IN THE NEWS

PlayBridgeUK

By Terry Collier

What is PlayBridgeUK going to be and why?

Let's start by answering why. Research undertaken in the US identified that 80% of bridge players did not even know of the ACBL's existence, never mind what it did. Despite this, 45.8 million adults knew about bridge, 25.1 million knew how to play and 18.7 million actively played. Apart from scale, is the US experience much different to ours? A simple appraisal of our situation leads me to the opinion that we have similar problems. The EBU has, in round figures, 1000 affiliated clubs in which 90,000 people play, but only a third are members of the EBU. I understand that there are easily another 2000 clubs that are not affiliated with an unknown number of players. In addition there are the vast number (unknown) of people who play outside the clubs, in their homes, at the U3A, on holiday and at charity events. To get some kind of appreciation of this number, I understand that the main national newspapers, who offer a bridge column, have a combined readership of some 650,000; presumably these readers can understand what they are reading so must fall into the category of 'know about bridge' or even 'know how to play'. What I don't know is how many of them know about the EBU - or, more importantly, care!

What is clear to me from the above is that the vast majority of bridge players don't need a national organisation, particularly one that is going to control the way they play, levy charges to fund expensive trips around the world for the few, provide a forum for those who think they know best and maintain an excessively expensive administration base. I do believe, however, that those players who play for competitive enjoyment and fun would be interested in a service that could enhance their enjoyment of the game and that is what PlayBridgeUK is all about.

So what are we going to offer or equally important not offer? First, we are not an organisation: we are a service provider. Second, our services will probably not appeal to the 'top players'; the EBU is best at that. Third, we will not have committees or 'powers-that-be'; the EBU is also best at this. We will simply provide what our subscribers or members want us to provide. We will operate and communicate via our website, allowing us to be in constant communication with our members. We will provide and receive information, put our members in contact with one another, provide events, holidays and courses, and above all else provide services that have never before been offered. There is little point me taking up further space with a list of things we will or can do. Enough to say we are there at www.playbridgeuk.com so why not visit us and see for yourself? It's free at present but will later this year cost you the princely sum of £10 per year. I hope you will visit us and can assure you that your views, suggestions and even criticisms will be acted upon. We are offering you the opportunity to be part of moulding the future of bridge in the UK.