Wales’ first LGBT+ tennis club has launched this month. Run by Tennis Wales, the new club is encouraging people from the LGBT+ community to come along and play the game.
Whether you have loads of experience or none at all, the new club is already being pushed as a place where the community can learn new skills and make social connections. 30-year-old Neil Roberts, who’s based in Cardiff, told WalesOnline he’s "excited" for the new club.
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A compliance advisor for a finance firm in the city, he knows just how important clubs like this are for the LGBT+ communities in Wales. “I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while, but never knew where to start,” he said.
“Last year I thought I’d take the plunge and I approached Tennis Wales with this idea. Thankfully, this wasn’t long after the LTAs Pride in Tennis and Tennis Wales were really keen to build on this in Wales.
“I really want to build on the fantastic inclusive sports clubs we have already in Wales, and getting more people interested in tennis at the same time is a bonus. I’m really excited.”
When asked about the importance of the club for the LGBT+ community, Neil added that tennis is vital as it’s a “proven trailblazer for equality.” He said: “I believe it’s very important for different reasons. Tennis is also a proven trailblazer for equality, being one of the first sports to give female players equal prize money. Sport is also something everyone should have access to for their physical and mental well-being. And by setting this up, I’m hoping many more LGBT+ [people] will see that tennis can be a sport for them.”
Neil, who was at the first session, hopes beginners and experienced players alike can find and connect with each other. Promised to be a safe environment, the first session saw scores of eager players making the trip to Heath park. Neil was the former social secretary for Cardiff Lions RFC, an inclusive rugby team. You can read more about them here.
"I’m hoping everyone who comes to it, be they beginners or seasoned players recognise that it’s a safe space for them to enjoy and play tennis, without barriers. When people feel they’re seen and heard, they build better connections and thrive.
"A key part of any inclusive club is the social aspect. As someone who previously held the role of social secretary in an LGBT+ sports club [Cardiff Lions] I know how important it is to build relationships within the club to strengthen and maintain bonds on and off the pitch or court. As the club grows, opportunities to mix and socialise will too and my aim is to make everyone feel welcome, regardless of how they identify or who they are.
"My goal is to build on this for the future so that other communities can benefit. We already have a few teams in England and there is also even an international GLTA (Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance). What I wanted though was something for us here in south Wales that could spur on more community-led groups across Wales and also hopefully across the rest of the UK; so that in future leagues and tournaments can be available to LGBT+ players to enjoy across the home nations."
Developing a curated coaching programme for LGBT+ players, whether newbies or experienced sportspeople, the sessions will be available for all to develop their tennis game and meet others in an accessible, welcoming space.
The first session took place on March 26, and will continue to run weekly at Heath Park by head coach Dominic Smith. They will strengthen the tennis skills of those in attendance: building confidence, as well as rallying ability.
Simon Johnson, CEO of Tennis Wales, said: “The way you're able to thrive when you are authentic, it's like rocket power. We hope these sessions inspire other clubs across Wales, and the rest of the UK, to host similar opportunities.”
More information surrounding the club can be found on social media here. And you can keep up to date with news from across Cardiff by subscribing to our newsletter here.
