INSPIRATIONAL

Printed in the National League South game v Dover Saturday 4th February 2023. We drew 1-1 in front of 750

In a never ending news circle of doom its good to get that warm feeling of being somewhere special. I’m not just talking about the fact that Slough are on a five match unbeaten run but would you believe it, ping-pong.

Last Thursday me and the missus went along to an old church hall that has been transformed by Brighton Table Tennis Club (BTTC).

BTTC are big news in Brighton and beyond. Their top player is Will Bayley, the British Paralympic world number 1 (you might have also seen him on Strictly). Working with everyone from children struggling at school, adults with learning disabilities, refuges, ex prisoners and more, they have somehow turned this melting pot of people into a community.

At the launch, founder Tim Holtan addressed the great and the good (and me) telling us: “To build a resilient community the first stage is to make people feel welcome and provide a sense of belonging. The second stage is to give people a genuine opportunity to make a positive contribution. Which reinforces stage 1 in a virtuous circle. If people are given access to opportunity and a supportive environment, they will flourish.”

We were here to see the new space, designed as a permanent home for the Real Junk Food Project. They take food that would have otherwise gone to waste, turn it into amazing meals and then serve it up under a pay-what-you-can-afford system. What I really liked about the new build was how multi functional it was, making the space work for so many different groups. People with dementia, those hard of hearing, church meetings with a soundproof wall divider meaning people can eat and pray at the same time. Topped off with a peaceful courtyard in the middle of bustling Brighton.

Tim Hollingsworth the CEO at Sport England said “BTTC is one of the most inclusive, innovative and progressive sports clubs in the country. It’s firmly rooted in its own community, is open to new people and thinking and has become about more than the game itself. In many ways BTTC is providing a model for the sports club of the future, which is why it fits perfectly with Sport England’s vision of Uniting the Movement, and why we are so proud to support the developments you can see here today.”

This is where the Rebels come in and for the club to flourish in the future it must be open and inclusive to everyone. With new investors, and a new manager with new energy, things are on the up. The Dulwich game had that pre-covid matchday buzz and as for Cheshunt away – well even their noisy fans said we were the ‘Best away support and noise at Theobalds Lane they’ve had all season.’

My vision of a future Slough Town, would be control of Arbour Park with community development workers that make sure this multi functional space, obviously with an emphasis on football, works for everyone.

When Slough were homeless we took inspiration for what Dartford had achieved, finally getting a new ground after a decade squatting. Jeremy Kite Leader of Dartford Council and a Dartford Supporter told me at the time “Everyday, councils throw bucket loads of money at schemes to deal with anti-social behaviour, childhood obesity, community cohesion, civic pride and community relations. Here in Dartford, we took the view that rather than fund a series of expensive here today- gone tomorrow initiatives, we would invest in football as a catalyst for all those things. I'm sure every Council thinks they are doing things right, but I've never regretted or doubted the wisdom of our investment in a new Stadium. You simply cannot put a price on the sense of pride and worth that is developing around the town as a result of The Darts coming home. Princes Park will not only become a centre of spectator sport, but also as a participatory one too – for kids of all ages. I have told the club that they MUST bring kids in and encourage school sports finals and training to take place on the first pitch. My other advice to councillors is 'invest in quality'. We could have built a typical 'iron and block' stadium but what does that say about us? What confidence does it give others if WE won't invest in great architecture? How can we expect people to respect the building if it doesn't deserve respect?.”

“I know that many Council's feel that they 'can't' do this, and 'can't' do that, and if we had stopped every time somebody had said that our dream was impossible then we wouldn't have got beyond advertising for an architect. Leadership is about legacies, not bureaucracy, and when I'm dead and gone they will bury me with a smile on my face because I know we have provided a facility that will makes tens of thousands of people happy every year.”

This same model is how we run our community pub, The Bevy. Delivering all kinds of services which in turns brings in business that helps keep the place in a low income area ticking over.

The mixture of God, table tennis and food is an unlikely mix. But with the right people with the right attitude they have created something inspiring. Slough has always been a town of invention as the new song about zebra crossings, Thunderbirds, Marsbars and bins celebrates.

So its time to harness that energy for Slough Town. To flourish we need the mentality of Brighton Table Tennis and the Bevy and the innovation of the town to get us to the next level, on and off the pitch.