On Sunday evenings, the Northumberland Club hosts the Geordie Grand Slammers, an LGBTQ+-inclusive tennis club in the North East. Floodlights illuminate courts filled with chatter, laughter, and the sound of tennis balls. Players talk, adjust their grips, or wait for partners.

While it may look like a casual social gathering, the sessions have become a hub of community. In just over two years, what began as an idea at Northern Pride has grown into a network that focuses on shared enjoyment, mutual support, and providing a welcoming space for anyone who has felt excluded from sport.

A club born from a gap

Club chair Daniel Rogerson still remembers the moment he realised something was missing in the region’s sporting landscape.

“We had just helped launch the national Pride in Tennis network down in London,” he said. “Coming back, it hit us that there were hardly any LGBTQ+ tennis opportunities in the North. In 2022, Manchester was the most northerly club. Nationwide, there were maybe seven or eight.”

So that summer, Rogerson and another founding member set up a small stall in the sports zone at Northern Pride. They brought nothing more than a clipboard, an idea, and a simple question: would anyone in Newcastle want a safe, welcoming place to play tennis?

“That day we had around 16 to 20 people sign up.” Rogerson told JesmondLocal.

Two months later, almost every one of them turned up for the first session. That day, on public courts in Exhibition Park, the Geordie Grand Slammers were born. The surface was uneven, the lines faded, and the sessions depended on the weather, yet there was an energy that suggested something bigger than a few people hitting balls. A community had begun forming.

Finding a home and building community

Money, Rogerson said, was the club’s first major hurdle. “Like any new sports club, finances can make or break you,” he explained. At first, they played on the free public courts in Exhibition Park, which kept them afloat. But as autumn arrived and the nights grew darker, the Grand Slammers faced a familiar challenge for grassroots sport: survival without proper funding. Floodlit courts were essential, yet public parks were inadequate and costly to light.

That’s when the Northumberland Club stepped in. “They were incredibly supportive,” Rogerson said. “They offered us discounted rates, helped us settle in, and made it possible for us to keep our sessions at £5. We’ve never raised the price since 2022. Affordability has always been one of our priorities.”

What followed was more than just access to courts was the creation of a welcoming environment where members could grow together. Sunday evening sessions quickly became the heartbeat of the club. People arrived early to chat, newcomers were greeted with smiles rather than judgments of their ability, and ability mattered far less than intention.

Gary Wylie, a founding member, recalled, “I found them at a Pride event. It just looked like good fun. Someone always gets hit accidentally, or you think you’re about to take someone out with a serve. It keeps us laughing every week.”

New members also found themselves embraced immediately. Claire Johnson joined only about 10 weeks ago and had never played tennis properly before. “It’s brand new for me,” she told JesmondLocal. “But ability doesn’t matter here. It’s social and it’s supportive.” Her wife, Helen Riddell, who is in her third year at the club, said she enjoys the friendships she has formed. “People don’t take themselves too seriously. You mix with players of all levels and backgrounds. It’s just fun.”

The environment encourages growth without pressure. Beginners gain confidence while experienced players learn to mentor and support. Glenn Anderson joined after recovering from liver cancer, seeking a safe way to rebuild his strength and fitness. “This has been my only fitness activity for two years,” he said. “I love it because you can be really bad and nobody minds. They just want you to enjoy yourself.”

Beyond tennis stories of joy and achievement

Outside their regular Sunday sessions, the club gives members chances to challenge themselves in ways they might never have thought possible.

Anderson recalled a tournament trip to Manchester as one of the most memorable experiences of his life. “I played on grass for the first time and even won three games against a world-ranked player, despite losing 6-3. It felt incredible,” he said. For Anderson, as for many others, tennis is a vehicle for personal achievement, not just recreation.

Beyond individual experiences, the club also fosters a wider sense of community and inclusion. The club balances social play with occasional competition. Monthly themed tournaments, sometimes linked to LGBTQ+ visibility or awareness, give members the chance to challenge themselves while learning and supporting one another. Members travel to tournaments across the UK, from Newport to Dundee to Manchester, connecting with a broader LGBTQ+ tennis network.

While the club set out to welcome LGBTQ+ players, Rogerson said that its mission goes further. “Tennis has a reputation as, for example, white and middle-class with lots of barriers,” he said. “We want to break that down. We are inclusive in every sense: LGBTQ+ players, allies, beginners, people who haven’t played since school.” One of their first major successes, the Allies Tournament, attracted 24 players, some describing it as the most fun they had on a tennis court in years. The focus was not on performance but on joy. The club also shares resources, flags, and educational materials during themed events, creating an environment where people feel relaxed and accepted, free to share their identity only if they choose.

Tennis as a space for visibility and connection

Last year, only two years after its formation, the Grand Slammers were shortlisted for a national LTA award, which Rogerson described as “huge for us”. But the club said its proudest achievement may have been organising the country’s first “Trans and Tennis” taster session, which brought in people who had never viewed tennis as a space for them. At the awards ceremony, Rogerson wore the colours of the trans flag – pink, white and blue – to signal that “this conversation matters”.

Unlike fast-paced team sports, tennis, especially doubles, offers frequent moments to talk, laugh, and connect. “You’ve got four people on a court,” Rogerson explained. “There are breaks between points, chances to chat. For people who had bad experiences in school sports, who thought sport wasn’t for them, this makes a massive difference.” Many newcomers arrive nervous, wondering whether they will be good enough or if others will want to play with them. The club’s response is simple. “We don’t care how you play. You’re here, that is what matters.”

Growth, demand and the future of LGBTQ+ tennis in the North East

As word spread, demand for the Geordie Grand Slammers’ sessions surged. “There was a period last year when our 20 spots for Sunday sessions sold out in a minute,” Rogerson told JesmondLocal. “It’s a good problem, but also a hard one. We can’t grow too fast or people will feel excluded, which goes against our whole ethos.” The popularity of the sessions showed how much the community had been waiting for a space like this, and it highlighted the challenge of balancing growth with inclusivity.

Looking ahead, the club hopes to launch future groups in Durham and Teesside, giving players more local options and creating opportunities for friendly competitions across the region. At the same time, the club continues to travel to tournaments in Newport, Dundee, and Manchester, connecting with a growing UK and international LGBTQ+ tennis network. These trips provide both competitive experiences and the chance to meet like-minded players, strengthening bonds across the tennis community.

“It’s all about options,” Rogerson explained. “Some members just want their weekly hit with friends. Others want to travel and compete. Our job is to make people feel supported, whichever path they choose.” By offering both casual play and competitive opportunities, the club ensures that everyone can find a place where they belong, whether at home or on the road.

Back on court at the Northumberland Club, the members wrap up their final rallies under the warm glow of the floodlights. Laughter echoes across the courts as racquets are slung over shoulders and water bottles are passed around.

For the members, these Sunday evenings are about far more than tennis. They are about friendship, shared stories, and the freedom to be themselves without judgment. It is a space where mistakes are met with laughter, new skills are celebrated, and everyone, regardless of experience, identity or background, feels part of something bigger than themselves.

As Rogerson reflected, “Tennis does not have to be intimidating or exclusive. If you build the right environment, it can be a place for everyone to connect, to grow, and simply to enjoy the game together.” In the glow of the courts, it is clear that the club is not just rewriting the rules of tennis but creating a new vision of community and inclusivity.

If you have ever thought about picking up a racket or joining a vibrant and supportive community, now is the perfect time to do so. You can get in touch and learn more via their Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/GGSTennis/.