.
Nailsworth Tennis Club
The club was formed back in 1989 by taking out a 21 year Lease with the then Nailsworth Boys’ Club to convert a patch of semi-waste ground behind the club into two quality courts. Over the years, thanks to grants and members’ own fund-raising activities, many improvements have been made – floodlights have been added, a small clubhouse constructed and the facilities maintained to a high standard. In 2010, a new Lease was signed, giving the club stability for the foreseeable future.
From the start, the club has been as inclusive as possible and it currently has over 60 members from a wide variety of backgrounds – united only by their love of playing tennis. From humble beginnings, the club is now very well-represented at different levels in the Gloucestershire League with 3 Men’s and 3 Ladies’ teams and also Mixed teams in the Stroud Winter League, the Sunday League and the Painswick League. From a competitive point of view, the club’s finest achievement perhaps came in 2009 with the winning of the County Men’s Premier Division trophy.
Junior tennis has also had its successes. Many teenagers have graduated to playing in the senior teams and some have gone on to greater things elsewhere. Phil Sims, the Club Coach, runs very popular coaching classes for young people and teams have been successful in the Mini-Orange League for 9 – 10 year olds. The next potential improvement - to create a Kidszone with mini-courts on the hard-standing area next to the current courts – is hindered only by the lack of available funding.
Socially, the club is a great way of meeting other people. Club tournaments take place and social events such as dinners, theatre-visits and other fund-raising activities are arranged. In 2009, the club took part in the Nailsworth Festival, celebrating its 20th Anniversary by staging an ‘Edwardian Wimbledon’, an event that attracted large numbers of spectators. The club’s contribution to the community of Nailsworth was recognised in 2010 when the Mayor’s Sporting Achievement trophy was awarded to the Club Chairman, Mark Peer.
The club is affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association and is non profit-making, with subscriptions being kept as low as is feasible and in line with other tennis clubs in the area. Though completely independent from NYCE, the two organizations share the general aim of encouraging the development of young people through their participation in worthwhile physical activity. A representative of the club sits on the NYCE Committee and junior members of the club are affiliated to NYCE. All members have access to the newly refurbished toilets in the Subscription Rooms.
The club always welcomes new members of whatever age and whatever playing standard. From March until September, Tuesday is Men’s club night, Wednesday Ladies club night and Thursday mixed club night. In the summer Tuesday and Wednesday are often used for league matches but Thursday is always a club night and the courts are well-used at weekends. From October to February, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are all mixed club nights. Every weekday afternoon 4 – 6 pm, priority is given to juniors.
Adult player enquiries to Sarah Rind (Secretary), Windrush, Hay Lane, Horsley, GL6 0QD
Tel: 01453 832964
Email: srind84620@aol.com
Junior player enquiries to Phil Sims (Club Coach), Bankhouse, 13 Whitecroft, Nailsworth
GL6 0NS
Tel: 01453 834903
Email: sims123@btinternet.com
Tennis Club News (April 2013)
The Open Day on Sunday 14 April was a great success. We were blessed with a dry weather window and 25 children, many of them from Nailsworth Primary School, 15 adults and 10 volunteers from the tennis club enjoyed a superb afternoon of tennis using both the club courts for regular tennis and the main hall in the Subscription Rooms for soft ball tennis. Energy levels were kept up by plentiful supplies of home-baked cakes, tea and soft drinks.
On Sunday 21 April a tournament to open the 2013 season was very well supported and 16 players spent the afternoon enjoying mixed tennis. Some hotly contested sets resulted in an overall win for Sally Phillips (playing some amazing tennis) and Phil Sims (our club coach proving that he's as talented and competitive as ever).
The match season is now under way and the club is planning to make this year one of its best yet, both competitively and socially.
If the recently submitted bid for money to develop the club is successful that would give a further boost to what the club can offer to its members and others who want to play tennis. A decision on the bid is expected in July.