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Basford LTC is situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac near to the Polite Vicar public house and the New Vic Theatre, a few minutes' drive from Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent. It has four floodlit artificial grass tennis courts which are available until 11 p.m. (courts 3 and 4 until 10:30 p.m.) every day of the week. The floodlights are operated by tokens which are available from the club and cost £1 for half an hour. The club house has a pleasant lounge with TV, piano and very reasonably priced bar, a kitchen and changing rooms with showers.
Although it is not a big club, Basford has several players who are nationally ranked (i.e. inside the top 100 in their age group) with one reaching the top 10 in his age group and several more players bubbling just outside the top 100. There is a good mix of competitive players who are keen to progress and social players who want to enjoy a good game in a pleasant environment with a friendly group of players.
In 2007, Basford entered two mens teams and a ladies team in the City & Suburban Tennis League, with all three teams winning their respective divisions. This League takes place during the spring and summer; in the autumn and winter a hotly contested ladder is played on Wednesday evenings. The ladder is mixed sex and consists of divisions of 4 players playing three one-set doubles matches, partnering each of the other three players in turn. The player winning the most games is promoted and the player winning the least games is demoted.
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The club is lucky to have two LTA licensed resident coaches, brothers Mike and Paul Armstrong, who provide group coaching for juniors, adults and the teams, as well as offering individual coaching at very reasonable rates. Players of all ages and standards, both members and non-members, are welcome to take advantage of Mike and Paul's coaching skills. They can also offer the use of a ball machine and video analysis as well as traditional coaching.
Founded in 1883, the club was was originally sited behind the Queen's Hotel and moved to the present location in 1926. The club has hosted matches with well known players such as the pictured exhibition match between Fred Perry and 'Bunny' Austin on May 11th, 1936, shortly before Fred won the gentlemen's singles at Wimbledon for the third consecutive time. You may like to read the Sentinel report about the match or some of the other newspaper articles about the club.
The address is: Basford Lawn Tennis Club, West Avenue, Basford, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0NB.