Our history

1800s

The grass courts were located in the meadows downstream of the River Teifi in Adpar, with a small pavilion and refreshments marquee (Emlyn Arms supplied). At that time this was sport for the elite local gentry and county set. The access lane, Teifi Terrace was liable to flooding – and needed frequent resurfacing and hedges trimming, so as not to damage any motor cars passing through.

The early membership lists read like a Who’s Who of the County set – in 1881 Mr Bowen of Llwyngwair won the Championship of the Club & Cardigan Club as well. As much a social club as competitive there were 4 courts, and 2 croquet lawns set down. The Groundsman Mr J. Richards of Lloyds Terrace hired a local donkey (5 shillings a year) to pull the courts roller – the mule had to wear leather bootees so as not to damage the turf.

In 1889 there was an important meeting at the Salutation hotel, Bridge Street NCE chaired by Cpt Jones-Parry who resigned as President, and Mr Fitzwilliams was elected. A Major Bate was elected Sec. and Treasurer. The Annual dance was held at the Salutation in August 1890. Attended by the great and the good, listed in full by name by the Carmarthen Journal correspondent:

“I can only say that I never enjoyed a ball more; for the music (Mr Hulleys band) the dancers and non dancers, the supper, the floor were all the very best obtainable anywhere… you will never hit on anything so jovial as a lawn tennis dance in Tivyside”.

1900s

The earliest record of the existence of a Town tennis club in Newcastle Emlyn is to be found in the Tivyside Advertiser around 1908. The Club shared the Teifi facilities – not always harmoniously with arguments about costs of petrol, servicing of mower and other maintenance. The Town club paid 5/6th of expenses and Teifi LTCC paid 1/6th. Town Club tournaments played on Wednesday evenings – early closing day.

Great War Years

There is little reporting during the great war years, until 1921. The Town Club in May 1922 had nearly 80 members, with many matches played against Cardigan, Llandysul (sic) and Lampeter. The Bowling Club joined in 1926 using the old croquet lawns. Thus began a long and sometimes acrimonious relationship between the two clubs. A letter to the Sec. of the Bowling Club:

“When our meeting was held on Wednesday last we were astonished to learn that a new groundsman had been appointed and we understand by you. You will appreciate that if our affairs are to prosper there must be cooperation between the bowlers and tennis players. It appears to me at least peculiar that we were not consulted before the appointment above mentioned was made as we should naturally wish to see that any groundsman appointed was competent to look after tennis courts. Please let me have an explanation in writing….”

The first written archives of the Tivyside Lawn Tennis & Croquet & Bowls Club date back to 1932 in the form of the annual audited accounts, income shown as £95, 7 shillings and 7p, of which £18 and 1 shilling were subscriptions, the cost of tennis balls being £2, 10 shillings and the wages of the groundsman £38.

1936 – Formation of King George Vth Playing Fields association – designated playing field area. At the Bowling Club AGM in 1936 plans were put forward for a field in the centre of the town to lay out a Bowling Green and two hard Tennis Courts. A subscription fund was launched and circulated to all members of both clubs and the scheme offered ‘as a tangible sectional contribution to the praiseworthy activities of the N. C. Emlyn Town Improvement Committee.’

World War II Years and 1950s

Decline in the clubs. In 1956 the grounds were sold (proceeds £391 – account custody given to Lt. Col. J. W. Lewis-Bowen, Clynview, Boncath) and the tennis club became non-existent. It was briefly resurrected by the Young Liberals in 1961 for a few years.

1980s

In the early 1980s the then Carmarthen Urban District Council took over ownership of land in the town alongside the King George V Playing Field. The bowls club had relocated and in 1983 an attempt to reform the Town tennis club was made. However, during the next three years little progress was made. Some of the Committee were also on the Bowls Club’s Committee and there was some friction about the close location of the tennis courts.

A public meeting was held in the Emlyn Hall in March 1986 and the press reports and notes of that meeting reveal deep concerns from some quarters, as the town and community council had donated money and little had been done to revitalise interest. Only one member of the original Committee remained.

Two years on and other people in the area became involved resulting in grants from Sports Council for Wales and Mid-Wales Development grants of £6,893 and £3,446 being received in February 1988.

1990s-2000s

Two tarmac courts were laid by an independent contractor at a cost of £13,786 the shortfall being made up by other small grants and club assets. These courts were opened by Mayor Marion Jones and the Club became affiliated to the Emlyn Sports Club in 1990.

The two courts needed resurfacing in 1998 and a third court was built with the help of a Sportlot Grant at a cost of £28,000. The club was buoyant in the early-mid 2000’s (LTA affiliated) with a membership of around 60, regularly playing matches again, and with a thriving junior section and coach.

2019

Sadly, over recent years, interest has significantly declined again and the club now has no playing members. Although still a formally constituted club its future is now in jeopardy. However, with a renewed commitment and enthusiastic set of local volunteers we are looking forward to seeing the Tennis Club becoming an active and vibrant part of the community again.

Acknowledgment

The NCE Tennis Club wishes to acknowledge the hugely informative and interesting account by local historian Ken Jones in his book: ‘Newcastle-Emlyn More Miscellany’, Summerhill Press, 2014, pp. 303-318.