Ladywell’s Chris Howard has been awarded the Aegon coach of the year award for 2015 after his inspiring work helped increased tennis participation in the local area.

Howard is the face of community tennis at Ladywell Fields Programme and Lewisham Tennis which started from scratch in April 2013.

Through working in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Lewisham council and Glendale parks services, Howard has introduced 260 new junior and adult players in just under two years.

Howard’s work has created an inclusive and extensive community tennis programme on only three outdoor park courts in a community centre sports hall.

The LTA said: “We are extremely excited to celebrate Chris’s success over the past year.

“He has helped to give many children the opportunity to play tennis for free and to get more people playing tennis more often. He really is a true inspiration to other coaches working in the community”.

One of Howard’s most notable achievements is offering free tennis coaching to over 640 primary and 260 secondary school children through initiating programmes from a number of funding bodies.

A partnership with Sportivate has allowed cardio tennis to be delivered at lunchtime and after school clubs in two secondary schools and as a result a Satellite Tennis club now runs at Prendergast School in Lewisham.

Howard said: “I’m motivated by giving kids the opportunity to play the sport that wasn’t there before and seeing them develop and grow not only as players but as people.

“Coaches should create an enjoyable learning environment and to have fun themselves, and also to be a role model to their players.

“I am delighted to receive the award.”

For more information about Ladywell Fields visit southeastlondontennis.com or visit lta.org.uk to find out where in the local area you can play.