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Tennis Charity Serves Up
Free Tennis Lessons In Liverpool
NATIONAL sports charity 'Tennis
For Free' has served up an ace for Sefton Park and the surrounding area
by investing in a 50 week programme of free tennis lessons hoping hundreds
of people join in and make a racket at the Park's tennis courts. The timing
of the launch couldn't be better with tennis fever heightening. 'The World
ATP Finals' are being held in London in mid-November 2015 and then at the end of
the same month Great Britain take on Belgium in the Davis Cup Final hoping
to win for the 1st time since 1936. The charity has created a partnership
with Liverpool City Council, Mersey Bowmen Tennis Club and the LTA to help
provide free coach led tennis sessions for all the family starting on
Sunday, 1 November 2015, between 10.00am and 12.00noon. You don't even need a racket as
all equipment is provided free of charge.
Alan Haddy of Mersey Bowmen Tennis Club whose courts are located in Sefton
Park and where this Tennis For Free scheme will be held said:- "Mersey
Bowmen welcomes Tennis for Free to our courts in picturesque Sefton Park.
It's a fantastic opportunity for members of the local community to try
tennis for the 1st time; or dust off the cobwebs for those who've played
before. Tennis for Free creates the
opportunity for everyone to learn tennis, regardless of age and ability, and
players are welcome to come and try, develop their skills and join the club
for more regular play; we're delighted with the popularity of the programme
so far. Mersey Bowmen is a friendly club in
one of the City's best locations, with popular social tennis and successful
league teams, and is part of a vibrant and diverse local community. Tennis
here is for everyone and anyone; come down and give it a try."
Started in 2004 and celebrating a decade of getting over 150,000 people to
hit tennis balls for free:- 'Tennis For Free' is a registered charity founded
by comedian Tony Hawks. It aims to provide healthy, vibrant tennis
communities on FREE public park tennis courts creating new tennis players of
all ages and backgrounds, and showing that tennis can be enjoyed by all.
Tennis For Free supporters include Judy Murray (mother of GB tennis No1
Andy, Federation Cup Captain and ex Strictly Come Dancing star), BBC tennis
commentator Andrew Castle and ex multiple Grand Slam winner Pat Cash.
Tennis For Free CEO, Paul Jessop said:- "Having started as a website
listing free parks tennis we now have an extensive free tennis programme
across the UK. With support from our sponsors the LTA we are partnering with
local organisations and local tennis coaches and investing over the next 3
years into 50 Tennis For Free park sites across the UK, helping
approximately 40,000 new people to experience the TFF fun sessions."
Councillor Tim Moore, Mayoral lead for organised sport at Liverpool City
Council, said:- "The courts at Sefton Park have been upgraded this
Summer and this is a great opportunity for people to get involved in tennis
whatever their age, ability or background. Who knows -we may find the next
Andy Murray or Laura Robson with this scheme!"
Allison Lewis, LTA Regional Participation Manager said:- "We are very
excited about the free activities being created for people to play tennis in
Liverpool through the Tennis for Free programme, and Sefton Park is a really
accessible park in the heart of the community. Having good local easy to
access park facilities where you can play informally with your family and
friends is really important to encouraging people to play and with Tennis
for Free offering free sessions on a weekend you will be able to meet and
find others of similar levels to play with. The LTA are working in
partnership with Tennis for Free to develop a number of similar programmes
across the country."
You can register for:- 'Tennis For Free' at Sefton Park
online or for further information on
Tennis For Free visit:-
Tennisforfree.com. You can
also follow:- 'Tennis For Free' on twitter:- @tennisforfree or contact local
tennis coach and scheme leader Alan Haddy via
email.
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