Dear member, potential member, interested person,

Welcome to Widnes Tennis Academy, Brand New “Home of Lane Tennis Club”.
I have been a member of the Club since 1954, but the Club goes much further than that.   The Club was founded in 1875 – which, incidentally makes it older then the All England Club itself, Wimbledon -  when Vicar Bond gave the land on Coroners Lane,  to the Tennis Club.    

The Club thrived and over the years it changed and improved.   One of the major improvements saw the “New Clubhouse” being built on Coroners Lane in 1936 with only gas lighting and extended to include the Bar and toilet area in 1950.   When I joined there were three Red Shale Courts and four Grass Courts, although the Grass courts were very rarely used.   The Club had a big membership and regularly sat down more than a hundred people to Tea on “Gents Tea Day”.  
The Grass Courts were sold to pay off the loan for the third Shale court and so the size of the grounds was reduced.  

The next significant change was the construction of three all weather Tarmac courts in 1987 to replace the Red Shale which required a very large amount of maintenance.   The membership increased rapidly and following an Open Day we ended up with over 120 members.   It soon became obvious however that three courts could not sustain this membership and with Junior membership growing as well more courts were needed.

There was only room for 4 courts at a maximum on the Coroners Lane site so other sites were sought.   Various attempts to put more courts on the Coroners Lane site were turned down by the Planners.
After much searching and planning the Halton BC offered us the possibility of relocating to a piece of land between Sts Peter and Paul Roman Catholic High School and Widnes Golf Club. Our 20 year search for a new home was complete.   The site offered everything that was needed to satisfy both us.

We now have a fabulous facility with a purpose built Clubhouse inside a Structure containing 3 indoor courts and 2 mini tennis courts and 6 outdoor courts. We are the envy of Clubs throughout the Northwest and look forward to welcoming new members.

We will offer top class coaching for all ages and abilities, catering and bar facilities.    Membership is competitively priced and open to all.  We will be competing in local, county and national competition and we will hold Tournaments of our own and also for the County.

I look forward to seeing you all.  For existing members the waiting is over and I am sure you will agree it was worth the wait, and for new members and play and payers I welcome you whole heartedly to our New Facility.   Widnes Tennis Academy “Home of Lane Tennis Club” is the best in the Area.   You will have the best of everything, now let’s play Tennis!

John Woodroofe
Chairman Lane Tennis Club.