Newman Collard Tennis Club have been nominated in the Club of the Year category in the 2024 County LTA Awards. The winners of the annual awards will be announced at the Hants and IoW LTA Celebration of Tennis Ceremony on Saturday 10th May at David Lloyd Southampton.
The club was nominated for its innovative fundraising efforts in 2024 that enabled the club to raise over £15K and replace its floodlights. Following an incredibly busy and successful 2023 for the Club, 2024 was supposed to be less frantic. However, in early 2024 the Club was faced with a very large and unexpected bill to replace the floodlights. With funds depleted from 2023 investment projects, the only real option was to raise new funds or accept that winter 2025 would be a dark one.
The club responded by organising a weekend of events in Liss for 22nd /23rd June. A Village festival on the Saturday organised by the Club would provide a free event for the village and promote all of its clubs and societies, while an overnight Torchlight Tennis Marathon would raise awareness of the club’s issues. Both events would support each other and help the club and other groups in the village fundraise and promote themselves to new members.
The weekend was a fantastic success.
There was a really good turnout for the Village festival in the afternoon. Over 30 local clubs, societies, schools, businesses and hobby groups came to Newman Collard Park for the festival with each organising a stall and a free activity showcasing the club and group. There was something of interest for every age and ability. The variety of local groups in attendance ranged from social, intellectual and creative to personal fitness, wellbeing and team sports. The weather was also kind and local residents came out in numbers and stayed all afternoon.
As the festival came to close Ben Marshall started his 12-hour Torchlight Tennis marathon to illustrate what tennis would be like without floodlights.
Collectively, the festival and marathon raised over £6k for the club while other village clubs such Guides, Scouts and the football club raised funds too. In the weeks after, the momentum of the festival was followed by a successful grant application to Sport England and then in October installation of new greener LED floodlights.
Win, lose, or draw, the club will be celebrating with social event and tournament – date to be confirmed but probably Sunday 18th May in Liss.