The Sports Club of the Year awards are made annually to clubs which have genuinely embraced the spirit of community provision. Sponsored by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the awards recognise the hard work involved in running sport and recreation clubs at grassroots level.
CCPR is delighted to announce the winners of Sports Club of the Year 2008:
First place - London Progress Table Tennis Club
In joint second place - FM Eclipse Netball Club and University Sport Birmingham Volleyball Club
In joint third place - Goole Tennis Club, Windsor Judo Club and Wrexham Fencing Club.
Established 20 years ago, London Progress has developed into a multi-national club with a focus on competition and aspiration. Progress operates 20 tables in one hall ensuring novices to elite players, school children to pensioners, play side by side, week by week. This process of participating in the competitive structure as soon as possible has led Progress to be British League winners for nine consecutive years. Offering unique partnerships such as that with Brentford Football Club’s community programme, Progress has still managed to keep the cost of five hours of junior training to £1.
Tim Lamb, CCPR chief executive, said:
“CCPR is proud to present the Sports Club of the Year awards and to recognise community sports clubs in this way. London Progress is an example to clubs right across the country.
“Jon Kaufman, and his team, have made an indelible mark on the world of grassroots table tennis."
A total of £15,000 was presented to the clubs by Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe and Rugby World Cup winner and former British Lion, Jason Leonard MBE with London Progress Table Tennis Club taking home the top prize of £6,000.
CCPR wishes to thank and congratulate all of the clubs who applied to be Sports Club of the Year 2008. CCPR will begin its search for the Sports Club of the Year 2009 in the next few months.
