Altrincham tennis coach David Bryceland will be guest of honour at the opening of a new tennis court in Kosovo this weekend – the culmination of a decade-long fundraising mission that has raised over £23,000.
A decade of perseverance and sheer hard work has paid off for David, who will travel to Kosovo to open the brand new tennis court he helped fund through years of dedicated fundraising.
The court in Podujeva – the only one in north Kosovo – will be officially opened at a special ceremony on Saturday, with David delivering the ceremonial first serve as guest of honour.
It marks the culmination of a remarkable 10-year journey that began in 2015 when David met teenage refugee Saranda Bogujevci, who has since become an MP in her homeland. After hearing about her experiences during ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, including the massacre of her family, David was determined to make a positive difference.
"After meeting Saranda and hearing about her experiences, I wanted to do something," said David, who coaches at Hale Village Tennis Club and Bowdon Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club.
"When I got there, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There were no leisure facilities of any sort, and the buildings were riddled with bullet holes. It was unbelievable, a truly humbling experience."
Over the past decade, David has single-handedly raised £23,000 for Manchester Aid to Kosovo (MAK) through a series of physical challenges including triathlons, 10ks and half marathons.
The final push came last summer when he completed a gruelling 24-hour non-stop tennis match at Bowdon Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club, raising the final amount needed to complete the all-weather court in the Podujeva Peace Park.
In recent weeks, the court has received its finishing touches with lines painted, nets erected and equipment stored ready for Saturday's opening ceremony.
Local dignitaries, parents and schoolchildren have been invited to the celebration, which will include music, food, dancing and an exhibition match.
"Every year when we go over, we see the difference our efforts make to the health and wellbeing of the kids we coach," said David. "It's so rewarding and I couldn't be more delighted that we've finally achieved our aim and that the court is about to officially open.
"This has been a real labour of love and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's supported me with this project, whether by donating their time or money. We've done it!"
The journey hasn't been without challenges. In 2019, David was hospitalized with exhaustion and dehydration after attempting a similar 24-hour tennis challenge. Undeterred, he built up his stamina and successfully completed the marathon match last summer, raising the final funds needed.
David has been supported in his fundraising efforts by Alice Carroll, who has handled administrative hurdles and liaised with various authorities to secure approval for the court.
"While David has put in all the physical effort, I've been dealing with the red tape," she said. "Next, we're working with the Kosovo Tennis Federation to build more courts, a clubhouse and train a permanent coach.
"We'd also love to run a twinning programme with the clubs in and around Altrincham. This is just the start and we hope that one day Wimbledon will welcome its first player from Kosovo!"
