Members of North Belfast's only tennis club have spoken about what they love about the club as it has supported the community for over 100 years.
Cavehill Tennis Club was established in 1914 as part of the Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club. It was created on a piece of land which was originally a farm on the north side of the Old Cavehill Road - the North Circular Road, where the club now resides, did not exist then.
The bowling green was laid at a cost of £489, the tennis courts cost £198, and the pavilion some £200. In 1914, the club's original pavilion clubhouse was destroyed by fire as a result of an arson attack by suffragettes, and was rebuilt in 1915.
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The tennis club is staffed entirely by volunteers who are committed to the sport and the community atmosphere surrounding the group.
Recently, the club has been granted £71,000 in funding from Belfast City Council to help provide new facilities including floodlights to ensure plenty of people can enjoy tennis into the darker evenings of the winter months.
It marks the growth of the club, which now has in excess of 300 members, and saw a spark in membership following the coronavirus pandemic.
Working alongside local schools and various groups and charities, the tennis club also seeks to provide a service for the local community.
"This club in north Belfast has a proud history. We play tennis under the backdrop of Cavehill and the skyline of Napoleon’s Nose," club chairman, Maurice Roberts, said.
"What we mainly do in the community is we provide an opportunity here. We provide a facility for people in the local community and beyond to play a very enjoyable sport in a very social atmosphere, and provide competitive play at a very affordable price.
"Tennis is a sport for life; a number of people in this club have said it's been life changing for them."
The club has nine courts and caters for all abilities, from those who have never held a racquet before, to those who play competitively.
But it's the social aspect of being part of the club, meeting new people and building friendships that is also a big attraction for many.
Membership secretary, Rachel Robinson, said: "I moved to the area and didn't know anybody, and as an adult, how do you meet friends?
"Being able to come along and meet people through club play and leagues, you do develop friendship and it encourages you to come and play more whenever you've built up those connections. You almost feel as though you're not playing a sport.
"I've never been into sports at all, but to be so into tennis now just from the social aspect has been great."
Currently, Cavehill Tennis Club provide a Belfast City Council funded coaching programme for community groups including WISPA and Carafriend, and they're hoping to get more groups involved in this in the future.
The club's coach, Will Boyd, also provides coaching at nearby Forthriver Primary School and has been approached by Black Mountain Primary School for the same. He has reached out to all 21 primary schools in North Belfast to offer coaching for children aged four and upwards.
For the cub, increasing their community outreach is all about opening tennis up to people who may never have considered playing it before.
"We're reaching out to people who feel they may be excluded from tennis, or people who may not have considered playing it," club volunteer, Mervyn Kelly, added.
"They might think of it as being very upper or middle class as they've seen Wimbledon, and think it's not something for them. But that's not who we are as a club, it's not who we are as people.
"It's just about getting the message out there that we're very much open and want people to come along and enjoy it. You turn up in club play and you play.
"If you're a beginner you play in the beginners' group, if you're a bit better you play better. We don't even consider gender or people's orientation, it's not something that ever comes up; it's all based on ability."
Councillor Carl Whyte has praised the work of the club and welcomed the council's decision to provide further funding. He said: “I’m delighted to have secured this vital funding for the Cavehill Tennis Club. At a time when council is encouraging people to live healthier lives, it’s important that we recognise and support successful organisations in the area.
“This club has a real cross community ethos and has been involved in a number of beneficial projects in our local area, including working with schools and community groups and this funding will help them to expand that offering in the near future. The coaching sessions offered to people of all ages have also proved popular.
“Membership has seen a sharp increase at the club in recent years, particularly among younger age groups, as people have realised the value of outdoor spaces following the coronavirus pandemic. The club has also strived to keep membership rates as affordable as possible.
"The new floodlights included in these plans would be transformational for the club, allowing them to use their facilities to the maximum year-round and enable sport to continue during the darker winter months.”
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