Mirfield Tennis Club’s Brian Fox has been named the North Region’s Volunteer of the Year for 2016.
Brian moved to Mirfield in 2006 and began playing tennis at the public council courts. The three public courts were unusable with loose tarmac, missing nets and broken fences. The neighbouring three courts under the control of Mirfield Tennis Club looked in better condition. When Brian approached the club he was informed that they were in the process of handing the keys back to the council and disbanding the facility; the 14 adult male members could no longer keep the club running with just £14 in the bank and years of back-rent due.
Moved by the potential loss of this facility, Brian put together a plan which he presented to the committee. Key problems were identified; the poor facilities were unappealing for new members, the club was selfishly run, families felt unsafe and the free council courts made it difficult to attract paying members. Brian, as Chairman, presented the plan to both the Council and the LTA after which it was agreed that the Council would redevelop the free courts and fencing. Mirfield Tennis Club, meanwhile, agreed to maintain the courts and provide some free tennis back to the community.
Having made the club a safe and appealing area for families and juniors to come and enjoy playing tennis, Mirfield TC reached 60 members within a few years. Since 2014 Brian has overseen the resurfacing of the three courts at the club (two with floodlights) and helped to extend membership to over 130 members. In 2015 alone, Mirfield Tennis Club had a very successful open weekend programme that led to 44 new members joining.
Brian single-handedly saved Mirfield Tennis Club from shutting down and has developed it into a thriving non-for profit community club, boasting successful coaching programmes, mens, ladies and mixed leagues teams and multiple tournaments and events throughout the year.
On receiving the Regional Volunteer of the Year Award, Brian said ‘’I’m very grateful for this award, I would like to use it to recognise and say thank you to all the volunteers at Mirfield Tennis Club who have contributed their time and efforts over the years. It is great to put the club on the map to show what has been achieved’’
On behalf of British Tennis and the North Regional team, we would like to congratulate Brian on his award and thank him for his contribution to tennis participation.