Field of dreams for treble-up club

SILVERWARE SUCCESS: the Clarksfield team of Nigel Harrison (back, left), Steve Armstrong, Mohammed Shafiq. Jonathan Harrison (front, left), Leanne Green and Josie Tyas.

TENNIS; TITLES were like buses for Clarksfield Tennis Club — wait an eternity for one and all of a sudden three come along.

After finishing as runners-up in 2009 and 2010, the club finally hit the jackpot by clinching the Oldham and District League Division One crown for the first time in more than four decades.

They also won the Division One Cup and, for good measure, scooped top honours in Manchester Mixed League Division One. Much of Clarksfield’s success has been shaped on a strong junior set-up, which started 20 years ago and was boosted by the arrival of Mohammed Shafiq, once ranked in the top five players in Pakistan.

Shafiq and Jonathan Harrison are heavily involved at youth level and also played their part in the silverware hat-trick, alongside their four other clubmates.

Committee member and player Nigel Harrison said: “It was great to win it with players who have grown and developed from within the club through our junior coaching programme.

“Half of the first team have been through it, which is very satisfying. Mohammed has been fantastic in the four years he has been with us. He is good county standard player, which every club needs if they are to challenge for honours.”

Clarksfield, who boast 40 members and run four teams, are already looking forward to next season when they will be going all out to secure more success.

Harrison added: “With Tame Valley having gained promotion, it is sure to be a strong division, but we’ll give it our best shot as always.”

The Clarksfield club’s junior coaching programme gets under way next Easter, and for details on how to join, call Harrison on 07970 202127.