Frampton on Severn Tennis Club were formed only 15 years ago but they have certainly made giant strides since 2004.

When they first started they were a group of 12 occasional players but now they boast a membership of well over 200 who play the great game that is tennis on three floodlit courts off Lake Lane.

So how has the transformation happened?

With a lot of hard work is the answer as club secretary Elspeth Harding explains.

“In 2006 plans for three floodlit courts off Lake Lane were approved and funding was provided by the Frampton Community Association, the LTA and Stroud District Council,” she said.

“The courts were officially opened in November 2006 and have been enjoyed in all seasons by a growing number of junior and senior members.”

But those three courts were just the start.

“In August 2009 work began on the construction of a clubhouse and this opened in 2010,” continued Elspeth.

And a pretty impressive clubhouse it is too because the facilities include a changing area, toilet, kitchen and storage facilities, as well as a large club room for meetings and social events.

“We are now a thriving club with LTA Clubmark status, a modern multi-use clubhouse, a skilled coaching team, an excellent league record, an enviable youth development programme, a lively social calendar and a membership of well over 200,” said Elspeth with justifiable pride.

“Earlier this year the club were very pleased to welcome our new head coach Joe Waters. Joe joined us in January 2019 but is a well-known face as he worked here with our previous head coach Jason Boon in 2015/16.”

Waters joined the club from Biddestone Tennis Club and it would appear that he has some pretty talented players to work with in his new role because the club have four men’s and four ladies’ summer teams and three mixed winter teams, with the men’s doubles A team winning Division One of the Gloucestershire Summer League last time out.

There is plenty of competitive tennis for the juniors too, but the social side is also very important to this thriving club who are keen to welcome new members of any ability.

They have a busy social calendar and it is very popular, as is their competitive programme and two years ago the club won the Gloucestershire LTA award for running Competition of the Year for their club championships finals day.

And that’s not all because the previous year the club organised an Open Day and played host to two former Davis Cup players – Luke Milligan and Danny Sapsford – who provided a coaching clinic and played an exhibition doubles tennis match.

The event raised money for the club and they were also able to run two Davis Cup legacy tennis courses for children.

The children are the future of any club, of course, and that being so the future certainly looks bright at Frampton on Severn Tennis Club!