A TABLE tennis coach is adding to a revival in the popularity of the sport by starting his own coaching business.

David Godbold has been involved in the sport as long as he can remember, competing, coaching and working in the sports and leisure industry.

He has now started Godbold Table Tennis, which has already secured coaching contracts with a number of schools and Northumbria University.

David said: “I’ve noticed in the last few years that table tennis has become much more popular than I can ever remember.”

He believes the resurgence is due to initiatives such as Ping!, a three-year street project for people to play table tennis free of charge. The initiative aims to get as many people as possible playing in the run-up to next year’s London Olympics.

Mr Godbold said: “Ping!, and other similar projects, are helping people to realise that table tennis is a great sport that can be enjoyed by anyone, at any time of year.

“Anyone who has taken a holiday in Europe will have seen that there are tables everywhere on the Continent. The Government is starting to appreciate the benefits of making the sport prevalent here too.