ALMOST 90 per cent of the amount needed to pay for Redditch Tennis Club to create two new Red Plus clay courts has been raised.
The ‘Ready 2 Play on Clay’ crowdfunding campaign was launched at the end of last month to generate £25,000 towards the overall £60,000 total cost.
More than £22,000 has now been collected after a number of events and donations.
Sport England have pledged £10,000 towards the target and another fund-raising tournament – this time a mixed doubles contest – was due to take place last night.
And a Junior Matchplay event will take place this Sunday, October 30.
The club has set a deadline of next Friday, November 4, for the rest of the funding to be collected.
The campaign was launched to resurface two courts which are currently tarmac, over 16 years old and have fallen into a serious state of disrepair.
They have deep cracks in them, making them uneven and unsafe to play on.
The two world class courts replacing them would enable people to play on them all year round. It will also put the club in a unique position as Red Plus Clay courts are rarely found in England.
Red Plus Clay is officially approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is similar to the Roland-Garros surface used for the French Open.
Contributors can choose from a variety of ‘rewards’ which have been donated by local businesses for people to receive in return for their pledges.
Among them are Tae Kwon Do lessons, the chance to play a doubles game with young Redditch tennis pro player Felix Gill, dance lessons, a 4-ball session at Redditch Golf Club, a Vettel and Stroll signed Aston Martin F1 Cap, a
Matt Neal singed Halfords Yuasa Racing Cap, tennis club membership and coaching offers.
Redditch Tennis Club head coach Tony Ravenscroft said: “It has been amazing – we have had so much support from local people, family and friends.
“We just need to push on to reach the target.
“Businesses have been brilliant either through donating items or paying to be promoted on banners at the club – that has raised quite a lot as well.
“So many people have been visiting the fund-raising page – the whole community has come together to make this happen and we are so grateful to everyone.”
Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ready-2-play-on-clay/ for more on the fund-raising campaign and email [email protected] or visit the Redditch Tennis Club Facebook page for more updates on events and the fund-raising.
