Meet Our Team
Danny Burrell - Level 4 Accredited+ Head Coach
In 2019, Danny graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a Dean’s Award in Physical Education in 2019. During this time, he competed in Grade 3 tournaments for the Men’s 4th to 6th team at university, enabling him to reach his top LTA ranking of 441st nationally. In his role as Head Coach at Pudsey Tennis Club, he coached their junior team to the Bradford and District tennis league final. He has since left his role at Pudsey in 2020 to further develop the programme at Sandal Tennis Club. Danny's hard work was evidenced by Yorkshire Tennis in 2020, who presented him with a 'Highly Commended Community Coach of the Year' Award. By engaging players of varying abilities and ages from various different clubs and parks through fun lessons and friendly competitions, he has seen an incredible interest in his coaching and the coaching programme.
Additionally, Danny works as the Community Tennis Activator at Leeds City Council, coordinating tennis programmes in local parks, which was commended as the LTA National Communities and Parks Programme of the year in 2021. He envisions that working with different clubs and venues in harmony will enable him to achieve his long term goal of increasing tennis participation and access to tennis throughout Yorkshire. Furthermore, he is very motivated to learn about new methods of coaching to develop himself and therefore to see a greater improvement in the players who he coaches, as well as develop the tennis coaches that he mentors. This sparked his desire to undertake his Level 4 coaching qualification, which he completed in September 2022.
Lastly, he is incredibly excited and determined to make Sandal Tennis Club’s coaching programme the best in Yorkshire! Join in with one of his sessions and you won't be disappointed!
Contact:
07811 288046
Private Lesson Cost (48-hour cancellation policy):
- £32 per hour (+ £2 non-member fee)
- £25.50 per 45 minutes (+ £1.50 non-member fee)
- £19 per 30 minutes (+ £1 non-member fee)
Nigel Glover - Level 3 Accredited+ Coach
Nigel has 11 years' experience teaching children and adults in group and private lessons. He has also worked in local primary and secondary schools in the area and runs Cardio Tennis sessions. He has played Yorkshire League Division 1 for many years, competed in tournaments, and in other local matches for Sandal.
He is very ambitious and passionate about tennis, and loves to work together with a wide range of pupils to help them to develop and love tennis as a game for life.
Contact:
07469 193266
Private Lesson Cost:
- £24 per hour (+ £2 for non-members)
- £19 per 45 minutes (+ £1.50 for non-members)
Sara Robson - Level 2 Accredited Coach
Sara is an LTA Accredited Level 2 Coach. She has been coaching for over 7 years working at Wickham Tennis Club and The Avenue Lawn Tennis & Fitness Club. Sara has over 30 years of playing experience. During this time, she has had coaching herself and worked hard to develop her game by competing regularly.
Sara has a lot of experience running tournaments within her voluntary roles as Junior Secretary and Ladies Captain. She organised the Junior Open tournament and the Club Championships catering for over 100 players for over 5 years. She has also worked with junior players, developing them from beginners to competing regularly. The knowledge and experience she has had from being a 'tennis mum' has meant that she has been able to relate to parents easily; giving support and empathy. In addition, Sara enjoys coaching adult beginners/ improvers and is looking forward to doing more adult coaching.
Sara is very enthusiastic coach, joining the Sandal TC coaching team in 2021. She is motivated by seeing the progress that her players make and watching a passion and love for the game grow. She is also currently undertaking her Level 3 coaching qualification.
Contact:
07966 506398
Private Lesson Cost:
- £24 per hour (+ £2 non-member fee)
- £20 per 45 minutes (+ £1.50 non-member fee)
Gemma Burrell - Level 2 Accredited Tennis Coach
Gemma is a part-time coach with a passion for delivering high-quality, enjoyable tennis sessions. She has experience coaching a variety of age groups, with a keen interest in delivering mini tennis sessions due to her background in early years education. She is a holiday camp specialist! Gemma has been involved in tennis since the age of 8 and has represented Leeds Beckett as a member of their women’s fourth team. In 2022, she graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a degree in Primary Education and she is currently supporting high school children with special educational needs in Leeds.
Contact:
07305 950 564
Private Hitting Cost - £20 per hour (+ £2 non-member fee)
Lee Hodgkin - Level 2 Accredited Tennis Coach
Lee is a part-time LTA Accredited Level 2 Tennis Coach, passing the course in August 2023 with a Distinction. He has been involved in tennis for over 30 years and has captained Mixed, Men’s and Junior Teams at Pudsey Tennis Club, coordinated multiple Winter Singles competitions and continues to play competitively in Leeds and Bradford Leagues, competing in Divisions 1 & 2 of the Bradford and District League. Lee has a keen interest in the benefits to mental health of an active lifestyle and successfully completed a course in Mental Health Awareness for Sport through UK Coaching in conjunction with Mind Charity. Lee is passionate about tennis and enjoys working with all age groups and abilities to give players skills for life. Additionally, Lee started delivering group tennis lessons on a Tuesday afternoon and evening at the tennis club from September 2023. He is very keen to help people to develop their tennis!
Contact:
07958 956 990
Private Hitting Cost:
- £23 per hour (+ £2 non-member fee)
- £20 per 45 minutes (+ £1.50 non-member fee)
- £17 per 30 minutes (+ £1 non-member fee)
Peter Gray - Level 2 Accredited Tennis Coach
From the simple beginnings of family interest, a love of the game of, tennis was born into Peter's life and the journey began. At junior level, he was selected to compete for three consecutive years in the Invitation U18 National Hard Court and Grass Court Championships of Great Britain, for two years in the U18 National Covered Court Championships at Queen’s Club (top 40 GB players) before progressing to play Open Age Tournaments and Premier Division Tennis. He was Head of Sport and Physical Education in one of Leeds most successful high schools and has dedicated much of his professional life to providing the opportunities for young people to participate and excel in their chosen sport. He remains committed to this aim by constantly seeking to improve his coaching skills through the LTA Coach Accreditation Pathway to give players the best possible and most enjoyable experience of learning to play tennis whatever their level of competence. Peter enjoys the opportunity to work with players of all ages. His philosophy is all about those he coaches having fun, finding creative ways to learn the game and players doing the best they can, with no limitations set on what they can achieve.
Contact:
07809 156 256
Private Lesson Cost - £20 per hour (+ £2 non-member fee)