MEMBERS of Allington Chestnuts Tennis Club at Maidstone are hoping for a financial windfall from the Lawn Tennis Association’s £100 million Club Vision fund designed to encourage more junior players.

The money is creamed off the profits from each year’s Wimbledon Championships and the LTA has promised to allocate £10m a year for 10 years to clubs around the country which have a recognised Junior Development Programme in place and employ a fully-licensed tennis coach.

Allington’s LTA licensed coach Bill Thursby says the initiative should encourage more tennis clubs where senior members can attempt to restrict young people playing.

“They are the future of the game and while this money is welcome I would also like to see funds made available to help coaches set up their own junior club within local schools,” said Thursby.

Allington Chestnuts are a junior tennis club based at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and can use the school’s courts all year round.