Sutton Tennis Club seeks £700,000 for new clubhouse

Sutton Churches Tennis Club is seeking to raise over £700,000 to construct a new, sustainable clubhouse. The proposed building will replace the club's current 100-year-old structure, which members describe as dilapidated and unfit for purpose, with significant structural concerns.

The club, located off Gander Green Lane, has experienced substantial growth in recent years. Membership has increased from approximately 100 individuals in 2001 to 532 members, with 290 of these being juniors. This expansion has put a strain on the existing facilities.

A clubhouse 'creaking under your feet'

The current clubhouse, parts of which are believed to be a century old, is characterised by members as a 'rickety, dilapidated, wooden building'. Honorary Secretary Andrew Foulkes told MyLondon that 'the whole thing creaks under your feet' and is only being maintained through constant repairs. Fellow member Jackie Halls noted issues such as holes in the floorboards and weeds growing through the ceiling, indicating the building's poor state of repair.

Members believe the outdated clubhouse hinders the club's ability to serve its growing and diverse membership, which includes juniors, SEN sessions, and walking tennis for over-65s. The club prides itself on accessibility, offering affordable memberships at £20 per month and six hours of free coaching for new members. However, the current building's lack of temperature control, accessibility issues, and cramped conditions limit its potential for social and community activities.

Brenda Symes, a member who joined after her husband's death, shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service how the club has positively impacted her life, stating, 'This club has turned my life around.' She added, 'I'm here so much, my kids now say we have to make an appointment for Mum.'

Plans for a sustainable future

The proposed new clubhouse is designed as a hybrid mass timber pavilion, incorporating an enlarged clubroom, upgraded changing facilities, accessible toilets, and storage space. The designs, approved by Sutton Council, prioritise environmental sustainability, with the design studio RISE proposing an ultra-low-energy Passivhaus standard. This marks the club's third attempt to secure funding for a clubhouse upgrade.

The club has launched a fundraising drive, including an online page, shopping bag packing, and local auctions, to support the project. 'We want to show we are going to work for this,' Andrew Foulkes stated. The club hopes the new facility will become a central hub for future generations and a rentable space for other local groups.