West of Scotland Table Tennis League

West of Scotland Table Tennis League
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Hans Alser and Robert Murray (Swedish Training Trip)I have recently been given access to a range of Table Tennis memorabilia which belonged to Robert Murray and this included a collection of photos from the 1960s to 1980s, some of which I am keen to share with visitors to the site. As ever with photos from the past you will see that I’m not always entirely sure of the subjects or when and where the picture was taken. I have made some educated guesses and also received information from coaches and players who appear in some of them. I would be very grateful for any additional information you may have about the content/subjects of the photos and I will be very pleased to add this detail to the description. Please contact me at shouston@ntlworld.com identifying the photo and providing me with any additional information. (Photo on the left is of Robert (on a visit to Sweden) with Hans Alser - World Class player and coach)

Robert was Director of Coaching and Team Manager with the Scotland international team in theScottish Badges late 1960s and early 1970s and he travelled extensively to major championships. At these international tournaments he networked brilliantly and developed close ties with the Swedish and Japanese Association and in particular
Ichiro Ogimura (Japanese World Champion and ITTF President). As a result of his efforts some of our players went to Japan to train – Keith Rodger, Davie McIlroy and Ewan Walker – and Japanese players visited Scotland to play and train with our players.  The photos reflect this but Robert also organised numerous coaching sessions particularly at Inverclyde. The badges in the photo on the right includes the current TTS thistle design and the S.T.T.A. Golden Jubilee badge. I haven't seen the top left one before West of Scotland Table Tennis Association or the STTA bottom right.  

I am very grateful to Heather Murray (Robert’s sister-in-law) and his nephew Alan for contacting me about Robert’s TT collection and making it available and I hope you enjoy the photos and trying to identify players, coaches, friends and even venues from the past.
 
Photo Archive (Includes some Pathe Newsreel of Helen (Elliot) Hamilton and Malcolm Sugden - Players Album)

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