The England Futures programme is getting a revamp and increasing in size to help unearth more potential international medallists.

The squad is the first step on the England performance pathway and includes the best under-12 players in the country.

More players from the age group will get more days at training camps, working with top-class coaches and sparrers. The very best of the 20-to-24-strong squad will be invited to further training under the guidance of Carlo Agnello in our Elite Training Centre.

The aim is to broaden the ‘catchment’ of talented players and give them the best chance of moving up the pathway into GB-based squads.

From the 2024/25 season, the squad will include:

• The top eight ranked under-13s
• Those who reached the quarter-finals or better at the Under-13 Nationals
• Those who impress England scouts at competitions around the country

In addition, Table Tennis England will hold two trial days per year where those who do not objectively meet the criteria, but show something the England coaches like, will have a chance to get into the squad.

There will also be up to six wildcards for each training camp, to which those who are scouted from competitions across England will be invited.

Gavin Evans, Head of Performance Development, said: “We’ve recognised the need to invest in our talent pathway more, we need to grow the base so that in a number of years’ time we have some fantastic talents and more of them in our GB Training Squad programme.

“What those who are part of the squad can expect is a minimum of 40 days’ training in our Elite Training Centre in Sheffield, access to sports science and medicine and great coaches and great sparring partners.”

Hear more from Gavin in the video below and visit our Pathway page for more information.