Crundale TTC, the club in the heart of Pembrokeshire

A club serving its small local community in the heart of Pembrokeshire, Crundale Table Tennis Club formed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic by Ben Coates.

“As lockdown lifted, I was looking for table tennis clubs in the area, and it appeared that they had all closed,” Ben told us.

“Just before the pandemic, I’d been gifted a new table tennis bat for my birthday, which then remained in its case for over a year.

“As a very sociable person, I found lockdown to be a challenge and looked forward to getting back into life and enjoying sport.

“This being the case,” he explained, “I was encouraged to start a club in the village hall to get the game going in the community.”

Now, Crundale TTC is a local hub which welcomes players from its small community on a weekly basis.

“It’s a great little club which has really welcoming members with a range of ability levels who love the game.

“We have training equipment to help develop your skills with lots of game time.

“We want to enable players to discover and develop a love of the game,” continued Ben. “It has become a way for the community to come together. Our regular numbers are modest, but I don’t know many sporting clubs that can accommodate grandparents and their grandchildren, parents and their children, holiday makers passing through, complete newcomers and seasoned players rediscovering a love of their sport!”

Ben has been a fan of he sport for years, having started playing in his teenage years.

“What I like about table tennis is that it is so inclusive,” he stated. “It is so accessible that I have played against people aged both six and 84! And yes, I won both games!”

For Ben, the enjoyment of the game is the most satisfying and important thing.

“I like that returning to the sport is welcoming rather than disheartening,” he said. “Whenever I start up again, it’s the enjoyment that I notice the most.

“Yes, it can be frustrating not getting the shots after a period of not playing, but the enjoyment of playing is instant. The game is kind in that way I think, as well as being able to be intense and exciting.

“Picking up a bat after 30 years and finding that you might not be as fast, but that you can still get in some good points, is just good fun. People smile as they play, people get competitive, people get active and people come back!”