DAVE Cochrane admitted he had a "tear in his eye" after he brought a junior table tennis league back to Accrington.
Dave is the East Lancashire Table Tennis Development Officer and his aim was to re-introduce a league for youngsters in Hyndburn following a four year absence.
And the East Lancashire Junior Table Tennis League kicked off at Hyndburn Sports Centre last week where 26 children aged between 10 and 16 will battle it out over 12 weeks in the two division league.
"It was great to finally get it underway. I came a year ago to coach table tennis and found there was no one to coach," said Dave.
"So I started working on developing table tennis in the area and my aim was to re-introduce a junior league. The last league had been in 2000-2001.
"There was a tear in my eye when it all kicked off as I had worked hard for it.
"I was worried as there was an adult town team match going on in the same room and thought the children would make too much noise but you could hear a pin drop they were concentrating that hard."
The league is held every Friday night from seven until nine and Dave is looking to increase it from the six teams in each division.
And he is not stopping there. He also runs a Table Tennis Development Group in East Lancashire where, rather than competitive games, he concentrates more on coaching table tennis. And Dave is also training children to be umpires and he is hoping to launch a first in England.
"I am starting a "Girl power" course which is to encourage girls to get involved in table tennis. My aim is to start a girls only league and this would be the first in the country," he said.
"I have achieved most of my aims so far so I am confident that I can do this as well."
Anyone interested in table tennis can get in touch with Dave on his mobile on 07736 104881 or at home on 01282 693319.
Or, for more information about junior table tennis, look on www.elttl.co.uk .
