In March 2026, Stanmore Table Tennis Club was named London Club of the Year at the Table Tennis England Pride of Table Tennis Awards. It's a title we're proud of and one we take seriously. This page looks at what each part of that title means, what it looks like in a working club, and what it means for the people who play with us.
The title has three parts, and each one carries weight: London, Club and of the Year. Together they say that, out of the clubs in the capital, one was judged to have done the most for its players and its sport over the season. It isn't awarded for a single result, a single player or a single tournament. It's awarded for the whole club.
London is one of the most competitive places in England to run a table tennis club. The capital is home to some of the country's best-known clubs, many with large memberships and long histories. Coaches, halls and volunteers are all in demand, and players have plenty of choice about where to train. To be named London Club of the Year, a club has to stand out in that company. For Stanmore Table Tennis Club, which began in a community hall in 2005 with one table and a net, that recognition means a great deal. It tells us that a friendly club run by committed volunteers can compete with the very best.
From London winner to second in England
After winning at London level, Stanmore Table Tennis Club went on to the national stage and was named Club of the Year runner-up, placing us second in England. We're proud of that result, and we're even prouder of the people behind it.
This is an award for a club, not for an individual, and that distinction shapes how we think about it. A club is the combination of everyone who makes it work:
Our nomination highlighted significant growth, with success across all levels of ability. That means the award recognises the beginner taking their first lesson and the league regular on a Thursday night just as much as the player winning titles.
Trophies get the attention, but the award really rests on ordinary weeks done well. At Stanmore Table Tennis Club, that means coaching on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings, with juniors learning their first strokes, league players sharpening tactics and adults enjoying competitive practice. During the season, from September to April, our teams play league fixtures across several divisions in the Barnet League and the Wembley & Harrow League. It means volunteers turning up early, coaches giving up weekends, and parents cheering from the side. A club earns a title like this through hundreds of small, reliable things.
The national citation for our nomination pointed to four strengths:
The last point matters most to us. Results come and go, but a welcoming atmosphere is what keeps people playing for years.
"Of the Year" means a full season of consistent work, not one good weekend. Our nomination described the 2025/26 season as the most successful in the club's history. Here's what that season included:
No award can promise how any one player will progress, and we wouldn't want to. What it does show is the environment you'd be joining: a club whose coaching, organisation and culture have been recognised by Table Tennis England. You can expect qualified coaches, regular competition matched to your level, and a club that cares about sportsmanship as much as winning.
Whether you're picking up a bat for the first time, coming back to the game after a break or looking to play at a higher level, there's a place for you at Stanmore Table Tennis Club. We welcome juniors and adults of every standard, and we'd love you to be part of what made us London Club of the Year. To find out how to join, email us or fill in the form on our Contact Us page and we'll get back to you.
