Stocksbridge Tennis Club in Sheffield has started a ‘Save Our Courts’ appeal to raise money to resurface their four worn tennis courts. Without the improvements the surface of the courts on Linden Crescent will become too dangerous for both coaching and leisure and the future of the club will be in doubt.
The club held a sponsored rally on Sunday 3rd February with members donning fancy dress and competing to see who can score the best consecutive rally in one hour. The club was encouraged by support from Jonny Marray, the Wimbledon Men’s Doubles Champion who is based in Sheffield. Chair of Stocksbridge Tennis Club, Martin Jackson says ‘We cheekily asked Jonny Marray if he could come to our sponsored rally and support our cause. To our surprise he replied to say that he’s out of the country playing in a tournament on 3rd February but wished us a successful day and hoped we would raise a lot of money for our 'save our courts' campaign. He also very kindly donated prizes to our raffle - signed tennis shirts, signed caps and more’.
The club has also held raffles and a quiz and all proceeds are going towards resurfacing the tennis courts, a project that has already raised money, but still needs a further £15,000 for work to begin.
The club is now looking for friends, patrons or sponsors to donate to the club to help raise the money needed to keep this community tennis club going. £100 for a friend, £250 for a patron – information at www.stocksbridgetennisclub.org.uk/DonateHere.html or business sponsors can go to www.stocksbridgetennisclub.org.uk/OurSponsors.html for sponsorship deals. Or email Martin at tennis@stocksbridgetennisclub.org.uk