GALASHIELS will become another centre for tennis excellence in the Borders as its seven courts located between the swimming pool and Galashiels Academy building are embraced as the new Borders Tennis Centre.

Unveiled on June 2nd by Borders Sport and Leisure and Tennis Scotland the Borders Tennis Centre will be staffed by a team of Lawn Tennis Association trained coaches headed by Steve Lampert. The coaches have extensive experience from working with children as young as three to training players to National competition standard.

The Centre will be the focal point for tennis in the Scottish Borders with the coaches using the facilities for practice, training and matches.

Ewan Jackson, Chief Executive of Borders Sport and Leisure, the social enterprise, not-for-profit company that runs many of the sports and leisure facilities and programmes in the region said: "This is a great facility in the centre of the Scottish Borders that offers tennis - coaching, training and casual play for the whole of the Borders."

The centre will be available for use by players throughout the Scottish Borders.

Peter Gordon, Tennis Development Manager for Tennis Scotland commented: "The opening of Borders Tennis Centre demonstrates the importance of partners working together to create new and affordable community tennis facilities across Scotland. Tennis Scotland are delighted to have been part of the process to develop the site in Galashiels into a Tennis Beacon and look forward to supporting the on-going programme at the centre and in the wider community."