Readers of former local community newspaper, Spennynews, may remember the report and photograph of the former, Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive School’s Table Tennis Team, and their success in winning the English Schools’ Table Tennis Championship, some twenty-six years ago.
The team travelled with their tutor Mr Barry Coleman to Butgenbach in Belgium to represent England in the World Schools Championship, dominated by a team from China.
Team Captain, Michael Marsden, took up the sport aged thirteen, and upon leaving school, at sixteen was invited to join a club in Sweden, where he was coached by the then world champion’s own coach.
On his return to the UK he trained as a baker, continuing to play matches in the British League.
Later he secured a position in a Northumberland Sports Academy, as Table Tennis Development Officer, where he had some 600 children from surrounding schools taking up table tennis.
After moving temporarily to Liverpool, he returned to Spennymoor working for specialist sports company, Tees Sport, where he later became general manager, advising customers on suitable equipment, and attended sporting events throughout the country.
He continued to work remotely after moving to South Wales and marrying Dayna who he met through the same sport.
After a number of years, he was offered a coaching position at a premier club based in Peterborough, where he now works, commuting from his home each week.
He has continued to play matches in Welsh leagues, and recently entered the World Table Tennis Federation’s World Veterans Championships, under the Welsh flag, travelling to Muscat in Oman for the competition.
Teamed with the new Singles World Champion, German player, Gregor Clemens Foerster, Michael entered the Men’s Doubles event, and went on to win every match, including the finals, being declared World Champions in their class with an emphatic 3-0 score in the best of five sets final.
Friends and relatives at home were able to watch the matches and the presentation ceremony live on Youtube.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
