City’s ping- pong pensioners take back the court after virus break
Club supports physical and mental health
TABLE tennis- playing oldies are back across the net after the pandemic put a stop to their game for months. The Drumchapel Table Tennis Club is back in action after a hiatus this year.
Johnny Campbell said it was “absolutely amazing” to be back playing table tennis after nearly seven months away.
The 85- year- old lockdown I playing as it helps added: “During really missed to keep me fit and healthy, physically.
“I also missed the social scene, and to have that back in my life is great.”
The club is an important part of its members’ social life, as well as helping them to stay physically fit and mentally healthy.
Chair Terry McLernon admitted his worry that the club’s forced pause might have put all the hard work of building up the community “to waste”.
In its first year, the club grew from 75 members to more than 250.
Mr McLernon said: “It was important to keep members up to both mentally and date. We had made huge progress building the project up and didn’t want to put all that hard work to waste.
“There have been quite a few participants frightened to get out or in the vulnerable category, so we made an extra effort to check in with them regularly.
“Our mental health is hugely important during this time and so we have been making an extra effort to make sure that everyone is okay.
“I think it’s been really good for me, the club and most importantly all the players to be back.
“We’ve worked hard to make sure the correct protocols are in place to follow the Scottish Government, sportscotland and Table Tennis Scotland guidance to allow a safe return to sport.
“The numbers have been growing steadily each week with more people finding out that we’re back up and running.
“It’s been very inspiring to hear that everyone is enjoying being back.”
The club was running sessions of its over- 50s game at nine venues across the city.
Sessions have now returned to Drumchapel and at the Easterhouse Community Sports Hub.