Meet the team

Duncan Coates (LTA Level 4 Senior Coach)

Duncan first started playing tennis at the age of 5 and has competed for East Staffordshire as well as local clubs since the age of 10. He won the U8s, men’s singles and doubles as well as the mix doubles in Burtons internal competitions. He won the Men's doubles and mixed doubles titles at Netherseale as well as resprenting them in the local leagues. He got to 12th in the county at under 16s however it was here that his interest in coaching overtook my own tennis. 

Duncan's coaching began while still in primary school where he ran the tennis club at 11 years old. From there he began helping the junior tennis sessions with a few different coaches and started obtaining his coaching qualifications at the age of 16. He was the younger person to pass the new LTA  level 2 at 17 and then took his level 3 at 21 after completing a degree at the University of Derby. I completed my level 4 LTA Senior at the age of 32 achieving 89% overall marks.

Duncan has been working full time since 2013 as has set up and ran groups of all ages and abilities, tournaments, mini award days, school competitions, team matches, summer camps, park tennis and open days. He has taken group lessons with those as young as 3 with players now competing for the county.  Duncan have been to over 20 Schools in the east Staffordshire/South Derbyshire area taking school assemblies, p.e. Lessons and after school clubs. He was norminated for the LTA development coach of the year in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and won the Award in 2024

Duncan's passion for my coaching is seeing players of all abilities enjoying their time spent on the court and helping them reach their potential whatever level that might be. 



Tracey Coates (LTA Level 1 Coach)

Tracey first started playing tennis in 2015 after competing at a high level in Badminton as a junour. Tracey captained the laddies team in the local league getting them promoted first the for time in 2018. She won the Mix doubles titles a Burton and Netherseale alongside Duncan and currenty represents Netherseale in the ladies and mixed teams. Tracey's coaching began when we completed her level One LTA assistance coach qualification  in 2018 at Loughborough Universality. Since then she has been helping in the weekly coaching as well as working with Lou to put on the She Rallies Festival in 2022. Tracey was nominated for the volunteer of the year in 2022 and enjoys making making tennis fun, espially engaging young players as they take their first steps into tennis. 

 

Lou Greatorex-Shillings (LTA Level 1 Coach)

Lou started attending tennis coaching in 2020 and has taken part in the winter league at Netherseale ever since. In 2021 Lou attended LTA Tennis Leaders training and helped at weekly group sessions as well as award days and match plays. Lou achieved her Level One LTA Assistant Coach Qualification in 2022 demonstrating her feeding and demonstrating skills. Along with Tracey, Lou attending trading and ran a She Rallies Festival at Netherseale, Newton Solney and Newton Regis for girls to try tennis.

 

 


 

 

Max Salt (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Max first started tennis in January 2022 as he wanted to try something new, meet new people and keep get exercise.  He enjoys learning new skills and finds tennis fun amd challenging. Max loves see how much fun the kids have and the improvements they make. Max won the helper or the year award in 2022 for his dedication, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness.


Niamh Daniels (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Niamh has been playing tennis since she did a Tennis for Kids summer camp in 2018. She enjoys tennis because it is a good hobby as she doesn't  do many other sports outside of school and likes the fact that she have created so many new friendships over the past few years. She would 100% recommend! Niamh has only been helping for a few months but has learnt so much wants to give he best experience playing tennis as possible.


Bobby Hicklin (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Bobby started playing tennis at the age of 3 when he joined a group with my dad and has carried on playing ever since. He loves playing tennis because he have got to meet so many new people and I have made lots of new friends. Bobby enjoys the feeling of picking up my racket and hitting that ball and that feeling has never changed for him. He has repressed Netherseale in the National league and attended county training as well as being awarded the player of the year in 2022. He  loves helping to teach children how to play tennis and especially the little children who say and do really funny things which make him laugh. Bobby would help even more if he could as he enjoy it so much.


Izzy Marshall (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Izzy first started tennis in September 2018 at Newton Solney where she came with a friend. She enjoys keeping active and make lots of friends. Izzy likes playing tennis with the kids and teach them about tennis. 

 

Emily Bull (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Emily first started tennis in September 2018 after Duncan came into school and promoted Tennis sessions in my assembly. She enjoys having fun on the court and keep healthy. Emily likes helping with children, and it’s a possible future career.

 

Olly Millidge (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Olly firstly started attending coaching in 2018 on the Tennis for Kids initiative and since has attend group lessons at Netherseale Lawn Tennis Club. Olly has competed in regular Match plays, mini awards as well as extra events like Family Fun Tournament and Nottingham Open Trip. Olly completed his LTA Tennis leaders course in 2022 and has been helping in the coaching and tennis camps at Netherseale and Newton Solney. 

 

Arlo Thomas (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Arlo got started in tennis via school where he went on to do the summer camps in 2018 at Netherseale. He enjoys tennis as it encourages him to be active. Arlo's  favourite thing about helping is the fact it gets him to do more tennis.


Bryah-Rose Philpott (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Bryah firstly started attending coaching in 2018 on an after School Tennis for Kids initiative and since has attend group lessons, match plays, mini awards and tennis camps. Bryah has represented Netherseale in the 10 and under team competing against other tennis clubs in the area. In 2019 Bryah won the player of the year award for Netherseale Lane Tennis Club. Bryah was part of the LTA Leaders Class of 2022 and has help the coaching sessions ever since.  


Alec Simpson (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2022)

Alec first played tennis holiday in Tenerife on a nearby tennis court with his parents. After that he fell in love with the sport. Alec enjoys having fun on court, playing tournaments making friends and getting exercise. He complicated his leaders course in 2022 and enjoys helping more people to learn to enjoy the sport! Alec and in Dad won the Family Cup at Netherseale in 2022.


 

Sophie Bates (LTA Tennis Leader Class of 2023)

Sophie first started attending the coaching in 2019 on the 'Tennis For Kids' sessions and has been attending the coaching ever since. She enjoys the sense of achievement she gets seeing improvement over time. Sophie has completed for Netherseale Tennis Club in a Derbyshire National League and taken part in many events like the tennis awards and match plays. She is hoping to develop her leadership, communication and confidence skills though doing the leaders course.