Portishead Table Tennis Club chairman, Steve Pratt, has received a top award from England’s governing body for his significant personal contribution to the administration of the sport at a national level.
The Ivor Montagu Award was presented to Steve by Table Tennis England Board Director, Jos Kelly, at the National Table Tennis Championship in Nottingham yesterday (Sunday March 23rd).
In addition to being Portishead chairman, Steve was appointed to the Table Tennis England Members’ Advisory Group (MAG), when the body was first set up in 2019.
MAG offered strategic advice to the board and provided a communication channel for the wider table tennis community. The body’s members – appointed following an exhaustive round of national interviews – represented all areas of the sport including coaching, technical officials, competitions, clubs, leagues, counties and schools, as well as six ‘player’ roles.
Although MAG has since been disbanded, Steve was invited to be a non-voting member on the recruitment panel for various director appointments, as well as a previous chief executive appointment.
A veteran of the sport, Steve first started playing competitively in the Kettering and District League in the early 60s, when he joined Rothborough Table Tennis Club. He also played in the Wellingborough, Northampton and Chesterfield leagues before moving to Portishead. He currently plays for the Portishead Krakens team in the Bristol League Division 4.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the roles I have fulfilled at club and national level. It has been a delight to see the growth at Portishead Table Tennis Club from a one table venue to a Premier Club with 10 teams, a 16-table practise venue at a local school and a well-developed coaching set up, made easier by the dedication of the club’s excellent coaching team. It has been an immense privilege to see the development of many youngsters at the club.
Steve Pratt, who has played for Portishead since 1987
