In the last 25 Clacton & District League seasons, only four teams have taken the Division One title.

Brotherhood B have won it twice and Windsor Condors once but otherwise the title has been dominated by two teams – the legendary Brotherhood A team of Binns, Burgess, Andrews and Stubbings, and the current Nomads Panthers’ side, both of whom have won it eleven times.

And it would be a brave pundit who’d bet against the Panthers making it a record 12th consecutive title, with the Nomads’ star strengthened even further by the addition of Denes Somodi.

Gary Young moves from Brotherhood A to Windsor Hawks to replace his son Daniel which will mean the Brotherhood team will do well to repeat last year’s runners-up position.

Paul Hume is included in an otherwise unchanged Nomads Lions’ squad and they, together with the new-look Walton A team of Price, James, Foster, Willis and Binns, will all hope to be top-four challengers.

John Hobson’s Windsor Eagles had an indifferent season in 2023/24 by their own high standards and they may well be pleased with mid-table respectability.

Walton C struggled at the foot of the table last season but their Knock-Out Cup win will surely inspire them to better things, although they may well still feature in a relegation battle with Paul Newbould’s Walton B, weakened by the absence of Gavin Price, and promoted Lawford, this year including Glen Laing.

However, all eyes will also be on promoted Brotherhood B who swept aside all before them in Division Two last year. With the two Plummers and two Smith-Dayes supplemented by Daryl Lott, it will be interesting to see how this quintet fare at the highest level.

In Division Two relegated Windsor Buzzards have added Scott Campbell to their squad and they start as strong pre-season favourites. Mark Salter’s Brotherhood D look the best of the rest.

Paul Woolnough replaces Scott Campbell in last season’s third-placed team Windsor Penguins who also welcome Paul Stanton back into the League ranks, while John Gallagher’s Brotherhood C, which has developed into an all-round competitive side, is unchanged.

It’s good to see Tom Wilkin back in the table tennis fold leading the Nomads Jaguars, whilst the new-look Nomads Tigers comprising Jillins, Shafat, Wellum, Wilkinson and Miller will be relying heavily on skipper Miller to steer them to safety.

Kevin Pryor’s addition to promoted Brotherhood E’s squad should be the key to their survival whilst the other promoted side, Windsor Harriers, make a first change to their squad in eleven seasons, Barry Allen replacing Ferdy Rodriguez.

But the Harriers, like the unchanged Windsor Kestrels who finished bottom last term, will both need to play well to keep clear of the relegation zone where two promoted teams, Brotherhood G with new signing Adhuna Das, and an unchanged Windsor Magpies, will do well to survive.

With a number of new teams and new faces in Division Three, the battle at the top may well develop into a two-horse race between the talented juniors of Brotherhood F and ever-improving Nomads Bobcats.

Lynette Sparks’ Walton D is unchanged and they will, as always, be agreeable and competitive opponents whilst Kelvin Olano is a welcome League, playing for Windsor Falcons who, with Ferdy Rodrigues as first reserve, should be a competitive outfit.

Dominic Joannou is the only survivor in the Nomads Leopards side, their much-changed side this year led by Ann Bonny, whilst Nomads Ocelots contain five familiar faces in Hazel Blanche, Sue Lee, Norman Jacobs, Andrew Cousins and Arthur Wells-Garrett who will be hoping to avoid finishing bottom for a second year running.

And if you’re looking for a team to spring a surprise or two, watch out for the new Brotherhood H team which includes the promising De Silva brothers.

Finally, the League bids a warm welcome to four teams from the new Holland Club.

All four teams are led by established players, with Club Secretary leading Holland Lancasters, although it could be the Hurricanes, headed by Ian Gwillim and Gerry Widnell, who prove to be the best of the four Holland teams.

James Horsler and Mick Coker are the familiar names for the Vulcans whilst Pam Blakeley’s Mosquitos complete the Holland quartet.

So good luck to all competitors, both the long-established players as well those taking their first steps in competitive table tennis but, above all else, enjoy your table tennis.

* There are a handful of players who have yet to register with Table Tennis England. Any matches played by non-registered players will be voided.