Minchinhampton Tennis Club have been in existence for close on 50 years and while they’ve got a proud history, the future is looking very bright too.

Formed in 1971, they have got a thriving senior and junior set-up and cater for players of all abilities whether they want to play competitive or social tennis.

On the competitive side, the club field eight teams in various competitions – three men’s and three ladies’ teams in the Gloucestershire Summer League and a further two in the mixed doubles winter league.

One of the ladies’ teams play in the Premier Division while the senior men’s team are hoping to win promotion from Division One this summer.

“We consider ourselves to be punching well above our weight,” said men’s captain Pat Humphery. “We’re up against some big clubs like David Lloyd Gloucester and East Glos who have got massive playing bases.

“Our Division One team have got a really good chance of going up this season and the ladies are already in the Premier Division.

“And the men’s B team won Division Three last season.

“We’ve got a minimum of 24 players for both the men’s and ladies’ squads so we have no problem fielding teams.

“We’ve got some very talented players.”

And age is no barrier either.

“Our chairman Roger Lindley has been playing since Genesis,” laughed Pat. “He’s 69 and a regular partner of mine. And we’ve got a number of other players in their 50s or 60s who still play competitively.”

The club also focus very much on bringing through their juniors through the excellent work of their popular coach James Aburrow.

Those players, younger and older, play their home matches on three floodlit hard courts at Stuart Playing Fields, which is also home to the hilltop market town’s football and cricket teams.

Pat who also plays hockey for Cirencester 4ths – “I’m one of the old fat boys,” he laughed – clearly loves his tennis.

“It’s such a simple game to play,” he said, “and you only need two people.”

Pat has been playing tennis at Minchinhampton for the past 14 years and as well as being captain, he is also the club treasurer.

“Being treasurer doesn’t involve doing too much,” he said. “I just keep the books and keep things ticking over.”

The 51-year-old may have more work in the coming weeks and months, however, because there is talk around the club about changing the playing surface of the courts.

“We’re considering a plastic clay derivative surface,” said Pat, who added with a chuckle, “it would be much better on the joints.”

That work may or may not take place next year but what is certain is that tennis will continue to be played all year round at the club.

Pat is one of those players for whom an off-season doesn’t exist, playing men’s doubles in the summer and mixed doubles in the winter.

So which does he prefer, playing in the summer or the winter?

“That’s a loaded question,” he laughed. “Can I take the fifth? If I’ve got to answer it, I prefer the highly competitive aspect of men’s doubles.”

That may be so but first and foremost Pat, like so many others at the club, just likes playing tennis.