England’s first home match of the European Championships Qualifying campaign will be against Greece in Stoke-on-Trent.
Fenton Manor Sports Centre will be the venue for the men’s match on Tuesday November 1, at a start time to be confirmed.
Stoke on Trent is European City of Sport for 2016, and this England Leopards match is part of a wider bill of sport they are hosting this year.
The venue has hosted England’s table tennis finest before, though, most recently in 2009 as part of India’s tour of this country.
Then, the match finished 5-5 as England women (Joanna Parker, Kelly Sibley and Hannah Hicks) won 4-1 and England men (Paul Drinkhall, Danny Reed, Gavin Evans) lost by the same score.
Councillor Terry Follows, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re delighted that Fenton Manor Sports Complex is going to be hosting England’s important qualification match against Greece in November. This is good news for the city and a chance for local people to see some very talented sportsmen on their doorstep.
“The venue is no stranger to hosting big events and it’s great to be welcoming this international match during our year as a European City of Sport. I am sure we will have a sell-out crowd on the night who will get right behind the team.”
The Greece match will be the first chance to see England men in action on home soil since the ‘Ashes’ victory over Australia in Preston just before the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Ticket details will be announced later this year.
As well as Greece, England are in the same group as the Netherlands, who they play away from home on November 22.
England women will be away to Germany on September 27, at home to Slovenia on November 22 and at home to Germany on December 13 2016. The 2017 dates have not yet been announced.