Meet the Team

Over the years we've worked with many of the best coaches and players in the world. We look forward to working with you on your game, live or online, very soon.

Alan Cooke

Course Director

Hi, it's Alan Cooke here and if you love table tennis as much as we do then you're in the right place. Whether you're a beginner just picking up a bat for the first time, a league player who wants to play to your full potential, or whether you're returning to the game you love after time away, we'd love to help.

We can also help you if you're a coach, or a club leader responsible for the performance of a group of ambitious players. We'd love to help you in the same way that we were helped by our mentors.

So if you're looking to improve your game and fulfil your potential, above all I would urge you to take action now. Because there's no time like the present to reinvent your table tennis game and yourself.

As a first step, if you want to make your game even more successful and even more enjoyable, then join our personal membership community and get all the insights and guidance before anyone else.

6 x English Men’s Singles Winner
5 x Commonwealth Gold Medalist
4 x Olympic Games
2 x European Silver Medalist & 2 x Bronze Medalist
World Medalist as both a Player & Coach
England & GB Head Coach for over a decade
Former World Speed Hitting record holder with Desmond Douglas (Guinness Book of Records)

Nicola Deaton

Course Director

Nicola here with a quick history lesson! Back in 2001 Alan and I decided to create the best possible week of table tennis coaching suitable for all ages and abilities. We wanted to share what we'd learned at the highest levels of the game with a wider range of people. We wanted to give something back to the sport we loved.

We had actually worked together considerably before we launched the Summer School. Alan was the coach for the Women's national team, which I played for, and he was my personal coach for more than 10 years.

We chose Grantham College as the venue for the Summer School - it's just so convenient being pretty central in England, and it was easily accessible, just off the A1. It's also equipped with excellent residential and catering facilities with 18 top-class Butterfly tables in the large sports hall.

We put together a team of highly qualified coaches and current England players to provide a feast of professional and knowledgeable expertise and that was the beginning of what we're proud to say has become the world's best and most up-to-date Summer School.

There's more to tell you about what we have in store for you, but for now if you're interested in joining us for next year's Summer School take a look at the schedule and get signed up today.

5 x English Women’s Singles Winner
16 x total English National Titles
National Champion at every age group
European & Commonwealth Medalist
Youngest Player to represent England Senior Women’s Table Tennis Team (Guinness Book of Records)

Paul Whiting

Lead Coach

Commonwealth Men’s Doubles Bronze Medalist
5 x Senior County Prem Winners (Devon)
2 x Senior British Premier League Winner
England Junior International
England Team Captain with both junior and Senior Teams

Kelly Sibley

Lead Coach

5 x English Women’s Champion
Double Commonwealth Bronze Medalist
Former England Women’s Head Coach
Head Coach for the University of Nottingham
London 2012 Olympian

Matt Ware

Lead Coach

Former England Junior & Senior International Player
Played professional in German, Swedish and Belgium Leagues
British Grand Prix U21 Series Winner
Plays for Ormeau (Belfast) - British Premier League Champions
Full time professional coach

Dale Ajeto

Coach

Director of Wensum TTC
Multi Champion Coach of Junior British League and Women’s British League
Worked and travelled on QE2 as a Coach and delivering Table Tennis Exhibitions

Sam Walker

Player/Coach

World Cup and World Championship Bronze Medalist
Member of the GB Olympic that finished 5th in Rio 2016
Professional in the Bundesliga for Grenzau

Sophie Earley

Player/Coach

17 years old - Junior & Senior International
World Number 1 in U17 Girls Doubles
Former Junior Pro Tour Winner (Girls Doubles)
Current GB Squad Member

Vishaal Sharda

Coach

Greenhouse Leicester Head Coach
Uni of Nottingham Assistant Coach
SSAQ Advanced Trainers
Former C&D Summer School Participant

Chris Turner

Coach / Tournament Organiser

Worked in Table Tennis England’s Performance Team for many years
Lead for Nottingham’s TDC for 7 years
Has visited numerous World Table Tennis Centres including China, Sweden and France

Sam Cooke

Social Media and Admin Coordinator

Aled Howell

Coach

Coach and Education Manager Table Tennis England
Former Southern Regional Coach - TTE
Former Welsh International

Tom Brocklehurst

Team Support

Eric Hall

Team Support

Newsletter Subscription

Are you ready for your table tennis coaching?

Full Name

I have read and understood the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions and agree to receive personalised commercial communication from Cooke & Deaton by email.