York has three new sports courts – and you can try them at family fun day

Anyone for tennis?

York has three new sports courts and they’re about to be launched at a family fun day.

New Earswick Tennis Club and New Earswick Sports Club are officially opening their two tennis and one multi-sports court at the event on Sunday (September 24).

The fun day will see the tennis club open up the courts for people to try for free, other games and family activities, a raffle, and the launch of a special offer which gives anyone who purchases a year’s membership in September an additional six months for free.

Village for all

The completion of the courts marks the first big achievement in the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust’s plans to deliver a ‘New Earswick for all ages’.

This sees the trust investing in the village’s public spaces and facilities, refurbishing the New Earswick Folk Hall, and building an ‘extra-care’ facility under the working title of New Lodge.

To make space for these plans, the trust had to relocate the courts to the sports club. It hopes the site will offer a more successful arrangement, with it already home to a variety of sports teams from the village and surrounding areas.

“We are sad to leave the old courts but are looking forward to a new era as part of the New Earswick Sports Club,” said Lisa Debenham, tennis club treasurer.

“We will still have team matches, coaching, club nights along with general play and social events. We hope to see old and new members, of all ages and abilities, down on the courts with racquets in hand.”

Sports club treasurer Sharron Richardson is looking forward to Sunday.

“The launch day is a really great opportunity for the sports and social club to expand and get more adults and children involved in both the social and sports side of the club.

“We have a variety of different sports here, including football, cricket, rugby and now tennis. And we are always looking to welcome more age groups on board to join the different sections of the club.”