My First Year as Head Coach 🎾

Set 1 – Settling In

After 21 years at my previous club, the move to Rye Lawn was always going to be a big match. Early challenges included: gale-force winds, learning everyone’s names and surviving 2,356 emails from Andrew Hitchens. (Score: Wind 1 – Coach 0.)

Set 2 – On Court Action

Once the rain and cold finally gave way, it was glorious to get out on the grass courts. The Opening Closed was a real highlight – even if we all agreed never to let Bob near the whistle again. The Junior Closed returned after two years, with some fantastic tennis on show, and the singles box leagues kept courts busy all summer.

Set 3 – Padel Power

Big news: I’m now officially padel-qualified 🙌. That means even more chances to play (and probably more balls flying into the stream!).

Set 4 – Off Court Antics

Somehow, a large portion of my working day seems to be spent chatting to Rye’s many dog walkers 🐕. Excellent company – although not one of their four-legged friends has yet returned a stolen tennis ball. And in December, I swapped tennis whites for red velvet – running 160 miles dressed as Santa along the Saxon Shore Way 🎅. Huge thanks to everyone who donated and supported along the way – it kept me going when the beard got soggy!

Set 5 – The Club Spirit

The best bit? The people. Rye Lawn has been incredibly welcoming, and nothing sums it up better than Jamie and Reid battling through their match in what felt like a hurricane 🌪. This is a club where nothing – not even sideways rain – stops play.

Final Score: Coach 1 – First Year 0 🎉

Looking Ahead

Next season promises even more:
✅ More padel groups
✅ More tennis groups for juniors and adults
✅ More tournaments and inter-club matches