Blakedown Tennis Club is set to celebrate its 90th anniversary with a tournament, free coaching and a barbecue on Sunday 28.

The event is open to nonmembers and in addition to marking the occasion, the club is looking forward to the future with the recent addition of two new coaches – Kirk Woodall and Grant Chapman – aimed at increasing the numbers of juniors.

Members have been delving into its history and early details having been uncovered dating back to a minutes book covering 1924-33, which revealed Blakedown was originally housed at The Avenue.

The club’s first president was Reverend Henry Sculthorpe, who was rector between 1893 and 1923, and their pavilion clubhouse was bought in January 1926 for £30.

British Sugar approached the club to play some matches in the early days but the courts were so close to the railway line that play had to be suspended every time a train went past.

BRIAN Gittins looks back at Kidderminster Victoria’s season in the Birmingham and District League Premier.