We have various tennis social events.
Come along and enjoy...

Our social tennis is on Sunday afternoons; 2pm to 4pm and Tuesday evenings from 6pm during summer months. Plus on the first Sunday of the month we have an American Tournament with PRIZES….check in with the clubhouse for further information.

We run a number of successful teams

  • These include a men’s team and a number of junior teams
  • Plus we like to have a number of friendlies both mixed and ladies, so keep an eye on your e-mail and let us know if you are interested, they are always good fun

We are also introducing some new competitions

  • There is a junior ladder, with prizes
  • We are planning a club “open competition” in September, everyone is welcome to come along for fun and games of great tennis
  • And we also have a new ball machine, its brilliant fun and available through committee members

THE STORY SO FAR

Heyes Lane Tennis Club was formed in 1925 with 2 grass courts on the north side of the small ‘Whitehall Brook’. At that time there were no houses on ‘The Circuit’ and access was by a path along the side of the brook from the bridge on Heyes Lane – at what is now the storage yard for Emerson Builders. The players would no doubt play in the manner of the time – with wooden rackets, gut strings, racket presses and wear the sort of attire you see in those old photos of tennis in the last century.

By about 1960 the grass courts had been replaced by shale courts, similar to the ‘clay’ courts of today. In 1972 volunteers at the Club made a third shale court at right angles to the other two courts. This was a big step because it allowed the Club to enter the North East Cheshire Men’s and Ladies Leagues (requiring three courts to play matches). From that time there have been many successful years in the various Divisions of the League and the winning shields are still displayed in the Clubhouse. The present Clubhouse was also built by Club volunteers about 1962. It is not a glamorous Clubhouse but it has stood the test of time with regular refurbishments, the most recent being in 2013.

The Club won the Men’s second division in 1977 and in the 90’s was in the first Division, almost winning one year – a remarkable achievement for a small Club.

Later, shale courts became less popular and difficult to maintain. They were replaced about 1990 by three ‘tennis quick’ tarmac all weather courts, thanks largely to a benefactor who was a member of the Club. In 1994 the Club started its Junior coaching programme run by a qualified LTA coach. This developed quickly to a very successful Juniors Section with over 100 players and teams in each age group of the North East Cheshire Junior League. This has remained a major feature of the Club up to the present time. Notably in 2000 one of our Juniors reached the National Finals of the Nestle sponsored tournament for Club Junior players.

The Club Coach – Paul Mannion – has been with the Club since 2000, a notably long and consistent period that reflects the way the juniors and adults respect his friendly coaching and the way he likes the Club.

In 2002 the courts took on their present appearance with the laying of ‘Astroturf’ grass courts which have provided an all weather surface in a beautiful location, that is frequently complimented by visiting teams. 

… so this is a brief history of the Club that will soon be reaching its centenary as it continues to be a local and very friendly Club.

  –       Dave Barraclough 2014 (previously our Club Secretary and inspiration for a considerable proportion of the story so far)