Over the past few years, the Dudley and Sandwell Table Tennis Club has been growing at the Dudley Afro Caribbean Centre in the heart of the West Midlands.
The club started life as an idea to help local Black young people to start playing but it has gone beyond way beyond that now. During their weekly open practice night on a Monday evening, you see a whole mixed group of players having fun and enjoying their table tennis tables. Everyone is welcome!
Chris Dunkley the session organiser really feels the integration with the local community, and he says, “These players are my family now”.
On the table each week you see husband and wife playing next to a table with two league players followed by players returning to play after a 30-year break from the sport.
Six tables are used each week and there is also a real age mix of players from 13 to 80. The club also now has six league teams who play from another local venue they share with another club.