Holcombe Brook have confirmed their status as one of the most respected names in British tennis with both the men’s and women’s teams reaching the last-eight of the country’s most prestigious event.
Andrew Davies’s team booked their place in the finals of the Aegon Team Tennis Championship when they beat Wrexham in their final qualifying group game on Sunday.
And with the women already having qualified for the three-day tournament, which takes place in Bournemouth next month, the Bury club’s reputation is as strong as ever.
For 28-year-old Davies, who is in his second year as team captain, the success in this year’s competition is a credit to the determination of the players who have been recruited from across the region to play under the club’s banner.
A Holcombe Brook member himself, Davies has developed a strong team unit including Bolton-based duo Rob Morgan and Simon Roberts, Nathan Jones of Oldham, Chris Nott (Preston) and Chris Parks (Southport).
“Unlike in previous years when they were guaranteed match fees, the players have been playing for nothing – in some cases it has cost them money as well as spare time when they have been either practising or competing,” he said.
“They have been a credit to themselves. Financially, they’ve had no help from anyone, but that seems to have generated a strong team spirit. They are simply playing for a £3,000 prize – and that has been driving them on.”
Brook, who beat two Scottish teams – Linlithgow and Stirling University – Nuffield of Hull and Huddersfield-based Thongsbridge while only losing to Northern (Manchester) in their previous qualifying group games, have a proud record in the Aegon Championships, the Lawn Tennis Association’s flagship team tournament.