Keyworth Table Tennis Club, with the support of grants from various funding bodies, has recently completed a four year phased £20,000 refurbishment of their pavilion.
The Pavilion was used jointly by the Keyworth cricket and table tennis clubs until the cricket club moved to new facilities some years ago. This presented the table tennis club with the opportunity to negotiate a 25 year lease of the building from the Parish Council, its owner, and raise funds to expand and upgrade the building for sole use by the club.
Work has included sanding and sealing the playing hall wooden floor; installation of a new insulated ceiling, new heating and lighting to Table Tennis England standards; acquisition of five international standard playing tables; and most recently the refurbishment of the entrance and former cricket changing rooms for multi-purpose use.
Richard Allen, Club Chairman said: “Table tennis is a lifelong sport that can be played by all ages and abilities which is fun. It raises the heart rate, helps strengthen muscles, mobilises the joints, sharpens reaction times and hugely improves hand-eye coordination – all of which can help to improve the quality of life.”
The club’s constitutional aim is to promote community participation in healthy recreation by the provision of facilities for playing table tennis.
With over 100 members, and growing, the club is the largest in south Nottinghamshire; and only one with its own premises. It provides competitive table tennis, through its 10 teams, for around 50 members that play in the Nottingham and District League. Popular mixed age and ability weekly afternoon sessions are run for those wanting to play the game for social, health and wellbeing reasons.
Following the introduction last year of table tennis by the club into Keyworth Primary School, a junior section for youngsters was started in September.
Over the summer three of its members obtained Table Tennis England Level 1 coaching accreditation, so formal coaching sessions are also now being offered within the club.
Richard Allen added: “The focus for the future will be to further grow and firmly establish the club as a community facility that is fully inclusive for all ages and abilities.”
Information on the club can be found on https://keyworthttc.ttcclubs.co.uk. You can also contact Richard Allen on phone 07425 153222 or email: [email protected]