A Coaching Initiative
For some time now, we have been aware of a deficiency in our coaching programme.

Having introduced many young players into the game over the past few years, we now find more of them forcing their way into the National Rankings and in our view they are in need of more specialised tuition so that they reach their full potential.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Simon Rockall and Jason Sugrue to the club, both of whom have agreed to join us as official coaches. Simon is a local boy from the now disbanded Edison Club, who now lives in Milton Keynes. Jason, a young professional coach who also plays in the Irish national team, has already held coaching sessions at the club, earning great respect. We feel that with their wide experience Simon and Jason have much to offer our youngsters.

We are indebted to the London Borough of Enfield for granting us £750, which will be used to get the coaching project off the ground, and long-term we are submitting an “Awards for All” grant application, which, if successful, will prolong the coaching into 2005. 

There is no more news of our lottery application at the time of writing. On 17^th March, we had a discussion lasting over an hour at the London office of Sport England and were able to put all aspects of our case to their officer, Andy Sacha. We were grateful that Geraldine Kieffer, Sports Development Manager and Martin May, Young Persons Coordinator, from Enfield Council, took time out to support our bid by being present at the meeting. Also present was Richard Clarke from Mayfield TTC who explained how the smaller North Middlesex Table Tennis League clubs would benefit by our proposed scheme. Harold Webb and I represented the Club. 

Sport England is in a state of flux since the demise of Trevor Brooking as Chief Executive. They expect to lose a significant number of personnel and are “stocktaking” on all existing schemes. We wait with baited breath to see if they are prepared to give us financial support, and to what degree, if any!

Jane Campbell, our top wheelchair player, is playing in the BTTAD National Championships on Saturday 31^st May and Sunday 1^st June 2003. The Tournament is organised by The British Table Tennis Association for People With Disabilities and is supported by Grantham and District Table Tennis Association and the ETTA. Jane is a regular member of our Sunday evening disabled group and has improved beyond recognition in recent months under the guidance of our coaching staff, particularly David Woolf, and helper John Clarke. We wish Jane every success, which she undoubtedly deserves.

David Hope