Grass roots tennis on Plastic

Mark Petchey former coach to Andrew Murray and  Tim Henman, Wimbledon, US Open, French Open semi finalist spoke about getting back to grass roots tennis, well here in Liverpool a young man started from grass roots and continues to improved as he climbs the professional tennis ladder. This is how two parents continue to keep the dream alive for their sons

A young rookie policemen is placed on the front line of the 1981 Toxteth riots in England that almost brought the country to a stand still and threatened anarchy. In all, the rioting lasted nine days, during which one person died after being struck by a police vehicle attempting to clear crowds, there were 468 police officers injured, 500 people arrested, and at least 70 buildings damaged so severely by fire that they had to be demolished. Around 100 cars were destroyed, and there was extensive looting of shops. Later estimates suggested the numbers of injured police officers and destroyed buildings were at least double those of the official figure. Nearly 30 years  later, PC Ken Skupski, through toil and sweat,  numerous injuries, ( he suffered a broken arm when his vehicle was attacked  with an iron bar  and contacted hepatitis) and  long night shifts  paroling the same streets  that has had substantial investment from central government but still high unemployment and social deprivation exists is nearing retirement. 

( A foot note)

The recent riots in England that started in August 2011 saw PC Ken Skupski again this time as one of the very few officers with experience  lead  the younger police officers against rioters in Liverpool. A six day 5pm to 5am shift  kept the area of Toxteth under control . “We had bricks hurled at the police vans but  I told my lads ( the officers) to keep their helmets on before they get out of the police vans, as a brick landing on a unprotected head could finish your career.” said Ken as if it was another ordinary day at the office.

His son 26 year old Ken Skupski  is a professional tennis player. Ken got a 4 year scholarship at LSU Louisiana State University after he was spotted playing junior Wimbledon. He played the qualifiers and then went on to reach the quarter finals there. An American college coach approached him with an offer of a scholarship.

A recent weekend,  saw   Ken  on a day/night shift, not able to watch his son make his debut for Great Britain in the Davis Cup tennis, on his break he tried to take  a few minutes  to follow his son's progress. Policing in the real world does not have flexible hours of a normal job. Crime does not stop because of sport. His son and partner Colin Fleming won a crucial doubles rubber to take the tie to the final match that Great Britain lost to Lithuania.

“It was only when I got home I was  able to find out that my son had won on his debut. Unfortunately I could not afford to travel and watch my son play in Lithuania. I have another son Neal  playing college tennis at LSU in the USA’ The bottom line is the money and my job pays the bills.”

Neal Skupski is in his second year at LSU and plays number one the tennis team.

The outcry for back to basics after the Great Britain Davis Cup defeat to Lithuania and re -investment in grass roots tennis, taking it to the working classes and inner cities instead of the perception of the country club game only for the wealthy that the All England Club and Wimbledon is portrays to the media.

What has been forgotten amongst  a frenzy of feeding ‘shark’ attack by the media  blaming whoever is involved in British tennis to be sacked, that a true working class boy from Liverpool Ken Skupski junior won his match in Lithuania.

Ken and his wife are not from upper -middle class England  set  where the majority of tennis  is played in the South of England.  Ken ‘s Gran father was Polish and came to Liverpool, Mary’s family are from Ireland Their lives are not surrounded by opulent luxuries of a two car family. Mid term family holiday breaks to the sun and private tennis lessons.

Mary his wife has been cleaning the local tennis club for as long as her husband has policing the streets. While caring for her family.

By blood sweat and determination Ken and Mary bought a modest terrace house together next to a tennis club in Liverpool called Palmerston, A typical six court and club house with open membership to anyone. The Club House is an elongated  wooden shed, green  ash felt covers the roof It has under gone significant improvements over the years but the outer framed still remains of wood. 

The car park is not full of mercedes and porsches  but of  Mums dropping their children off at the Saturday morning coaching sessions. This is no Queens Club of London where last summer Ken and Colin Fleming defeated the Bryan brothers of the USA

Palmerston tennis club is where countless hours and patience was needed as Ken fed tennis balls to his  two sons as soon as they could walk.

“I would open the garden gate and walk onto the tennis court. It was like having my own private tennis court’  said Ken.

The weather is grey It is as raw as the winter cold cutting through  young Ken’s body as he practices on the plastic astro turf tennis court for his next professional tournament with his Father. The ball is pounded over the net as Father and son hit harmoniously. together. Ken wearing a thick rugby shirt over numerous other layer then practices his volleys as Father hit harder and harder, but the ball comes back faster and faster.

‘Not bad for an old man’ is the cry from the Father.

Ken senior was an accomplished athlete in his youth.  At 15  he was the youngest player to play in the northern premier league and still holds that record. He was a goalkeeper and started his football career with Tranmere Rovers and then moved to semi professional club South Liverpool in the old Northern Premier league. This is where football played with no 4th linesman or TV replays. If players could bend the rules at the expense of injuring fellow players. A lawless game with rules

“It was a hard school for a young kid like me to learn his trade. The old pros nearing the end of their career would spit and kick you in vulnerable areas of your body. I got no protection. You had to learn fast and stand up” said Ken.

Stoke City called on him as a reserve where he trained with the great England international Gordon Banks who made that incredible save against Pele in the Mexico 1970 World Cup.

“Gordon Banks was my hero, His work ethic was incredible in training. I learnt that you need more than talent to get to the top”  Ken said.

Ken then played in goal for a  professional football a club with Aston Villa for a short time, after turning down Liverpool football clubs advances in the early 70s.. "I wasn't that I did not want to play for the club I supported, Ray Clemence was the best in the world so I decided to go to Aston Villa FC”

 

"The chairman of Aston Villa ,Doug Ellis  would impress me by driving me through his estate in his Rolls Royce waving to the locals. It was the first time  I had seen the world of millionaire's row.”

“We would go into his mansion and he would  pull a cord and the maid came and served tea and scones”

Unfortunately the manager of Aston Villa was sacked.  The new manager brought his own players in and six months later and Ken returned home.

Ken’s football career came to an abrupt end when he broke his arm playing in an FA cup match.

He actually played for 80 minutes without knowing . In those days they had no substitutions for goal keepers. His team gained a deserved draw

Soon after he joined the police and the rest is history

This is where probably his two sons get this natural ability with ball games along with the. that drives the Skupski  family on.

Ken continues to hit balls to his son

What about private  tennis lessons when he was younger? I asked

“The only private lessons were given by me. To have one to one was expensive and still is.”

Young Ken at the age of 8 entered a short tennis  tournament and reached both finals. The LTA then invited him to squad coaching at the local indoor centers, local being 40 miles away.

‘Mary would drop her me off at work and then take Ken to the centre 40 mile away. I sometimes after work would have to get the bus back home.

“A two car family was way out of the question”

“That was a big sacrifice then” I said

No not really, materials possessions and holidays abroad never came into it. They don’t last, but Ken’s tennis has given Mary and I good memories”

Ken went on, but at no time blamed or expected any help from anyone. He and Mary have given their time for their sons but above all love. This is a part of society that is missing in the  21st family household of today.

“We are skint, the credit card helps because we have two players trying to make it to the top and the other one costs money while he is plying his trade in LSU and then when he comes back its up to us to sponsor him on the tour. its been 30 years of overdraft but a firm belief that we were doing the right thing for the boys and so far is payed off so there is no reason that we won’t do the same for Neal.”

“Its a tough road to the top and we have been tough and focused. I always said to ken that I would tell him when he had reached his potential and gladly I haven’t had to say it. and Neal is also keeping me excited. when he played Mardy Fish last year at the Liverpool international I could see what the LSU experience was doing for him and so did Mardy Fish. Its all about family commitment and support. If I had to  do it all again, I would because you cannot take away the memories and the experience.”

There are no ‘freebies’ membership on offer at the two local  indoor tennis centers in Liverpool for Ken. “When my son comes home in between tournaments I have to hit with him as it is difficult to get a hitter at our time”  said Ken.

Liverpool council indoor tennis centre has recently cut the opening hours, a 4 p.m. opening time and court fees nearly £20 per hour, 4 times the minimum wage.

Liverpool and London start with the same letter but that is where the similarity ends. London is over 200 miles away, a cosmopolitan city, even the famous pop band, “The Beetles” made their home down there. The city of Liverpool as a fellow journalist informed me, “There are 3 sports in Liverpool, football, football and football”

This is the reality of professional tennis.   Everything has to be paid for,  Andrew Murray and Roger Federer have lucrative endorsements and appearance fees. It was reported Murray was paid £160,000 and given an exclusive suite at the Burj  Al Arab 7 star hotel when he played a tournament in Dubai

Ken is still helping his son, stringing his rackets, rescheduling his flights and keeping his accounts up to date. Yes a tennis player has to pay tax and Mary attending his laundry and his meals when he comes home.

It is a family team event to keep their son on the circuit. Representing your country in doubles does not give you lucrative sponsorship or a salary although the Lawn Tennis Association have this year helped support their top  British doubles pair with flights practice facilities in London. Before this the Skupskis had to work out a ‘home’ financial program over the past years to assist Ken’s progress in tennis.

Football dominates all in England. Rupert Murdock in the past 20 years has invested billion of pounds in football. The Sky net work is saturated 24/7 with football and with comes large salaries of up  £6 million a year for the players. A professional tennis player has no salary, no contract, you are only as good as your last match. The money stops there.

There is no guarantee that the more you put in to sport the rewards will come. Injuries, motivation and physical development all have a contribution. How a young man from Liverpool, a city steeped in football became  part of Great Britain’s number one doubles pair is a miracle. 

What I saw today was the reality of grassroots tennis,  a family striving hard to give their sons the best in life.

Playing tennis for your country has not so far brought Ken a major private sponsorship needed to maintain his progress in tennis, only the Lawn Tennis Association are helping him, and a plastic  credit card for time the being.

In the past 20 years has invested billion of pounds in football. The Sky net work is saturated 24/7 with football and with comes large salaries of up  £6 million a year for the players. A professional tennis player has no salary, no contract, you are only as good as your last match. The money stops there.

There is no guarantee that the more you put in to sport the rewards will come. Injuries, motivation and physical development all have a contribution. How a young man from Liverpool, a city steeped in football became  part of Great Britain’s number one doubles pair is a miracle. 

What I saw today was the reality of grassroots tennis,  a family striving hard to give their sons the best in life.

Playing tennis for your country has not so far brought Ken a major private sponsorship needed to maintain his progress in tennis, only the Lawn Tennis Association are helping him, and a plastic  credit card for the time being.

Ken has played Grand Slams Australian and French and Wimbledon US Open and won 3 ATP doubles events

            Young Ken with Father

Neal Skupski playing for LSU in the USA