Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Twelve

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Twelve – The Future In the preceding chapters we have followed the development of Thongsbridge, from a small village club with two grass courts and a handful of members 100 years ago, to its status as one of the premier clubs in the north of England, with around 1000 members using four …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Eleven

 The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Eleven – Thongsbridge hits a Century!   2005 – one of the key purposes of the expansion of the club has been to increase member numbers and by 2005 senior membership has grown by 61 from 2003/04, intermediate by 50 and junior by 80 to give a total of 366 senior members, …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Ten

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Ten – International Connections 2005 – on 23rd February, the club welcomes to the first of its Northern Internationals, Martina Hingis, Fernando Verdasco, Ilie Nastase, Anne Keothavong, Peter Fleming, Andrew Castle, Sheffield’s Jonathan Marray, Peter Norfolk, gold medallist in the Athens Olympics of 2004, Halifax’s  Kevin Plowman and  Amanda Janes, daughter of …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Nine, part Three

Tom Sanders is U18 Adidas Junior Tournament winner. 2002 – In May, it is agreed that a new junior committee should be formed and rules are drawn up in November. Objections are recorded from members who are unhappy about women using the courts on Sunday mornings!   Sport England now approves the Action Plan for Phase 2 of the Development …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Nine, part Two

Trips to La Manga begin. A website is set up. Finally, on August 24th, David Mercer, sports commentator and writer, cuts the tape to open the new synthetic grass courts. He is pictured below left with Alan Cockman who is part of the development group and has been Chairman since 1998, Graham Cooksey who is to be President from 2000 …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Nine part One

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Nine, part One – LTA ‘Club of the Year’ 2000 – The previous, relatively modest, plans are changed, courtesy of the Sport England Lottery bid, an interest free loan and a grant from the LTA, a grant from Kirklees, a loan from Thwaites brewery, plus club funds and other interest free loans.  …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Eight

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Eight – We become landowners 1984 – the Land Purchase is legalised by efforts from Peter Thornton and Lionel Barham, and a further grant of £1000 is obtained from the Sports Council. The extent of the land acquired is shown in the diagram and it is this vital purchase that allows the club …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Seven

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Seven – Team tennis takes off! 1974 – Teams: Men’s first team down: both ladies teams down: Men’s second up!   As time passes, more fund raising events are needed. A Cheese and wine Supper Dance at the Holmfirth Civic Hall makes a profit of £175 and a Fashion show a profit …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Six

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Six – Onwards and upwards 1970s – the club thrives under the chairmanships of Edward Wagstaff, Tony Batty, Brian Smith and Graham Cooksey, with, as secretaries, in the early part of the decade, Dorothy Thornton and Liz Colquhoun, and as Treasurers, for three years each, John Rosenberg, Heather Hobson and Malcolm Wade. …

Celebrating 100 years – Chapter Five

The Story of Thongsbridge Tennis and Fitness Chapter Five – Goodbye to the grass! 1966 –  The introduction of new members into the men’s team makes them champions of Division V, and even better the ladies’ team are runners-up in Division II, thus earning them a place in the prestigious First Division.  1967 – a second ladies team is formed; …