Background Information

Tennis is one of the three main sections that make up Prestwich Cricket Tennis & Bowling Club (PCTBC). The Club was founded in 1840 as Prestwich Cricket Club and is one of the oldest in Manchester. Tennis courts were added in 1891 and a bowling green in the 1920’s. In 1903 the Club moved from their former ground at Highfield Road to today’s premises at the Heys. 

During 1988 a major redevelopment plan was devised that involved selling superfluous land owned by the Club and the construction of a new brick clubhouse to replace the old wooden pavilion. This development allowed the Club to look to the future in a way that had not been possible previously and develop plans for further improvements to its facilities. Crucially, it also brought the facilities for the three sections of the Club together, which had been previously scattered in separate wooden structures around the Club.

In 1996 the Club obtained funding to assist with a scheme of improvements to its playing facilities including the replacement of 3 old tarmac courts with floodlit artificial grass courts, a new external storage building and an all weather cricket wicket. For the past 18 months the Club has been working on a major project to expand and improve both its playing and social facilities – the ‘Spacse Project’. One of the main elements of this project is the construction of three new hardcourts to replace the existing shale courts, if funding allows we will also install floodlights to the new hardcourts. 

One of the main strengths of the Club is its multi-sport status, with many members taking the opportunity of playing more than one sport. We are also very much a community club and within the tennis section we aim to offer tennis playing opportunities to all standards of play and ages as well as coaching for both juniors and adults. Membership is open to all – we have no ‘standard of play’ requirements but are also able to offer competitive play in local leagues for better quality players. We run a total of 10 teams in the Manchester and District and Oldham Mixed Leagues including 3 mens teams, 3 ladies teams, 2 mixed teams and 2 junior teams. The summer leagues run from April until early August. From mid-August until the end of September we also have teams in the mixed autumn Manchester League.

Social Tennis

Social tennis is central to the Club and we have an active social tennis set up. Social sessions take place every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year between 1 – 5pm, on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm in the summer season and on Thursday during the winter.The first Tuesday session this year will be on 15^th April. The social sessions are ideal for anyone who simply wants to play and can’t commit or doesn’t want to play league tennis.Social tennis is open to all abilities - no partners are necessary and there are generally always people to play with. It’s also a good way of meeting new people and other tennis players. In addition to social and competitive play, coaching is available for both juniors and adults. Details of tennis coaching available at the Club are given in coaching section of the website.