After winning the Cheshire county award for Young volunteer Tom has taken it one step further by winning the national prize for the category, showing his work within his club and community has been exceptional over the past years.
At aged only 19, Tom has been Lane Tennis Club’s Men’s tennis captain this year, playing at Widnes Tennis Academy. He has selected and organised 7 Men’s Tennis Teams this season, the most tennis teams Lane have ever had in the Warrington and District League. This year Tom has started at University in Liverpool. One reason for the location of his university was to remain close enough to continue his involvement with Lane Tennis Club, where he has played and been a member since the age of 8. In 2009, Tom did his work experience placement at Widnes Tennis Academy, during which time he attended a Competition Organisers course. After this, Tom’s work as a volunteer at the club increased. He got more involved with the coaching programme, sometimes helping out with holiday camps. In 2010 he took, and passed, his Level 1 Tennis Coaching qualification. Tom was a Junior Committee rep for 2 years, and represented them on the Senior Committee until September 2012, when he started at University. Tom is now a member of Lane Tennis Club’s Senior Committee. This season Tom was elected as Mens’ Captain and has successfully Captained seven Men’s Teams, often with each team having 2 fixtures a week! Each team consisted of 6 players meaning that Tom would have to select, arrange and contact 42 players!! Tom has selected teams, informed players, made arrangements with other teams and dealt with last minute changes and rearrangements with the capability and dedication usually found in people much older than him. The teams he has captained have been very successful. The Men’s 1st team have won the First Division, retaining the trophy for an unprecedented third year running. The second team, despite losing several key players, finished mid-table in the first division. (Tom played for the second team and also played up, when needed). The Mens’ 6th team won their division too. Tom has shown commitment and dedication to Lane Tennis Club over several years but it is especially for his work as Mens’ Captain this year that we feel Tom deserves to be nominated as the Young Volunteer of the Year.
Whilst receiving his award at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Tom said, while watching Nadal on the practice court: “It’s been a great day. I came with my university last year and that doesn’t even compare to this today, it’s been tremendous!”
We wish Tom continued success for the year to come.
More information on the British Tennis Awards 2013 can be found here