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Plymouth Badminton League is sad to announce the loss of one of their most successful players from the last few decades. Bob Northcott passed away on 18th August 2006 after a period of illness. He will be sadly missed by his family, many friends and club mates in both Devon and Cornwall.
The achievements of one of Plymouth’s most successful badminton players, Robert Northcott (Bob), as remembered by his friend Wally Bickford.
For those who partnered Bob knew that nothing less than 100% effort and commitment was acceptable, and the opposition on the other side of the net knew that no quarter would be asked or given.
This single minded commitment brought Bob nine Men’s singles titles, eleven Mixed Doubles and twelve Men’s Doubles titles in a period of over thirty years. No player in the Plymouth Badminton League has come near to such an impressive record and he will probably never be surpassed. The years that his name did not appear on the trophys were probably because the local League pointed out there may be a bigger challenge in a tournament up the country.
Not content with being a big fish in a small pond, Bob represented at senior level his home county of Cornwall on around two hundred and fifty occasions and was equally successful.
In the late 1990s, Bob joined his wife Jenny’s county of Devon to play Veterans matches and he played in the All England Veteran’s Tournaments and went on to represent England against Scotland. He also played with commendable results at European level.
Bob’s court demeanor was thought by some to be too intense, but those who knew him well knew that his total commitment and being his own biggest critic was the fuel that drove his passion to produce his best, be it a Club evening game or a big occasion match.
Off court, Bob was good company to travel with to matches or just talk with on a Club night between games. He shared his knowledge and vast experience with younger players and many who are now playing at a good level owe some of their success to attempting to emulate the deception and precision of Bob’s game.
Details submitted to the Evening Herald