Warburton Cup Final: Heaton B 357 Bolton TTC 422.5
‘Let’s go! Let’s go!’ African food pioneer Alain Job shouts as he wanders around Bolton Market attempting to drum up trade for his Nkono stall. Occasionally he will stop and clear up the fact that, no, his tumultuous cry is not one of ‘Tesco! Tesco!’ (usually to a stiff Englishman) but of a much more frenzied composition. Continue reading Mottershead Captains Bolton TTC to Cup Double
Premier Division (final week 11th vs 5th & 12th vs 10th): Ladybridge ‘A’ 9 Radcliffe 0; Ramsbottom ‘C’ 1 Burning Desire 8
‘What are your thoughts on table tennis teams fielding severely weakened sides on the last match of the season?’ I asked with no undue bias or specifics. The question was purposely texted to players outside the Premier Division with no obvious connections to the events that unfolded on Monday, 4th April. Continue reading Disquiet over Big Club Radcliffe ‘Saving’ Minnows Ladybridge from Relegation
Division Four: Hilton ‘J’ 3 Hilton ‘I’ 6
Four divisions below the glamour and grandeur of Bolton’s top flight sit the tired and the young; players generally at the end or the beginning of their table tennis careers. This match – fought between a posse of 14 to 17-year-olds (5th and 3rd respectively) – provided a glimpse into the kaleidoscopic future. Continue reading Battle at Little Bighorn
To the uneducated eye, Flixton ‘A’ have it. They are ten points clear at the top of the Premier Division with just two matches remaining. To the man that goes looking for certainty, however, this title race is far from over. Continue reading Flixton Set to Hobble Over the Title Line
It occurred to me this month that I am slowly becoming Neville Singh. In table tennis terms at least, the metamorphosis has begun. The parlous state of my game – although not littered by 3-set destruction – is in a firm downward spiral. Continue reading Becoming Neville Singh
This week’s column writes itself courtesy of the cerebral scribe and Premier table tennis player, Paul Cicchelli. For technical insight, story-telling and a great willingness to engage with the journalistic fraternity there are few better people. Continue reading Table Tennis’s Best Fights
“In a twist of fate, I need to carry on playing,” team member, Roger Bertrand told me recently. There had been concerns back in October 2015 that he might have to quit the beautiful game due to scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and spondylitis (inflammation of the backbone joints). Continue reading The Montpellier Man
The Cellar, The Pool Room and The Shed – unofficial venue names of Heaton, Farnworth SC and Meadow – are what stand out in this season’s Warburton Cup quarter-final draw. More onerous places you will be hard-pressed to find. Continue reading Dreaming Big
Given the BBC iPlayer’s recent showing of The Rack Pack – a fond salute to snooker in the Seventies and Eighties (following the advent of colour TV) – it seemed fitting that table tennis should have its own crew; a collection of individuals from the local scene who, largely through their talent, are distinctly recognisable, controversial or quite simply big characters. Continue reading The Bat Pack
The upbeat jingle expected in this paper must sometimes pave the way for the hard reality of obligatory debate. Continue reading Time Table Tennis Took Its Rightful Place
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