James Morgan

Head Coach and Programmes Director

I began playing tennis at the age of 11 after seeing a Davis Cup match on Channel 4 in December. I was immediately hooked after watching Stefan Edberg play and his graceful cat like movement at the net! I asked for tennis kit for my birthday in March the following year, and was also given lessons for the Easter break. After working really hard for 5 months after I had started playing, I attended a county sift day at Halton and was offered county training.

I played competitively up until the age of 19 and then began to immerse myself in coaching. I had my own coaching business serving private houses and clubs in Herts and Essex, before being asked to join the team at Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City.

At Gosling I was one of the senior coaches and also began to captain the Hertfordshire County under 14 boys team and deliver coaching within the Hertfordshire performance program. I also became tennis development officer at Gosling where I managed an extensive coaching program, helping to give me the experience for my role today.

It was at Gosling that I met Mike James as we started working together with his role as County Performance Officer (CPO) and my role as assistant to the CPO.

We delivered the county coaching program, developed the Herts LTA ‘Pride Program’ and worked with a host of players winning national championships before we both left to head up the coaching program at Halton Tennis Centre in April 2002.

I joined Halton in 2002 with a reputation for being a ‘detail’ man with lots of patience.

Coming with a strong track record with 14 & under players, I captained our U12 boys to ‘Aegon Team Tennis’ National honours.

I have also coached a number of players to European and International junior rankings and a player to the semi-finals of the Boys 14 & Under National Championships. I have travelled extensively in Europe with juniors to compete in Tennis Europe events.

My role as Head Coach at Halton Tennis Centre sees me organise all of the Junior teams, and be the first point of call for all coaching activity in my role as Programme Manager at Everyball.

Over the last few years I have helped to build a highly successful outreach program as I continue to invest my time in the Aspire to Reach, Play and Perform components of the Everyball coaching program.