If the lionesses can do it so can Chiswick ladies. After a complete shake up we have quite remarkably gone from coming 3rd in the league below to winning the league above. Not without its dramas which you can read about here. It really has been a hoot and a half.

​Apologies for not updating you all sooner - it feels like the last few months have flown by. We've faced all manner of things from crippling injuries with key players at pivotal points (Katie, Fiona H) and also that pesky thing called life that gets in the way with availability, a trixy team trying to make out we agreed a date we hadn't and everything in between. I had to laugh when one of my new recruits Harriet Tolson "the power house" as i refer to her as asked me - are they bad or are we really good ...good question which I'll get on to. 

Now I must say, one match meant a little more to me than all the others (which I may have mentioned to the team once or a 100 times - who's counting) because the team we played I used to manage. I was what Sarina Wiegman is to England's ladies football - to them as i am to chiswick ladies now. Historically, Chiswick has never beaten Gunnersbury and battled out in 32 degree heat... all that was about to change. ... I'll be doing various 'shout outs' in the course of this summary to those who went above and beyond but starting with my partner Rachel Eccleston- given the above - even I wouldn't have wanted to be partnered with me for that one   and to win 6-0 against their new captain - I've had worse days. This match was also Harriet MacKay’s debut for the team - what a fantastic start, not forgetting her partner Kirsty but did I really expect anything less from you when someone said it's 4-5 I was like open the prosecco we've got this (I could swear she thrives off it somehow) - but there's no one else you'd want by your side in that situation

Also want to commend Rachel's willingness to adapt to whatever mental strategy I'd conjured up for us that evening. It's a source of amusement within the team that I have my own way of playing doubles (I'm every coach's nightmare). As captain as well you also have to take the wider group into consideration and not put your other pairs out of their natural order of flow to secure the most points, so we became the sacrificial lambs and took on 1st pair for the last half of matches - i had an inkling we'd be alright . But I'll never forget that match when our other pairs came off court looking a bit shell shocked and said good luck with those 2 (one of them really smashed it at you) - ah abort, abort! But with that not being an option it was time to get loco. Adopting a completely different approach to how we'd played their other pairs (as they all sit and watch in between sets we all do it) we switched sides so they wouldn't see it coming. Now we have a very different game when we play on the opposite side. I'm usually contained to my box (with good reason) but when I play on the right everyone gets lobbed every which way (boring people to death is always an option) and Rachel put it away. Only in tennis is it a complement to be called really irritating.

Another poignant match which I'd asked to reschedule as it was that week of the awful heatwave (it really was too much) and with injuries sustained in the match prior.. but for me it was the fact we'd allowed their other entered team to film the matches for their GCSE's in the spirit of things, so to refuse - didn’t seem very sporting to me. But they obviously thought we were running scared and turned up with this sort of swagger about them, one could even say it was though they walked onto court like they were walking onto a yacht ... Now for this one I hadn't played with pocket rocket Liz before which wasn't ideal but I knew she is a brilliant singles player so that was the game plan (and I try be a bit nifty where I could) and thank goodness we did as it wasn't my day that day and what a magnificent performance she delivered. Speaking of another absolute hero was Eva playing with a pulled muscle from the previous match - she doesn't even need all her limbs to win that one - 2 or 3 will do. Kirsty drip feeding Harriet M maltesers throughout to win all their sets. Marvellous.

But I can now answer Harriet T's question - yes we have got better. I took on the role of captaincy because I knew we had all the right ingredients and just needed the right mix in the right order. Going into matches rehearsed and familiar with our partner makes all the difference and we have such solid pairs now. We've come such a long way in just 4 months. We practice every week so we're playing consistently and also include other members for variety when short. Thanks to all those who attended - notably Vincent and Leonie - really appreciate you helping us out and helping us grow! It's been really nice getting to know each other more as team mates as well as other club members and even other clubs along the way. It's also been gratifying to see those who maybe weren't quite so sure about themselves - perhaps of their place and who their game complemented, have such confidence about them now - it really shows and not just on the score sheet. Which brings me onto my 2nd shout out - Lisa and Eva - their pairing really triggered all the rest. Why mess with success? They also became the new base line standard during practices as if a pair had a chance against them two - they were formidable in my eyes! But the pair of them made my life that much easier as very dedicated and dependable to put points on the score board (124 ladies competed in the league and they were in the top 5). But I know I relied on them a lot - and I'm very thankful to them.

My last few shout outs before the penultimate. Fiona H - I said it at the time but she got a nasty injury during the first match (of all matches!) but she saw it through - in her doing that she is part of the reason we won the league (it's always the little points here and there you don’t drop). Lisa - early on during a practice after a trixy baseline shot - went over and got a nasty cut to the ball of her wrist, you wouldn't have guessed playing against her but i knew it bothered her and with matches back to back had no time to properly heal - soldiered on - love that attitude - highly commendable. Also want to mention Kirsty, who had got her hair done so beautifully for a wedding the next day (we knew she'd just had it done as she flicked it about enough ) - came off court looking like been dragged through a hedge - that's dedication for you. Harriet Tolson and Harriet Mackay have also been such great additions to the team in both skill and personality (i look forward to the next roadtrip) but they got completely thrown in at the deep end (you sink or swim in my book) - took it on with gusto - assignments completed - what more can you ask!

Which now brings me on to the one person I couldn't have done without, which is my vice captain "my fit bit", as I refer to her as - her names actually Kirsty Fuller, I just call her that as she runs around me in more ways than 1 (trips to the Little Bird obviously mandatory to the role). But we really did have our fair share of challenges - availability, injuries, google sheets disappearing, dealing with tricky emails - she has been by my side every step of the way - my confidante and sounding board (which I must tell you is a full time job in itself ). If ever I needed to get hold of her urgently all I’d need to say is don't worry I'll just say what I'm thinking - such fun - I like to keep her on her toes even when not partnered! But I am so very grateful for all that she does for me and on behalf of the team. Plus we can always rely on Celine for one of her sarcastic comments to lighten the mood when needed

Thanks to Andrew for handling all our booking needs, Jo for her guidance, Christian for helping us out with courts last minute, Howard for sustaining us and John for his support all very much appreciated.

In summary - they took to the next level up in their stride, great players, great performances and great people. I am ever so proud of them and how they all stepped up their level and really rallied when needed. Few times Liz and Harriet M had to completely change round all their plans to make a match which was very much appreciated (I think half way through we all started to believe it was possible). Had a bit of a spanner in the works at the end there when a home match got cancelled on the Mon due to weather, already had our last match scheduled for that Wed and the majority were going on holiday after that so had to schedule it on a Tue at polytechnic the next day. With another club hot on our tail the subject line was it’s now or never (heart pounding stuff)! I also somehow managed to get bitten in the Tues match by what can only be described as the insect equivalent of jaws but luckily it took a day before it got really bad (I couldn't walk for a week after!). So it wasn't always a complete joy haha but it's most certainly an honour to captain this team. Also glad we managed to repay Ed's confidence in us by entering us into a higher league. My champs are ready for what winter league brings x

Best wishes to all

Lauren x