Lewes Old Grammar School pupil James Brandon is making waves in the table tennis world at the moment, ranking 91st in the country for his U13 age group despite only starting to play competitively one year ago.

James, 12, recently had the honour of representing Sussex when he played at an inter-county tournament in Slough for the Sussex Cadets 2nd team which is in County Table Tennis Association Division 2.

James’ team played against six other counties, winning three matches, drawing one, and losing two.  The team was, however, relatively young compared to many others, some of whom had entered their first teams.

His most recent tournament saw him compete at the National Cadet League Tournament Day One in Horsham, playing for Brighton Table Tennis Club where he is a cadet member as part of the Division One A team. He won six out of his nine matches. The second day of this ‘round’ is next month, when the teams will each play the remaining teams in their divisions.

James’ passion for the sport, which he only took up competitively one year ago, has even led him to meeting one of his sporting heroes – the world number one table tennis Paralympian and gold medallist Will Bayley.

The sports star came to film at Brighton Table Tennis Club for BBC Breakfast, along with presenter Mike Bushell and Brighton YouTuber Saffron Barker, to promote BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, as all three were competing.

James said: “I have met Will a few times, most recently when Mike Bushell came with the BBC Breakfast team to interview him at the club, along with Saffron Barker, ahead of the Strictly launch. I even ended up seeing myself on TV!”

The Year 7 student has been inspired by the meeting to aim high in his sport.

He added: “‘I am already so proud of what I have achieved, particularly having only started to play competitively a year ago.  Not only have I been invited to join the Cadets at BTTC, but I have been asked to play in the National Junior League, and represented Sussex, which was a huge honour. But by the end of the 2019/20 season in July, I would like to be ranked in the Top 50 U13 boys. I am also hoping to progress into the Cadet Elites at BTTC next year and maybe in the future enter tournaments, and attend training camps with the club abroad, in places such as Portugal, Germany and Sweden.”

Mum Helen added: “I am so tremendously proud of just how determined James is to focus on his table tennis, which became all the more clear when he was invited to join the Cadets in September.  Having training three times a week, as well as tournaments most weekends, he gave up his football.  This wasn’t an easy decision for him, but his grown-up approach to it really impressed me, particularly since it had meant that it was harder for him to keep in touch with the team mates from his previous school.

“It was an absolute joy to see his decision pay off when I saw how delighted he was to be asked to represent Sussex and I was so very proud to see him play in county colours, particularly as he was facing many players who were older, and higher ranked, than him.  If he continues to dedicate himself to table tennis as he has done over the last year, I am hopeful that he will continue to grow and improve as a player, embracing future challenges and opportunities as they arise.”

More than 1,250 people play at Brighton Table Tennis Club in the club’s weekly sessions. Their number includes people with learning disabilities, young people from the Brighton Travellers site, Looked After Children, people with physical disabilities, people from the LGBT community and young asylum seekers. The youngest player is 2. The oldest is 98. The club is the world’s first recognised Club of Sanctuary, for its work with refugees.