Origins of the Sport of Badminton
l: The First Badminton Association
We must perforce end by giving the famous entry in The Field September 9th 1893:
BADMINTON
PROPOSED FORMATION OF AN ASSOCIATION
A meeting is to be held at Dunbar, Waverley Grove, Southsea, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 13, for the purpose of forming a Badminton Association. All clubs are invited to send a delegate.
The outcome of this meeting was the formation of the Badminton Association, later to become the Badminton Association of England.
The Field September 23rd 1893:
BADMINTON ASSOCIATION
A preliminary meeting was held on Sept. 13, at which were present representatives of Dawlish, Fareham, Paignton, Southampton, South Hants, Southsea, Teignmouth, Torquay, and United Services (Southsea) Badminton clubs. The Bognor, Chichester, and Lymington Clubs signified their wish to join the association and abide by the rules framed, whilst the Dover, Guildford, Ryde and Bath Clubs were unable to give a definite answer at present. Major Dolby, Southsea, was elected to the chair. It was resolved unanimously to form a Badminton Association, and the following committee was appointed: Major S.S.C Dolby, President, Southsea; Major W.A. St Clair Southsea BC; Lieut. Col. H.M. Matthews, Fareham BC; Major R Waller, Southampton BC; P Buckley Esq, South Hants BC; A Southey, Esq. Teignmouth BC; C.E. Robinson Esq, Torre (Torquay) B.C.; Lieut-Col. A.B. Ridgway, US Southsea BC; Lieut-Col F Roberts, U.S. Southsea BC; hon. secretary and treasurer, Major S.S.C. Dolby, Southsea (Dunbar, Waverley Grove, Southsea).
Rules for the Association were framed and approved. The rules of the game were discussed and decided upon, and it was resolved that they should be published by Mr F.H. Ayres, 111, Aldersgate Street, London, who would also undertake the manufacture and sale of the necessary gear of the patterns approved.
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The Badminton Association was later to become the Badminton Association of England, and more recently, Badminton England, whose web site can be seen here.
A history of the first hundred years of the Association is to be found here.
As the popularity of the game grew worldwide, other countries formed their own Associations, and in July 1934 the International Badminton Federation was formed. Its web site is to be found here.