Meet the Team

All of our coaches are LTA Accredited or Accredited+, meaning they have an in date PVG, as well as valid first aid and safeguarding certificates.

The team delivering group and individual sessions to juniors and adults are LTA trained.

Graeme Clarkson Profile - Head Coach

I bring over 30 years of coaching and experience working across the tennis industry fulfilling several roles on and off court giving me a broad understanding of the game and its organisation.

Starting out as a teacher and progressing to Head of Physical Education in Essex I moved into tennis working in a commercial tennis operation in Kent before taking up a position with the LTA in Durham & Cleveland.

In 22 years working for the Lawn Tennis Association, I delivered tennis activity in the North East of England as a coach and then as a Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Manager, advising clubs, schools and Local Authorities on tennis development issues, running and delivering coaching, competitions, coach development activities, player programmes and club management.

As LTA Facility Project Manager, I oversaw projects for the LTA in the North of England and Scotland with an extensive portfolio of clubs and local authorities, including most recently the building of indoor courts at St Andrews University.

County coach for Durham & Cleveland and regional coach for the North of England, I have worked with players at all ages and abilities, from beginner up to international level as well as captaining county teams at all age groups. This included captaining and playing for men’s teams up to Group 1 county Cup.

With a wealth of experience to share I am a Tennis Scotland & LTA coach education tutor, training new tennis coaches from Tennis Leaders to Levels 1, 2 & 3 of the LTA’s coaching pathway.

Latterly a student pathways co-ordinator at the University of Stirling, developing opportunities for students attending the University to develop skills relevant for future roles within tennis. This includes internships, communications, and marketing, coaching, and officiating, competitions and events, performance analysis & programme content for the development programme.

I am passionate about sharing with people the benefits of playing tennis, socially, physically, and mentally and I enjoy challenging people to realise their potential.

Qualifications

LTA Level 5 Registered Professional Coach

B.Sc. (hons) Physical Education and Sports Science, Loughborough University

Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Loughborough University

LTA Accredited+ coach

LTA R5 licensed Referee 

Playing

Played and captained Durham and Cleveland LTA men to Group 1 county, as well as Captaining many junior county teams

Represented Loughborough University and selected for British Universities

Plays county vets tennis for Durham & Cleveland LTA and East of Scotland

Graeme Clarkson Tennis