World’s oldest tennis court among Scottish clubs to receive funding boost

Applications open throughout the year in different regions across Scotland, calling on local teams to apply for funding up to £2,500.

Elie & Earlsferry Sailing Club and Canine Welfare & Training received £1,000, while Shiresmill Therapy Riding Centre, RG Dance Studio, Kinross Wheelchair Curling Club, JDC Perthshire Darts Academy and Blair Bolts Netball Club all received £500 each.

Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club, which works to keep the original game of Real Tennis alive was awarded the maximum amount of £2,500.

The club is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025 and plans to use the funds from to enhance its visitor experience and increase participation with local school and university groups.

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Kevin Gilbert, Club Secretary, Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club, said: “We are over the moon to have been awarded funding from Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund.

“The money will be a timely boost ahead of our 50th anniversary next year and will allow us to bring Real Tennis to more people. We’ll also be able to enhance our facilities for our members and visitors to provide a better experience.”

The club, which plays on the world’s oldest surviving tennis court, brings the sport of Real Tennis to visitors and fans of all ages from around Fife and further afield. Played on a hard court surrounded by four walls using solid balls and wooden rackets, Real Tennis is the precursor to the modern sport, blending tennis, squash and chess-like strategy.

It is steeped in rich history, being built for King James V of Scotland in the mid 16th century. Building began in April 1539 and was finished around September 1541.

James V played on his court for only a year before he died in December 1542 at Falkland Palace. In Scotland, at the time the court was built, tennis was known by the Scots word caich, and a tennis court was called a caichpule – derived from Flemish/Dutch for “game of chases”.

Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club getting into the swing of things on the world’s oldest tennis court. (Image: Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club) Aldi Scotland introduced its Scottish Sport Fund in 2016 to motivate and encourage individuals of all ages and skill levels to participate in physical activities within their local communities and improve access to sport. To date, almost 600 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from the Fund, which has now amassed more than £400,000.

Graham Nicolson, Regional Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, added: “Since 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has given a wide range of sports clubs the chance to benefit from essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources.

“We’re very pleased to see our funding go towards teams like Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club. We congratulate them on their 50th anniversary and look forward to seeing the difference our funding will make in bringing this unique sport to more people.”