1986 - 1987

This season brought to a close probably the career of Bradford Table Tennis' most successful manager. With more silverware than Manchester United, David Renton - Unity supremo decided to retire from his grocery business and move to Bridlington. Richard brought lustre to the league by digging deep into his own bank balance to take Unity into the Premier Division of the National League and pay for players good enough to give them fourth place - quite an achievement at that level when they were competing against heavily sponsored opponents. During his reign as club secretary and manager, Unity won the Bradford League and Cup double seven times in nine years. It was good to see representatives of rival clubs Hermits and Clayton Heights joining in a farewell presentation to Richard at the Dnipro Club (Clifton Villas) on the eve of his departure. And league and club delegates as a whole paid Richard the perfect tribute at the 1986 annual meeting by voting him Clubman of the year.

Unity manager RICHARD RENTON (left) says goodbye to Bradford Chairman MAURICE GREENWOOD with Yorkshire chairman ERIC Hill between and Richard's son Dave on the right of this T&A picture.

Also this year the Bradford women won the Yorkshire League Championship for the 13th time and the J.M Rose Bowl national team competition for the second. Bradford whitewashed a good Berkshire side in the final 5-0 with a coach load of supporters looking on. The girls were honoured with a civic reception on their return.

From left - Helen Shields, Caron Raynor, Sally Shutt, Sylvia Broadbent, Melody Hill