by Ellie Longsden | Aug 8, 2023 | News - General, Squash News
Wow! We are incredibly proud of our junior squash programme and celebrated all their achievements with a Summer Fun tournament at the end of the summer season, with all the children being treated to an ice-cream …. Oh and a medal & certificate (but if we are honest, the ice-cream meant the most to them!).
The aim of our Squash junior coaching programme and Squash Camps, is that all the children have fun, make friends and progress in a sport that will help them get fit and keep healthy. Their progress is tracked through Junior Progress awards from ‘Off the Wall Squash’.
There are 8 levels of award, where children learn basic hand-eye co-ordination skills, spatial awareness, rackets skills and learn the game of squash to be able to play games all while having fun. These skills not only help their fitness but also builds confidence and helps forge friendships which we see carried over outside of the squash courts.
Kate Corey shares here experience of the benefits squash has brought to her and her family.
If someone would have told me 2 years ago that not only, would I be a “squash mom” of 2 kids but I myself would be playing the sport I think I would have laughed out loud, yet here I am! Squash was never a sport I ever dreamt my kids would love, I shamefully admit that I held the belief that it was only played by middle aged men, but the WOW Squash Academy at WLTSC has firmly changed my viewpoint on this.
My children 13 and 8 have been playing now for 2 years, with my eldest son competing at county level. The experience of playing at other clubs with different juniors has not only really helped James’ squash skills but has also benefited his social skills. He has made such good progress he was very kindly invited to join the adult mix ins at the club on a Friday night. The members have all been so welcoming to him and playing with adults has made all the difference to his game and his confidence. It’s so lovely that the club members are so supportive of the juniors and the experience and knowledge they share is just invaluable.
Within the safe environment of the club my children have found a sport they both adore with the bonus of a whole new friendship network. The regular free taster sessions aimed at parents were precisely the reason I also tried the sport and, like my children, got bitten by the squash bug! I strongly believe in this “digital” age we live in that its more important than ever that children keep active and healthy, physically and mentally, through sports and if we can do this together as a family then that’s even better!
As well as the juniors, the parents have been trying out Racketball and some, seeing the benefits membership of WLTSC has for families, are joining themselves, helping create lasting family memories of shared activities that mean so much. Our new Sunday Family squash mix-in on Sunday morning, is a great time to create those family memories!
If you would like to be part of our Junior squash programme led by Mike Harris, Head of Squash & Racketball and the junior coaching team, get in touch, we would love to hear more laughter and see more skills and confidence growing at the squash courts.
Helen Tottey – Squash & Racketball Director.
by Ellie Longsden | Jul 18, 2023 | News - General, Social News, Tennis News
WOW! What a week we had last week! One of our members, Henry Searle, who began playing tennis at Tots Tennis when he was 2 years old, WON the Wimbledon Boys Singles title and we couldn’t be more proud!
The week started off with Henry knocking out top seed Juan Carlos Prado Angelo, winning 7-6, 6-3! And so, our crazy week began!
This win was covered in the Sun Newspaper on Monday, who called Henry, a ‘Wolverhampton Wonderkid’ benefiting from his ‘barmy army’ of supporters. This core group with others joining on different days, demonstrated the amount of pride and support WLTSC has for Henry and his achievements.
On Tuesday, our Head of Tennis, Max Thomson, was interviewed live on Radio WM from our beautiful patio, overlooking the tennis courts. Then on Wednesday, The Express & Star visited to celebrate Henry reaching the quarter finals, played on Thursday. Watching the quarter finals on iPlayer and listening to well-known tennis players and presenters, Andrew Castle, John Lloyd and Clare Balding, speaking so highly about one of our members made everyone feel incredibly proud. However, it wasn’t just Henry receiving the attention of the commentators, but his Barmy Army of supporters who featured a lot during the match and in an interview given by Henry in the following days!
In true British weather style, ‘rain stopped play’ for the semi-finals on Friday but this didn’t dampen our spirits at the club with lots of ‘good luck’ video messages been shared, more coverage in the Express & Star and a general excitement from members around the club, waiting to show their support up in the bar!
Finally, the wait was over, and Henry played his semi final on a very blustery Saturday. With the Barmy Army supporters at Wimbledon and the supporters filling the bar at the club, it was time to play! A tense set included a contentious point when Cooper Williams, his 4th seed opponent, hat blew off in the wind. Unlike the weather and his supporters, Henry was calm and controlled, winning the first set 7-6 and then the second, 6-3 becoming the first British boy to reach the final of Wimbledon since Jack Draper in 2018.
The atmosphere at the club was incredible and the cheers drowning out the Barmy Army’s cheers from the TV! The celebrations and good luck messages continued on social media and WhatsApp groups, including a recorded message via Twitter, from Wolverhampton Wanderers Manager Julen Lopetegui, which only added to excitement as we all waited for finals day!
Sunday 16th July 2023, the day club member Henry Searle, reached the Wimbledon Boys singles final. Some members were lucky to get tickets and had an early start to get there to add to the on-court support! The club ran its annual Wimbledon Whites tennis tournament in the morning finishing in time to join both BBC & ITV news (there to cover this momentous game) and other members gathered in the bar, to see Henry step out onto Court 1.
The Barmy Army sat in Court 1, had grown in numbers and were all wearing supportive T-shirts, and the home crowd in the First Serve bar, were all very vocal throughout the match, cheering all and EveryPoint WLTSC’s tennis academy name!) of the games. The roof was nearly ‘cheered’ off as Henry took the 1st set 6-4 and then again, serving for the match to WIN the Boys Singles title 6-4 in the second set! In that moment, Henry became the first British boy to win the Wimbledon Boys Singles since 1962 and WLTSC had its first home-grown Wimbledon champion!
While we celebrate the success of Henry who is based at Loughborough University National Tennis Academy, we also celebrate our club and all we offer members. It is not only 15 tennis courts (including 3 grass) that we have, but also 6 squash courts and 2 gym areas including spin bikes. Both tennis and squash & racketball offer junior programmes, school camps, adult programmes, internal and external tournaments, to provide every member with a sport or fitness regime to suit their requirement.
If you would like to become a member of our club and experience all we offer, why not contact us to come and have a look around.
by marc | Jul 16, 2023 | News - General, Tennis News
You may already know but Henry won his semi-final on Saturday in magnificent style against a strong opponent and battling against the wind.
He only had one break point against him, didn’t serve any double faults, hit 32 winners and above all came up with the winning plays at crucial points.
And so on Sunday 16th July at 13.00 on Court 1 he will be up against Yaroslav Demin from Russia for the Boys Singles Trophy.
Jack Draper and Liam Broady have both made the final in recent years but nobody has won the trophy since Stanley Mathews Jnr in 1962.
I’m sure that we would all like to be on Court 1 with the Wolverhampton Barmy Army shouting for Henry, but if that’s not possible why not come down to the Club to cheer him on to more success.
The BBC and ITV will be there filming so casual dress, tennis kit or even a Wolves top won’t go amiss.
Henry has done his bit, let’s help him put Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club on the map,
And the bar is open all afternoon for the Men’s Singles Final, Alcaraz v Djokovic afterwards.
Here’s a link to our holiday camps if you know a young person who would like to start their squash, rcaketball or tennis journey at the club – https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/everypoint/Coaching/Camps
by marc | Jul 10, 2023 | News - General, Tennis News
From Wolverhampton to Wimbledon – Congratulations to our very own Henry Searle, described as a ‘Wolverhampton Wonderkid’ in the press after knocking out No1 seed in Boys singles at Wimbledon yesterday. Winning 7-6, 6-3 he benefited from a ‘barmy army’ of fans, mostly from the club! Everyone wishes him the best of luck in the next round. If you are inspired to play tennis, visit out website TENNIS | Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club (wltsc.com)
by Ellie Longsden | May 31, 2023 | Community Events, News - General, Social News
A big part of the WLTSC community is the inclusivity we pride ourselves on and the many activities open to all abilities at the club.
Following a previous post of WLTSC with Wolves, the images featured a frequent junior WLTSC visitor that deserves to be showcased.
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆!
Emily joined our mini red tennis sessions and took part in wheelchair tennis with a wheelchair that was kindly donated by the LTA. She underwent a number of weeks at WLTSC, improving on her tennis journey.
In addition, Emily was chosen by Wolves to be the “disability matters” representative and recently a mascot for the Wolves at Leicester away game. Having been a Wolves season ticket holder since she was a toddler, the club wanted to celebrate how she has overcome the many difficulties and challenges that she has had. She met all the players, including her favourite Neves, and led the team out.
“WLTSC did so much for her and were all so kind to her.”-Emily’s mom, Mel.
by Ellie Longsden | May 4, 2023 | Community Events, Football, News - General, Social News
As a key part of the local Wolverhampton Community, we have always had great admiration for our successful home team. WLTSC often finds itself in a position of great links with Wolves and below is just some of the many recent success stories we’ve had the pleasure to share with you:
- 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱– Junior member Donell proudly waved the flag for Wolves as a match mascot during the Wolves away game against Leicester City at the King Power stadium. Although not the results the fans had hoped for that day, we hope Donell had a great day getting a first-hand experience of the buzz of a Wolves away game and getting chance to grab a high five with a local fan favourite Rúben Neves!
- 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄– A longstanding member of WLTSC Anne Crawshaw was invited to be the recipient in receiving a Wolves shirt during a special presentation in recognition of her late father Bert Williams. Bert had hit an astonishing 420 caps for Wolves and at the time of his death was the oldest living England international! Both Anne and Amber (below) attended the special evening with both earning special recognition.
- 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀– Our very own Tennis coach Amber Fellows has successfully made over 300 appearances on behalf of Wolves women! Herself and both former and current players who have made this honourable milestone were privileged to have been invited along to attend a Wolves 300 club event. During the event Amber was presented with her own named plaque upon a coveted honours board. Well done Ambs, amazing achievement!
After a special unveiling event last week, the 300 Club board featuring both Amber Fellows and Bert Williams now has a permanent home at Molineux!
