New Sydney Real Tennis Court To Open, But Only With Your Help
No one said it could be done, but after 18 long years, Real Tennis is finally returning to Sydney! However, the club is urgently seeking financial support from UK-based Real Tennis players to help raise the remaining £170,000 needed to complete the project.
*March 3 update at bottom of article
After operating as the ‘club with no court’ for 18 long years, Sydney Real Tennis Club has managed to raise a staggering AUS $2.4M towards the construction of a new Real Tennis court in Cheltenham – a leafy suburb located a short drive or train ride from the centre of Sydney, Australia.
To date the majority of the funds have come from local grants and generous donations from Real Tennis players from Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and the USA.
Now Sydney Real Tennis Club is urgently seeking financial support from UK-based Real Tennis players to help raise the remaining AUS $300,000 needed to reach their fund-raising target. That translates to just £170,000.
How is T&RA supporting Sydney?
The Tennis & Rackets Association is fully committed to supporting Sydney to help raise the remaining funds, and we have set up a Gift Aid program for UK residents to donate to the construction of the new court.
Working with the Sydney Real Tennis Club (SRTC), we have vetted the project and are satisfied it meets the appropriate charitable purposes requirements, as well as having the necessary safeguards in place - including a funding agreement between T&RA and SRTC.
How can you help?
You can help Sydney realise its dream of building a new court in two ways:
1. By donating directly to the building fund
All donations attract Gift Aid, making it even easier for T&RA members to help Sydney raise the remaining funds needed.
Donate Now
2. By joining Sydney Real Tennis Club as an International Life Member
Join SRTC Now
We hope you will join us in extending your full support to this important initiative to build another new Real Tennis court in Australia.
- If you have any questions about lifetime memberships, please contact Chris Cooper at SRTC by emailing cpgcooper@gmail.com
- If you have any questions about making a donation, please contact T&RA's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Davies, via email at executive@tennisandrackets.com or via phone at +44 07533 418869.
UPDATE (March 3, 2023): The Sydney Real Tennis Club reports that their grant from the NSW Government has now been signed, and the first instalment of $700,000 will be made next Wednesday! This means that the project is officially now in full swing and, if all goes according to plan, the new court will be ready for action in September 2024. However, there's still a small amount of fundraising left to do, and the club is asking for anyone else who is interested in helping to please come forward now, as it is not too late to add your name to the honour board.
