McClymont method turns tables to serve up young talent

IT is easy to stroll unawares past the McClymont Centre. Hidden away between a popular pub and a disused former bank it is an inauspicious, unimpressive building in the shadows of Aberdeen city centre. And yet, in such a modest setting, a small sports club has survived and established what can claim to be Scotland's most unlikely centre of excellence.

The McClymont name may mean little even to the people of Aberdeen but, in table-tennis terms, it looms large on the Scottish international scene. In the team for this week's British Junior Championships (in Largs from Tuesday to Thursday) six of the 12 youngsters have been chosen from the McClymont. Given the far greater populations of Glasgow and Edinburgh, it is remarkable feat. Around 18 months ago the centre - a former church hall comprising a large games hall, two school-sized gymnasiums and committee rooms - survived a local authority proposal to close it down.

The McClymont's location, just off Union Street, means it is in an area which may be coveted by developers and Aberdeen City Council were sceptical of the interest in sustaining a minority sports facility.

The reaction was impressive. Aberdeen and District Table Tennis Association devised a development plan, attracted private sponsors and maximised rent income from other small sports clubs, then recruited part-time management staff to keep the centre open. That convinced the council - which has since been supportive and waived the centre's rates payments - that there was sufficient support to allow the McClymont to be self-governing.

"We took it over because there was a question mark for a while over whether it would survive," said ADTT vice-president Brian Morgan. "At that time people began to drift away but the response recently has been great. There are other minority sports at the centre, like yoga, judo and karate, and they have all benefited from its survival along with our table-tennis."

The McClymont now offers part-time work to six staff and is the venue for 80 to 100 youngsters, as young as seven and up to 17, to be coached in table-tennis every week. It is to the children's' advantage that Max Singer, the Scottish Table Tennis Association's assistant national coach, is in charge of the centre's coaching.

When other sports are taken into consideration, around 250 people use the McClymont each week. "The model we have really could be one that sports clubs across the country could look to follow," said Morgan.

"We are entirely non-profit-making but we know how to negotiate good deals and make the most of what we have to offer. It's very satisfying considering the place could have been closed down altogether."

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