SANFORD TABLE TENNIS CLUB ARE TOPS IN THE COMMUNITY

Sanford Table Tennis club is a club with a long history.(as featured in Swindon Advertiser)

Having been in existence since 1960, Trevor Bannister chairman of the club, said: "We're probably one of the oldest clubs in the whole of Swindon.

The club meets at two different venues each week.

They hold their Swindon Academy training and leagues on Fridays at Swindon Academy on Beech Avenue in Pinehurst.

The club also hosts club nights and matches on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lawn Manor Academy, Salcombe Grove in Walcot West.

"We have a wide range of players in our club from all different ethnic backgrounds and about five different continents.

"It's lovely seeing everyone interacting and playing sport together," added Trevor Bannister.

The club boasts players from the age of nine to people in their later 70s.

"That's the wonderful thing about table tennis. It really is a sport you can keep playing for life," Trevor Bannister added.

He continued: "The health benefits, both physical and mental, such as coordination are really important for young people, but also for those later in life. Table tennis is particularly good for those who are developing things like dementia, in staving off the symptoms.

"We're interested in developing the elite end of the sport, but we are also here for those of all abilities to come along and get involved," added Trevor Bannister.

The club plays competitively in local leagues as well as engaging in a range outreach work. This includes providing coaching in different schools across Swindon as well as being involved in projects such as Community Projects and Disability Sport Swindon.

Lee Bowen, Development Officer said: "We're not just a club, we do like to spread our wings a bit with our outreach work."

Anyone can come along and have a practice with the club. The first visit is free and then from the second player pay a fee on a pay as you go basis.

Lee Bowen added: "We're a friendly club, and we do encourage anyone to come along if they are thinking about it.

"It’s a really good sport to keep yourself active."