Aberdeen Table Tennis Academy was established in 2011, initially as a series of sessions at Aberdeen Sports Village, giving under-18 players the opportunity to try table tennis. The programme proved to be a great success and quickly highlighted the potential for something more ambitious: a structured coaching programme focused on player development and performance.

To support this vision, performance coaches Max Singer and Charlie Matthew were invited to join the initiative. They agreed to deliver an initial six-week coaching programme and, remarkably, both are still coaching with the Academy 15 years later.

The impact of this structured approach was evident almost immediately. In 2012, just one year after the Academy was founded, Andrew McRae reached the final of the Scottish Primary Schools Championships. His performance earned him selection to represent Scotland at the British Primary Schools Championships, marking the Academy’s first major competitive success.

Since then, the Academy has gone from strength to strength, making an ever-growing impact on the Scottish table tennis scene. Year after year, its players have brought national titles back to Aberdeen while making a significant contribution to Scotland’s national teams.

In June 2026, nine Academy players were part of Scotland team for the Senior Schools International: Dean Robertson and Inniyan Jayaraj in the Under-14 Boys team, Kiishi Adekola and Nikki Mo in the Under-14 Girls, Victor Chen and Mathew Pszonka in the Under-16 Boys, Jakub Krzyzostaniak and Robbie Martin in the Under-18 Boys, and Maja Wojcicka in the Under-18 Girls.

The Table Tennis Academy is based at ASV and offers four coaching sessions each week:

Monday and Friday (all Table Tennis Academy pupils)

4.00pm- 6.00pm

Saturday (advanced level)

9.00am – 11.30am

Sunday (advanced level)

12.00pm – 2.30pm

Players typically begin their table tennis journey by attending Monday and Friday sessions, where the focus is on developing fundamental skills and building confidence. As they progress and demonstrate the required ability and commitment, they are invited to join Saturday and Sunday sessions, which provide additional training opportunities and a greater emphasis on performance development.

The Academy provides a wide range of competitive opportunities for its players, particularly for those who demonstrate talent, commitment, and a strong work ethic. These include participation in local leagues and tournaments, the Scottish and British Schools Championships, Inter League, Scottish National League, and Scottish National Championships.

Getting started in the local league and local tournaments is the most straightforward, as these events require minimal travel. Each season, the Academy enters one or two teams into the ADTTA League, giving players valuable experience in a competitive environment.

As players develop, the coaching team will advise when they are ready to compete in national school events. These include the Scottish Primary Schools Championships for players under 12, and the Scottish Secondary Schools Championships in the Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 age groups. Recommendations are based on each player’s technical ability, competitive readiness, and overall development observed during training.

Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in a player’s progress. Those who train consistently and fully engage with the coaching programme are best placed to develop their skills and take advantage of the Academy’s competitive pathway.

The Academy benefits from regular visits by Stephen Gertsen, the current Scottish National Coach, the Table Tennis Scotland Performance Director and a Level 4 coach, who delivers six to eight specialist training sessions each year. These sessions, typically held on Saturday mornings, are designed to further develop players’ technical ability, tactical awareness, and readiness for high-level competition.

The Academy also supports talented players in accessing the Athlete Development Programme, a multi-sport strength and conditioning initiative. Each year, sports organisations nominate promising athletes, and one to three table tennis players may be selected to take part. The programme provides expert physical preparation to complement technical training and has benefited several Academy players over the years, including Dylan Curry, Harry Blackhall, Maja Wojcicka, Kiishi Adekola, and Inniyan Jayaraj.

Another significant development opportunity is the GB Futures Squad, a programme delivered by Table Tennis England. Designed for emerging young players, it focuses on developing core technical skills, movement, footwork, and the habits required to train as a high-performance athlete. Sessions are held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Kiishi Adekola became the first player from Aberdeen Table Tennis Academy to be selected for the GB Futures Squad, marking another important milestone in the Academy’s history.

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