Former Davis Cup stars back Walsall Tennis Club's fundraising drive

Walsall Tennis Club, the only club of its kind in the borough, has been running for 104 years and has launched a campaign to find a new home to secure its future.

The latest fundraising event organised to help raise money towards finding a bigger and better home saw former Davis Cup representatives Luke Milligan and Danny Sapsford give lessons to up and comer's before taking to the court for an exhibition match.

The club's vice chairman David Twist said: "We had an excellent turn out for our fundraiser.

"It was great of Danny and Luke to agree to help, their efforts went a long way towards giving us our impressive total.

"For lovers of the game, to see them play was a fantastic opportunity and the coaching sessions were a hit too."

Walsall Tennis Club's lease runs out in 2019 and it is concerned that if it doesn't find somewhere else to play then it will be forced to close.

The club, based in Birmingham Road, has been going since 1912 and has around 250 members.

The club's committee has spent years trying to find a long-term solution but they said now the time had come to make their fears public and formally launch a campaign to save it.

Mr Twist said that the fundraising wasn't organised just to find a new home, but a bigger and better one.

He said: "We are growing all of the time and if we have to move, we think our move should reflect that.

"A lot of clubs across the area and the wider Black Country have folded over the years but we are going strong.

"If we can raise the money we need then we will ensure that our future is properly looked after."

Anyone wishing to make a donation to save the club can visit mydonate.bt.com and search for Walsall Tennis Club. Alternatively, a link to the donation page is available on the club's own website.