Advantage Montrose thanks to talented young tennis players

Four who made their league debut three years ago – at a combined age of 43 – are not only still playing at Mid Links Park but are competing as the club's junior first team.

Ellis Mcewan, Hannah Simpson, Eddie Baxter and Noah Watson first represented Montrose as 10 and 11-year-olds, beating a much bigger and older Dundee team, despite possibly being the youngest side ever selected in Tennis Tayside competition.

This year, the same four took to the courts against local powerhouse Stonehaven in the Tayside Tennis Super League and competed well, despite again being smaller and younger than their opponents.

Graeme Walker, Montrose's full-time coach and this year's Scottish development coach of the year, said of his current group of relatively young players: “So far, we have had 21 juniors taking part in the matches, with six players making their debuts.

"Our teams have played three matches so far and all recorded one win. All kids have been fantastic and a credit to the club."

Hannah and Noah, both 14, have also played for senior teams in the Tennis Tayside league, as has Eddie, aged 13. Ellis, also 14, is about to make her debut in the women's league.

The four are pictured at a recent Tennis Tayside Super League match.