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1948 saw the formation of
the Derby & District Table Tennis Association (DDTTA).
The league began with 16 clubs in three divisions all
located within 8 miles of the town centre.
A change to the service law
was made around this time, this required that when
serving ‘the ball shall be released by the free hand
either by lifting upwards or dropping away ’
October 1948 the DDTTA
staged a match against a Czechoslovakian Team on tour in
the UK. Playing for Derby were Johnny Leach, Dennis
Walker and Bert Rhodes. They lost 5-0.
At this time new Jaques
tables, 1 inch thick wood with a ‘super fast’ cellulose
finish, they could be purchased for £40. Bats from
Haydon were 1 shillings and 9 pence, the Halex Ball,
approved in 1950, cost one shilling and three pence.
In 1950 the area cover by
the DDTTA was widened to a 12 miles radius of the town
centre. The league had grown to include 27 clubs, 55
teams in 5 or 6 divisions and a County Youth was formed
supported by the County Education Department.
Table Tennis continued to
thrive and grow and by 1967/8 the league had 240
registered players and 78 teams and by 1968/9 season
were 300 registered players.
Locally there is one
ongoing success story. The Derby Junior Tournament first
held at Moorways in 1979, recognised as a 2 star event
in 1982, has continued with increasing success
progressing to Select status in 1986 and gained 4 Star
status by 1997. |
