My background in tennis was solely recreational, I started aged 7 playing short tennis (sponge ball) at Woodford Leisure Centre in East Hull and moved to Nuffield, at the time named Cannons when I was 11 years old, playing twice a week in the development programme.

My interest in coaching started aged 15 when I was asked to assist with the mini tennis groups before my own lessons started later in the evenings. It was at this stage that I decided to try and play more tennis and start competing in local tennis teams and leagues I began my role at Nuffield in 2006 as “Community Tennis Coach”.

This involved working in two inner city park tennis clubs, Pelican Park in the East and Pickering Tennis Club in the West. I also did schools outreach work and one night per week coaching at the centre itself under the guidance of Paul Bennett and John Loughton.

What I find most rewarding is seeing players who I have coached since mini tennis achieve their goals later in life, whether that is winning County or National titles, becoming coaches, obtaining scholarships to American college or playing at Wimbledon – it’s to be part of their journey.