Testimonials

Story 7: Founder’s Story – Steve Longmoor

💚 “My Passion for Coaching Table Tennis”

I’m Steve Longmoor, born in the mid 60's and table tennis has been part of my life since I was a boy. I first played on an old wooden door with dad in the attic — I was hooked. The speed, precision, camaraderie — I loved every minute.

I stopped playing seriously at 16 when I joined the Army as a Junior Leader in 1980, but returned 41 years later in 2021, just as the country was emerging from Covid lockdowns. 

What I saw saddened me: the sport I loved and had flourished had now faded away, especially in WsM and in the North East where I grew up. 

So I decided to act!

Since then, I’ve:

🏓 Reinvigorated the N&B's TTC

🏓 Qualified as a Table Tennis England Level 1 and Level 2 coach

🏓 Qualified as a Table Tennis England L2 Tournament Officer

🏓 Created the Table Tennis as a Service (Taz) Programme

🏓 Created The TT Sensei and the Sensei Way Philosophy!

🏓 Invented League as a Service (LaaS)

🏓 Founded the Thrive Together Charity

🏓 Created the new Weston Table Tennis League

🏓 Formed Weston Warriors Teams and entered them into local leagues such as the Bridgwater League

🏓 Invented the Weston Tactical and Technical TT (T4) Pathway

🏓 Invented the Somerset TT Community

🏓 Created the STTC Junior League

🏓 ...and much, much more!

💚 I Founded the Thrive Together Charity to make a difference to peaoples physical and mental wellbeing.

👥 Built a strong Board of Directors, appointed a Chairperson, Head Coach, Mens Captain, Ladies Captain, Junior Coach and developed apprentice coaches, tournament officials and Equipment Support staff

🌍 Served as Table Tennis England’s National Councillor for Somerset (narrowly missed out on becoming the National Council Chairman of England)

🏆 And I Proudly received the Table Tennis England National Male Volunteer of the Year award in 2023

For me, TT isn’t about recognition. It’s about helping people thrive — especially youngsters. Over the course of my life I’ve taught hundreds, maybe thousands of people, across many sports such as: skiing, skydiving, football, basketball, cricket, even chess and darts. But TT has always been that extra special niche.

Why? Because it teaches more than just technique. It teaches:

🤝 Teamwork — supporting each other

🏅 Sportsmanship — playing fair and respecting opponents

💪 Perseverance — learning from setbacks and never giving up

I love watching people learn and grow, both on and off the table. Seeing them smile, improve, develop, and find belonging is the best reward I could ever ask for.

That’s what Thrive Together is all about. 

Through WTTC, we’re building not just players, but people — helping everyone, at every age, find confidence, friendship, and joy in their physical and mental health.