Deciding to close courts a ‘sensible’ step to take

The tennis stoppage in England during the third nationwide lockdown was a 'sensible' step to take from the government.

That's the opinion of Southsea Tennis Club membership secretary and bookings administrator Simon Marshall with courts currently closed across the country.

Tennis is one of the sports, along with golf and fishing, that can take place with participants observing social distancing measures.

However, a blanket ban is currently placed on grassroots sport during the nationwide lockdown.

That means that Southsea TC, along with every club in England, have been forced to close for a third time in less than a year.

Marshall, who became a member of the Southsea club's board a little under 12 months ago, admitted it's a decision that the sport would have to 'begrudgingly accept'.

But with Covid-19 cases continuing to rise, he feels it was a step that was probably required.

‘Most people begrudgingly accepted it (tennis stoppage). We just need to get through it,' said the Southsea membership secretary.

‘There is a bit of frustration with people socially distanced, 40-foot apart on a tennis court, you only cross at the net.

‘For two people, the risk is fairly though, but you just can’t see it with the way it’s spreading. We’ve supplied hand sanitiser on courts, we’ve taken as many precautions as we can, but you have to say the sensible thing is to perhaps limit.

‘It’s sending out a message, if people see organised sport with people taking part, it’s not a good message perhaps.'

Despite three forced closures in the space of 11 months because of lockdown restrictions, fortunately, the busy summer period was largely unaffected for tennis clubs. In that period, Southsea had record public pay and play numbers while membership numbers remained largely the same.

Marshall added: 'It was a good summer and spring was really warm so we had record numbers playing throughout the summer, which helped our income and financed the club that way. Generally, we didn’t lose too much play throughout the summer and most members have been able to play outdoors, weatherpermitting, so from that point of view it’s not been too bad.’

Clubs in England are to remain closed until at least mid-February when the latest lockodwn is set to be reviewed.