Disability Sports
The Manor Park Sports Club offers tennis for people who are blind or vision impaired; and for those who find it necessary, or easier, to use a wheelchair. This might be because of spinal injury, amputations or other medical conditions, whether you are a full-time chair user or ambulatory. Our lead disability coach, Stewart Flisher, has coached tennis for over 40 years, and has been specially trained by the Lawn Tennis Association, and disability sports groups, and focuses on teaching the person not the disability. He works at all levels from absolute beginners to recent experience of working with blind, and vision impaired GB squad members.
Tennis can be an excellent way to get fit, socialise, make new friends, be competitive or just use it as part of a rehabilitation programme, or adjustment to injury or illness. You do not need to have any experience playing tennis, in fact we specialise in teaching absolute beginners. We can lend equipment for use during sessions, including sports chairs, and rackets, at no cost. We have three indoor courts, two of which are independently wheelchair accessible via ramps, and there is an accessible toilet on the same floor. Most of our outdoor courts are also independently accessible; and there are ramps to all courts. The main clubhouse has a café bar which is on the first floor, up a flight of steps but there is a wheelchair lift. We welcome guide dogs courtside, and in the bar area; our staff, and members are very welcoming and used to seeing people playing tennis adapted to their different needs.
Stewart is happy to guide people around the site to help you with orientation, and check that access meets your individual needs, or just have a video or phone call. The club has plenty of parking and is close to major bus routes. It is approximately a 12-minute walk from Great Malvern Station, crossing two roads, one with a pelican crossing; and there are two bus stops very close to the site. We offer a free meet and greet service from the railway station if you prefer, and we can provide you with directions.
A masters student studying Film and television at the University of Birmingham recently interviewed some of our VI and wheelchair tennis players. Along with two other disability groups he created a film about disability sport, and how people with disabilities engage in sporting activities. You can see the film, ‘My sport, my life’ on the his website.
If you would like to know more then please contact Stewart directly on stewart.flisher@gmail.com or 07906 424756. Please get in touch, we would love to talk with you and hopefully see you on court!
