THE long and proud  history of Workington Ashfield Tennis Club could be entering its final chapter.

The club, which has played and promoted the sport at its Newlands Lane courts since 1895, will fold at the end of 2010 – unless a new officials, trustees and executive committee members can be found.

The decision was taken at the club’s annual meeting on Monday – and comes against a background of  falling membership and the pressing need to re-surface both of its hard courts.

But the main reason for planning the club’s closure is the lack of success in finding new blood to replace the current officials who have been holding things together for more than a decade.

A huge and constant commitment in time and effort is required to keep on top of the club administration and maintenance, and the current officials confirmed at the annual meeting that they are prepared to serve for only one more season

Ironically,  the club currently has a record  70 junior members from throughout West Cumbria – but many join only to take advantage of a ‘free’ Saturday summer coaching programme under the tutelage of freelance coach David Wise. Historically,  few of the juniors come though to play senior match tennis for the club in the West Cumbria league. And only one parent has agreed to join the executive committee.

Senior membership for 2009 was 35 – but it was double that a decade ago.

With a bank balance of just under £7,200, the club is solvent  but is now facing a bill that might top £60,000 to re-surface two of its three courts. Although there are no guarantees, the money could possibly be found from public funding sources such as the government’s landfill tax rebate scheme. But the release of the cash would need impossibly stringent guarantees about  the club’s long term future – as well as a major voluntary commitment from club members to see it through.

Club chairman John Bethwaite, who joined the club in 1952, said: “The closure of the club is not inevitable – but it is only going to be averted if all the people in Workington who want to play tennis come and support us.”

Club secretary and ladies captain Margaret Jackson said: “We have explored options. One was to gift the club to Allerdale Borough Council and for us to continue as tenants – but it came to nothing even though the council has closed down the municipal courts in Vulcan Park. Another was to link the club with a school or to move to the proposed new Workington sport and leisure centre – but school reorganisation and the building of the centre are both at least four or five years away.”

If the club does fold at the end of 2010, its assets will be either transferred to the Cumbria Lawn Tennis Association or the land and assets will be sold and the proceeds invested locally in the development of sport for young people.

Final decisions are likely to be made at the next annual meeting – which has been fixed for Monday, February 21, 2011.

The club will enter a men’s doubles, ladies’ doubles and  one mixed doubles sides in the West Cumbria League for 2010.

Officials elected: chairman, John Bethwaite; vice chairman, Ron Cockbain; secretary, Margaret Jackson; treasurer, Jenny Cormode; membership secretary, Al Carey; auditor, Howard Bouch; men’s captain, Barry Hunter; ladies’ captain, Margaret Jackson; committee: Ken Watson, Sheila Bewsher, Jean Bigg, Jan Wilson, Phil Cram, Gill Jones and Liz Western.

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