NORFOLK TENNIS INTERVIEW:
Martin Coates – LTA Level 5 Master Coach, Head Coach at Brooke and District Tennis Club
INTRODUCTION
I started playing tennis at the age of six, though I’ve always loved all racket sports.
My coaching career really took off after taking a year out to travel to Australia following my studies. I had some wonderful experiences coaching and playing, starting in Melbourne and then working my way up the East Coast to Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns.
After returning to the UK, I was privileged to spend 17 rewarding years as Tennis Manager at Ipswich Sports Club in Suffolk — a premier racket sports facility with over 800 members. During this time, I gained invaluable experience in performance tennis, coaching juniors who went on to represent Great Britain. I regularly travelled with these players to Bisham Abbey, the National Centre of Excellence, where I had the honour of working in an elite sporting environment alongside athletes from England Hockey, Football, and Rugby. It was a truly humbling and inspiring time in my coaching career.
My next chapter took me to Cornwall, where I became Tennis Manager at Penzance Tennis Club — a stunning venue with 11 courts set in the beautiful surroundings of Penlee Park, complete with indoor facilities. I was proud to be part of a team that earned both Club of the Year and Coach of the Year shortly after I took on the role. One of my fondest memories was being selected to take part in an LTA Schools Roadshow delivering play zones at Wimbledon — our event welcomed over 500 attendees on festival day.
I had eight wonderful years in Cornwall, but the opportunity to return to Australia was too tempting to resist. I moved to Palm beach on the Northern Beaches, where I worked for Tennis Australia based at the Sydney Olympic Park. Some of my proudest moments there included being part of the team that launched the 2020 ATP Cup in Sydney, working with Jaslyn Hewitt – yes Lleyton’s sister - in the Todd Woodbridge School Games for Tennis NSW and helping to organise the 2019 Tennis NSW Awards evening, with an A-list line-up featuring Ken Rosewall, Todd Woodbridge, Jelena Dokic, and Sam Groth. I was also honoured to be selected by Tennis NSW to attend and present at the Tennis Australia ANZ Hot Shots Conference in June 2018.
After many amazing years living and working in Australia, family brought me back to the UK and I am now happily settled in Norfolk.
MY CLUB
We’re a welcoming club with over 200 members from Brooke and the surrounding villages. Whether you’re an adult or junior, social player or competitor, there’s something here for everyone.
Since moving to a smaller club, I’ve really enjoyed the more personal feel. It allows me to focus on each player’s development and build closer relationships. Creating an environment where every player feels supported and valued is what makes coaching so rewarding for me.
I’m also fortunate to work with a proactive and enthusiastic chairman and committee who support everything we do. New members are always welcome — come and give us a try!
CURRENT JUNIOR PROGRAMME
Over 100 juniors are part of our Young Aces programme at Brooke, with players of all ages and abilities enjoying a buzzing weekly schedule and a packed holiday programme full of energy and fun.
One of my biggest passions is tennis leadership and developing young coaches. We now have 20 enthusiastic teenagers who are part of the leaders programme. It’s amazing to see 14-year-olds who once started in Mini Tennis now confidently leading warm-ups for the younger players.
WHY DO I COACH?
I coach tennis because I love helping people discover what they’re capable of — on and off the court. Tennis is unique: it tests you technically, tactically, physically, and mentally all at once.
For me, coaching isn’t just about developing players — it’s about shaping individuals who can carry the lessons from the court into life.
One of my proudest moments was watching a player I’d coached since the age of eight walk out on Court 14 and play at Wimbledon. Moments like that remind me why I coach — the privilege of being part of someone’s journey and helping them unlock their potential.
WHY DO I WANT BROOKE TO BE PART OF THE NORFOLK SUMMER SERIES CIRCUIT?
This is a fantastic way to get young players excited about testing themselves against others in a fun, friendly, and competitive environment.
Competition is where tennis truly comes alive — it’s where players learn to construct points, adapt to different opponents, and make smart decisions under pressure.
MY FAVOURITE CPD COURSES
I’ve been lucky to attend many CPD courses and meet some truly inspirational characters — far too many to pick just one highlight! But here are a few of my fondest memories:
Alan Jones & Annabel Croft flying in by helicopter to deliver a performance workshop at Ipswich — an entrance no one will forget.
Martin Smith (ring any bells?) leading a fantastic performance workshop at ISC while serving as CPO Norfolk — packed with insight and energy.
Performance workshops with legends such as Mark Cox, Nick Brown, Paul Dent, Carl Maes, and Jeremy Bates — each bringing their own unique style and expertise.
A lively Mini Tennis workshop with Mike Barrell in Cornwall — fun, creative, and buzzing with ideas.