The Tennis Foundation - Press Releases

Publicity is important to us. It ensures that our activities receive a high profile and this year, we are hoping for even more media attention. We work hard to achieve maximum publicity whenever there is a Trail Event, targeting local press, radio and television. Media opportunities vary from town to town but on average we manage to achieve 2 or more local newspaper reports and often a mention on local radio. Be sure to check in our Audio Clips section for the latest radio interviews.

For each Trail event we normally issue a Press Release to local Newspapers, radio and television stations. Throughout the year we will be posting releases in this section which you can either read online or download as word documents. Current releases are as follows:

January 2005	Manchester
February 2005	Cardiff
March 2005	Eastleigh
April 2005	Newbury
April 2005	Sutton Coldfield
April 2005	Shipston-on-Stour

To download the word documents, right click on the link and select save target as.

Press Releases are adapted for each individual venue, but we do have a standard release which is given below. For any press related enquiries please contact Mary Loughran at the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation:

Tel: 01372 470648
Fax: 01372 470645
Email:

Tennis Foundation Media Centre

Child Playing tennis

The Cliff Richard Tennis Trail is the UK's largest grass roots tennis scheme. Its aim is to enable more children to discover tennis and to increase the chances of finding a future British Champion.

On the road for most of the school year, it targets children in state primary schools visiting 10 schools during an average week, at the end of which approximately 1,500 new children will have been introduced to the sport. Since its inception in 1992, over 190,000 children, many living in less privileged urban or remote rural areas, have had the chance to taste tennis. The Cliff Richard Tennis Trail often returns to a particular area, but never to the same schools, thus ensuring that as many children as possible have the chance to play. Click here for a list of venues being visited in 2003.

Sue Mappin who was previously National Women's Team Manager at the Lawn Tennis Association heads the Trail team. Its visits are planned with meticulous detail in conjunction with local authorities who have to be able to offer facilities for those children who enjoy their tennis starter session to continue playing at a local tennis centre at an affordable price.

Many influential people and organisations support the Trail. Intelligent Finance provides the lion's share of the money needed, but the LTA has also given some funding for the last three years and Greg Rusedski is the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation's ambassador. Sue Barker is the President of the 'Kids on Court' Campaign that was launched last year with the aim of making tennis available to all children in the UK.

Commenting on his involvement, Rusedski said: 'Cliff and his team do such valuable work in giving children from all walks of life the chance to experience this wonderful game - I am delighted to be associated with the scheme and wish them continued success.'

This is the Trail's 11th year of operation and a total of 19 towns will have been visited by the end of the year adding an additional 30,000 children as recruits to the game.

During the school visits, tennis coaches assess the potential athletic and tennis skills of children aged 5-11. Each school is given £700 worth of equipment, a teachers' resource pack and a follow-on coaching programme in order that they can continue with tennis as part of the curriculum. Any child showing potential is invited to join a special tennis coaching squad in their area. This group is funded by the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation which regularly assesses each child's progress. Those showing real potential to play at County standard or higher become the scheme's 'Trailblazers'. There are currently 30 throughout the UK.

Sir Cliff, who takes a keen interest in the Tennis Trail which carries his name said: 'Greg Rusedski is a fantastic role model and he and Tim Henman have proved beyond doubt that the talent exists in the UK to challenge the best players in the world. That's why I believe that the work that we are doing at the grass roots level is so crucial. If we catch them young and keep them motivated, children will discover a game that they can enjoy throughout their lives. And one or two very special ones just might make it all the way to the top!'