Hinckley tennis coach wins BBC Unsung Hero Award

He introduced life-changing free tennis coaching for disabled players.

A tennis coach and member of Hinckley Town Tennis Club has won the BBC East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero Award for 2021.

John McGowan was appointed Chair of the club in 2012 and he was dedicated to making the club accessible and affordable to all.

11 years ago he introduced life-changing free tennis coaching for disabled players and they are still having a positive impact on the local community.

The sessions for daycare groups, special needs schools and free drop-in sessions now run for 10 hours every week.

Mr McGowan said, "It came as a total surprise, I was on the court at the time and I had no idea that they were going to present me with the award."

John has also dedicated his time to fundraising for the tennis club and helped raise over £42,000 to improve the floodlights, which means people can now play during the winter months.

He was nominated for the unsung hero award by the Borough Council’s Health and Recreation Manager Graeme Chilvers. 

Councillor Keith Nichols, Executive Member for Leisure said: "Huge congratulations to John for this award. It is rightly deserved for the time and enthusiasm he has dedicated to Hinckley Tennis Club, its members and the local community. The work that goes on behind the scenes to undertake all these activities and fundraising is immeasurable and his nomination is just a small way of thanking him."

John will now represent the East Midlands at the national BBC Sports Personality Awards which is on Sunday 19th December.