Megan Butterworth knew some 20 years ago that she wanted to make a career in tennis.

And she’s certainly made that dream become a reality because now, at the age of 31, she’s an LTA-accredited coach and a familiar figure on the courts around Gloucestershire and just beyond.

“I knew from the age of 11, 12 or 13 that tennis was for me,” said Butterworth, who lives in Hardwicke. “I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

She was lucky that she got into the sport at a reasonably young age.

“I started playing when I was eight, although it was by chance,” she said. “My parents didn’t play tennis back then.

“I moved to the Croft School in Painswick and I was given the chance to play at Painswick Tennis Club.”

And it was a sport she took to straight away – her parents John and Charmaine also took up tennis once she started playing – and she enjoyed plenty of success.

“I played county age group tennis from 11 or 12 through to under-18s,” she said.

“I think my biggest achievement was winning the Cirencester Open 12-and-under singles and doubles on the same day, that was one of my first tournaments.”

The right-hander won the singles title at Cirencester again when she was 14 or 15, but although she still plays she readily admits that coaching is her passion these days.

“It’s nice coaching because I can pass on what I’ve learned over the years,” she said. “It’s very rewarding seeing players develop.”

She does still enjoy a game of tennis, though, when her coaching commitments allow.

“I play for Gloucester Wotton Lawn Tennis Club in the Gloucestershire Summer League,” said the one-time Archway School and St Peter’s School pupil.

“I enjoy playing doubles now, it’s fun. I’m stronger on my backhand, so I always play on the left.”

She doesn’t play much singles these days but even if she wanted to, she doesn’t really have the time.

“I coach seven days a week,” she said. “My programme runs all year, I get a week off at Christmas.

“I coach tots from the age of two or two-and-a-half all the way up to adults in their 50s and 60s.”

That provides plenty of variety and there is plenty of variety in terms of where she coaches.

“I’m probably best known at Gloucester Wotton but I also coach in Stroud, Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, the Forest of Dean, Upper Rissington and two places in Wiltshire,” she said.

“My organisation is called Tennis4All and our aim is to create affordable, accessible and amazing tennis opportunities for anyone and everyone.

“I go into schools where I take PE lessons and also run after-school clubs.”

She also coaches at Kimbrose Club, a day care centre in Gloucester for people with dementia.

That’s a hugely important role, of course – one that she enjoys, which is a good job because, if you include all the admin, she devotes about 60 hours a week to tennis.

“I’m self-employed, it’s something I really enjoy,” she said. “When I was younger I never thought about going down the scholarship route as far as tennis was concerned although I always wanted to stay in the game. Coaching was the next thing and I went straight into it after I left school.”

And it’s a role she intends doing for many years to come.

“Yes, I do,” she said. “At this time of year – spring and summer – you’ve got to make the most of it because of the weather, but I think it’s a job that I can do for a long time yet.

“I know coaches in their 60s and 70s who are still going strong.”