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QUEST FOR BETTY'S HEART LED TO A LIFELONG LOVE OF TENNIS
The Gazette
|August 07, 2025
Former Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, recalls how Tennis World was the catalyst for the Middlesbrough Sports Village on adjacent land.
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The state-of-the art Marton Road complex - featuring a sports hall, gym, running track and velodrome - overcame initial controversy to replace the ageing Clairville Stadium in 2015.
"Foster Garton was a man ahead of his time, always thinking out of the box," said Mayor Mallon. He recalls attending a meeting with Foster, Nigel, LTA chief executive Roger Draper, and Tennis World chairman Mark Foster - ironically, the son of the council's CEO - when the ambitious idea for the sports village was first aired.
"Foster was a rare breed - a businessman who understood social responsibility," added Mr Mallon.
"The sports village was the highlight of my time as Mayor because I listened to their vision. We made it happen and the impact has been huge."
This story is from the August 07, 2025 edition of The Gazette.
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