Geordie Grand Slammers launched as North East’s first LGBTQ+ tennis club
The Geordie Grand Slammers, the North East’s only LGBTQ+ tennis club, is excited to announce its official launch.
The club was developed to provide a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people and allies to play tennis without fear of prejudice.
The Geordie Grand Slammers is an all-inclusive club that welcomes players of all abilities, ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, religions and nationalities.
Club chairman Dan Rogerson said: “There are already clubs further south in London, Cardiff and Manchester but there was nothing similar available in the North East. We gained a lot of interest through an interactive sports zone at Northern Pride and it’s continued to grow from that point.
“We strive to be as inclusive as possible and break down barriers, whether they are related to gender, sexuality, race, disability or cost and we encourage people to let them know about any barriers they face, so we can work with them to support and help them overcome them so more people can enjoy tennis in the region.”
The club currently plays on Sunday evenings at the Northumberland Club in Jesmond, with sessions running between 5.30-7.30pm. The two-hour sessions cost £5.50 and include one hour of coaching through Pride In Tennis founder and LTA-approved mentor Ian Pearson-Brown, followed by an hour of friendly matches.
The final Sunday of each month is tournament week, with each month carrying a theme from LGBTQ+ History Month, to Transgender Day of Visibility, and Bring an Ally – they are the perfect opportunity to join us and have some fun.
Helen Riddell, 43, from Sunderland played tennis at a local club in Gateshead and was one of the early members of the club. She said: “Even though I enjoy playing at my regular venue, being part of an LGBTQ+ inclusive club is a chance to support the community and help others feel comfortable to try something new.”
Sean Peacock, 30, from Whitley Bay heard about Geordie Grand Slammers at Northern Pride last year. He said: “I’d wanted to take up a sport to stay active and meet new people. Tennis was something I remember enjoying in school but didn't continue with. I never thought a tennis club was for me, but Geordie Grand Slammers appealed as it explicitly said they welcomed all abilities. The fact that it was specifically LGBTQ+ inclusive also reassured me it would be a supportive environment.
“As a complete novice I was worried that I would struggle to fit in but everyone is so keen to help each other and offer hints and tips to improve my ability. People should come along to a session even if they're not sure if it's for them. There's no ongoing commitment and a lot of fun. I came to my first session in January and I haven't looked back!”
Matteo Giacchè, 32, who hails from Rome, has been living in Newcastle for two years, and jumped at the chance to pick up his racket again. He said: “I was looking for a place to play tennis after bringing back my racket from Italy. When I found the GGS Facebook group I was struck by the sense of inclusiveness it conveyed.
“When I got in touch, I received fast, kind answers and a warm welcome. All these sensations were confirmed once I joined the first coaching session. Amazing, inclusive people and a nice and relaxed environment.
“The vibes and the people definitely. It's good to know that every Sunday I can spend two hours playing tennis and having fun. Also, the coach, Ian Pearson-Brown, is very good and his sessions are suited for any level – I’ve learned a lot.”
With membership through the last few months growing to around 30, the club is now keen to push on and attract more members, recently launching its own website – https://geordiegrandslammers.co.uk
The website provides information on the club’s sessions, coaching, social events and how to get involved.
Dan added: “We’ve got some really exciting themed events coming up through the summer. We’ll be featuring at Northern Pride and Sunderland Pride in July and are working with partners to ensure a programme of themed events for our monthly tournaments.”
For more information on the Geordie Grand Slammers visit https://geordiegrandslammers.co.uk/