Stepps LTC

In May 1906, Colonel Sprot of Garnkirk and Strathvithie offered Cadder Parish Council a portion of ground in Stepps for use as a recreation ground for the district. Part of this ground was offered to be laid out as tennis courts. On Wednesday 18th September 1907 at a meeting in the hall in Edward Place, Stepps attended by 32 interested people, Colonel Sprot offered a ½ acre plot on the east side of Lenzie Road for a tennis club along with a £100 interest-free loan. This was accepted and the go ahead to set up Stepps Lawn Tennis Club was begun. The Club subsequently agreed a 7-year lease with a nominal rent of 5s per annum.

In early 1908, work was carried out to lay the courts and put up a pavilion. The club was officially opened at 3pm on Saturday 16th May 1908. The opening ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd and the courts were declared open after Miss Sprot, daughter of Colonel Sprot, hit the first ball. Councillor Dunlop, from Cadder Parish Council, presented the club with an engraved silver ball. An American Tournament then took place involving couples from Pollokshields, Cathcart, Airdrie, Titwood, Mount Vernon and Bellahouston with Pollokshields the winners. At this time, membership stood at 42 ladies, 12 gents and four honorary members.

Unfortunately, in late autumn 1910, the club was dissolved as member numbers and income were insufficient to meet working expenses. The club was still owing monies to Colonel Sprot for the loan received in 1908 and also had some outstanding water charges. In May 1911, plans were begun to begin afresh and put the club on a new footing with the Parish Council agreeing to take over ownership of the grounds and recreational land surrounding in April 1912. The club was re-opened on Saturday 17th May 1913 by Councillor Watson with his wife, Mrs Watson, hitting the first ball. So began the club’s 2nd phase.

The club continued through WW1, the roaring twenties, the great depression and WW2. During the latter, the Clubhouse was requisitioned for use by the Home Guard. In 1964, the Ninth District Council, Lanarkshire agreed to build a new clubhouse at a cost of around £1,500 with the Council providing a 60% grant. The new building was formally opened on 3rd April 1965 by Councillor J Gray after which four West of Scotland County players played an exhibition match.

In 1921, the Club joined the West of Scotland LTA with a Ladies team in Division 4 and a Gents team in Division 6 and so began the Club’s long running participation in the West Leagues. The Gents team gained promotions in its first two seasons. The Club continued fielding league teams through the 1920s, 1930s and late 1940s with a Junior team started in the late 1940s and Senior second teams being added in the 1950s. The Ladies first team reached the heady heights of Division 1 in 1967 and played in Division 2 through the late 1960s and into the early 1970s. The Gents first team reached Division 2 in 1967. The Junior team reached Division 1 in the early 1950s and also in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Team successes over the years have ebbed and flowed with information on these provided under the Club Honours tab.

In 1969, Club member Sheila Moodie won the Scottish Grass Court Singles Championship, gained a Scottish International Cap and enjoyed success in many national, regional and local tournaments. Over time, other members had success in regional and national tournaments, including Margaret Stevenson who played at Junior Wimbledon and Claire Lavery. Information on individual member's successes is provided under the Club Honours tab.

In the 1990s, membership levels fell bringing into question the continued existence of the club. However, a nucleus of enthusiastic pro-active members managed to keep the club going through these difficult times. Their hard work laid the foundations for a resurgence in membership in the 2000s. This culminated in the laying down of new all-weather courts with floodlights in 2012 enabling the club to offer year-round play to its members.

Today, the Club is managed by a dedicated and enthusiastic committee of volunteers whose aim is to take the club forward and enable it to have a socially welcoming environment in tandem with a sustainable and thriving future.