Official opening by Judy Murray this weekend
The recently refurbished Burnside tennis courts will be formally opened this weekend by the queen of British tennis Judy Murray.
Judy will congratulate volunteers of Rutherglen Lawn Tennis Club on their Return to Splendour campaign which saw them adopt, fundraise and repair the three derelict courts on Church Avenue.
The club voted earlier this year to extend into the Burnside facility which had falled into a state of disrepair. Members helped secure the £220,000 needed to install some of the first artificial clay courts in Scotland.
The celebration event on Saturday will see “An audience with Judy Murray” and speeches from LTA past president Cathie Sabin, and former GB Tennis Paralympian Kevin Simpson.
Gareth Ellor, president of Rutherglen Lawn Tennis Club, said: “This is when all the project team, supporters, funders, stakeholders, neighbours and the wider community will all come together – with a few special guests – to celebrate this amazing achievement and formally open what is one of the nicest tennis venues anywhere in Scotland and a huge asset to the Rutherglen community.”
Judy’s visit ends a year in which the club was named Tennis Scotland Club Of The Year, whilst head coach Jonny Willcox was named the best in the UK at a ceremony during Wimbledon.
The club’s work off the court has also seen success with a sponsorship deal with McDonald’s paving the way for free tennis sessions for hundreds of local children.
Outreach work with Fuse, Playbusters and Pavilion in the east end of Glasgow has also given lots of children the chance to enjoy tennis whilst up-skilling their staff to allow them to deliver their own sessions.