Boxing champion Femi Fehintola turned out to support local youngsters at the Ecclesall Lawn Tennis Club family day.
 
Club coaches Mark Thornton and Richard Furness organised the fun day for their junior coaching classes.
"Boxing has proved incredibly successful at finding champions from all areas and backgrounds and that is something we are aiming to replicate here" said Mark.
 
Coach Richard Furness added "We are making our sessions as affordable as possible and I think many people would be surprised just how cheap it is"
 
"Having Femi here today is great for our kids, it helps to show them that with absolute dedication you can become a champion".
"My main drive now is to take tennis out into the local community to kids who would not usually get access to the game and get a racket in their hands" Said Mark.
 
"It's been fun watching the kids play today, and I might fancy a go myself when I'm not training to fight. Mark and Richard have told me that they want to get their tennis programme out into the community and into local schools and I think that's a great idea. You have to get the kids interest early and then you can just watch them improve".
I started boxing when I was 8 and it's taken me a long time to get to the level I'm at now but I've still got a long way to go. But without the local coaches and volunteers involved in kids coaching I'd have never gotten anywhere, so it is vital that the kids have access to all sports".
 
"What Mark and Richard are trying to do with tennis is the same as what my manager Dennis Hobson does with boxing. Introducing sport and good facilities to kids who wouldn't usually get the chance and it's vital to do so. Our gym is absolutely thriving with about 70 kids and if people like Dennis, and Mark and Richard here at the tennis club weren't doing this then you have to ask what would these kids have to do?"
 
Femi is currently in training to defend his title on Dennis Hobson's show in Jersey on October 25th. "I like some of the shots in tennis, Volley and smash and that's what I intend to do to Couch. Smash him and then volley him back to the Ingle gym!"
 
Anybody interested in the junior tennis coaching should contact Mark Thornton on: 0774 9944308 or email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Lessons are on Saturday's and Sunday's and or for kids aged 4 to 18 years.
 
PICTURED with Femi are club coaches Mark Thornton, Richard Furness, assistant coach Rachael Gladwin and junior club members Amy, Olivia, Grace, Ewan, Isabella and Ellie.