarted with two formats, and we played both. The mixed league used a "22" format (all mixed doubles) but the "31" format proved more propular (three men, one lady, the ladies play one mixed with each team mate, the men play two men's doubles as well. The league suffered problems getting matches played, so it seems unlikely the revival will last for long.

Season 2023-2024

This season we'll play only the "31" format. We have fewer players interested in playing league as a result of the poor behaviour of other clubs last season. Expecting people to rearrange family, work and other committments to accomodate matches that the opposition then refuse to play is hardly practical or reasonable.