A St Mary's Tennis Club was first formed in the early 1920's on a court behind Mr Willmott's house on Higham Hill by Win Dickinson and Nancy Stimpson. Then about 1925, Harold Newell together with William Webb, called a meeting with the object of forming a Higham Ferrers Tennis Club, which included the members of the St Mary's club.

The newly formed "Ferrers Tennis Club" had permission to use two courts in the Sports Field. One grass court by what was then Cemetery Lane, and is now Vine Hill Drive, and one red hard court by the Wharf Road entrance.

The two courts, being at opposite sides of the field, made tennis club life a little difficult so, in the late 20s or early 30s, they transferred to courts in the grounds of the large house at the top of York Rd, occupied at the time by Mr Albert Owen Groom. There was one grass and one hard court, situated behind the houses on Kimbolton Rd.

The Off-licence in the middle of that row of houses, owned by Mr Alec Stokes was very handy for refreshments.

Eventually, as the land started to be used for building development, the Tennis Club transferred back to the Sports Field; this time on the two hard courts near the Wharf Road entrance.

The final movement was made when the club paid for the two lower courts to be laid and has had its home base there ever since.

The "Ferrers" Tennis Club was always a force to be reckoned with on its own but, in 1968, when the Rushden Tennis Club lost its courts in Rushden's Duck Street, a meeting between the two clubs resulted in a merger of the two to become the "Ferrers & Rushden Tennis Club".

The Club now fields five teams, one Mixed, one Ladies and three Mens teams, playing in the East Northants Tennis League, and have won the Mixed Division One title three years consecutively, 1984,1985 and 1986. 1986 also saw them win the "Headland Trophy" in the annual challenge match with Skew Bridge.

Three "Open" Tournaments are promoted each year. The "Barker Cup" for Mixed Doubles, The "Peck Rose Bowl" for Mens Doubles and an Open "Ladies Doubles".

The Club is very proud of the success of its Coaching Scheme which was instigated by the Chairman, Cliff Pack, some three years ago. We were fortunate to obtain the services of a qualified Coach, Ken Perkins, who had the same ideals of promoting Tennis to the young, and some 40 to 50 youngsters have been coached each year.

Our Juniors are now playing matches with others under the Northants L.T.A. banner and their presence in the club should make sure that a strong Tennis Club continues in Higham Ferrers.

Be proud of us Higham Ferrers, the "Ferrers & Rushden Tennis Club is an asset to the Town...

Cliff Pack (chairman)