18 September, 2024
Alison Thompson was raised on the precept that ‘time prices nothing’ so it’s no shock she is hesitant to consider her multi-decade dedication to badminton at each the nationwide and native stage is worthy of celebration.
Thompson has been a useful member of Elmfield Badminton Membership for the final 40 years, first as a participant, then membership secretary and later as unofficial membership captain, all whereas balancing a profession as a nurse.
The North East native has been hitting shuttles for so long as she will be able to keep in mind, influenced by her father, Jack Maughan, who ran a junior badminton membership in her hometown of Hartlepool for a lot of his life.
Regardless of transferring north to Newcastle, Thompson couldn’t shake the badminton bug that her brother additionally inherited from their father, and credit the game’s household really feel for holding her within the sport.
“My brother and I bought so concerned due to my father,” she mentioned. “My life has at all times been crammed with badminton, I don’t assume there’s any means I may repay the quantity of enjoyment I’ve skilled from supporting, watching and enjoying this wonderful sport.”
Thompson first joined Elmfield Badminton Membership as a participant aged 20 and has since turn into a part of the furnishings as a long-serving committee member – a task she sees as a lot of a privilege as her paid job.
“My brother and I had been at all times introduced as much as consider that ‘time prices nothing’,” she mentioned. “We had been introduced as much as consider everybody can afford to provide a few of theirs every so often.”
It’s no shock then that Thompson took on the position of membership captain – reserving courts, holding gamers in-the-know and ensuring the entire membership continued to run easily – with out ever being formally requested.
“Because the older members stopped enjoying, my position as secretary advanced into taking up the unofficial duties of membership captain,” she added. “Our true captain for a few years was Foong Tham, an incredible volunteer who arrange the Anglo Scottish League in 1997.
“Les Hodgson, now in his 80s, has additionally been president from my first days within the membership and nonetheless retains an energetic curiosity in how issues are progressing.”
In true unsung hero fashion, Thompson is reluctant to acknowledge the long-lasting impression she has personally had on her Newcastle-based membership, however can not skirt the actual fact she has been the one to maintain the cogs turning even within the hardest of circumstances.
Final month Elmfield Badminton Membership misplaced its final corridor and was compelled to search for another house for native badminton fanatics, however Thompson performed a pivotal half in making certain the membership’s survival.
“Issues weren’t wanting nice for the long run,” she mentioned. “I spent many sleepless nights considering we wouldn’t survive past 12 months 99, however we weathered the robust occasions and reached our a hundredth Anniversary.
“Many due to Newcastle Excessive Faculty for Women who got here good on the final hour. So many members helped us to discover a new venue and I really feel with a group like that we’ll proceed to thrive.”
As for Thompson’s on-the-court contributions to the game, she has represented Northumberland as a participant for over 40 years, crediting her fellow teammates for a lifetime’s value of reminiscences.
“Representing Northumberland for the final 40 years has been such a rewarding expertise,” she mentioned. “It’s given me a wholesome respect for the hours put in by others to permit our County groups to prove for matches a number of hundred miles away.
“I additionally know there are numerous folks with unpaid roles concerned in Northumberland Badminton Affiliation and additional afield right now, who do excess of myself.
“There have been highs and lows however I wouldn’t surrender the reminiscences for something.”
