Matt Clempson has been playing tennis for two decades and describes himself as “someone who plays tennis” rather than as “a tennis player”.

And whether you are ‘a tennis player’ or ‘someone who plays tennis’, he would love you to come and play at the place which has been like a second home to him for the past 20 years.

The 53-year-old plays for Cheltenham Civil Service Tennis Club and is probably being a bit harsh on himself when he says he only ‘plays tennis’.

After all, he is part of the club’s A team that compete in Division One of the Gloucestershire Summer League.

He joined the club after a brief spell with Dowty Arle Court and has thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club based on Tewkesbury Road.

“They’re a good club and cater for players of all abilities,” Clempson said. “We’ve got four men’s teams and two ladies’ teams competing in the summer league.”

And while that sounds quite healthy for a club that have four hard courts – two of which are floodlit – the numbers are down on a few years ago when they ran five men’s teams and four ladies’ teams.

“We’ve got about 80 members at the moment but we’ve had more in the past, and we’d like to get our numbers back up above 100,” said Clempson. “We’re on a bit of a recruitment drive at the moment.”

And for anyone interested in playing tennis there’s certainly plenty going on at a club that are active all year round.

“We also have a team in the outdoor mixed doubles winter league,” added Clempson, who has been secretary of the club for all bar two of the last 10 years.

And while the competitive side of the club is important, Clempson is keen to stress that the club also cater for those who just want to play tennis socially.

“We hold four social sessions every week,” he said. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8pm, on Saturdays 2-4pm and on Sundays 10-12pm.”

League games are played on midweek evenings, and one of the things Clempson would like to see is greater integration between the competitive and social sides of the club.

“The one thing I really do want to say is that you don’t have to be a civil servant to play for the club,” said Clempson. “Most of our members aren’t civil servants and we have very competitive membership rates.”

Clempson, himself, is certainly competitive when it comes to sport. The former Cheltenham Grammar School pupil played football, rugby and cricket for Old Patesians and also played football for Shurdington Rovers and Cheltenham Civil Service, and cricket for Charlton Kings.

These days, as well as his tennis, he is into his running and has run three marathons. He has a best time of four hours, 27 minutes, but describes his last marathon in Blackpool as “soulless”.

“Mind you,” he added with a laugh, “I must have forgotten how horrible that run was because I’m planning to run the Birmingham Marathon in October. I’m fitter and I’ve lost weight and I reckon I can knock 15 minutes off my best time.”

His 21-year-old son Joe is also set to take part in the Birmingham Marathon. Joe also enjoys his football but has not yet been bitten by the tennis bug.

But while tennis may not be for Joe, it certainly is the sport of dreams for a number of stalwart members down at the Service.

“Matt Bailey is our captain and chairman,” said Clempson. “He’s in his early 20s and is probably our strongest player.

“Steve Bridge has been playing for our A team for years and Mike Jones is another who has been playing for donkey’s years, he’s even older than me!

“In the ladies’ teams we have some stalwarts such as Lucy Stanton, Julia Bishop and Di Crone, and we also have some long-serving social players like Brian Frusher and Iris Darby.”

Each league team consists of a squad of six with four being required on match day to make up two doubles teams.

Clempson insists that he shouldn’t be anywhere near the A team “at my age and with my ability”, but will certainly make himself available when the new season gets under way in early to mid-April.

But before that the club have a very important event in the calendar.

“We are holding an open day on Saturday 24th March,” Clempson said. “It’s from 1-5pm and anyone is welcome to come along and have a hit.”

The club, formed some 60-odd years ago, are also looking for a coach which in turn should help push up the number of juniors at the club.

“We’ve got so much going for us,” said Clempson. “Good courts, nice clubhouse, great setting.”

Anyone wanting more information about the coaching position or the club in general should email Clempson at mattclempson@hotmail.co.uk