Table tennis: Sport is proving a smash hit in Corstorphine

The sense of anticipation is palpable as pre-season preparation continues at Corstorphine Youth and Community Centre, home to one of the Capital's youngest and fastest-growing clubs. Corstorphine TTC, formed in 2008, now boasts 22 members and has entered six teams into the league for the coming campaign.

A burgeoning list of individual honours and achievements among its members reflects a steep rate of progress and the club reached the quarter-final of the Evening News Cup in its debut season.

Next week, the interest of members here will spread across three of the four divisions. While Corstorphine has yet to reach the heady heights of the Premier Division, it has two teams in each of Divisions 1, 2 and 3.

The roster of players ranges from teenagers to septuagenerians, and one of the club's veterans has been playing on the local scene since 1952. Dougie Smith, 70, will next week begin his 58th campaign with bat in hand at the table, and will come up against familiar opponents from when he first set out.

"I have been playing since I was 12 when I was a member of Pleasance Boys Club, and many of the players from that time are still playing locally," says Dougie, who acts as club president. "There were more young people playing then, but we have a few now here at Corstorphine who are very good."

Among the minority of younger players who play the sport at a recreational level is Megan Fulton, 14, who only picked up the sport last year but already cuts a focused figure as she rattles off her impressive repertoire of forehands and smashes against her father, Brian.

"My friends think I'm a tomboy," she says. "More people my age should play, but they have so many other sports to choose from."

Megan is an ideal advert for the changing image of the sport and, like clubmate Thomas Grant, attends monthly specialised training as part of the Edinburgh Development Squad, where 20-plus young hopefuls are put through their paces in Penicuik. Thomas, 15, is another who is fighting the "boring" stigma attached to the sport.

"It is fun," he says, "partly because as it's an individual sport you don't get moaned at by team mates. I used to play tennis and football but gave them up to focus on golf and table tennis. I find it really enjoyable."

The teenage pair were introduced to the sport by older members of their respective families and have blossomed in an environment that offers a convivial atmosphere and free coaching for young players.

Senior player Kenny Fraser explains an ethos behind the club that is geared towards the development of its younger members.

He says: "When the club formed two years ago, we were looking for somewhere to play. We came here as part of an agreement with Corstorphine Youth and Community Centre whereby three of our senior members run sessions free for kids and the centre allows us the use of their hall for training and matches.

"Now, we're one of the biggest clubs in the area alongside North Merchiston, Murrayfield and West Lothian."

Corstorphine TTC, based in West Edinburgh and sponsored by Eastern Pavilion Indian Restaurant and RACE Couriers, is looking for new players for the coming season. The club is open to adults and children, and players of any level will be warmly welcomed. For more information, please phone Tommy on 0131 337 7459 or Dougie on 0131 334 4668.

Additionally, the club will host a fundraising race night, buffet and disco at 7pm on Friday, 29 October at Carrickvale Golf Club, with tickets priced 5. For further information, contact Kenny Fraser on 444 1454 or on 07828 440 611.

For details on how to become involved in table tennis and to find out more about the local league, visit www.edinburghtabletennis.com