AN HISTORIC tennis club, which began life on a vicarage lawn in 1875, has moved into a £1.4 million home for the 21st century. What its long-servant chairman John Woodroofe describes as a ‘fabulous facility’ will be on show at an open day this Saturday, September 22 (1pm start). He said: ‘People can turn up and play free of charge or if they wish to have a look round. We will supply the rackets and balls and we will also have refreshments available.’ The tennis club is one of the borough’s senior sporting institutions – older than the All England Club at Wimbledon – and now Halton’s only remaining tennis club. It was formed when Vicar Bond donated land on Coroners Lane, in the same year as Widnes RLFC started. The move to the new five-acre site, on land between Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Sports College and Widnes Golf Club, is the culmination of 20 years of endeavour, ambition – and searching for premises. The club had always been in Coroners Lane, albeit at various sites, but found life at its most recent location increasingly cramped with the three-court set-up holding back ambitions. Various attempts to add more courts were turned down by planners. In September 2005, Lane closed the doors for the last time on what had been their clubhouse and HQ since 1936 and the site was sold for housing. The proceeds, along with a £300,000 Lawn Tennis Association grant, have helped to fund the new Widnes Tennis Academy as a replacement base. It is some replacement, too – with three playdec courts and a kidszone including two mini-courts indoors and a further six courts, two artificial grass and four playdec, outside. Building work started in November last year after a release of Halton Borough Council land to the club on a rental basis. Chairman Woodroofe, who has been with Lane for 53 years, is also the new centre’s manager. Fellow club member Alison Redman is assistant manager with stalwart Alan Harmer also playing a lead role as Lane’s secretary and vice-chairman along with tennis director and head coach Joe Grimes. Other management team members include Chris Roberts, who played a pivotal role in the academy’s development, Andrew Redman, Geoff Hough and Simon Frost. The chairman believes the opening of the academy is an exciting new chapter in Widnes’ tennis history – one which will boost the Halton game dramatically and give the club every chance of unearthing future champions with membership already booming to about 150. He said: ‘The waiting is over and I am sure you will agree it was worth the wait. We are the envy of clubs throughout the North West. ‘The problem at the old site was the three courts were always being used for something so there was no opportunity for others to play tennis. ‘We had new courts put down in the mid-80s. We had an open day and shot our membership up but people started coming along and finding they couldn’t play because there was practice, a match or a junior session already on.’ The club’s four men’s, three women’s, three mixed and three junior teams all play in the Warrington & District League with the Mixed 1sts winning their Division One title. This summer saw the club regain genuine home advantages after a season-and-a-half playing at Widnes & Runcorn Sixth Form College’s Cronton campus and Birchwood Tennis Centre, Warrington. League matches are mostly played on the outdoor courts which are also available to the public at competitive rates – the club has just set up an on-line booking system. The centre offers playing opportunities for players of all ages and standards. Junior summer schools have supplemented the popular Friday evening sessions for youngsters and junior squad training for advanced players is scheduled. Adult beginners classes are also in place. Sts Peter and Paul pupils will use the facilities during school hours. Lane also has links with primary schools All Saints Upton, Simms Cross, Ditton CE, Fairfield Junior, Farnworth CE and Hale CE. Cheshire LTA, big supporters of the scheme all through, have, meanwhile, started to use the centre and are to stage junior tournaments there while it is hoped Lancashire will also come on board. The academy will also be a host venue for coach-training courses. An official opening is planned for January when it is hoped to attract a high-profile tennis celebrity to perform the honours. | 
