Tribute to dearly missed table tennis legend

28 June 2023

LESLIE Sullivan, who died on June 21 aged 87, was the last surviving member of the early pioneers of the Lecale Table Tennis League committee.

Known fondly as the ‘Big Man’, his impact on the sport was immense. While Leslie will be best remembered for his long association with Strangford Table Tennis Club, his influence on the sport stretched further afield where his forthright views and opinions on the game were held in the highest regard.

During his long association with table tennis he devoted his time to the development of young players where his youth policy at his club over a 30-year period produced many talented players who went to win junior and senior individual and league titles.

The 1970s and 80s presented a challenge for so many sporting organisations throughout Northern Ireland as youth clubs sprung up in towns villages and hamlets in an attempt to keep kids out of harm’s way and into the safe environment of supervised activity.

Table tennis was the ideal activity for young people to pass the long winter nights and soon the Lecale League’s membership grew to over 30 teams and included a ladies’ league which he help to form.

The league committee quickly realised that these new clubs needed expert guidance to help compete in a league format and who better to undertake this formidable task than Leslie? With funding from the NI Sports Council Leslie became the first table tennis development officer in Northern Ireland, visiting new clubs, arranging coaching, helping with fixtures and a range of other tasks that were required. If clubs had a problem they called Leslie.

In 1978 the Lecale League launched a monthly newsletter ‘Spin’ to respond to the growing interest in the local game under the editorship of the late Gerry Carson. During its five-year history Spin developed from a broadsheet to become the official magazine of the Irish Table Tennis Association. Leslie’s column on the doubles game attracted readers from throughout Ireland and contributed to Spin receiving a literacy award.

Although Leslie will best be remembered for his contribution to table tennis, he also played badminton, cricket, and football — he was a man for all seasons.

He also enjoyed the showband era and I recall on one occasion another big man, Big Tom, came down from the stage to shake his hand during a performance.

In a long and distinguished association with table tennis Leslie Sullivan was never interested in personal success, although winning a Division Two individual singles title and collecting several league titles trophies is evidence of his skill as a player.

His legacy will be the development of young talent. Even when transport was scarce he always managed to get his teams to matches and parents knew when their offspring were with Leslie they were in safe hands. This dedication to youth development was recognised with a Service to Sport award from Down District Council.

The Lecale Table Tennis League has lost another true legend. At his funeral many of his protégés shared their own amusing stories of their time with him. It’s unlikely that we will see his like again. Good goodbye old and valued friend and may the road be kind to you.

Jim Ritchie, Hon Secretary, Lecale Table Tennis League.

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