£1.24m indoor tennis facility to be built at Moray Sports Centre

Scottish tennis is set to get a boost from a new indoor centre based in Moray.

The four-court facility hopes to build on the legacy left by famous Scottish stars in the sport such as Andy and Jamie Murray.

The £1.24m complex has secured a £816,000 investment from the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis fund and will be built at the Moray Sports Centre, in Elgin.

It's the largest capital investment programme in the sport’s history in Scotland.

The fund, delivered by Tennis Scotland, sportscotland and the Lawn Tennis Association is aimed at encouraging more people to take part in tennis.

Work on the facility is expected to start by spring of 2021.

Moray Sports Foundation Trustee, Bob Cunningham, has welcomed the announcement.

He said: “This funding unlocks opportunities which, until now, Moray’s tennis playing community could only dream about.

"For the first time in Moray tennis will be played all year round. It’s great news for careers in tennis too, and for the tennis coaching scene. For the first time we will be able to employ full time coaches and run a coach development scheme.

“Anyone will be able to get a game, for fun, for practice or to compete.

"There will be tennis for everyone, from lifetime recreational players and promising youngsters coming up through grassroots, to people of any age or ability picking up a racket for the first time.

“Months of work by Moray Sports Foundation, Tennis Scotland, sportscotland and the LTA have gone in to bringing this tremendous tennis centre to Moray.

"I congratulate everyone involved for their foresight and determination to make it happen. I and my fellow trustees are now focused on the timely delivery of Moray Indoor Tennis Centre and we look forward to Moray playing its part in continuing Scotland’s successful tennis legacy.”

Tennis Scotland CEO Blane Dodds said: “This is a significant moment, as we continue the expansion of tennis provision across Scotland.

"This facility will ensure the tennis community in Moray has access to year-round tennis, with opportunities for enhanced participation, competition, performance and coach development.

"Our vision is to increase opportunities to play across the country, and this is just the first of a number of projects we expect to get underway in the next 12-months.

“In addition, we thank Sandy Adam and the Moray Sports Foundation for their continued support in driving this facility forward. Without this support and ambition, it would not be possible to deliver such important local and regional facilities.”