NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the new season. We haven’t had a newsletter for some time but as there have been a few changes, I thought it was time for one.
I’ll start with another reminder that all clubs must register their players with the league before they play, and that every player must be registered with Table Tennis England.
Fixtures secretary
As most of you know by now, Peter Taylor has retired after five years as fixtures secretary and I’m sure everyone will join me in thanking him for doing such an excellent job during that time. He has been replaced by Ryan Pitt, to whom the league is extremely grateful for stepping in to this important post. It is to Ryan that all scorecards should now be sent. Either to 15 Monks Mead, Bicknacre CM3 4EU, or braintreettl@outlook.com.
We are grateful to Peter Taylor for agreeing to stay on the league management committee.
League Composition 2019-20
Following the discussion at the AGM, we carried out a quick poll of first division captains to gauge the response to a request at the AGM to consider cutting the first division to 18 matches. The result was exactly 50-50 and it was decided that this was not enough of an endorsement to change the system. We agreed, therefore, to stick with the 27-match season.
The league will again have 30 teams this season. Rayne and Liberal have added a team while Netts and Felsted RBL have dropped one.
Websites
Following the Table Tennis England decision to award a contract to TTLeagues to run their league fixtures programme, the Braintree League fixtures and information are now available on https://braintree.ttleagues.com/. The league has agreed to maintain its presence on the former tt365 site (https://www.tabletennis365.com/Braintree) for a further season to enable us to transfer all the information across to the new site. We are extremely grateful to Alan McEwan for agreeing to take this on despite his move to Norfolk.
The first news report of the season, a preview of division one, is now on the site
Summer League
Congratulations to Harry Buckle and Charlie Craig of Galleywood Hawks for winning the Tuesday version of the summer league and Sean Clift, Adam Clift and Chris Adkins (Ma Long Shots) for winning the Thursday version
And some extracts from earlier newsletters that are still relevant:
Some gentle nudges from the fixtures secretary
The first is that all matches must be played on the due date. Postponements are only permitted with the ADVANCE permission of the fixtures secretary and then only for good reasons. Matches postponed without permission will be awarded to the opposition.
Result cards are to be with Ryan Pitt no later than SEVEN days after the match is played. To clarify this, if a match is played on Tuesday then the card must be with him by the following Tuesday.
And from me:
Refreshments: Team captains are reminded that refreshments must be offered during a match to visiting teams (and your teammates, come to that). Whether it is tea, beer or orange squash, players should be offered something during the evening.
Coaching
League coaching will again be held at Notley on Sunday afternoons during the season. The league is once again grateful to Keith Martin for his sterling efforts to help bring new players into the game, and improve those already playing. Thanks also to those players who have helped out at the sessions. More help is needed. Anyone who thinks they can lend a hand in whatever capacity should ring Keith on 01245 469273 or drop him a line on keithmart@gmail.com
Diary dates
Quiz night: Saturday 25 January, Rayne Village Hall
Individual tournament: 25/26 April, Netts, Earls Colne Recreation Centre
Finals Night: Friday 1 May, Netts, Earls Colne Recreation Centre
AGM: Thursday 21 May, Liberal Club
Have a good season
Ron Fosker Chairman