This Newsletter is ONLY sent by email .  If needed, could you therefore share the newsletter with the rest of the family for whom we may not have individual email addresses!
P.S.  Printing out this Newsletter: background colours won’t print - to save on ink...

Welcome to Autumn Tennis
at Folly Sports Park!

Autumn tennis with slimy courts covered in moss and algae and rotting leaves... with a damp and slippery surface... 

But no - not at Faringdon! Our strangely reddish courts are not reddish because of coats of coloured paint  - as would be the case with other club courts. Instead, the rich merlot pigment was added during the manufacture of the porous macadam; meaning that the draining is uncompromised. They should retain their grip for many years to come - even in heavy rain.  That's just one of the unique features of our new facilities.

We moved to Southampton St in 1926, and then to Folly Sports Park in September 2014, touching on six weeks ago. We now have a  carbon-neutral clubhouse that's snug and warm throughout the year, four full sized courts, a dedicated Red Zone, and a flood of new members to go along with the LED floodlights (the first in the country) that are now being used most evenings. 

And we're now an integral part of  Folly Sports Park, and the Cricket & Rugby Clubs have both been very welcoming. We thank them for their invaluable support, particularly over the past 12 months during the relocation build. We also thank all the joggers and dog-walkers who have been very helpful in throwing balls back!

Inevitably with new facilities, there's also new systems to get used to: Keyless access, clubhouse codeholders, floodlights, individual court booking, new map, parking,  locking up routines, health & safety checks, fire drills, and so on.  For the first time ever, we even have buildings and contents insurance! This newsletter also serves as a reminder of some of these changes; bringing together a few of the emails that you've received over the past six weeks.

As always - our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helps to make the club what it is: the Officers of the club; the  Committee; the relocation, social, junior & maintenance sub-committees; our clubmark contact, welfare officer, Wimbledon Ticket organiser, Club consumables coordinator, press officer, competitions organiser, match secretary and captains. The Club couldn’t possibly function without your hard work and dedication. 

DATES COMING UP:

• Tues 11th Nov: APPLE PUNCH & FLOODLIT FUN. For all adult Members & Guests. Bring a non-member along! 7pm-9pm
• Friday 14th Nov: BHF Quiz in the Corn Exchange - contact Anne Sawyer if you want to be part of the FTC team!
• Saturday 22nd Nov: Folly Ball - FTC has booked two tables. Contact Sjoerd if interested!
• Tues 2nd Dec: - Committee Meeting
• Sun 7th Dec: 10.30-12.30pm - Tennis Social at Folly Sports Park

CLUB OFFICERS 2014/2015

Chairman: Mark Mobey
Treasurer: Steve Perry
Secretary: Susanna Hunt

Committee Members:
Alan Elbourn,  Juliane Spiers, Kate Haysman, Steve Pugh,  Matt Williams, Sjoerd Vogt

MATCHES

Winter / Summer Match Secretary:
                          Anne Sawyer (01367) 870285

Winter League Captains:

• Mens A        Matt Williams  07749249555
• Mens B        Mark Mobey (01367) 242636
• Ladies A      Susanna Hunt (01367) 241452
• Ladies B      Kate Trivedi (01367) 710624
• Ladies C      Sam Bannister (01367) 242283

Summer League Captains:

• LADIES A      Susanna Hunt (01367) 241452
• LADIES B      Nicola Foster (01793) 710838
• MENS A        Matt Williams  07749249555
• Mens B         Mark Mobey (01367) 242636
• MIXED          Juliane Spiers (01367) 241432

Other Responsibilities Maintenance Alan Elbourn Paul Silver Wimbledon tickets Alan Elbourn Social Activities Susanna Hunt Juliane Spiers Website & membership Sjoerd Vogt Head Gardener Andy Sawyer Clubmark Contact Mark Mobey Consumables restocking Anne Sawyer Welfare Officer Sanjay Trivedi Press Officer Adrian Noke Competitions Organiser Steve Pugh Juniors Alan Elbourn Susanna Hunt Mark Mobey

FTC AGM & QUIZ - SPORRANS & SASSANACHS SEPT 19TH 2014

Held at the new Clubhouse and on the same day as Scotland's referendum on independence, a record 26 members turned up to the AGM - made all the more enjoyable by one of Alan’s inimitable Quizzes.  

Mark Mobey took over from Sjoerd Vogt as chairman;  Kate Trivedi stepped down as committee member (thanks Kate!) ; and Kate Haysman and Steve Pugh agreed to join the committee. Steve has also offered to run internal club tournaments in the Spring. Other officers and committee members kindly agreed to continue in their current roles.

See HERE for full reports and AGM minutes

Do remember that all members are very welcome to come to any committee meeting. Meeting dates going forward are posted HERE, where you will also find minutes from previous meetings.

HOW DID THE FIVE FARINGDON TEAMS DO IN THE SUMMER  LEAGUE?

You can check final results on the Wilson League 2014 HERE .

For the ladies - check out divisions 2 & 4 . For the men - take a look at divisions 4 & 10 . And for the MIXED, enjoy looking at the top of Division Six!

WELL DONE TO ALL TEAMS - in particular the UNDEFEATED MIXED TEAM!

Remember: It’s the taking part that’s important!

FANTASTIC WIN FOR TWO OF FARINDON’S RISING STARS!

Guy Mobey and Evie Phillips proudly displaying their cup after winning the Oxfordshire County Closed (end of season) U14 Mixed Championships.

WELL DONE GUY & EVIE!

TUESDAY 11th November
7PM-9PM APPLE PUNCH & FLOODLIT FUN 

 A friendly event for adults. Turn up from 7pm onwards (yes– you CAN come later! Bring a non-member along if you like) and Alan Elbourn will organise an off-the-cuff all-comers floodlit event around everyone who comes. There’ll be hot apple punch and hot nibbles. There’s no charge – and no need to book. Just turn up for a balmy autumn evening of friendly floodlit fun.
  Hope to see you there!

CLUB OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Folly Sports Park gives us a tremendous opportunity to reach out into the community and get more people playing tennis - also through imaginative use of our new facilities! Alan Elbourn has already run two very successful TENNIS BIRTHDAY PARTIES ( contact Alan if interested!) ; a posse of STANFORD CUBS had an hour of fun under the floodlights; and NETBALL are using the facilities for one hour a week during the winter months. These activities not only represent invaluable income to the club; but also lead directly to new members. Definitely win-win! Do speak to any committee member if you have good ideas for outreach activities.

ADULT CLUB TENNIS

Open to all full adult members, students, and juniors with passports.

These Club Tennis Sessions are every Sunday throughout the year from 10.30-12.30 . Simply turn up - balls provided.

Evening Autumn/Winter Tennis under the floodlights are every Tuesday 7pm-8.30pm . See HERE for more details.

Adult WINTER LEAGUE Match Tennis (playing other Clubs)

We have 5 teams in the Thames Valley Winter League 2014/15 ( CLICK HERE FOR FIXTURE DATES ) . Matches are on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, starting at 1pm. Each team usually plays about a dozen matches spread from September to Easter, and the format is 2 couples per team. This means that you are usually home by 5.30pm at the latest. If you are interested in playing for a team please contact the appropriate Winter League Captain:

• Mens A        Matt Williams  07749249555
• Mens B        Mark Mobey (01367) 242636
• Ladies A      Susanna Hunt (01367) 241452
• Ladies B      Kate Trivedi (01367) 710624
• Ladies C      Sam Bannister (01367) 242283

Coaching at Faringdon Tennis Club

Licensed LTA Coaches:

• Alan Elbourn        07969-028066
• Susanna Hunt     (01367) 241452
• Matt Williams       07749-249555

Alan’s Saturday sessions are pay and play sessions which run all year, including school holidays.  

• Alan’s contact details for mid week squads are: info (at) heasmanandsadler.co.uk  Tel: 07969028066
• For details of Susanna’s sessions please email asmi.hunt (at) talktalk.net or tel: 01367 241 452
• For details of Matt’s sessions please email matt (at) acedpsychology.co,uk or tel: 07749 249 555
• Susanna and Matt’s sessions run during term time only and details of course dates and costs will be forwarded each term. 
• In general all group coaching sessions work out approximately £5 per person per hour.
• All children who wish to attend coaching need to become members of the club (£20 for the year) and fill out an Emergency Contact Form
• Any adults who attend only the coaching sessions and are not club members need to pay £20 for the year to cover insurance.   

TENNIS BALLS: Are provided during official Club sessions. Tubes of high quality branded balls can be purchased at the Club house from Andy Sawyer, Alan Elbourn, or Susanna Hunt.

Remember: To get into the Members’ Area of the website (you’re in the Members’ Area at the moment!) go to the homepage ( www.faringdontennis.org.uk )  - or any other page for that matter - and click on the cloud just to the right of the Folly Tower (top left of page) .