Northop Table Tennis Club: A Growing Hub for Junior Development

Northop Table Tennis Club continues to thrive, with its Saturday Kids Club buzzing with energy. Young players are developing rapidly through fun, structured activities led by dedicated coaches, including Howard Satchell, Clive Boswell, Andrew Smith, Phil Beech, Barna Kustan, Lynne Harrison and Andy Eagles.

Their guidance has been instrumental in building confidence and skill among the juniors. Many of these young players have already stepped up to competitive play in the East Flintshire Junior League, which is growing steadily under the leadership of Lynne Harrison (Northop TTC) and Stephen Tibbett (Ewloe TTC).

The most advanced juniors are now also making brilliant progress, representing Northop in the Cadets & Junior National League, highlighting the success of the club’s development pathway.

Recognising the potential to expand grassroots participation, Lynne and Howard recommended engaging with Northop Primary School, given its close proximity to the club and the involvement of some of its students in table tennis.

This provides a valuable opportunity to establish a structured, long-term development pathway for table tennis in the area. Additionally, at the Deeside Festival, a table tennis session was held for Northop Hall Primary School, another nearby school. The school’s enthusiastic response further underlines the growing interest in the sport.

The next steps include securing a meeting with Northop Primary School to discuss implementing a long-term table tennis program and following up with Northop Hall Primary School to develop structured table tennis initiatives. Strengthening partnerships between local schools and Northop TTC will help create a seamless development pathway for young players. Additionally, identifying promising young players and inviting them to regional squad sessions will provide them with the next step towards potential Welsh squad selection.

With continued collaboration between the club, local schools, and regional table tennis initiatives, Northop Table Tennis Club is set to become a key player in nurturing future talent in North Wales.

Learn more about Northop TTC, or find your nearest club wherever you are in Wales, here.