Champions spinners and Deighton are targets as VBCL returns

This weekend, Derby Arena will once again echo with the sound of ball hitting table. The Veterans' British Clubs League (VBCL) – the British domestic league for veteran table tennis players – officially returns, and the story of the new season is none other than the hunt for the champions. Horsham Spinners, the team that completed a remarkable journey of five consecutive promotions before claiming the Premier Division title, now faces a different reality: becoming the hunted. J. Koziarski, who recorded 16 wins in 19 matches last season, remains the cornerstone of a team that has kept its roster almost intact – a rare stability in a league operating on the rhythms of age. On the other side, Bribar Deighton may not be mentioned as much as Horsham, but they are the team that turns the 'champions become targets' narrative into high drama. Last season, Deighton leapfrogged both defending champions in the final round of matches to win the women's title – an emotional and cruel finish, especially for Ellenborough, who saw a fourth consecutive title slip away on the final day, decided only by countback. But if we only look at titles, we miss the more important part: how teams operate. Ellenborough returns with an unchanged squad, focused on revenge through Hurey Ahmetoglu and Sara Williams, rated No 1 and No 2 on the rating list. Foresters also chose a similar strategy – keeping the same side after finishing runners-up in the women's competition, 'to go one better'. That is the tactic of veterans: they do not chase volatility, they stay loyal to chemistry forged over time. Last season's data showed that the men's champion Horsham was virtually unbeaten, while the women's title had to be decided on countback. That fragile margin is no accident. In the men's division, Horsham has a clear leader. In the women's division, no one truly dominates – and that is why the race became fierce. Once again, I believe in numbers over narrative. More notably, this season sees two men's teams promoted – Draycott and Kingsway (as Hurricane) – alongside two women's sides, Topspin Fusion Ladies and Waterside Fusion of Ladies. Meanwhile, Ormesby withdrew, leaving a gap in the league structure. The contraction of the men's division and the expansion of the women's division could be a demographic signal worth tracking. I once thought I was analysing football. It turned out I was analysing chaos. But now, standing before a veterans' table tennis league, I recognise another truth: in the world of veteran players, the most naked data is consistency and squad depth. In the 2026 season, I heard xG whisper, and I no longer believed my eyes. With table tennis, with the VBCL, I keep that same principle: look at Koziarski's win record, look at Deighton's stability, and do not be seduced by glamorous names. Table tennis is a sport of decisive moments. The serve return at the crucial point, the long rally at the final game – all can be wrapped in a number. But there is one thing data never fully tells: the spirit of a veteran collective fighting for one last time, for honour, for friendship. A match is a chapter, a season is a scripture, I only read and chant. When the ball rolls at Derby Arena this weekend, the numbers will begin to speak. And as always, I will listen to them before trusting what my eyes see. Bribar Deighton and Horsham Spinners may be targets, but they are not standing still waiting. In a league where tactics revolve around maintaining form across rounds, the old champions know: whether the stands are full or empty, data stays naked. And once again, this season will have its upsets, its matches decided on countback, its tears and laughter. The German team did not die from lack of talent; they died from believing the script was fate. The veterans in England probably do not need that advice. They understand that each round, each match, is a different melody – and the winner is the one who knows how to listen to their own rhythm. Following the VBCL this season, do not just look at the league table. Look at how Horsham rotates its strength, how Deighton defends a fragile advantage, how Ellenborough soothes the wound of a titleless season. Because in a veterans' league, tactics do not lie in beautiful shots, but in patience and the ability to read the game. Finally, for those concerned about the future of this sport, the VBCL is a reminder that table tennis does not only live at the Olympic summit, but also quietly flows in club-level leagues, where people attached to the small ball for decades still dedicate themselves relentlessly. My model does not pray; it calculates. But on the eve of a new season, I allow myself a touch of romance: may the champions not only be targets, but also an inspiration for their league to keep writing its most beautiful chapters.