Third time lucky? Not for TTC Hoeselt.
After earlier attempts with TTC Alt-Hoeselt (LK28), TTC Hoeselt (LK45) and TTC Flash Hoeselt (LK90), table tennis in Hoeselt seemed destined for a short life. In 1979, residents still had to travel to neighbouring municipalities to play in a club.
It was in August of that year that a handful of enthusiasts – Marcel Holstein, Jos Snellinx, J. Voncken, Guido Vanlessen and Willy Willems – met in a local café known as ‘bij Stès’. Over a friendly drink, the idea of starting their own club was born. It began with a few recreational games among themselves. Had we told them back then that forty years later their club would be the largest in Limburg, with countless champions, they would not have believed us.
A modest start
The group grew with, among others, the brothers Gert and Jan Goffin, Rita Thewissen and Rik Gregoor, and so a first board was formed. But to speak of a real club, more was needed: tables, a hall, members and money. Everyone chipped in 1000 Belgian francs, which provided the first resources. BLOSO supplied three tables, Guido Vanlessen brought one from home, and Willy Willems literally rolled his table through the street to the hall – losing a few screws along the way that were never found again.
The first home was the Zwanenhof hall in the Dorpsstraat, where the tables had to be set up and taken down every time. New members were attracted through advertisements. On 4 October 1979, TTC Hoeselt was officially founded and affiliated with the K.B.T.T.B. as LK103.
The first steps
The first season was filled with friendly matches. The focus was on recreation, and a modest team took part in an informal competition, finishing fifth out of nine. Card-playing afternoons helped fill the club’s coffers.
The weekly Thursday evening training sessions were simple: learning the basics, such as keeping the ball on the table. BLOSO, however, saw potential and sent coach Nand Vanhees to raise the level. Meanwhile, a creative solution was devised to share playing time: an alarm clock made sure everyone had to switch every 20 minutes.
From growth to success
In the seasons that followed, the club kept growing. An important milestone was the move in 1982 to a better hall in the O.L.V.-straat. With the help of volunteers, the space was renovated and even fitted with heating. This is also where youth competition started and where open days were held with demonstrations by top players.
The 1984-1985 season marked a turning point. The youth achieved great successes, with Limburg, Flemish and even Belgian champions. The A team was promoted to the third provincial division, and the first champions’ celebration, complete with the club’s own magazine, the ‘Smashke’, was organised.
A new home
The club’s growth made a hall of its own essential. In 1990, after an intensive construction period with the help of members and supporters, the new table tennis complex on the Catsbeekstraat opened. This beautiful building is among the best table tennis facilities in Belgium.
Today
Now, years later, TTC Hoeselt continues to flourish. With national men’s and women’s teams, a strong recreational section and a youth programme full of talent, the club is a household name in Limburg and beyond.