Everyone for tennis at Moorlands schools

The next Andy Murray or Johanna Konta could come from the Staffordshire Moorland's thanks to a team effort from the county sport partnership, a local tennis club and the Council aimed at boosting junior tennis across the district.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Leek Tennis Club and Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent (SASSOT) are serving up expert coaching to youngsters in local primary and middle schools this winter to increase participation in the sport and encourage more juniors to play regularly.

Community coaching sessions are also planned at Brough Park tennis courts and Leek Tennis Club in spring next year.

The programme will provide ten months of coaching and competition to over 400 young people throughout the winter, spring and summer.

A grant of £2,100 from Sport England's 'Satellite Club' scheme has funded the coaching and competitions activities and the programme has been further extended with support from the Council. 

Coaches from Leek Tennis Club will visit nine local schools on a weekly basis delivering coaching, competitions and games to pupils and inviting them to join the Club's junior programme at weekends.

Councillor Mike Bowen, cabinet member for leisure and sports at the Council, said: "I'm delighted that we are supporting this junior tennis programme. The tennis clubs are making a fantastic effort to promote the game locally and I know we have lots of young people who are enjoying the coaching sessions and would love to play regularly.

"It's a great way to keep fit and we're hoping that lots of the young people who are being introduced to tennis through this programme will be encouraged to play at the club and join the new sessions we've got planned at Brough Park next year."

In advance of that, the Council will be undertaking some deep cleaning and line painting works to the Brough Park courts to improve the facilities.

Anyone interested in receiving coaching or playing tennis should contact either Dave Williamson, Club Secretary, on 07891 372712 or Shaun Murray, Head Coach, on 07415 232192.