Coaching Profiles
Windsor Tennis Club Belfast has two excellent and highly experienced tennis coaches, Director of Tennis Simon McFarland, and Coach Michael Blease. Great experience in coaching 4 year olds to 98 year olds, and all ages in between!
Simon McFarland – Racquets Director
Clubs played for: Ward Park, Donaghadee and Windsor Tennis Club Belfast.
Tournament experience : A total of 14 Junior Ulster Titles and 3 Senior Titles around the Ulster circuit, Simon represented Ulster at U18 Level and County Down at Senior Level.
Preferred type of coaching : Simon loves coaching Under 10s that are aiming to become serious tennis players as well as beginner / improving adults who are keen to learn about the game. Aims to make sessions fun, energetic and challenging, coaching anyone who wants to improve their Tennis and all round fitness.
Coaching experience – Windsor
Main activities & Responsibilities : Simon joined the club in December 2009 and is working with both juniors and seniors in the club as well as Saturday afternoon Club Play and Thursday Club Night. Simon is also deeply involved in the development of the Junior and Senior Club and making Windsor the best squash and tennis club in Ulster. More recently Simon has gained his Squash coaching qualifications and is delivering squash clincs to juniors and teenagers as the game enjoys a re-surgence.
Coaching experience – outside of Windsor
Main activities & Responsibilities :
- Ward Park Tennis Club Coach 2003 – 2005
- Donaghadee Tennis Club Coach 2005 – 2009
- Lurgan Tennis Club Coach 2008 – 2009
- Ulster Squads U8/9/10/11
Simon has coached at Ward Park, Donaghadee and Lurgan Tennis Clubs, coaching players to Ulster and Irish level as well as developing the Junior sections and developing clubs into both a recreational place for beginner tennis and also a performance base for developing players to Ulster standard. Simon is also the South East representative for Junior Development in Ulster Tennis and helps run a number of Junior Tournaments around Ulster. Simon has also coached the Ulster Squads at U8, U9, U10 and U11.
- Tennis coaching Qualifications : Tennis Ireland Level 2, Cardio Tennis, Squash Club Coach Qualification.
- Awards: Tennis Coach Ireland – Ulster Coach of the Year 2017
- Private coaching availability : Mornings, evenings or afternoons except Sundays.
- Private rates – single : £20 per hr for 1st lesson, £25 after.
- Private rates – groups up to 2, 4 & 6 : £25 per hr.
Biography: Simon is from Bangor but grew up in Belfast going to Methody – Simon won the Tennis Schools Cup for Methody in his final year and then went to University in Lancaster studying Sports Development and Sports Coaching. His favourite tennis players are Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova.
Contact details:
- mobile: 0785 1282 210
- email: simon@windsortennis.co.uk
Michael Blease – Performance Coach
Clubs played for : CIYMS and Windsor Tennis Club Belfast.
Tournament experience : Michael has competed in Ulster tournaments from the age of 14, winning 5 junior titles and 10 Ulster Senior titles. Michael represented County Down at junior and senior levels and also represented Ulster at the Senior Interprovincial Championships in 2016 and 2017. Michael has also Captained the Ulster under 14 team and the Ulster under 18 team at the Junior Interprovincals
Preferred type of coaching : Technical and physical. All performance squads. Under 8s, 9s and 10s as well as under 18s, 16s, and 14s performance squads. Beginner adults right up to adults competing in Ulster tournaments and Ulster leagues division 1-10.
Coaching experience – Windsor
Joined in September 2015 to coach the junior Performance squads for all ages, Michael also takes the Beginner, Intermediate and advanced adult classes as well as the popular cardio tennis class
Coaching experience – outside of Windsor
- Tennis Fundamentals Coach 2007 – 2013
- Wallace Park Head Club Coach 2012 – 2013
- Hillsborough Club Coach 2013 – 2014
- CIYMS Club Coach 2014 – 2015
- Queens University Tennis Club Coach 2015 – Present
- UTA– Ulster Tennis Academy College Squad Coach 2015 – Present
- UTA – Ulster Tennis Academy Futures (under 10) Squad coach
- UTA – Ulster Tennis Academy Under 12 Performance Squad lead coach
Michael has coached children of all standards and adults from recreational level up to Ulster and Irish competition level. Michael also coaches the Ulster Tennis College squad which aims to help juniors who wish to go away to US College to play tennis.
- Tennis coaching qualifications – Tennis Ireland Level 2
- Awards: Ulster Tennis Academy Coach of the Year 2017
- Private coaching availability: 6 days a week.
- Private rates – Single: £20 per hour for first lesson, £25 after.
Biography: Michael grew up in Belfast and started playing tennis at 14, this was considered late for someone to start playing and competing in Ulster tournaments. Michael played his tennis at CIYMS Tennis Club where he won many junior and senior league titles. Michael attended Sullivan Upper school where he won two Ulster Schools Tennis cups. Michael is one of the only players to have played for Ulster at Senior level who did not play for ulster at junior level. Michael has 10 years’ experience in coaching tennis.
Contact details:
- mobile: 0754 5846 416
- email: mike.blease@gmail.com
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