Tennis for Africa received the support of the organization of the Norther 2004 Junior Tennis Tourament for collecting good quality used tennis kits to help the tennis schools in Sierra Leone. The Royal Navy, main sponsor of the tournament, has the role to ship the tennis equipment  to African children  as part of their tours of duty.

The activity was coordinated by  Susan Moger, Tournament Director ( 0788 7735270 ). 

Information about the Grand Prix Junior Tennis at the Northern August 16-21 2004 

The Northern was founded in 1881 and is an LTA centre of excellence for junior tennis, including a highly successful mini-tennis programme. The grass court tournament held at the Club annually, which was the predecessor of the current Manchester Trophy Challenger event, counts Stefan Edberg, Pat Rafter and John McEnroe amongst its champions. 

Each year the club hosts an LTA sanctioned Junior Tennis Tournament, with singles events in boys’ and girls’ 10 under, 12 under, 14 under, 16 under, 18 under age groups and doubles in the boys’ and girls’14 under and 18 under age groups. 

The LTA Junior Tournament at the Club this year has been awarded Grand Prix status for all the events, with the exception of the 18 under boys and girls singles. This means that players are competing for the possibility to participate in the Sunday Telegraph Center Parcs Grand Prix Finals in La Manga, Spain later this year, which promises a very high standard of play. 

The tournament was sponsored by the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines ( main sponsors ), Murray & Haggerty – Optometrists and Contact Lens Practitioners, Roger Dean Estate Agents and Residential property Landlords, Wolstenholmes Solicitors. Club members who are acting as court supervisors also support the event.