Andy Margarson
LTA L4 Senior Head Coach
Cromer Tennis & Racquets Club
Introduction
My involvement in the sport of tennis began as a seven year old growing up in Aylsham. Friends of the family had a very bumpy grass court at their farm in Brampton where there were more mole hills than blades of grass from what I remember but I was hooked.
Attending classes in Norwich and being taught by some of the stalwarts of the Norfolk Coaching community such as Martin Smith, Paul Jehan and Caroline Blincoe as a junior I progressed through to play for the county and attend regional training groups by the age of twelve and thoroughly enjoyed the then diary of events Norfolk wide that included the Cromer Junior week of course plus the Norfolk closed where memories of playing on the Hewett school courts (12 or so in a row) still remain vivid in the memory.
Deciding to study Sports Science at degree level in the UK I took my L1 (the then DCA) in Hull whilst living as a post graduate student in York and have now been involved in tennis coaching for the past twenty plus years. My first coaching role was in East Yorkshire and I was able to gain experience in one of only three LTA accredited high performance clubs within the David Lloyd network at the time. Working alongside Richard Plews who still heads up some of the national training camps and age group players it gave me a valuable insight into organising and running good quality programmes plus how to go about producing players from a young age.
Gaining experience from the junior performance programme in Hull in the early noughties it allowed players to train both prior to their school time and after and produced county, national and a handful of junior international players including Kyle Edmund (who was part of the programme when he first picked up a racket from 2003-2008)
Moving to London in 2008 I worked in the Beckenham and Bromley area which was and is particularly busy location for Tennis. During my time there I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to regularly hit with a former three times Wimbledon Ladies champion Maria Bueno when she based herself in London for the summer time. Her incredible stories of how Tennis was back in the fifties still resonate in comparison to today’s trappings as a top player. Having time to play myself was always at a premium but whilst in Yorkshire the club managed to win the National Club League Yorkshire Men's title two years running and I was also part of the Cottingham LTC team that won the Yorkshire Men's Doubles league title in 2004 so it was nice to have the benefit of some very strong competitive doubles.
Whilst in Kent the D.L Beckenham team won the Kent Men's Division 1 title in both 2013 and 2014. A move back to Norfolk with my family followed in 2015 and I still enjoy turning out for the Mens teams at Cromer and Norfolk O45’s when I have time.
My Club
Returning to live in Aylsham and work at the Cromer club has been a great experience. Rebuilding a junior programme from 25 players to over 110 children attending each week has seen the club look to expand its facilities and offerings not just in Tennis but other racket sports also. Within two years of returning the programme had produced two junior county champions and we continue to look to feed players into the local competition arena but overall just strive to get more children active and enjoying Tennis as a sport both individually and in a team or with their families and friends. Having the amazing grass courts over the spring and summer months the club bursts into life even more so.
Current Junior Programme
We have 120 juniors attending weekly across a range of sessions and open club play as well as a schools programme that sees close to fifty to sixty children a week.
Why do I Coach
I always liked the competitive, physical, mental, and social side of tennis … and still do!. Through participating in the sport you meet and make so many friends and associates. Working at a venue that has a positive coaching environment that fosters growth and enjoyment can be very rewarding. Collaborating with other coaches is a key I have learnt being based in two of the biggest counties nationwide and remember there are always challenges but stay positive and patient, honestly it can be the most rewarding of professions.
Why do I want Cromer Tennis & Racquets Club to be part of the Norfolk Summer Series?
This kind of initiative is so important countywide and beyond and a must for any team and workforce wishing to improve participation overall. Offering an entry level informal and relaxed series of events can enable players to feel confident and comfortable and allow them to enjoy the sport we all love and have loved in just the same way.
My favourite CPD course
Probably the most recent one I attended in Cambridge taken by Simon Wheatley. A fabulous insight into ‘Getting Red Right’
The workshop focused on the redball/stage at 8 & under where there were dozens of on-court practical ideas to get kids playing the game itself more quickly rather than individual drills and using queues etc.
