VISITORS to Whitley Chapel Badminton Club traditionally had to compensate for a missing corner in the single-court venue.

The club used to play its home games in the parish hall but, because a small entrance porch protruded into the hall, the court was smaller than, as it transpired, required and away teams would often be thrown off by the difference in size.

In fact, the missing corner was also the cause of many an enthusiast's smashed racket, for both home and away players!

But it all added to the fun of playing badminton in years gone by, the club celebrating its 60th anniversary and looking back fondly on the great social side of the game which used to be commonplace.

Whitley Chapel Badminton Club was started on September 30, 1957, with hounding members including the local publican from the Click'em Inn and the village school's headmaster.

Local farmers Brian and Roy Walker, of Newbiggin Hill Farm, were present on the opening night, and were joined by younger brother Alan three years later as the family played a big part in the early years of the club.

Another name synonymous with badminton in those parts is the Rutherfords, with Hector a current member after joining in 1963 and his daughter Rachael, now Nixon, a leading light along the way too.

Rutherford recalls the great evenings players had when welcoming teams to the small village hall, with games of cards and table tennis taking place between the badminton to keep those waiting to get on court entertained.

He said: "The majority of our games were played in single-court halls, and they used to be excellent evenings. Our suppers were something else, and people used to love coming to Whitley Chapel.

"They were so good that nobody could compete, and we often had to rely on fish and chips or Indian food to top us up when we played away!

"But the games would go on until 2am some times if they were really close, and it was all part of the fantastic social part of the game.

"Our hall was notorious for having a missing corner and people used to joke that, 'if you can play at Whitley Chapel Parish Hall, you can play anywhere!'"

The club played at the hall every Monday night from September to Easter for a total of 37 years, and had players who went on to cause a stir.

John Pickworth, officially the club secretary who poured endless amount of hours into the club, was a member from its inception up until his death in 1997, and he was always known as one of the club's best tactical players.

His son Paul followed in his footsteps and became a feared first team player in both the men's and mixed Northumberland Leagues.

Bobby Wood became a very respected and popular coach and it was generally agreed Mel Stobbs could have played at a much higher level.

Whitley Chapel played some top class players at the time, as Rutherford recounted: "There are many tales from the men's team of the 1970s. One was when they travelled to played Ashington Miners' Welfare, only to discover the opposition included three England international players!

"Unfazed, the Shire lads decided that England players they may, but tonight, in this match, they were just names on the team sheet. Needless to say, Ashington won the match - easily!"

The opening of Wentworth Leisure Centre, in Hexham, in 1986 transformed badminton in Tynedale.

From the tiny parish hall, the team moved into a venue with a high roof, a good floor, showers and a bar!

More courts were accessible which brought an end to the long waits to get on the single court and, with it, a lot of the social side died.

However, the club is still going strong and is marking the achievement of its 60th birthday with a celebratory ceilidh at Whitley Chapel Parish Hall, which has since been renovated from the 'missing corner days', on September 30 between 7pm and 11pm.

The club continues to play at Wentworth every Thursday night from September to Easter, and coaching for an enthusiastic junior section takes place on Thursday, with a satellite club meeting on Mondays at Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School.