PICTURES: Future tennis stars in the the making at Greenock summer camp

Yahoo

19-07-2025

SUMMER is off to a swinging start for a Greenock tennis club as dozens of youngsters take to the court for the first time.
Fort Matilda Tennis Club's annual summer camp is well underway with up to 60 young players attending daily sessions no matter rain or shine.
The six-week programme has a successful first few weeks with most morning and afternoon sessions being at capacity, the busiest year head coach Stephanie Swan says she has ever seen.
(Image: George Munro)
(Image: George Munro) The 38-year-old has been coaching players at Fort Matilda since 2019 but has been playing on the Newark Street court her whole life.
Stephine says the summer club always sees a mix of abilities attend with some youngsters already keen players and other trying out a new sport, wanting to pas her love of the game down to others.
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She told the Tele: 'It is a really accessible group for all ages and skill levels as well as giving children something fun to do during the summer holidays.
'They are learning lots of different skills, not just tennis because playing incorporated coordination, teamwork, and determination.
'We hope that the children not only come away from the camp with a love of tennis, but also having made new friends and having had a fun time.'
(Image: George Munro)
Eilidh McLaughlin and Stephanie Swan (Image: George Munro)
The camp has been offering sessions for all ages with the morning group having around 45 children aged 5 to 14.
Afternoon sessions for toddlers aged 3 to 5 have also proved popular as little ones and their families get to spend an hour on the court to play games and spend time together.
Coach Eilidh McLaughlin has been helping out with the older players at the summer camp and says it is good to see them start to play matches.
'It's great to see people build up their confidence," she said.
'We have all abilities and all standards here and we try help coach everyone to do their best while having fun.'
(Image: George Munro)
(Image: George Munro)
(Image: George Munro) Eilidh says working with the youngsters reminds her of when she was little and first started out playing.
She added: 'It has also been nice to see kids who have taken an interest because they have been watching Wimbledon and then keep coming along after summer.'
(Image: George Munro)
(Image: George Munro)
(Image: George Munro) Alongside Stephanie and Eilidh there is a team of five other young volunteers taking time out of their summer to share their love of tennis.
Visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/FortMatildaTennisClub/Coaching/Camps to find out more about the summer camps and book children into remaining slots.