42 Facts About Johnny Leach

John Alfred Leach MBE was a British table tennis player, coach, and author.

Johnny Leach began competing at a relatively old age, 17, before serving in World War II.

In 1949, Johnny Leach became Great Britain's second World Champion singles player.

Johnny Leach won 13 bronze and silver World championship medals between 1947 and 1955.

Johnny Leach was England's national coach for eight years and served as president of the English Table Tennis Association for more than 20 years.

Johnny Leach continued to write a column for News of the World for twenty years and published several books on table tennis.

Johnny Leach worked as a commentator for the BBC and ITV during table tennis broadcasts.

Johnny Leach bought a table tennis manufacture and started a talent search agency.

Johnny Leach was inducted into the International Table Tennis Federation Hall of Fame in 1997.

John Alfred Johnny Leach was born 20 November 1922 in Bow on the east side of London, the son of Jim and Emma Johnny Leach.

Johnny Leach was spending every spare moment, up to eight hours a day, practising.

Johnny Leach enlisted, serving with the Royal Air Force in Northern Ireland as a radioman.

Johnny Leach was placed in the same squadron as table tennis player and coach Jack Carrington, who began to instruct him, and international-level player Ron Craydon.

Johnny Leach met and practised with two international-level players during the war: Victor Barna of Hungary and Richard Bergmann of Austria, both of whom had emigrated to Great Britain.

Under Carrington's tutelage, Johnny Leach quickly elevated his play and became England's top player.

Johnny Leach then lost a four-set match to eventual champion Bohumil Vana of Czechoslovakia.

Johnny Leach made the semi-finals of mixed doubles with Margaret Franks that year, winning a bronze medal.

Johnny Leach became a household name, appearing on TV to promote the sport, writing a weekly column for News of the World, and even appearing in the popular Eagle kid's comic.

The "Johnny Leach bat" became Britain's most popular table tennis equipment.

At the 1950 World Championship, Johnny Leach lost a hard-fought five-set match to Michel Haguenauer of France in the round of 16.

Johnny Leach made the semi-finals of doubles with Carrington and mixed doubles with Diane Rowe in 1951.

Players with the old style hard wood and rubber paddles such as Johnny Leach had little chance.

At the 1952 World Championships, Johnny Leach was eliminated in the round of 16 in singles by Amouretti.

Johnny Leach tried the new paddles the following year, but found he could not adapt.

Johnny Leach was again eliminated in the round of 16 at the 1953 World Championships, this time by Czechoslovakia's Frantisek Tokar.

Johnny Leach continued to compete at international level, making the World Championships the next four years, but never advancing past the round of 16.

Johnny Leach made three more World Championships: 1959 and 1961 in singles and doubles, and 1963 in doubles only.

Johnny Leach retired in 1965, after capturing one last national title the year before, in doubles with David Creamer.

Johnny Leach is one of only eleven players to win at least two individual World Championship titles.

Johnny Leach won 16 World Championship medals in total and he reached the world number one ranking during his career.

Johnny Leach was inducted into the International Table Tennis Federation Hall of Fame in 1997.

Johnny Leach remained active in the sport after his playing days.

In 1988, Johnny Leach became the president of the ETTA, a post he held until 2011.

Johnny Leach continued to write for News of the World for 20 years and was a commentator on ITV and BBC broadcasts.

Johnny Leach authored a number of books on table tennis, and served as a coach for actors Gregory Peck and Conrad Yama for an extended table tennis scene in the 1969 film The Chairman.

Johnny Leach established a talent-spotting organization operating out of Butlins' children's camps.

Johnny Leach was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1966.

Johnny Leach played a major role in the work of Swaythling Club International, which helps former players with medical bills and helps them attend World Championships as spectators.

Johnny Leach was SCI President from 1989 to 1991 and from 1993 to 1995; Honorary President in 1995; and Deputy President from 1997 until his death in 2014.

Johnny Leach remained a fan of table tennis, but said the improved equipment hurt the sport's popularity among spectators due to shorter rallies.

Johnny Leach was survived by his son Jeff and four grandchildren.

Johnny Leach was England's greatest player, an example both on and off the table.