Spalding Town Tennis Club coach Enoch Annan puts reporter Jenny Beake through her paces
Tennis runs through the veins of a coach who teaches his pupils with passion at a town club — and he shared his insight with reporter and former trophy winner Jenny Beake during a recent session.
Enoch Annan, head coach at Spalding Town Tennis Club, first picked up a racquet at the age of six and since then has travelled the world playing tennis - meeting stars such as Serena Williams, winner of Wimbledon, the iconic tournament which starts Monday, June 30.
Originally from Ghana, the international player and coach teaches all ages and abilities in the sport and his enthusiasm for the game is infectious as I found out when I went for an hour’s coaching.
The talented player certainly put me through my paces when I turned up at the Holyrood Walk club - with all the gear and no idea - on an unnaturally sunny morning for a taster session.
Now I don’t like to talk about it but I did win a tennis trophy when I was 13.
I beat all the competitors in my age group at my tennis club and as a prize was a ball girl for the Yorkshire Men’s Championships in Hull.
At Wimbledon, to be a good ball boy or girl you should be ‘seen and not heard’ - which is something I remembered as I fell across the net to retrieve a ball as my knees - even back then - had seized up from all the crouching.
Anyhow, the trophy I received was kept for years but now I fear it is covered in dust somewhere.
Like I say, I don’t like to talk about it.
However, after this one coaching session, having not played for 37 years - yes I am 50 and I know, you can’t tell - Enoch has rekindled my love of the game.
I was a little bit nervous - mainly as my fitness levels have dropped since my youth - and I sort of wanted to impress Enoch, even just a little bit.
So I dressed appropriately in tennis whites, but, as was the influence in my day of bad boy Andre Agassi, I added some hot pink sweatbands, retro Nikes and a visor to the ensemble.
Hopefully my athletes foot wouldn’t play up.
Enoch, who is a member of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and accredited as a level three coach with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), is super-friendly and put me at ease.
Particularly after I asked a really stupid question: ‘Do I need to get the ball over the net?”
With no hint of sarcasm he replied: “Yes, the idea is to at least get the ball over the net if you can.”
Feeling right back at home on the court and nerves aside, Enoch took me through some tennis skills.
He got me running, throwing balls, backhand, forehand, practising my swing, gripping the racquet, volleying - and after what seemed like a 10k, but was actually only five minutes, I needed some water and a sit down.
Why hadn’t I brought my towel to put over my head like all the pros do?
Anyhow, Enoch was patient, kind, encouraging and empathetic to the fact the only time I ran recently was for a bus.
It became teamwork through play and repetition.
He praised me with "Tres Jolie” when I whacked a passing shot - miraculously it was ‘in’ - and I felt over the moon.
It is amazing that just in that hour when someone - an international player no less - praises, helps and teaches - what it can do to boost confidence.
Enoch has been teaching at the club for four years and is keen to make the game inclusive, accessible and sociable.
His work as a coach has seen him teach members of the Lithuanian community who want to learn.
Enoch said: “Tennis is a full workout.
“It needs intelligence and mental toughness.
“Listening to learn is essential.”
Apart from me, I asked Enoch who his favourite player was.
He said: “Goran Ivanisevic when he beat Tim Henman.
“Rain stopped play and so the next morning he won.
“Coaches can see the game from a different angle - and Henman would have lost his rhythm.”
With only an hour coaching on the clock and having to pick up all the balls with the rather clever Wilson ball-picker-upper it was time to end my session on a high.
Standing on the baseline Enoch threw a ball which I had to ‘hit as hard as you can’ before running to a spot to hit another ball using my backhand, and finally running to a mark at the net to volley it.
After a few attempts, another sit down - phew it was hot - I got all three balls over the net in one go.
“Tres jolie” said Enoch: “Practice makes perfect, it takes repetition and if you play a couple of times a week, maybe join the mixed doubles, you will get better.”
Game, set and match I thought as, face red as a tomato from the sun, I proudly left the court with the Wimbledon theme - ‘ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba’ ringing in my ears.
Thanks Enoch, I had an absolute ball!
Now, where IS that trophy…
About Spalding Tennis Club
Spalding Tennis Club has been helping people to enjoy the sport for more than 90 years.
It is a friendly and sociable private members club at based u in Holyrood Walk with six outdoor courts, three of which are floodlit, where players of all ages and all abilities are welcome.
Whether you are a complete beginner, an intermediate player looking for good social tennis, or a seasoned player looking for competitive play, the club can cater for your needs.
It has a qualified coach, club nights and social tournaments and we have lots of teams in local leagues.
The club is run by a committee elected by members at the AGM each year.
It is affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association, allowing members free British Tennis membership, with its many perks including the chance to be included in the annual ballot for Wimbledon tickets.
For more information go https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SpaldingTownTennisClub for further information.
