KIDDERMINSTER Tennis Club coach Tony Wright is hoping to net a national award.

He is on a shortlist of five for Children’s Coach of the Year in the LTA Aegon Coach of the Year Awards, after being nominated by parents of the junior tennis players.

The awards recognise the efforts of grass roots training across the country.

Wright had previously won the Wyre Forest Coach of the Year in 2012 when he was up against coaches from many different sports.

In the four years since he began coaching at Kidderminster he has provided over 5,000 hours of tuition to hundreds of youngsters many of who are now playing senior tennis and entering ranking tournaments.

He said: “This nomination is not just for me, it is great for the club, the members and for the people of Kidderminster and Wyre Forest.

"I want to take the opportunity at the award ceremony, to explain to the new chief executive of the LTA, Michael Downey that Kidderminster Tennis Club is exactly the sort of small, grass-roots club where he can roll out his bottom up strategy to bring tennis to the masses and find the next Andy Murray.

"We’re already doing it but some help from the LTA would enable us to finance a third court and do a lot more”.

The winners will be announced at the award ceremony at the LTA’s Roehampton headquarters on Saturday.

Judy Murray will be there and, handing out the prizes will be former British number one, Greg Rusedski.

Kidderminster Tennis Club, which is based in Baxter Gardens on Birmingham Road, will hold two open days on Sundays, July 5 and August 2.

Activities start at 1pm and you can have a taster session with Tony and chat with members.

Tea, coffee and cold drinks will be available.

Anyone who wants details about how to apply for membership can be found on the kidderminstertennisclub.org or by phoning the club Secretary, Dave Sadler on 01562 754783.