THE last surviving tennis club in the east of the St Helens borough has set up a crowdfunder page. 

Newton-le-Willows Tennis Club is a 140-year-old club on Crow Lane East and is looking to improve its sporting facilities for the community. 

The tennis site is part of a wider 'not for profit' Community Amateur Sports Club and is celebrating its 140th anniversary year with the aim to make the centre fully functioning all year round. 

The crowdfunder has already raised over £8,000 of its £15,000 aim to help pay for floodlights that will enable the tennis court to be used both during the day and in the evenings. 

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Kieron Potter, the tennis club's secretary who set up the fundraiser, discussed the financial issues posed by the pandemic.

He said: "The effects of Covid-19, and the rising cost of living, are having a big impact on community clubs' financial resilience and we’re no exception.

"Our ability to raise much needed income was restricted and this was exacerbated by storm damage in 2021 which caused damage to the court surface. Repair costs alone are £5000. 

"Currently, we are running at 75 per cent of capacity. An extra set of floodlights would allow us to meet existing demand for all year-round tennis and help fulfil our playing capacity to 100 per cent and, in turn, enable us to increase our revenue."

St Helens Star: The club aims to introduce a fully functioning all year round site The club aims to introduce a fully functioning all year round site (Image: Kieron Potter)

The need for additional revenue follows the increased demand the club has received.

The Newton club aims to meet the rising demand by installing modern, energy-efficient LED floodlights on one of the courts. 

Kieron added: "All the money raised will be put towards purchasing and installing the floodlights, and if any surplus is left, it will go towards creating a safe, sociable area where visitors and players can view the courts and relax in comfort."

For more information on the fundraiser and how you can get involved, visit the crowdfunder page here.