Fitness and friendship are on offer at Matua Table Tennis Club, which is down in numbers after Covid-19 and is now seeking new, experienced, members.

Club president Shane Spalding says the club is 'very social”. 'You get to know people outside table tennis.”

But Shane says do not be underestimated by the club's friendly atmosphere – Matua Table Tennis has some star players.

'We've got one chap [Brian Wilson] who's nearly 92 and he's a bloody good player!

He's one of the best in NZ for his age.”

Shane himself fell in love with table tennis after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour 25 years ago.

'I was blind for a few years, and I was an A-grade tennis player. I couldn't go back to tennis.”

As fate would have it, Shane says he saw an advert saying: ‘Table Tennis, come along free'. He cites 'indoors, aircon units, and awesome people to play with” as benefits of the sport.

In essence, Shane says Matua Table Tennis is 'just a good club, everyone's so nice and friendly”. The community Matua Table Tennis offers is invaluable to its members.

'A lot of the people have become really good friends over the years.”

The club ventures beyond Matua, too. 'We have an outing once or twice a year…we do travel to tournaments.”

Shane emphasises that experienced players are preferred.

The Matua Table Tennis club meets at Matua Hall Mondays and Tuesdays from 12.30pm-3pm, and Fridays 9am-11.30am.

Interested in joining?

Phone Shane on 027 544 3302, or come along to a meet.