Fossoway Tennis Club's Alessia Palmieri named Britain's development coach of the year

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Kinross-shire coach is still pinching herself after hitting a winner at the Lawn Tennis Association’s annual awards.Alessia Palmieri, a stalwart at Fossoway Tennis Club, was honoured to be served the title of British Tennis Development Coach of the Year.Born in Perth, Alessia was stunned to hear her name called at the ceremony at the National Tennis Centre in London.The 31-year-old was recognised for the work she has done at Fossoway to transform the single-court club into a hive of activity in the Crook of Devon community, with membership numbers soaring to 370 last year.She has worked to establish an after-school class to give children of all ages and abilities the chance to develop their game, driven ‘tots’ tennis classes to bring children aged three and four into the sport and overseen initiatives to attract new adult players into the game.Speaking at the ceremony, which was also attended by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, Alessia said: “I can’t believe it.

I’m over the moon – it’s so nice to be noticed as a small club and for all that I’ve worked towards over the last few years.“It’s amazing really.

I am lost for words because I honestly didn’t expect it.“Covid brought me back to my home village. I’d always worked at bigger clubs, but there was no programme at Fossoway and I just wanted to make tennis available for everyone in the community.“We’ve now got cardio, we’ve got mums’ groups, everything.

I just tried to bring it all together and give everyone the opportunity and then it just took off.“I went full-time as soon as the courts reopened.