Graham has backed Withernsea Tennis Club after local volunteers turned a derelict site into three floodlit, all-weather courts for the town.
Outdoor tennis returned to Withernsea in September 2025 after a £350,000 redevelopment brought the site back into use for the first time since the early 1990s.
Graham said the project shows how local volunteers, funders, businesses and the council can work together to make Withernsea a better place to live.
The project was funded mainly by a £300,000 investment from Sport England and a £50,000 grant from Withernsea Big Local, with further support from local businesses and organisations.
East Riding Council also helped the club establish the new main access point through the car park next to the Hut.
The relaunch follows four years of hard work by a small volunteer committee, which has raised the profile of tennis in Withernsea and brought a long-unused local sports facility back to life.
The club now has around 60 to 70 senior members and is keen to bring in more junior players from Withernsea and the surrounding villages.
Junior coaching takes place on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to noon.
Sessions cost £4 and are run by LTA-approved coach Janine Foster, with support from assistant coaches at the club.
Young people do not need to attend for the full session. They can come along during the morning, try tennis, learn from qualified coaches and use the new facilities.
The courts are also available to residents through membership or on a pay-as-you-play basis. Bookings can be made online through ClubSpark.
The club runs singles and doubles box leagues on a round-robin basis, with a handicap system to keep competition fair.
Social tennis sessions are held during the week, with details shared through the club’s members’ WhatsApp group.
Graham said: “This is a brilliant facility for Withernsea.
“Jerry and the team have taken a derelict site and, after four years of hard work, turned it into three fantastic floodlit tennis courts.
“That matters because this is about more than tennis. It is about making Withernsea a better place to live.
“Good local facilities give people pride in their town. They give families more to do. And they give young people more chances to try something new.
“For £4 on a Saturday morning, young people can come along, get proper coaching and use these courts for themselves.
“I hope families in Withernsea and the surrounding villages will take a look at what the club is offering.
“This is exactly the sort of local project I want to see succeed: volunteers working hard, funders backing them, the council helping where it can, and a proper facility delivered for the community.”
