Scotland’s First National Badminton League Gets Underway
By Keegan Friel
Scotland’s badminton community came together in force this weekend as players from across the country descended on the Sir Craig Reedie Badminton Centre for the launch of the inaugural National Badminton League (NBL). The brand‑new competition, running as a pilot season, brings clubs together across Bronze, Silver and Gold divisions, offering a structured national pathway where teams can test themselves against opponents of similar ability outside their usual local circuits.
The pilot has attracted strong interest, with more than 200 players registered across 18 teams, ranging from those who only recently started playing badminton following the pandemic, through to current Scottish National Champions Callum Smith and Rachel Sugden. The mix of experience, ambition and fresh energy created an atmosphere that felt both competitive and celebratory.
One of the teams taking part is Perth 20, captained by BADMINTON scotland President Aileen Travers. “I felt it was important to support the pilot and enter a team,” Aileen said. “When I put the call out to my club, the enthusiasm was immediate. People were excited to be part of something new, something that brings clubs together in a different way.”
Aileen, who also competes on the Scottish Masters circuit, highlighted how refreshing the format had been, noting that the tournament offered a unique blend of community and competition. “I usually only play other veterans at Masters events, so getting the chance to play against and to meet a whole range of new players has been brilliant. I think this league has huge potential to grow year on year.”
BADMINTON scotland is using this pilot season to gather feedback from players, clubs and volunteers, with the aim of refining the structure before returning next year with a format shaped directly by the badminton community. “I’d really encourage clubs to get involved in future seasons,” Aileen added. “It’s a fantastic way to grow the sport, get more people playing and strengthen clubs at a local level.”
The opening weekend delivered plenty of close contests. In the Gold Division, County Badminton Club made an impressive start as the only team to avoid defeat in their opening fixtures. One of the standout matches came in their tie against Glasgow Badminton Academy (GBA), where Callum Smith and Brooke Stalker (GBA) faced Josh Taylor and Holly Newall (County) in the deciding rubber. With the tie level at three rubbers each, the match went the full distance, requiring extra points in the third set before Taylor and Newall clinched it 16–14 to secure the win for County.
In the Silver Division, both Western BC 2 and Ayrshire BC 1 completed the weekend without dropping a game — though they have yet to face each other, setting up a tantalising showdown in the new year. A similar story is unfolding in the Bronze Division, where Perth 20 and Govan Old remain undefeated but are still to meet.
With two more weekends of fixtures scheduled for January and May in 2027, the race for each division’s title is wide open. Every match still to come has the potential to reshape the standings and build the momentum behind this exciting new national competition.
Full results from the first weekend of the NBL can be found on BADMINTON scotland’s tournament software: https://badmintonscotland.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=208EA619-B41A-4AA2-8F7C-57B2A76FBF37