The article below was written by Barrow TTC Team Manager Tristran Swan for the ETTA (and featured on the ETTA website). The ETTA contacted Tristran requesting an article describing how Barrow TTC “managed to entice some top names into the British League”.

Barrow TTC has been asked by a lot of people, including the ETTA, as to how the ‘Barrow Dream Team’ developed. Well, basically it was an unplanned marriage of friendship that went something like this:

Last season, the team of Jakov Krivić, Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford and Scott Crawford punched above their weight to win the British League Play-Offs and a place in the British League Premier Division. Other squad members that helped the team to the play-offs included Tristran Swan and Steve Dixon.

Soon after the play-off success, the Barrow team looked ahead to the new season. With Jakov returning to professional table tennis in Croatia (signing for Croatian Club TTC Zadar) and Tristran and Steve ruling themselves out as first team regulars, the available squad had shrunk to three regular players (Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford and Scott Crawford) and two reserves (Tristran Swan and Steve Dixon). Given the amount of time, work and effort that had gone into gaining promotion, the team naturally wanted to hold their own and cement their place in Britain’s Premier team competition. To achieve this, it was felt that two top signings were required.

The first target was Gavin Rumgay. Gavin and Jonathan had lived and studied together for a number of years in Bristol, where they also trained together at the Filton College table tennis academy. Over the years, their friendship grew. Gavin introduced Jonathan to one of his former clubs, TV 1863 Leiselheim (where Jonathan played for one season), and likewise Gavin was introduced to Barrow TTC.

As a result, Gavin played for Barrow during the 2008/2009 season where the team narrowly missed out on promotion to the British League Premier Division. Gavin’s absence from the team at the play-offs – he was playing at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in Glasgow – was the difference between success and failure. Had he played, it is with little doubt that the team would have won promotion, but in hindsight, this may have been a season too early. With Premier Division Table Tennis on offer, Gavin signed for Sycamore, but left Barrow promising to return should the team one day win promotion to the Premier Division; a promise he held true to.

Despite the first signing falling into place, it wasn’t clear where the second signing was going to come from. There seemed to be a serious lack of quality English players eligible to play in the British League (due to rules imposed by certain European national table tennis governing bodies preventing players from playing in multiple national leagues). It is therefore with little surprise that the second signing came out of the blue.

A German player who was coming to work in the UK for a year, Sebastian Laux (previous club TTC Elz), contacted Bradley asking whether he knew of a Premier Division British League team looking for players. Sebastian and Bradley had played in the same German division when Bradley played for TTC Seligenstadt. Naturally Bradley suggested Sebastian to the Barrow Team and, given his credentials (Top 5 German Cadet and National squad member and top 20 German Junior), he was accepted.

At this point, the Club directed its efforts to promoting the team ahead of the new season. Work went into the new website, YouTube Channel and Facebook Page. A lot of effort was also focused on improving the team’s image, making it more “professional”. This included securing a kit sponsorship with Stiga in co-ordination with long time Barrow table tennis supporter, Thornton’s Sport and Leisure. It seems that all of this work wasn’t going unnoticed.

Last season, Paul Drinkhall was playing for SV Plüderhausen in the German Bundesliga making him ineligible to play in the British League. In the close season, he moved to TTC Nodo in Belgium and, as a result, is now able to play in the British League.

Bradley is very good friends with Paul. Bradley told Paul about Barrow’s promotion and the positive direction the Club was heading. Paul is also very good friends with Barrow’s new signing Gavin Rumgay, who he trains with at the English Institute for Sport in Sheffield. Gavin too shared his positive experiences with Barrow. So, the prospect of playing in Britain, with good close friends, for a team that was going places and would look after him, enticed Paul to approach Barrow. Yes, Paul contacted Barrow and asked whether he could play for them. Needless to say, it only took a couple of phone calls and text messages before the deal was done.

Finally, the unexpected and final fourth signing.

Darius Knight was also part of the Filton College table tennis academy when Jonathan and Gavin were there. Whilst there, Darius and Jonathan became very good friends and Darius even invited Jonathan to go training with him at his former French club, Montpellier. The relationship with Darius and Barrow goes deeper however, as Darius and the Crawfords (Scott, Jonathan, Duncan and the late Christine) consider each other family.

During the 2009/2010 season, Darius signed on to play for Barrow in Division 1 North of the British League (taking the place of Gavin Rumgay). However, his commitments to his Spanish club (UCAM-Floymape Cartagena) prevented him from playing and Darius felt that he had let the team down. To prevent these pressures from arising again, Barrow didn’t approach Darius to play for them this upcoming season. However, unbeknownst to the Club, Darius signed on to the Belgium club PW Diest (making him eligible to play in the British League) and despite prospectively being ranked only number 3 in the team, his commitment to Barrow is so strong that he came knocking at the door (literally) asking the question Barrow were looking for, “where is my contract?” – crazy, but true!

So, as it was stated at the start of this article, the team came together through circumstance and friendship – and what a great basis that is for a sports club.

This morning (11th August, 2010), BBC Radio Cumbria reporter Megan Paterson visited the Barrow Table Tennis Centre to discuss Barrow’s big summer signings on the breakfast show.

With Jakov preferring his bed, Scotty looking and sounding like he had just got out of bed and Duncan and Jonny simply too nervous, it was left up to team manager Tristran to do the talking. Enjoy.

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Wow, another week has gone!

I really wanted this blog to be as professional and as well written as I could manage. However, time is so precious right now that I’ll be satisfied if what I write makes sense and isn’t just gibberish. Proof reading is a luxury I simply cannot afford.

So, what is it that has taken up all my time?

Well, if you remember I had a visitor from Germany, Sebastian Laux. As well as determining his table tennis abilities I was determined to give him the best week in Britain I could muster. For me, that means walking and lots of it. I dragged Sebastian everywhere; North Wales (incredible walk near Rowen, “St. Celynin’s Church and Tal Y Fan” as well as fish and chips at Conwy and a walk on the pier at Llandudno), the Peak District (beautiful walk and BBQ at The Roaches) and the Lake District (Tarn Hows, Ambleside and Keswick) before checking out Lyme Park on the way to the airport. Did you get all that?

On the table tennis front Sebastian, Jonny and Scotty ran a hugely successful two day training camp for 12 kids at the Barrow Table Tennis Centre. From the reports I have received from the kids, they thought it was excellent and Barrow Coach Mike Yardley agreed. So, a big thank-you to Sebastian, Jonny and Scotty for their efforts and here’s hoping many more such training camps take place in th future.

As well as coaching in Barrow, Sebastian got chance to meet a lot of the team as we trained and ate lots of Chinese together. I have to say that Sebastian is a great guy; he fit in well and is a true team player. Not only that, he is a good table tennis player. This left-hander with a good brain will be causing a few teams problems in next seasons British League Premier Division.

So, that is a quick update. I’ll sign off with a couple of small pieces of team news. We have signed England Number 3 and three times England National Under-21 Champion Darius Knight and Britain Number 1 and triple European champion Paul Drinkhall. No, seriously

Barrow TTC is thrilled to announce the signing of its (now not so) secret weapon, British Number 1 and Triple European Champion, Paul Drinkhall. Paul’s signing is the biggest in the Club’s history and must rank as one of the biggest signings of any sports team in the Barrow and Furness area.

At 20 years of age, Paul is regarded around the World as one of the game’s future stars and is listed as one of the Telegraphs “Ten to Watch for London 2012”. During Paul’s relatively short career, he has won 3 European Junior Gold Medals, 33 National titles and has been runner-up in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year twice. More recently, Paul won the Under-21 China Open which is an amazing feat considering the stronghold China has on table tennis.

On the signing, Barrow Table Tennis Manager Tristran Swan said in disbelief, “Who would have believed that someone of Paul Drinkhall’s calibre would be playing for Barrow Table Tennis Club? To have the England Number 1 playing alongside the Scottish Number 1 (Gavin Rumgay) and England Number 3 (Darius Knight) just beggars belief. I mean, to put this into perspective, on paper, this makes Barrow better than the England team!”

Tristran went on to say, “I really can’t see Paul losing any games. The hard part will be getting him to the venue, but that is also true of Gavin and Darius. These guys are professional players with tight schedules as they train and play all around the world and we have to work around that. For example, the first British League weekend clashes with the final rounds of the European Championships in Ostrava (Czech Republic). We have flights booked in case these guys don’t get that far (to the quarter-finals) in the competition so they can play for us. Obviously we can’t bank on them being there, so we have a squad of players that will also be making the journey, making them as valuable as the star players. Saying that, within the team these guys aren’t seen as stars; we’re all very close.”

Prior to leaving England for this year’s China Open, Paul said “I do believe Barrow can win the league. First reason being the standard of the players in the team: from the top of the team to the bottom of the team [it’s] strong, which is important, and also we have international experience which should favour us in the close matches.”

But it’s not all about winning for Paul: “the Team are all friends and I think it will be a great atmosphere, therefore the weekends away will be fun and that is very important.”

You can find out more about Paul Drinkhall on his player profile – Paul Drinkhall’s Player Profile.

Today, Barrow TTC is delighted to announce the signing of three times England National Under-21 Champion Darius Knight.

Darius, who at 20 is the current England Number 3 (based on ITTF World Rankings), had signed to play for Barrow TTC last season (2009/2010). However, much to his frustration, playing commitments and contracts abroad meant that he was unable to play – leaving him feeling he had let the team down. Thankfully, Darius has remained loyal to the Club and this season it is going to be a very different story.

On the signing of the England International and London 2012 Olympic hopeful, Barrow Team Manager Tristran Swan beamed, “the signing of Darius is tremendous news. He is the face England table tennis.”

Tristran went on to talk about the public’s perception of Darius: “Darius receives an unfair amount of criticism in my view. People believe his disadvantaged background and the press attention he receives gives him an unfair advantage when it comes to the England squad selection.”

“Darius is returning to the British League to play for Barrow TTC and in doing so he has the perfect platform to show the British Table Tennis public what he is about. He will be wanting to prove a point and I’d be very surprised if he didn’t win a 100% of his matches.”

Tristran went further, explaining what other benefits the signing will bring to Barrow TTC: “Darius is a self-styled table tennis role model. He is the urban face of Fred Perry and the figurehead of the hugely successful Fred Perry Urban Cup which promotes Table Tennis in inner cities. Darius is at his best connecting with kids, he understands them and makes table tennis fun and accessible.”

“Darius has said he will come up to Barrow, meet the kids and coach them. He is brilliant at this kind of thing, and the motivation kids get from meeting someone like Darius can’t be underestimated. I still remember the time I met and played with England table tennis legend Des Douglas.”.

Prior to leaving England for the China Open, Darius said with confidence and enthusiasm, “We’re going take the title! We’ve got a strong team of World class players and great National players, so why not?”.

When asked why he is making his return to the British League with Barrow, Darius said, “Jonny (Crawford) is my dad, he knows a lot and I’m very close to the Barrow boys. It’s important to play with people you get on with, especially the boss Dunx (Duncan Crawford, Assistant Team Manager)”.

You can find out more about Darius Knight on his player profile – Darius Knight’s Player Profile.

How bizaar. On possibly the busiest day of the busiest week of the season yet to start, I decide it might be a good idea to start writing a blog about my experiences being the Team Manager of Barrow’s British League Teams.

For the past few weeks I have been contacting and sorting out the squad for next season, building the team website, updating the clubs Twitter and Facebook pages as well as editing and uploading match videos to YouTube. On top of this, despite huge amounts of time and effort, I have been unsuccessful in trying to find sponsors to help pay for the first team’s accommodation and travel expenses next season. I really do feel like table tennis is taking over my life and I’m sure my amazing, beautiful and understanding girlfriend would agree.

Anyways, that is what I have been doing over the last couple of months, so what makes this week extra busy?

Well, you’d think I was ahead of the game with the squad sorted (this week I announced the first of three big signings, Scotland Number 1 Gavin Rumgay) and accommodation booked for the first weekend, but little did I realise how difficult it would be to get my band of top players to the first weekend (the first British League Premier Division weekend clashes with the European Championships – now there’s an example of good scheduling!). So, with unanswered questions, dependence on third parties, a Sunday deadline (my to be announced players are off to China for three weeks to train and play in the China open – now there’s some clues to who they might be!) and ever increasing flight costs, it is madness. Add to this the hosting of visiting German player (and new Barrow signing) Sebastian Laux and trying hold down a job, have a life and get everything else done, you’ll realise how tough it is!

I’m going to leave you now as I’m off to put some Jamaican Patties on before taking my new German signing around Old Trafford. Then tonight, I hope to see how good he actually is at table tennis (think I should have done that first?).

Ahead of Barrow I’s inaugural British League Premier Division season, it is with great pleasure and excitement that Barrow TTC announces the return of Scotland Number 1 Gavin Rumgay to the team.

Gavin Rumgay, the 3 times Scottish National Champion, helped Barrow get to the British League Play-Offs during the 2008/2009 season. Had Gavin been present for the Play-Offs, he was representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Table Championships in Glasgow, it is likely Barrow I would have been promoted that season.

In the 2009/2010 season, with the promise of British League Premiership table tennis, the entertaining Scot signed for Sycamore. Playing in the number 1 position, Gavin only lost one match during the whole season which goes to show what an important acquisition he is for Barrow.

On the signing of four times Men’s Open Grand Prix Champion Gavin Rumgay, Barrow Team Manager Tristran Swan said, “Gavin always said he’d come back to us if we won promotion and for him to do so shows his commitment to the Club”. Talking about Gavin, Tristran went on to say, “Gavin exemplifies everything Barrow stands for. He always gives a 110% and must be the hardest working player in Britain. What is more, he is an exciting and entertaining player. I very much see Gavin as been a Captain figure, someone who will lead by example”.

Looking forward to the season ahead Gavin said, “We (Barrow I) have a great chance to be winners or runners-up in the British League Premier Division. We (Barrow I) have the strongest team, the most entertaining and one of the fastest improving sides in World table tennis, which all bode well for big success in 2010/2011 season”. Gavin went on to pledge, “I will give my absolute best on the table and on the bench for this great team… Possibly some funny moments and entertainment”.

You can find out more about Gavin Rumgay on his player profile – Gavin Rumgay’s Player Profile.

Barrow I British League Premier Division Fixtures

Barrow II British League Division 2 North Fixtures