Double Olympian Richard Vaughan commented “Don was personal coach to my cousin Simon and I from the age of 6 -13, and he played a integral part of our success. Even at that early stage he helped us win the Welsh u12 National badminton title at the age of 8, and both of us took turns in being GB No1 juniors throughout the period he worked with us. Don was particularly good with younger players, always looking to improve technique”
On December 25th 2009, Top Welsh Badminton Coach Don Griffiths passed away at his home, near Cilfynydd, Mid Glamorgan.
Double Olympian Richard Vaughan commented “Don was personal coach to my cousin Simon and I from the age of 6 -13, and he played a integral part of our success, which even at that early stage saw us win the Welsh u12 National badminton title at the age of 8, and both of us taking turns in being GB No1 juniors throughout the period he worked with us. Don was particularly good with younger players, always looking to improve technique”
Don Griffiths coached many other top badminton players, some of whom include;
Previously Don worked as Welsh National Junior badminton coach Representing Wales at:
In addition to the players Don worked with on an individual basis above, he also helped many in the Welsh squad system. In recent years he has worked with Richard Vaughan helping nurture young Welsh badminton talent at the Richard Vaughan Badminton Academy (supported by Memory Lane Cakes). He also helped coach the Mid Glamorgan Badminton Team which has been shooting up the English County Divisions, hoping next year to go up to the second division. Finally Don had been an active part of the Sports Council for Wales funded Caerphilly Borough Community Coach programme for Badminton which again has been a real success.
Don always gave badminton more than he took from it, and he will be another great loss for Badminton in Wales.