Old Club

Various officials of the County Association have, for some time, been searching the records in an endeavour to trace the oldest tennis club in Staffordshire.

It is interesting to record that the Basford Club was founded five years before the Lawn Tennis Association came into being. It was in 1883 on land at the rear of the Queen's Hotel, Basford. The first secretary was Mr. Edward Forshaw, with Mr. H. T. Heatley as Treasurer. The latter followed on as Secretary, which position he held for 40 years.

During the years leading up to 1926, the club had many outstanding players and none better known than Mr. H. T. Heatley and Mr. A. P. Ford, one time captain of Staffordshire and member of the club for 50 years.

In 1926, the club was formed into a limited company and a new ground in Basford Park - the present site - was acquired, four hard courts being laid down. The changeover period proved a great success, for from then until the outbreak of war Basford was one of the leading clubs in Staffordshire.

The members of the club who made their name during this period were Mrs. C. J. Noke, Miss C. M. Jones, Messrs A. E Walker, A. J. Lewis, Cl. J. Noke, F. L. Wilkes and many others on the verge of the county teams.

Evening Sentinel, 01 July 1950
Courtesy of The Sentinel News & Media