First service as tennis returns to the Fylde coast after lockdown

Several sports most conducive to social distancing received Government approval to return to action yesterday and tennis was among them.

Restrictions remain in place, though, with the facilities on offer fairly minimal for now.

As we reported yesterday, golf clubs have also been permitted to open their gates, though players are making their way directly from the car park to the course with few of the usual clubhouse comforts.

It’s a similar story at tennis clubs, such as St Annes Lawn Tennis and Squash Club on Wyredale Road, though its chairman Sarah Barraclough is delighted to be taking these first steps on a road back to normality.

Sarah told The Gazette: “It was very frustrating recently not being able to play in such lovely weather but we’re following the guidance of the Lawn Tennis Association.

“We have nine courts and have cordoned off the middle one in each set of three, so there is less chance of any contact with people on another court.

“We have no toilet facilities and players have to bring their own water, but we’re playing again and we’ll see how it goes.”

The Government guidelines are that singles matches are fine but doubles action is only permitted if all four players belong to the same household, which sounds tricky to enforce.

However, Sarah added: “We know all our members, which helps. They are adults and we trust them to be sensible and take responsibility.

“They are all extremely thoughtful people, who we hope would not break any guidelines.

“Those with children at home will probably love the fact they can come here as a family and play.

“Our coach Michael Cartmell is restarting with one-on-one lessons, and our captain Stuart Masheter is arranging for people to come along and have a hit.

“The main thing is it’s purposeful exercise and fun, and hopefully we can get some more people joining.”

Membership is the key issue for tennis clubs right now after the season’s delayed start, and the sport is still far from back to normal.

“We are a members’ club, who don’t employ many people and we don’t incur many costs,” Sarah explained, “but we have been struggling because a lot of members didn’t rejoin due to the pandemic.

“Over the course of the year our income from members will be reduced.

“People are rejoining now the courts are open but some of them will want to play doubles, and will want competitions and team events, and none of that is available yet. But it’s a start.”

Normal service may still be some way off but at least the ball is back in the clubs’ court.