Poulton tennis coach hopes 'taster' at St Chad's whets appetite for great season

The future is looking brighter for Fylde coast tennis as lockdown restrictions ease and one coach has come from the far corner of the globe to play his part.
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Nick Arnold, head coach at St Chad’s Tennis Club in Poulton took up his post last July, having lived in Australia since 2013.

Nick is looking forward to marking the reopening of the club next Monday and the start of British Summer Time with a free taster day at St Chad’s, inviting people of all ages to give the sport a try.

St Chad's Tennis Club's head coach Nick Arnold is preparing for a big week as courts reopenSt Chad's Tennis Club's head coach Nick Arnold is preparing for a big week as courts reopen
St Chad's Tennis Club's head coach Nick Arnold is preparing for a big week as courts reopen
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Anyone aged four and upwards is welcome to have a 30-minute session at the club on Vicarage Road on Monday, when equipment will be provided.

Nick told The Gazette: “I’m trying to work with the club to promote tennis as much as I can.

“The idea is to offer a short, sharp taster session for people to see what we are all about and provide an opportunity to join our coaching programme.”

Originally from Somerset, Nick can bring ideas to the table from the other side of the world.

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He added: “I went to Australia for a few months on a working holiday visa and ended up staying for seven years, working as head coach at a venue in Perth.

“My partner is from Blackpool, so we’ve come back and settled here.

“The business side is new to me but the club is very supportive and open to good ideas.”

Following a Covid-hit summer last year, Nick hopes to see the Fylde coast competitive scene prosper again this year.

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“The local leagues are getting up and running and we hope to have more tournaments this year,” he added.

“Hopefully we are coming out of lockdown for the last time and a full season with no disruption would be great, though we have to make sure all competitions are completely safe.

“The first thing is to let people know what’s happening, and hopefully now the weather is starting to turn, more people will want to come out and give tennis a try.”

The free taster day at St Chad’s runs from 9am-1pm, starting with a session for four to seven-year-olds and gradually moving up to adults.

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Those attending the 30-minute sessions can then spend a period of time playing for free on the courts.

The first 60 juniors who join the club will receive a year’s free membership.

Membership fees for 2021 will apply from May rather than April, meaning that next month is free, and there are discounts for those who take out their membership early.

Membership fees will help the club to resurface two courts, while plans are in place for new signage and windbreaks.

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Places for Monday’s taster day can be booked via th club website at https://stchadstennisclubpoulton.co.uk

Bookings can also be made at www.toptenniscoaching.co.uk

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