Letters

Alan Ransome - The man for all Seasons

My first real contact with Alan Ransome took place when he visited Reading. He was the coach to the Ormesby Club who, at that time were dominating the English scene. I remember he stayed at my house and we talked into the early hours of the morning regarding his vision of the future and how the sport which we both loved could prosper and expand.

It was obvious from the outset that we shared a passion and a total agreement on a way forward, and I was delighted when he asked me to serve on the Management Committee in 1995.

Over the years I have got to know Alan well. He has never lost that dynamic attitude, both in and out of office. It was a privilege to be part of a team that was able to introduce the professional Regional Development Officers in each region of the country and facilitate the opening of more than 50 new table tennis centres. In the first six years of his Chairmanship there were three English Opens, European Championships in 1994 in Birmingham, a World Championship in Manchester in 1997, as well as the Olympic Qualifying event in that city. Alan not only raised the funding to stage these events but also led their organisation.

Alan’s 50 year involvement with the sport started when he founded the Ormesby Club. He was part of the playing team that won the English Club Championship 10 years in a row, as well as being the only British club ever to win the European Club Championship in 1972. I don’t think it is generally realised what a very good player Alan was. He represented England and also reached the semi-final stage of our own English Championships.

I know he is particularly proud of the contribution he has made to the Ormesby Club. In his time out of office he has raised more the £1 million to develop a 15 table full time centre with excellent playing conditions and all the state of the art facilities one could wish for. The Ormesby Club have been awarded the ETTA Club of the Year 2008 at Excellence level. The main reasons for this are the involvement with local schools, the development of players with a high skill level, and a very successful programme tailor made for disabled players. I know Alan is very proud of the current crop of girl players he has coached with no less than 6 in the England squads or with good national rankings.

In the past I have seen Alan in action in his role as Chairman of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation. It was Alan who negotiated the way for table tennis to be included in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, as well as helping to keep table tennis in the Games in Melbourne in 2006, Delhi in 2010, and Glasgow in 2014. He was also responsible for bringing in the next Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow in May, and for the introduction of table tennis in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, last October for the first time.

He has continued to play a major role within National Council with any number of innovative suggestions. Therein lies the key to this man’s personality. He is able to provide the energetic leadership that the sport desperately needs, especially in the run up to the Olympic Games. If you care for the sport and want it to flourish, right from grass roots levels through to the international stage, I know from close personal experience that there is only one man capable of leading table tennis to a much brighter future. That man is Alan Ransome, OBE.

Brian Halliday - ETTA Vice President, Berkshire

I was agreeably pleased to hear that this year there would be elections held for Officers of the Association.

I know that Alan Ransome OBE has decided to stand for the Chairman’s position, a decision I welcome and firmly endorse. I have known Alan for many years and of course served on his Management Committee before becoming Deputy Chairman. He is, in my opinion, the perfect candidate for Chairman to lead us through the difficult times ahead.

He has an encyclopedic knowledge of table tennis from grass roots to International and all facets of the game. Alan is respected in England, within the Commonwealth, Europe, Asia and in the ITTF and ETTU.

He is a skilled negotiator from local to National and International levels.

In short, I believe that he is the right man, possibly the only man, at the right time to consolidate and take our sport into the future.

Tony Chatwin - Hon Life Member, Derbyshire

Having known Alan Ransome for over 30 years, I consider him to be totally committed to the development of table tennis in this country. As a testament to this, his Ormesby Club is the club that has produced many international players, both in the past and in the current teams. During Alan’s previous term in office, England hosted World and European Championships together with English Senior and Junior open International Championships. Alan’s drive, vision and negotiating skills were responsible for the foundation of the World Class performance money for table tennis development. Although a competitive business owner, I still firmly believe Alan’s knowledge, experience and deep understanding of the world stage, together with his passion for the game, can only enrich table tennis on the lead up to the London Olympics and beyond should he regain the position as Chairman of the ETTA.

William Thornton Proprietor of Thorntons Sport and Leisure Bury, Lancashire

I was delighted to receive the news that Alan Ransome OBE had decided to stand for Chairman of the ETTA for the period of 2009 to 2011. I worked closely with Alan in his previous Chairmanship and can unreservedly state his wealth of knowledge within the game of table tennis is second to none. He has an innate ability to motivate, lead and support those who work with him.

During his previous period of office there was continual evidence to support that Alan has an natural instinct for new initiatives to experienced before with the onset of London 2012. We have to capitalise on this and undoubtedly Alan Ransome and his management team will have the experience, ability and knowledge to do this better than anyone else. Alan Ransome knows the sport from A to Z —grass roots to International level and NOW is the time to make that count. I am delighted to endorse Alan Ransome`s nomination.

drive the sport

Sandra Deaton - Former member of both the Ransome

"I would like to unreservedly support Alan Ransome's campaign to become Chairman of the English Table Tennis Association Limited (ETTA) as I believe it is imperative that Table Tennis in England moves forward efficiently, professionally and with enthusiasm at local, national, and international level, especially towards England's part in Team GB's representation at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and beyond, for which he has all the necessary qualities.

Alan has an immense knowledge of table tennis having served on endless national and international committees/organisations (including of course leading the ETTA as Chairman from 1991 to 2003). During this period the ETTA ran several English Opens at various venues, Olympic qualification, World Championships, Veteran World Championships and Commonwealth Games and due to Alan's own extensive knowledge and respect worldwide, I am sure he is capable of rekindling respect and recognition of English Table Tennis as an Olympic sport worthy of support and sponsorship and will most certainly be able to meet the challenges that Chairmanship of the ETTA would bring at this critical time. I wish you every success in your campaign.

Dot Macfarlane - Warwickshire

English table tennis has many challenges ahead both before and after London 2012. Changes in governance, administration, competition and grassroots activity are essential if the sport is to survive as we know it.

In recent years I have worked at home and abroad with Alan behind the scenes, pre-event and during competition, on major Commonwealth events such as Commonwealth Games, Youth Games and Championships. I know that his knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm are second to none and that the Association needs his experience.

Our sport needs both leadership and use of all the best talents available and for these reasons I support Alan Ransome.

Richard Scruton Honourary Life Member and former Management Committee member

“I believe that more young players of a high standard need to come through the system. I am convinced that Alan Ransome has all the attributes to achieve these aims”

Gareth Herbert - Gold Medalist - Commonwealth Games 2002, Head Coach TTK Greenhouse

I was particularly pleased to hear that Alan Ransome intends to stand for Chairman of the ETTA in the forthcoming elections. As you know I am a keen table tennis enthusiast and will generally support anyone who is seen to be working hard for the improvement of English Table Tennis from grass roots level through to our elite players.

Since Alex and his team came to power some 5 1/2 years ago, it is regrettable but, I can see no improvement and, in fact, the contrary is the case.

To expand during recent years I have seen:

The further decline in my local league and league membership, the closure of the National Academy at Nottingham, the failure of the High Performance Squads with the exception of the East Midlands Region, the current National Academy at Sheffield under threat of closure, the lack of any International competition held in England, cancelled English Cadet/Junior Opens, many of our top players leaving to play in other countries, the drop in standards of our 4 star tournaments, the lack of support, given to our older senior players effectively forcing them to fall away from table tennis, the lack of media attention to our sport resulting in no sponsorship funding.

The above is just a small example of how I see things have not improved. (I'm sure if I think hard I may be able to find some positives?)

I believe that given the vast experience Alan has working in table tennis, at both domestic and International level, he is the right person to stop this trend of decline and positively address some of the issues which I have mentioned above. Since getting to know you over the last few years you have always demonstrated to me a vast knowledge of Table Tennis which he has gained from the many years of working in table tennis at all levels. His work at Ormesby TTC is clear to see with many excellent players continually being produced and a club which is the envy of many. Having been Chairman of our Association before, I know Alan is fully aware of what’s involved and the work that needs to done to get us back on track. His business expertise along with the table tennis knowledge to my mind, makes Alan the best person qualified to run our Association.

Therefore, I would like to give Alan Ransome my full support in the forthcoming elections.

Good luck and best wishes.

Rhys Evans - Father of Gavin Evans, Britain’s Top Junior Player.

Speaking as a table tennis fanatic, I was delighted to hear that Alan Ransome is standing for Chairman of the English Table Tennis Association. I have his energy, drive, infectious enthusiasm and passion for the game at first hand. This along with his vast experience within all areas of the game, including a hugely successful previous spell as Chairman, makes him the perfect candidate and I wish him the best of luck with his campaign.

Local leagues are dying all over the country (living in Cumbria, I have suffered from this, in that there are now no longer Carlisle or Penrith leagues , and I have had to travel a considerable distance to join the Kendal League). There appears to be very few international matches for fans to attend, which is a shame as they can be an inspiration to us all and, above all, I feel there needs to be a campaign to get table tennis played more in our schools.

I sincerely hope that your campaign is successful and you can address the problems within our great sport.

David Carrick - Cumbria

A VOTE FOR ALAN RANSOME O.B.E. IS A VOTE FOR THE FUTURE!

Alan Ransome’s leadership skills are of the highest and are respected throughout the world of table tennis. He has served our sport in many capacities at National, European and World levels and promoted English table tennis amongst the highest echelons.

The future of our sport ( to and beyond 2012) will require a strong hand and one with such experiences: Skillful at sporting politics and dedicated to ensuring our sport’s future in difficult times. Financial help, although essential, is not enough to move our sport forward. There must be vision and a vibrant new approach to development.

If ever there was a time for change, it is now! The financial future is uncertain which may well affect our sport in many ways and those sports who are prepared will stand the better chance of weathering the storm.

To this end I recommend that a vote for Alan Ransome as English Table Tennis Association Chairman is a vote for ensuring the future of our sport.

Mike Lewis Life Member English Table Tennis Association, Avon