Article by Neil Paterson
A warm welcome to all returning players and new players that will be taking part in the ADTTA 2023-2024 season. I am Neil Paterson, your new match secretary from this season. Before I continue, I wish to make thanks to my predecessor Chris Davenport, who has left the area and I am sure all players wish him many thanks and good luck for the future.
I have played table tennis for over 15 years now, starting from an after-school session organised by Charlie Flint at Westhill Academy, and after a year of doing that, I was keen to join the club. I have been there ever since and other than Charlie himself, I am the longest continuous member of the club. If you ever come to Westhill for a match, more than likely I will be there unless I am away playing somewhere else. I am always keen to talk to players that I have not had a chance to play or interact with others. I am keen to visit all clubs, particularly those I have not visited.
LEAGUE STRUCTURE
This year we have 33 teams competing. Division 1,3 and 4 with 8 teams and Division 2 with 9. I predict that all will be very close. All teams that were due for promotion have been promoted up a division as reward for a great season. ASV Academy who completed a perfect season last year will again play all their matches at home this season. More information can be found on the website which I will link at the end of the article just in case anybody is unaware of this. Another issue this year is that Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) where 1/3 of the teams in the league play from will not be available in December, due to the hall floor being replaced. Thankfully we have new lighting units that have been installed already and the lighting is looking much better.
NEW PLAYERS AND CHANGES WITHIN TEAMS
As usual we have many changes occurring within teams aswell, a few to name are the change to CTM team names, away from the previous A and B model to Dauntless, Atlas and Zagros. Within CTM are some new players like Weijun Ni and return to CTM of Patrick Cao after a year with Triangle. Westhill have increased the number of teams to 6, having a second Division 2 team due to the return of Kevin Ashton and Chris Flint. Sadly, Shell Gashers team has gone and Paul Barlow has joined Westhill. AU Ospreys which have older Academy players will be looking to hold there own in Division 1. AU Falcons have a very new feel with lots of students in this team. Triangle welcomes Manmeet Randhawa as well as Peter Katona previously of Westhill to form a new team of Triangle Twowrists. Stonehaven have Dick Bird who returns from playing previously in the Dundee leagues, along with a few new members. Turriff have acquired Ralston Johnson to help with adding to the growing quality of players in the local area. The B team looking to help develop young players. Westburn Surfers welcome Dod Main. West Park Dads have become West Park Evergreens and Evergreens have become West Park NorDan, a name previously used. As previously said sadly Shell Gashers have gone, and Shell have only 2 teams this year. ASV academy have added to there impressive roster of young talent Ben Stewart and Dean Robertson. Inverurie will again be competitive as will Alford.
KO CUP AND LEAGUE CUPS
As usual this season 2 cup competitions will be played for KO Cup which compromises of all 4 divisions playing with total combined match score being the method of winning. The League Cup is spread over all 4 divisions with the match being decided with a conventional who has won the most games. These matches are all handicap based and these are done on Ratings Central with the help from Gregor Ksiazek. More information will be coming regarding this to team secretaries.
If anyone has any questions, please contact myself at neil.paterson@aberdeentabletennis.com.
Good luck to teams!
Neil Paterson
ADTTA Match Secretary
Link to 2023-2024 League Tables:
https://tabletennis365.com/aberdeen/Tables/Adtta_League_2023-24/All_Divisions
