The club is in the process of submitting plans for a new clubhouse, additional court and upgraded floodlighting. As soon as the project is given the go ahead we will be looking at doing it in stages as soon as funds allow.
The Clubhouse will incorporate a upstairs hall large enough to play mini tennis as well as other activities.
Club Leagues
New men's Essex Team Training on Sunday 12am - 3pm
Sun 21 Oct Home to Maldon at 1 pm
Sun 25 Nov Away at Thurrock 1pm
Sun 2 Dec Away at Harlow 1pm
Sun 13 Jan 08 Home to Cranston Park 2pm
Sun 20 Jan 08 Home to Aldersbrook 1pm
New Club Plan
The new Club Development Plan (CDP) is ready and over the next 18 months will be focused on increasing the amount of matches all juniors, from Peewee onwards, play at the club. It has always been Chris's philosophy that juniors do not play enough tennis at their clubs, with the new blueprint from the LTA now mirroring his views the club will be looking to hold regular events for all its junior members.
Focusing on increasing the playing standard of juniors is a priority at the club, and as part of the CDP certain juniors who show aptitude and willingness will be awarded scholarships. These scholarships will include subsidised fee's among other incentives. |
Rochford Tennis Club was first established in 1891, records say it was one grass court situated behind the farm house which we believe is the club house for Rochford 100 golf club. It was relocated "sketchy at this point" by land donated by the Tabor family with 7 grass courts and a shed for a club house. In the late 80's the club included a hockey and tennis section and attained finance to convert the grass courts to macadam with floodlighting. Unfortunately the club failed to capitalise on its investment and success and by the 90's was very much in decline.
The clubs fortunes changed when Chris Nelson was invited to coach at the club on a part time basis in 1996. By 1998 Chris had purchased the club of its members and begun to invest in bringing the courts back to standard and by 1999 had rapidly turned the club around. In 1998 the club had 3 teams in the lower leagues with the occasional promotion, since taking over, Chris has (with the aid of the members) 10 adult and junior teams with the men's 1st team now playing in the 1st division.
Juniors are a priority at the club, there are no stuffy rules, all junior members are entitled to use the facilities as much as the adults. Chris was the first coach in the area to offer coaching to juniors aged 3 onwards in the clubs Peewee Program. Prior to joining the club, Chris had been working for 6 years in schools offering mini tennis as before and after school activities and used this experience to form the first mini tennis program, long before the LTA thought of it.
Facilities
The club offers 3 floodlit courts with car park, clubhouse and licensed bar with regular social events, competitive leagues and organised events. The Club caters for players from 4 years old and beyond and is keen to "Blur" the distinction between adult and junior players with juniors having the same access and rights as adults. The club offers an extensive coaching program incorporating junior and adult group coaching from beginner to advanced (More info is available in the coaching section). Chris always looks toward the future and is driven to make the club bigger and better with his sights firmly on junior titles in Essex. |
