FORMER England international Kristian Roebuck is hoping to breathe new life into Derbyshire badminton after returning home to the county.

The 27-year-old, originally from Oakwood, called time on his international career last July and has now taken on a fresh challenge.

Roebuck is heading up the coaching of Derbyshire's three senior sides and will also play for the first team when their new Inter-Counties Championship starts at the beginning of next month.

"I felt the county set-up was getting a bit stale, so I asked if I could come back and make some changes," said Roebuck, who had been living in Northampton.

"It had got to the point where the Wednesday training session was just a games night. That's not what a county set-up should be. Players should be training to try to get better.

"I have tried to still make it a good laugh but more organised, with a better structure in place.

"I have been running sessions for about the past six weeks and the players seem to have responded really well.

"I think they like to see that someone is making an effort for them, so they are getting more back.

"We have had very good coaches in the past but they have perhaps had more of a school teacher approach.

"We want to make a big thing of the social element of the game as well – and try to get as many people as possible, and their families, involved.

"It's still going to be a learning curve for me but I'm buzzing about it.

"Even in the last year of my playing career, I was doing quite a bit of coaching and when I got a job, I carried on doing it for nothing because I enjoyed it so much.

"It's really quite exciting. Hopefully, we can build up a bit of momentum and keep it going."

Derbyshire's first team begin their Division 2A campaign at home to Cheshire 2nds on Sunday, November 1, at Rolls-Royce Sports Hall.

Some of the county's home matches are also played at Woodlands School, Allestree.

Derbyshire's second team's season starts this Sunday, away to Mid Glamorgan in Division 3C.

A third team have been reintroduced this season and start in Division 5A.

They got off to a great start with an emphatic 13-2 success against Durham 3rds.

Matt Rowbottom was named man of the match on his senior debut, while fellow youngsters Emma Brealey and Niki Hainsworth also impressed.

"I think all three teams have got a chance of going up," said Roebuck.

"It will be very different to last year. We have got some players who have come back to us after a while out of the game.

"And we have got some good young players who have come through the junior system."

Roebuck recently took part in this year's Derbyshire restricted championships, winning three titles.