About The Northern

The Northern had by then successfully launched its international tennis tournament and also started to host Davis Cup matches. Tennis Greats such as Ken Rosewall and Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly both won here in the 1950s.

Jimmy Connors triumphed in 1974, and the 1980s and 1990s went on to be glorious decades for Northern tennis with John McEnroe, Jeremy Bates, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras (winning his first ever grass court tournament), Goran Ivanesevic and Pat Rafter all victorious.

In 1969, The Northern made history as the first club in the North of England to have an indoor tennis court and in 1974 introduced glassbacked squash courts.

In 1997, two new indoor tennis courts were added, along with 3 American clay courts plus gym and fitness facilities. Fast forward to 2019 and plans for two further indoor courts are currently under consideration.

PART OF THE DIDSBURY COMMUNITY SINCE 1910
After more than a century of high-level tennis and squash, the Northern has shields and silverware a-plenty.

But one of our newest – and rather unexpected – achievements had nothing to do with racquet skills at all. It was for flowers – a Gold Certificate from the North West Regional RHS as part of the Didsbury in Bloom entry for Britain in Bloom.

Our partnership with Didsbury in Bloom, and in particular local volunteer group The Friends of Parsonage Gardens, is just one example of the club’s commitment to being a good neighbour.

In the wider community, we work with the Lawn Tennis Association, England Squash and Manchester City Council to bring sporting opportunities to adults and children who would not otherwise have access to facilities such as the Northern’s.

Closer to home, we have worked with Christie Hospital to help patients recover their health through sport. And our schools programme inspires literally hundreds of children every year to take up tennis and squash, helping them to lead healthy and active lives.