The Club has been in existence since 1921. In the mid 1990’s the club was in dire straights with a membership that had been in decline for many years and two tarmac courts badly in need of resurfacing with a rusty chain link surround fence that had more repairs than original netting. At this point we had about 10 senior members, who in reality were just a team playing in the Cleveland League, and no juniors. Things were that bad that we actually played a whole season with a net post held up with rope as the club could not afford to purchase a replacement post and we had no sinking fund available to us.
 
Then in 1997 things took a turn for the better, more at first by good luck than anything else. The bowling club which is attached to the tennis courts required a new sprinkler system and was chasing a grant from The Foundation for Sports and The Arts. They were informed that they would have a greater chance of success if two sports were included in the request. The bowls club therefore included the resurfacing and repainting of the two tennis courts in their proposal which was subsequently granted. Thanks to loans from three existing members and a great deal of hard manual voluntary work the surround area for the two courts was extended and new mesh fencing erected. This work was completed in 1998. At this time one of the club members, Kath Evans, gained her Lawn Tennis ECA Coaching Award and the club started junior coaching sessions which we charged at £1 per attendance, to make it affordable to all children in the community. Through Kath we formed several schools links where she went into schools and undertook tennis coaching, mini tennis and skills development.
 
These sessions proved so successful that since then the Club has grown out of all recognition with over 70 adult members and 150 juniors. We now have an active club development committee and in addition to tennis activities we run monthly social events throughout the year. Using members loans and a significant grant from Sport England we laid a new third court to accommodate an ever increasing membership and at the same time erected a new clubhouse, something we had never had before. The facilities were kindly opened by Kevin Keegan in August 2003. Another addition followed in 2007 when we opened a small practice area for juniors which was built with the aid of ROK and Mowcar Construction. These are two local companies who were more than willing to assist the club in adding this facility.
 
To enable us to keep offering our members sufficient court time we had for a few years negotiated with the local authority a lease on 2 additional courts, which are located directly across the road from the main club. After an announcement, whereby the local authority gave notice of the closure and demolition of the local Community Sports Centre, the tennis club started negotiations to obtain a long term lease for the two existing leased courts. At the same time we also entered discussions to build an additional two court on the site of the soon to be demolished community centre. Both these discussions were successful and we negotiated a 50 year lease at a peppercorn rent. With the aid of an LTA Loan / Grant and funding from the Impetus Environmental Trust we completed the construction of 4 brand new courts marked with both red ball and orange ball markings. This brings the clubs total number to 7 tarmacadam based courts. The new courts are a magnificent success for the club and were opened by the Mayor of Hartlepool in late September 2010.
 
Through some good planning and prudent spending the club has now a healthy sinking fund for future development and court maintenance.
 
We are a family orientated club and are an accredited ‘Mini Tennis Centre’ and have over 50 ‘pay as you play’ juniors who regularly attend our weekly coaching or supervised sessions. The Club has now 3 highly qualified coaches with an additional 7 Level 1 coaches.
 
We also support the local Sportability Club, for those with learning difficulties, and give access for their members on selected nights during the summer using the Clubs coaches and volunteers.
Facilities

7 Tarmacadam Courts available  (see Court Bookings for Non Member play)

Licensed Bar
Catering facilities
Changing rooms
Meeting room
WCs
Wheelchair access
Directions

From the South

from the A19 follow the A689 into Hartlepool.

After passing the 40 mph speed linit signes turn left at the traffic lights into Truro Drive. At the 'T' junction traffic lights turn right into Catcote Road. Continue for about two miles passing English Martyrs schools on the left. After passing English Martyrs school turn right after approximately 800m into Elwick Road.

Eldon Grove is the fourth turning on the left and the tennis club is on the opposite side of the road from the school.

From the North

from the A19 take the turning signed Hartlepool A1079.

Follow the road and at the first roundabout turn right.

Pass the Golf club on the right and go strait ahead over the next two roundabouts

When you reach the traffic lights, turn right into Wooler Road,

Continue strait ahead at the next roundabout passing the White House Pub on he right.

When you reach the traffic lights turn left into Park Road.

Eldon Grove is the fourth turning on the right.

Continue along Eldon Grove for about 300 metres and the tennis club clubhouse is on the right hand side directly on the opposite side of the road to the school.