History of The Bohemians Tennis Club |
The Bohemians Lawn Tennis Club was founded on the 3rd March 1884 two years after Newsham Park had been dedicated a conservation area. It's first tennis courts were grass and were situated in the park adjacent to Bohemians Lawn Tennis Clubs own pavilion. During 1923 the club moved to its present site in Sandfield Park. It boasted five new red shale courts four at the rear of the pavilion and a fifth court in front of the main pavilion which is now the main club car park. |
Although
the earliest minute
books |
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Referrences: |
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land on which the present premise & courts stand was originally
purchased by Sandforth Bohemians LTD (a Co formed specifically for the
land purchase.) There were 7 initial shareholders members of the
Bohemians Tennis Club) The Co secured a mortgage on the "land and
premise between Queens Drive & Sandforth Road" in the sum of
£500 from the Working Men's permanent Benefit Society on the 3rd
October 1924. The purchase took place following the relocation of
the Tennis Club from Newsham Park where they previously had use of
courts. The tradition was continued when in 1993 a new Co was formed Sandforth Bohemians (1993) Ltd. Current members of the Bohemians purchased shares in the new Co and capital raised was used to purchase the land and premise from the original Co.... thus ensuring the continuity of tennis on the site. Negotiation with a view to amalgamation of the
Bohemians Tennis Club and the Collegiate Rugby Club began early in 1972
and continued through to the Founder Meeting of the new Collegiate
Bohemians Sporting Club on the 17th May 1974. The date of
foundation was for administration purposed taken to be 1st April 1972. |
At a meeting
chaired by the late Trevor Brown, it was agreed to accept a proposal to
share the club house with The Collegiate Old Boys Rugby Club.
The association which lasted for over twenty-four years was beneficial to both sides and was sometimes cordial and sometimes combative. Nevertheless this association was very important for the continued existence of the Bohemians Tennis Club. In February 1997 the Collegiate Rugby Club requested
dissolution of the Collegiate Sporting Club. At an AGM of the
Sporting Club that took place in May that year the request was approved
and the Rugby Club severed their ties with the Sporting Club. |
Under the chairmanship of Ray Unsworth In 1993 collegiate and bohemians mutually agreed to part company. with Collegiate Old Boys Rugby Club moving to The Liverpool Cricket Club and the Bohemians Tennis Club remaining in their present site. At a meeting on (........................1993) Chaired by Ray Unsworth, 29 tennis players got together and bought out the club forming a company called Bohemians 93. It was decided that the club would keep the name The Collegiate Bohemians Sporting Club. The Bohemians Tennis Club remaining as part of the sporting club. 1996 New courts were laid changing the playing surface from shale to astra turf. Six years later 2003 the courts where refurbished bringing the courts up to a very high standard and improving the enjoyment of all playing tennis members 1997 (date to be confirmed) The Bohemians forged links
with the Collegiate Old Boys Football Club and also with the De La Salle
Old Boys Football Club. These relationships are still working to the
benefit of all concerned at the time of writing. |
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NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS AND EX-MEMBERS OF THE
BOHEMIANS TENNIS CLUB |