Derby and District Table Tennis Association
A Short History of Table Tennis in Derby
i. The Period 1905 to 1945
The earliest reference to Table Tennis in Derby appears in about 1907 when a group of enthusiasts formed a club, probably called the Ping Pong Club of Ockbrook. They played in the Lecture Room of the Moravian Settlement on a table made from 1inch boards each 12 inches wide and 9 feet long. These boards would have been placed side by side on trestles.
Whilst it is probable that many other clubs were formed during the period to 1910, the game suffered a decline in England and, as far as is known, the first records of an organised league do not appear before 1935. This was organised by the Derby Institutes Association (DIA) and had recognisable club names such as Mechanics Institute, YMCA, Railway Institute, Hardie Social Club, St Andrews, St Columba, Rolls Royce, Electrics and the Tramways Club.
It is somewhat amusing now to note that St Andrew initially played on old school desks with inkwells and later on an 8 ft by 4 ft table bought by the vicar who charged 2 (old) pence for the table tennis ball.
In 1937 the 11th Congress of the ITTF (ETTA & ITTF were formed in 1926) determined that from the beginning of the1937/8 season new laws would come into effect i. the net should be reduced in height from 6 and three quarter inches to 6 inches. ii. Any form of spin in service imparted by anything other than the racket would be prohibited. iii. A time limit of 20 minutes would be imposed on each game.
It is interesting that prior to 1937 a tournament ‘Jury’ were entitled to scratch both players in a best of three match lasting more than 60 minutes and in a five set match more than 105 minutes. This was put into effect in the womens singles final of the 1937 World event when the match was unfinished after 105 minutes after only two games. Both players were scratched and the title was declared vacant.
ii. The Period 1944- 1947
In August 1944, the Derby Business House Amateur Sports Association (DBHASA) was formed and affiliated to the ETTA. This provided competition for a DIA League and a choice for clubs and players.
In April 1946 an exhibition match was organised at the Central Hall where the star players of the day, such as Jack Carrington, Johnny Leach and Peggy Franks demonstrated their skills. The event was repeated in the November of that year with Viktor Barna and Adrian Haydon playing against local players. A third exhibition was held at the end of that season involving Johnny Leach, Jack Carrington and Richard Bergmann who reportedly beat a local schoolboy whilst sitting on a chair.
By 1947 there was a County Association which included representation from Ashbourne, Buxton, Chesterfield, Matlock and Derby. A North Midland League can also be found which included local rivals Nottingham.
iii. The Period 1948- 1969
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.
iv. The Period 1970 to 1980
In July 1970 a project was approved to create a Head Quarters at the former Normanton Barracks site provided the costs were met by those using the premises. It was opened in the September of that year and was named the ‘Sherwood Foresters Recreation Centre’
The League continued to expand with 360 players and over 34 clubs registered for the 1970/71 season and a busy calendar of other events took place in Derby that season. The Derby Championship (February), the Midland Closed (April), County Junior trials (September) and a number of County matches.
In 1974 the League boasted 15 teams in the County Challenge Cup and 8 Teams in the Midland League, the Derby Closed attracted 90 entries with the Divisional events being played over 3 evenings.
In July 1976 a disaster struck with a fire at the Normanton Barracks, it destroyed most of the tables and all the equipment and with deceasing funds, the Derby Leisure Committee closed the Barracks.
Following discussion with the Council and other ex barracks users a committee was formed to run the site and DDTTA leased the Tobruk Hall for 3 years. The Corporation funded new doors repairing the roof and guttering and volunteers refitted changing rooms, toilet facilities, new lights and rewiring. Following grants from East Midlands Sports Council and Association funds the Tobruk Hall was finally equipped with 12 Tables surrounds and other equipment.
v. The Period 1982 to date
Further growth continued to 1980/1 when what can now be seen as the highpoint with over 490 players and 8 Divisions. In 1981 the DoE threatened the closure of Tobruk Hall and discussions were held with the Council about an alternative site, a number or premises were offered but were either to small or to expensive. During these discussions another fire destroyed the Hall and with it all DDTTA assets.
The loss of Tobruk Hall was felt almost immediately with only 34 clubs and under 400 players registering for the 1981/2 season. County teams were reduced to 3 including a junior Team with only 5 teams entered in the Midland League.
Sadly since 1982 the number of people playing table tennis has gradually declined, there were only 178 registered players in 2006/07. This is a consequence of a number of factors major clubs e.g. Mechanics International Combustion, St Andrews and the Railway Institute being unable to continue, a decline in industry in and around Derby and changing industry management practice in financing sports activities.
Whilst over the past 25 years much effort has been put in by the DDTTA Committee on a number of initiatives with other partners, it has not been possible to replace the Barrack/Tobruk Hall site resulting in a loss of a central Table Tennis focus as well as a home for a number of clubs/teams.
New clubs have come along but generally these have been small or transitory because of the lack of people prepared to put in the necessary administrative time and effort to run them.
Changes by the ITTF in the period 2001 to2003 in which the table tennis ball was increased in size to 40mm diameter in an attempt to slowdown the game and soon after a major change with games being reduced from 21 points to 11 points have not had the desired impact and the sport still struggles for active members and a major public profile.
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.
It is now sponsored by the City of Derby and is one of the leading junior tournaments in the country attracting 250 entries from all over the UK, Ireland, Sweden and the Channel Isles.
Table Tennis – The Sport for All to Enjoy