Help me in the search for next A1 funded player

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Help me in the search for next A1 funded player

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

I do come across a lot of requests for funding where some are genuinely financially disadvantaged but they are not considered to be top 200 singles potential .

I guess its rare for kid without adequate funding to get to the futures stage so looking for quite a rare animal

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Monday 28th of July 2014 11:30:52 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

The best male player I have come across that has huge potential is Tom Farquhurson, but I've no idea what his funding situation is and he seems to constantly come across issues with fitness etc.

He definitely has the ability to get top 200 judging by the way he destroyed Dan Smethurst and the rest at Wirral.

The majority of girls with ability are either funded or still juniors and get LTA help. The only one's I suggest are Lisa Whybourn if her shoulder holds up(She definitely needs funding as she went on the same site as Marcus) or Naomi Cavaday if she decides to have a go full time.

RJA · Hall of fame

Hard to think of anyone who obviously meets the criteria you set out. Obviously Kyle will be top 200, and higher, but he isn't financially disadvantaged. Pretty sure that Oli will be top 200 but again he is not without financial support. Cox and Smethurst are both closing in on top 200 but they are now at a point where they have a chance to compete for half decent money. Below that there are at least half a dozen or more British players who show some potential, at least to my inexpert eye, but to say any of them have a really good shot of being top 200 would be an overstatement. It is very hard to single out one player from that group that is more deserving than the rest. If forced at gun point to pick a player with strong upside potential I would say Ashley Hewitt or Tom Farquharson, although as the above poster has noted Tom has had a string of injury problems.

-- Edited by RJA on Monday 28th of July 2014 11:26:39 AM

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

You guys are a Little modest on this site . You are the experts on GB tennis Lets keep looking .

I don't know much about Tom but I did notice a few faces drop in my team when there was a rumour that he would turn up at Aegon finals .

What might be better is to sponsor an academy of talent and share it around go to tourmaments together /train together /shared travel . Maybe a group of 4 with 1 a player & coach .

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

RJA wrote:
Hard to think of anyone who obviously meets the criteria you set out. Obviously Kyle will be top 200, and higher, but he isn't financially disadvantaged. Pretty sure that Oli will be top 200 but again he is not without financial support. Cox and Smethurst are both closing in on top 200 but they are now at a point where they have a chance to compete for half decent money. Below that there are at least half a dozen or more British players who show some potential, at least to my inexpert eye, but to say any of them have a really good shot of being top 200 would be an overstatement. It is very hard to single out one player from that group that is more deserving than the rest. If forced at gun point to pick a player with strong upside potential I would say Ashley Hewitt or Tom Farquharson, although as the above poster has noted Tom has had a string of injury problems.

-- Edited by RJA on Monday 28th of July 2014 11:26:39 AM

What about jonny O mara what is his financial position like ?

paulisi · Tennis legend

Jonny is another who has requested funding on the same site as Marcus. Nice player, has the potential to climb the rankings, potential top 500, but a lot will be down to how he progresses as to where he ends up.
Mr. O'Mara posts on here occasionally so could you more background.

Of the others - Harry, JWH, Alex W all have the potential but are coached at NTC.

Jathan Malik has potential to improve and is not funded and relies on parents to support him.

I'm sure there are also boys finishing college in the US that will probably need a kickstart.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In follow up to paulisi's comment, I remember Joe Salisbury saying about 6 months ago (i.e. before graduating) that he was going to turn pro upon graduation and hoped very much that the LTA would help support him for a while - which I thought was very unlikely, given the LTAs extremely stringent criteria.

Don't know if his plans have changed.

I think your idea of getting a little squad is excellent, but tricky. Definitely far more cost effective, better team spirit, less risky (not all your eggs in one basket) but, as I said, tricky from a logistical/organisational point of view.

If it were me, I think I'd have a chat with the head guys at Gosling. Or Nottingham. Or somewhere like that. They may well have a good grasp on who's who, who's coming up, how serious they are, who needs funding etc. etc. Anyway, the more info, the better . . .

indiana · Tennis legend

The 1996s, Peter Ashley and Josh Sapwell ?

I know little about them other than they seemed really good prospects around 14 / 15, and have shown some decent signs again just lately.

I am not sure how much education priorities ( and indeed their current educational aims ) and injuries have played a part. I would imagine that they have now fallen out of at least main fundimg..

Just thinking if they still have real underlying talent and ambitions, but certain struggles to overcome, these two may at least be worth finding more out about. Maybe folk here have info they could add.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

No real info although I thought that Sapwell is one of the NTC funded ones - might be wrong but he's their top U18 so I'd have thought it was a given . . .

In general, it seems a bit daft to fund those who are already, or are going to be, funded by the LTA.

What about putting up a poster at the next GB futures event ?

Tell them you want written proposals, plus a video, by the end of the month. Rather like the college system. See who's serious . . .

indiana · Tennis legend

Just was unsure about these rec'd current funding situation, given they seemed to have fallen off the radar a bit, and dropped relative to their peers around the world.

It is a bit difficult to think of players of 18 and over with genuine top 200 potential that are struggling for funding. In fact that just shouldn't be happening. But it is maybe possible with individual circumstances and the fairly rigid MRS funding matrices that there is someone out there.

Marcus was a really good call, given his previous junior success and how clearly underranked as against his ability he had become. I just can't think just now of another similarly striking candidate.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

How does George C make ends meet ? I've a soft spot for him (although i thought he could do with working on his footwork/fitness when I saw him but that might be a one-off) and he's had some very close losses this year, as well as some excellent wins.

Evan Hoyt plays well but may well still be in the LTA network.

But go for Joe ! And if he's got a decent degree, structure is as a forward-start interest-free loan - in fact, can he set up as an SEIS ? :::)))

Jaffa · Challenger level

^^ Not sure HMRC would quite allow that one through, CD, but my word that did make me laugh!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

As one or two others have mentioned, the name Joe Salisbury jumps off the page for me, although I don't have any more inside knowledge than anyone else.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Thanks significant list there couple of guys mentioned approached me but failed the are you prepared to play in the aegon team acid test . Malik brothers are very well funded .

I think the way to go in the future is a min of 4 possible 8 players

in an academy where they train together 1 of the 4 or 8 would be a travelling coach for the 3 -7 other players & a doubles partner for 1 of the team .

Ideal would be travelling around Europe in same vehicle to carefully selected tournament & sharing the travel costs .

I think the less disciplined players would benefit from the structure .