Motto Jones, the respected elder statesman of the Shrewsbury table tennis scene, is all set to begin his 65th season playing in the county town league next week.
The irrepressible Motto, who remains a force to be reckoned with, will open yet another season when he lines up for Hospitals C against Pontesbury E on Tuesday night.
And he has a new target in his sights as he aims to replace the late Wendell Roberts in the record books as the league’s oldest ever player.
“I’ll reach my 80th birthday in January and when I do that I shall equal Wendell’s record as he was still playing for Cricket Club when he was 80,” said Motto, of Copthorne. “When you get to my age, it’s important to have targets in life to reach.”
Motto is rightly proud of his sporting longevity and it’s not only at table tennis he excels for next summer he will clock up 60 years as a playing member of Town Walls Tennis Club.
He is life president of both the tennis club and the Shrewsbury & District Table Tennis League, and also life vice-president of the Shropshire Table Tennis Association.
“I still love playing both table tennis and tennis as much as I ever have,” said Motto. “I warmed up for the new season by playing 18 games at Hospitals on Monday night and I feel good.”
Motto has featured in every Shrewsbury Table Tennis League season since 1944 with not even a quadruple heart bypass three years ago deterring him.
He has achieved plenty of success down the years, the highlight being crowned Shropshire singles champion in 1954 and 1957.
“I can’t believe it’s 51 years since I last won it,” he added.
