Tennis club starts fundraising to improve facilities

Cross in Hand Tennis Club has launched a campaign to raise funds for improvements and take the first steps towards becoming a local centre of excellence for the sport.

Immediate plans include replacing three of the club’s astro courts, which were old and slippery, and laying three all-weather, state-of-the-art, artificial-clay courts.

After several years of research, the committee came up with the recommendation to lay Lano Grand 12 clay courts increasing the number of all-weather courts from two to five.

With 72 percent of members agreeing to the recommendation, the next step is to raise the shortfall of approximately £20,000. A Go Fund Me site has been set up as well as an Easy Fundraising site. Sponsorship opportunities are available to local businesses and the committee is busy applying for grants and loans to meet the shortfall. Sponsors so far include Focus Interiors and Bathrooms http://www.fiab.co.uk/about.html and Blueberry Public Relations.

Since taking over the role of club Chairman last year Tania Spooner, along with her eight-strong committee members, is excited to be helping with the improvements following a lack of investment in recent years and a dwindling membership.

Tania, a qualified coach, team captain and county level player, said: “It’s a really exciting time for the club and I am hopeful, if we raise the funds, that our members and coaches will soon have the courts they deserve.

“It has been especially tough for our coaches and our juniors who play all year round as the courts have been water logged. Over the winter, we were left with just two courts for matches, the astro being too dangerous to use. Sadly some members have left because the courts are in such as state.”

Tania and the committee are also determined that the club should become more inclusive and attract more young people to the sport especially girls, and disabled players.

She explained: “It’s a fact that most of us are seasoned players, which is great as tennis is a sport for all ages, but it’s now time to get more young people involved. Tennis is brilliant for mind and body and the cost of participating is fairly low as we have special rates for juniors. The club is very accessible by public transport too which is great for teenagers.

“With an excellent team providing coaching at Cross in Hand and our determination to improve facilities I am confident that we reinvigorate the club and interest in the sport locally.”

Future plans include replacing the floodlighting with LED lights, a next-generation singles court, a hitting wall, improving the clubhouse and possibly some Padel courts– a sport that is growing in popularity in Europe.

Cross in Hand Tennis Club is a LTA registered tennis club based just to the west of Heathfield. Members are aged from under four to over 80 and range from complete beginners to players of county standard.

Coaching is offered by Elevate Tennis Coaching and the club has around 20 senior and junior teams that compete against other Sussex and Kent clubs throughout the year. The clubhouse provides changing facilities including an accessible shower, as well as a fully fitted kitchen, licensed bar and a function room where the club arranges a diverse social programme for all ages. Facilities for the disabled are provided.

For more information on how to join go to https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/CrossinHandLTC/Membership/Join