William Maybanks
Birthdate: 13th June '91
Home town: Watford
Clubs: Urban Progress TTC (UK), Wink (Hungary) & New PW Diest (Belgium)
Style of Play: My playing style is attacking offensive.
Blade: Kerenga Powerspin
Rubbers: Tenergy 05 forehand and backhand Tenergy 05
Playing Track Record & Major Achievements
- County Junior and Senior Player
- Hertfordshire Junior No1 for 6 years
- Hertfordshire Senior No1
- Junior and Senior National League Premier player
- National Junior Masters 2nd Place
- 2007 Overall Junior Grand Prix Winner
- Doncaster Open grand prix junior - 2nd place
- Doncaster Grand Prix under 21’s runner up
- Derby Junior open 4* - 2nd place
- Masters Top 16 Juniors - 2nd place
- Under 21 nationals last 8
- Cheltenham Junior 4* Winner
- Hungarian Senior Competition - Apagy Singles 3rd Place
- Junior British League Team Premier Winners
- Current Junior ranking 5
- Current Senior ranking 28
- 2007 UK School Games Overall Team Winners
- 2007 UK School Games Boys Team Silver medal
- 2008 UK School Games. Boys Team Gold medal
- Malta World Schools Team 4th
- Malta world Schools Singles Quarter Finalist (Joint Highest European Player)
Most Memorable Moments
- 3 Nations - team winners (for England)
- 3 Nations - individual winner (for England)
- Ostern Cup (Germany) team winner - England
- Selected to play for England in Ireland, Wales, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Saudi Arabia (x2)
England Representations
- 3 Nations Mini Cadet Team and Singles Winner
- Stockton Team Event. Winner Playing For England
- German Ostern Cup ‐ Team Winners
- England Training in Sweden
- Spanish Cadet Youth Event
- Saudi Arabia England Training
- Portugal ITTF Junior World Circuit
- Polish ITTF Junior World Circuit + World Pro Tour
- World Schools, Malta, England Schools
The Beginnings
I think ball sports are in my blood. I’ve seen a video of myself catching fruit which my brother threw to me when I was still in a high chair. My auntie (an ex England number 4 tennis player) tells me that I could read topspin and respond appropriately when she played with me in the garden when I was about two years old. I am left handed for most things but right handed for all ball sports, which I am told is the best combination for hand eye skills, quick reflexes and seeing the bigger picture. My Mother and brother played table tennis and I remember clearly the moment I got ‘hooked’ around the age of 10, watching my mum play in a local league final. I loved the speed and precision of it and the sound of the bat striking the ball. A taster session for juniors was announced, and I was first in the queue! I adored it right from the start.
Progression
I started attending the table tennis centre in Barnet just as Gergely Urban (known as ‘Urfi’) had come from Hungary to coach there, which was where my formal table tennis training began. Although I thought I was pretty good at the time, I really wasn’t and Urfi taught me the proper shots and techniques and worked really hard with me and the other players in the ‘masterclass’ he started. When we had reached a reasonable standard, Urfi started to take us to local, then not so local tournaments, where my results improved quite quickly. The team had matching tracksuits of royal and navy blue, with a white stripe down the arms and legs, mine was extra small and it was too big! We only wore the tracksuits to tournaments and I loved the feeling of anticipation and excitement when I wore that tracksuit. My tracksuit is now a large size, but I still get that same ‘buzz’ when entering a tournament.
Within a very short time I was good enough to play in the league and I was invited to go to the County Coaching sessions. I surprised everyone in that just over a year I won seven titles in the local league championship, including the men’s singles.
England Duty
When I was thirteen, after playing my first few major open tournaments and doing particularly well in one, I was invited for an England Training Camp and was immediately selected for my first England Match in Wales, it was a dream come true. I was in the winning team in the Team Event and then I won the singles which was totally unexpected. Since then I have regularly represented England, in the youth development squad, cadet, schoolboy and junior teams.
France
Last season I played for a French Team – Lille St Amand in National Division 2. I played either as number one or two in the team alongside my coach, Urfi. This meant travelling to France every two weeks, so I missed a lot of Junior Tournaments and my Junior National Ranking suffered because of being unavailable to play and gain ranking points, but it was worth it for the experience. I am currently ranked number 5 in England, but recently beat number 2 at the UK School Games in 3 straight sets.
I'm still working with Urfi and am sponsored by Butterfly Teessport and MET.
Today
I am honoured to have been invited to train full time in Hungary with many European champions, under the watchful eye of Wei Jin Quin an ex national coach of the Chinese team, and Urfi of course. I am now a full time player and training 2 or 3 times day in a strong Hungarian club – Wink.
Future Ambitions
Living and playing abroad, whilst studying independently part‐time with the Open University is hard, but it’s my passion and dream, I have always wanted the chance to train full time to give myself the opportunity to achieve my full potential and prove myself in time for the 2012 Olympics. I aim to move from Junior international onto Senior International level and from Senior Level work my way to the ultimate goal of London 2012.
With the help and support of Team WillMeOn plus sponsors and with my hard work, I believe anything is possible and am aiming for my dream of 2012.
I think Table Tennis is a great sport and for everyone of any age. You can play in any weather conditions and with anyone. The speed and spin keeps your brain in working order. Most people like and enjoy table tennis and many of these people are ’cruise ship champions‘ but never take the opportunity to take it up seriously. Why don’t you have a go? Visit www.TTPro.co.uk
Other Interests
Music: RnB, Hip Hop
Films: Shawshank Redemption, Happy Feet
Other Sports: Badminton
Favourite Sports person: Lance Armstrong
Person most like to meet: Lance Armstrong
Favourite Actor / Actress: Samuel L. Jackson
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