Diane Webb Who's Who
Colin Wilson
Date and place of birth:
23rd August 1962. Bath, Somerset.
County
Somerset/Avon, Hampshire (to 1977), Middlesex (from 1977).
HONOURS AND AWARDS:
Table Tennis England Vice President 2019
British League Player of the Month, October 1985.
Qualifications
Coach: Senior Coach Level 4: 1992
Coached both Richard Hyacinth and Gareth Herbert to National Junior Singles titles
National Tutor Trainer 1995
UKCC Level 3 in 2020.
Positions held:
- Appointed Main Board Director and Non-Executive Board Member 2014-15
- Top Players Representative at National Council 1987-88
- Association of Table Tennis Players (ATTP): inaugural Secretary January 1985-90
- Table Tennis England Regional Development Officer Greater London January 1992-1995 (Director of Player Development Programme 1995)
- High Performance Coaches Group Member 2002-03
- National Coaching Committee Member 1993-2003
- National Selection Committee Member 1995-96
- National Strategy Group Member 2015-16
- National Competition Review Group Member 2015-17.
Playing Career:
England International: 10 England Senior appearances, over 50 at Junior level and over 20 at Cadet level
Ranking: England Senior 10, Junior 1, Cadet 1
Senior Debut: 1979. Commonwealth Championships, Edinburgh
Commonwealth Championships: Men’s Team silver 1978/79 (John Dabin, Alan Fletcher, Jimmy Walker), MS Rd of 128 1979, MD Runner-up 1979 (Jimmy Walker), XD QF (Carole Knight) 1979
European Youth Championships: Junior Boys’ Team 7th in 1977/78 (A Bottomley, Kenny Jackson, Graham Sandley), 5th in 1979/80 (Philip Bradbury, Graham Sandley, John Souter); Cadet Boys’ Team 6th in 1975/76, also played in 1976/77; JBD SF 1979/80 (Graham Sandley)
National Championships: MS QF 1984.85, Rd of 16 in 1979/80, 1985/86, 1991/92, Rd of 32 in 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1995/96, Rd of 64 in 1980/81, 1986/87; MD Runner-up 1984/85 and 1986/87 (both with John Souter), SF 1980/81 and 1981/82 (both with Donald Parker), 1985/86 (John Souter), QF 1977/78 (Paul Beck), 1982/83 (Donald Parker), 1987/88 (John Souter), 1991/92 (Graham Sandley), 1995/96 (Simon Rockall), Rd of 16 in 1979/80 (David Barr), 1983/84 (David Tan); XD SF 1994/95 (Gemma Schwartz), QF 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1985 (all with Helen Williams), 1983/84 (Juliet Houghton), Rd of 16 in 1977/78 and 1980/81 (both with Helen Williams), 1984/85 and 1985/86 (both with Juliet Houghton)
U21 (Rock) National Championships: U21 XD Runner-up 1980/81 (Helen Williams)
Junior National Championships: JBS Runner-up 1978/79 (Number 1 seed), Rd of 16 in 1977/78, Rd of 32 in 1979/80; JBD Winner 1979/80 (Graham Sandley), SF 1978/79 (David Barr); JXD Runner-up 1978/79 and 1979/80 (both with Helen Williams).
Cadet National Championships: CBS Winner 1975/76 (1st Cadet Championships), Runner-up 1976/77
U13 National Championships: U13 BS 5th in 1974/75
National Top 12: MS 10th in 1985/86
National Team Championships: Wilmott Cup: Winner with North Middlesex League 1982/83 (Mark Mitchell, David Wells). Carter Cup: Winner with North Middlesex League 1974/75, 1977/78, 1978/79.
VETTS Nationals: 2023 Over 60s MS quarter-finalist.
Open Tournaments:
Bedford Open: MS Winner 1984/85
Bournemouth Open: MD SF 1975/76 (S Wilson); JBS Winner 1975/76, 1978/79
Bristol Open: MD Runner-up 1986/87 (John Souter)
Cleveland Open: MD SF 1984/85 (John Souter); Intermediate MS SF 1977/78; CBS Winner 1976/77; CBD Winner 1976/77 (Graham Sandley)
Corbet Arms Open: MS Runner-up 1990/91
English Open: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984. England Team of Juniors Rd of 32 in 1978/79 (David Barr). MS Rd of 32 in 1983/84, Rd of 64 in 1979/80, Qualifying Rd in 1978/79; MD Rd of 32 in 1979/80 (David Barr), Rd of 64 in 1981/82 (Kevin Satchell); XD Qualifying Rd in 1981/82 (Helen Williams)
Essex Open: MD Winner 1987/88 (John Souter), Runner-up 1985/86 (Horatio Pintea (Can)), SF 1982/83 (Don Parker), 1983/84 (John Souter), 1991/92 (Ritchie Venner)
Four Ts Open: MS Runner-up 1978/79, 1981/82; MD Winner 1981/82 (Graham Sandley), Runner-up 1977/78 (S Wilson); JBS SF 1978/79
Humberside Open: MD SF 1983/84 and 1984/85 (both with John Souter); JBS SF 1978/79, 1979/80
Israel Open: XD 1981 (Anita Stevenson)
Kent Open: MS Winner 1985/86; MD Runner-up 1985/86 (Joey Kennedy)
Kirklees Open: MS Winner 1981/82
Lambeth Open: MS Runner-up 1987/88; MD Winner 1985/86 (J Payne)
Merton Open: MD Runner-up 1976/77 (S Wilson)
Middlesex Open: MS Runner-up 1978/79; MD Winner 1985/86 (John Souter), Runner-up 1987/88, 1988/89 and 1989/90 (all with John Souter), SF 1980/81 (Don Parker)
Midland Counties Open: JBS Runner-up 1977/78, SF 1978/79; JBD Winner 1979/80 (Graham Sandley), Runner-up 1977/78 (Desmond Charlery), SF 1978/79 (David Barr)
North Bournemouth Club Open: XD Winner 1976/77 (Helen Williams); JBS Winner 1976/77
North Middlesex Open: MD Winner 1978/79 (David Barr)
Peniel Open: MD SF 1991/92 (Skylet Andrew)
Perth Open (Beneagles Whisky): MD Runner-up 1977/78 (Graham Sandley)
Southend Open: JBS SF 1076/77, 1977/78
South of England Open: MD Winner 1980/81 (Graham Sandley), 1981/82 (Philip Bradbury), 1984/85 and 1988/89 (both with John Souter), SF 1983/84 (John Souter); U21 MS Winner 1980/81
Sussex Open: MS Runner-up 1983/84, 1984/85, SF 1988/89; MD Winner 1982/83 (Graham Sandley), 1983/84 and 1984/85 (both with John Souter), 1988/89 (Baker), Runner-up 1979/80 (David Barr), 1990/91 (Graham Sandley), SF 1977/78 (Paul Beck), 1993/94 (Ritchie Venner); XD Winner 1982/83 and 1983/84 (both with Helen Williams), Runner-up 1979/80 (Helen Williams), SF 1978/79 (Helen Williams), 1984/85 (Sarah Sandley)
West Midlands Open GP: MD Runner-up 1996/97 (Gareth Herbert)
Wiltshire Open: MS SF 1983/84; MD Winner 1983/84 (Graham Sandley), 1985/86 (Nigel Eckersley), 1986/97 and 1987/88 (both with John Souter).
Austrian Junior Open: JBD QF 1979/80 (Graham Sandley)
Burford Junior Open: U13 BS Runner-up 1974/75, SF 1975/76; U13 BD Winner 1975/76 (B Johnson), SF 1973/74 (A Abbott); U11 BS Winner 1973/74, SF 1972/73
Cleveland Junior Open: JB Team Runner-up 1979/80 (Graham Sandley); JBS Winner 1978/79, 1979/80; JXD Winner 1979/80 (Helen Williams)
Cleveland Junior Ranking Open: JBS Runner-up 1979/80
Cotswold Junior Open: U17 BS Runner-up 1976/77; U17 BD Winner 1978/79 (David Barr); U17 XD Winner 1976/77 (Helen Williams), 1978/79 (Helen Williams)
English Junior Open: JBS Runner-up 1978/79, QF 1978/79, 1979/80; JBD Runner-up 1979/80 (Graham Sandley)
Essex Junior Open: JBS Runner-up 1978/79; JBD SF 1977/78 (J Morgan); JXD Runner-up 1978/79 (Helen Williams); U15 BS Winner 1975/76; U15 BD SF 1975/76 (R Albutt); CBS (U14) Winner 1976/77, SF; CBD Winner 1976/77 (Graham Sandley); U11 BS SF 1971/72
Joseph Leckie Open: U11 BS Runner-up 1972/73, 1973/74
Kent Junior Open: JBS SF 1977/78; U11 BS Runner-up 1973/74
Middlesex Junior, Cadet, U15 & U13 Opens: JBS SF 1977/78; CBS Winner 1976/77; CB Runner-up 1975/76; U15 BS Winner 1976/77, Runner-up 1977/78, SF 1975/76; U15 BD Winner 1975/76 (Tony O’Connor), 1977/78 (Keith Nicoll), SF 1976/77 (Costas Papantoniou); U13 BS Runner-up 1975/76, SF 1974/75; U13 BD Runner-up 1974/75 (R Albutt), 1975/76 (Bergemann)
Newbury Junior Open: JBD Runner-up 1976/77 (Bryn Tyler); CBS Winner 1976/77; CBD Winner 1976/77 (Keith Nicoll), SF 1980/81 (J Bradbury); U11 BS Runner-up 1973/74
North Herts Junior Open: U11 BS Runner-up 1971/72
North of England Open: JBS Runner-up 1978/79
Reading Junior Open: JBS Runner-up 1977/78; JBD Runner-up 1977/78 (Desmond Charlery); CBD Winner 1976/77 (Graham Sandley), Runner-up 1975/76 (Tony O’Connor); U13 BS SF 1973/74; U11 BS Winner 1973/74, SF 1972/73
Welsh Junior Open: JBS SF 1977/78
West Midlands Junior Open: U14 BS SF 1974/75
Winton Open: Junior Singles Winner 1975/76
Yorkshire Junior Open: JBS Winner 1977/78, 1979/80; JBD Runner-up 1979/80 (Paul Whiting); JXD SF 1977/78 (Helen Williams); U14 (Cadet) BS Runner-up 1975/76, 1976/77; U14 (Cadet) BD Runner-up 1975/76 (Tony O’Connor), 1976/77 (Graham Sandley).
Closed Tournaments:
Bournemouth Closed: MS Winner 1975/76; U15 BS Winner 1975/76; U13 BS Winner 1975/76
GLC Closed: MS Winner 1986/87; MD Winner 1987/88 and 1993/94 (both with John Souter)
Hampshire County Closed: JBS Winner 1974/75, Runner-up 1975/76
Middlesex County Closed: MS Runner-up 1992/93; MD Winner 1991/92 and 1992/93 (both with John Souter); XD Winner 1980/81 (Lesley Tyler)
Middlesex Junior Closed: JBS Winner 1977/78
Middlesex Junior Authorised Invitation Tournament: JBS Runner-up 1978/79
Northamptonshire County Closed: MS Winner 2023.
Other:
British League: Senior Premier Division Winner with Ellenborough 1984/85 (Mark Mitchell, Graham Sandley, Nigel Tyler, David Wells), Bath 1987/88 (Desmond Douglas, Nicky Mason, Kevin Satchell, Matthew Syed). Won British League Men’s title three times
British Universities Sports Federation (BUSF): MS Winner 1981/82
County Championships: Premier Division Winner with Middlesex 1982/83 (Mark Mitchell, Johns Souter, David Wells, Angela Mitchell), 1984, 1979/80 (David Barr, Diccon Gray, Graham Sandley +)/85 (Graham Sandley, John Souter, David Wells, Sarah Sandley), 1986/87 (Mark Mitchell, Graham Sandley, John Souter, Nigel Tyler, Angela Mitchell, Lesley Tyler), 1988/89 (Graham Sandley, John Souter, Nigel Tyler, Lesley Keast (Tyler), 1989/90 (Graham Sandley, John Souter, Nigel Tyler, Lesley Keast), 1992/93 ( Mark Mitchell, Graham Sandley, John Souter, Nigel Tyler, Mateja Glucic, Sanja Kubelka).
ESTTA Championships: U19 BS Winner 1978/79; U16 BS Winner 1977/78
European Universities Championships, Netherlands: MS Winner 1982
International Club of England: Charity match Seniors v Juniors September 1980. Seniors won 4-3, Playing for the Juniors – MS 2-0, MD 0-1 (John Souter, XD 1-0 (Helen Williams)
International Club of England Hard Bat Tournament: MS Winner 1980/81; MD Winner 1980/81 (Graham Sandley), 1982/83 (Mark Mitchell); XD Winner 1982/83 (Helen Williams)
Maurice Goldstein Trophy: Champion County v Runner-up, Middlesex v Lancashire. Lancashire won 7-2, MS 0-2, MD 0-1 (Graham Sandley)
National Club Championships: Winner with Ellenborough 1980/81 (Mark Mitchell, Graham Sandley)
Schools International Championships: England A Senior Boys’ Winner 1978/79 (Skylet Andrew, David Barr, Diccon Gray, Graham Sandley); England A Intermediate Boys’ Team Winners 1977/78 (David Barr, Andrew Bellingham, Graham Sandley, Paul Whiting); Senior Boys’ Singles Runner-up 1978/79, 1979/80; Intermediate BS Winner 1977/78
Western League: Senior debut for Bournemouth, aged 12 years, in 1974/75
World Student Games, Gdansk, Poland in 1984
World Ping Pong (Sandpaper Bat) Qualifier for World Championships Over 60s in Mexico 2024.
UK Ping Pong (Sandpaper Bat) Open Singles Finalist 2024 and Qualifier for World Championships in Mexico January 2025
Table Tennis News interview 1991
An interview with John Wood appeared in ‘Table Tennis News’, November 1991, p30:
“Colin Wilson, now aged 29, reflects on twenty years in table tennis. Colin has recently returned to table tennis as a professional player/coach, after a gap of five years. In a career spanning from age 9-23 years, Colin always played a foremost role on the competitive circuit, from Butlin’s Boy-of-the-Week at age 9 to England Cadet No.1 and through to England Junior No.1 before joining the Senior ranks.
“I loved my time as a budding junior playing” says Colin, who began at Merton T.T.C. in Bournemouth until moving to North London’s Ellenborough T.T.C. at age 14. “I played almost every evening, weekend and holiday for about ten years. I played with big brother (Steve) and Dad (Terry) and in local and national groups and teams.” Colin competed in five consecutive European Youth Championships, a record surpassed only by Carl Prean. ‘Even on my birthday I just wanted ‘to go for a knock’.”
At age 18, Colin played whilst at University College, London, where he spent three years, and gained a honours degree in Economics and Statistics. From 1979 to 1982 Colin progressed on a Senior Interval, winning 2 silver medals at the Commonwealth Championships and two bronze at the Israel Open.
‘It was at this stage that I became interested in coaching as I studied technique more deeply. Also I became conscious that table tennis was poorly paid unless you were in the top three in England, so career considerations grew in importance. “After University I played full time, and helped run some coaching camps and organised my own sessions to pay my expenses. For two summers I trained and learned in Sweden with John Souter, which was invaluable for the experience. I reached England No. I0 in the 1985/86 season but I gradually became more aware of the poor prospects available to the pool of full-time players in England. Sometimes it seemed that table tennis was a lowly sport without the will or ability to improve its own status. Without a pool of 15-20 professionals making a reasonable living, England could not, and still cannot truly compete in depth with the rising Asian and European challengers:”
At this time Colin decided that he needed the experience and stimulation offered by the world of business. He helped to build a garage workshop business ‘Mark One Motors’ with great T.T. friend Mark Mitchell, also an ex-International, now aged 34. Further experience in sales of motor vehicles, skin products and motor trade products helped Colin to buy his first home and act as consultant for other small businesses. “I love the challenge of building businesses and adding value” says Colin. “As in sport, you work hard, and you win some and you lose some, but as long as you’re always striving to improve, you can never really lose. You get better and better, which is good for everybody involved.”
Colin finished a business project in August, “and I became interested in table tennis again”. For three years he had another sporting diversion hot air ballooning! “A wonderful, fun sport” says Colin, now a qualified pilot. “I used to be scared of heights but it’s not a problem now! The challenge is in flying and landing safely. So far, so good!”
This season Colin has expanded his coaching activities and is training too. He has already beaten John Holland (England No.12) and won all six of his matches in the County Premier Weekend for Middlesex.
“What’s needed now is the desire in England to build clubs of excellence, like they do in Europe and Scandinavia. In these countries the clubs exist to become the best in depth of standard, from under 10’s to National League winners. This has already been achieved at Grove and Peniel who have made dramatic progress. I admire their drive and enthusiasm. They are well organised and driven by Ian Marshall and Michael Reid, and both have top professional coaches, John Souter and Nicky Jarvis.”
“The clubs must lead the Association towards excellence” says Colin “not the other way round. Pressure and enthusiasm from clubs of excellence will spur the Association to better organisation, better events, better publicity, better sponsorship, better funding and a greater desire and vision of national success. After all, the Association is the clubs in each league”.
“From this base there is room for at least 15-20 professional players to earn a reasonable living from their sporting excellence. Later in their careers they can train youngsters on a commercial basis, who in turn can see the rewards of success from a young age.”
“If we have a Grove or Peniel in every town, table tennis would be a stronger, more vibrant sport with lucrative rewards and status for top players. For the Association and its enthusiastic members, it’s as difficult and as simple as that”.
“My plans? I love table tennis and I love business. I’m available and I want to help make table tennis happen.”
More About Colin
Colin attended a training camp in Guernsey in October 1982 with a group of 11 players from Reading which also included Mandy Smith, Sue Collier and Matthew Syed, led by National Coach, David Fairholm.
In November 1995, Colin took a party of six England players, Bradley Billington, Andrew Eden, Alex Perry, Jonathan Taylor, Nicola Deaton and Helen Lower, to the Hungarian Open, Austrian Open and French Open, driving them by mini-bus across Europe. At the Hungarian Open Colin corner-coached Matthew Syed to his best ever win, against Ma Wenge, the World No 9 from China.
Colin has undertaken several commentating duties including at the European Championships 1994, World Championships 1997, Manchester (as a pundit for Sky), Heritage Oil Finals at the BT Studios, Olympic Park, London 7th July 2014, National Championships for ITV 4 1st March 2016, also commentated for the World Ping Pong Championships at Alexandra Palace 2013-2020.