As we approach the midway point of the season, London Progress are digging
in for a long hard winter. Early successes in the British League and local leagues suggest another sparkling season but it is far too early for any rejoicing. It may be the festive season but for Progress December and January are key months in a campaign the stretches over twenty  leagues and cups, each one as important as the next. After fifteen startlingly successful seasons, London Progress have lost none of their hunger for the game.

At present the club is seeking to win an eighth successive British league premier title, a second Women's Premier title, a second triumph in the Johnny Leach Cadet Cup and a clean sweep in the lower divisions of the British league. In addition to the above, the club hopes to retain the West Middlesex title for the fourteenth successive season and the Wembley and Harrow League title for an eighth successive year.These are the jewels in the crown but the lower divisions of the local leagues are just as fiercely contested and it is here that the Progress army of youngsters learn their trade.But it is not just youngsters that are battling away. London Progress has a loyal core of senior players who do not steal the limelight but are a crucial part of the life of this club and their contributions are every bit as important as the super exploits of the Progress super stars.

Herein lies the secret of success. London Progress have a sense of club which is so obviously lacking in much of  English Table Tennis. Ormesby and Darlington definitely  have it. Cippenham have it and BATTS have it. Ellenborough, Barnet and Fellows Cranleigh have it to a degree and a dozen or so other clubs are trying to project themselves as real sporting entities. But where are the great table tennis clubs in Leeds and Manchester and Birmingham. Where are the big clubs in Brighton, in Cardiff and Liverpool. In a country of 55 million, where is the battle between the big cities. London Progress scream out their achievements across the country, proudly and boldly, but with the above exceptions, we are greeted either with sneering remarks or deafening silence. We don't mind the insults it's the silence that is so depressing.

When London Progress was formed we saw an all conquering Grove and we
immediately set out to match them. We even dreamed of over-taking them.
Similarly, when Manchester United ruled the football nation, Arsenal set about doing something about it. I'm sure Chelsea will not be allowed to dominate unchallenged. Sport in England is about clubs. Nobody is going to get excited about County table tennis. Who knows or even cares who won the county championship last season. It's a great big-non event. But just wait until the Ormesby or Darlington clubs take the title away from London Progress. That would be news! Everyone in the table tennis world will be jumping up and down and clapping their hands. And so they should. It is not healthy for one club to be champions for so long. London Progress will be the first to congratulate the new champions.

This weekend saw great performances for London Progress in the West London National Junior League. Progress 1 have opened up a five point lead at the top of division One and are now in equal top place in Division 2. Alex Fegredo, Bhavin Savjani and Reece Manning were the stars for Progress 1 and
Zac Zilesnick and Bhuwan Sing were outstanding as a two man team in Division
2. Notwithstanding the successes of Progress, it is the rapid development of the West London Academy players under the direction of Jason Sugrue that  is particularly impressive. Great performances were made by Jack Ward, Daniel Basterfield, Terry Howe and Tony Wilkinson. Equally impressive were the performances were made by the Wembley High team under the coaching direction of Gareth Herbert.The third big club to participate was the vibrant Crusaders led by level four coach, Mike Pantin. These four clubs are developing a great sense of friendly but fierce competition which makes for a great tournament. Rivalries will resume on the 18th December for the second round of the NCL.

Congratulations also go to Rafi Marom, Ashley Stokes, Daniel Ives and Garth
Kinlock who all qualified from their respective regional trials.

This weekend sees the second battle of the non-Premier British League teams
with London Progress set to visit Okehampton in Devon for Division 1, Chichester in Sussex for Division 3 and nearby Cippenham for Divisions 2 and
4.