An 80-year-old player and his 14-year-old doubles partner have formed an unlikely competitive alliance that defies the six-decade age difference between them. David McCandless and Liam McCurry, who began playing together two years ago at City of Derry Tennis Club in Northern Ireland, have won more than half of their North West of Ireland league matches since joining forces.
The partnership emerged by chance rather than design, but has since blossomed into a formidable combination on court. According to the Belfast Telegraph, McCandless continues to play competitively four or five days a week despite his age, while McCurry has developed into a strong junior player through their sustained collaboration.
How did this partnership come about?
The pairing began almost accidentally when the two players found themselves matched together. McCurry explained the early challenges:
We started on court and it was a case of who is going to go where. Then after a couple of matches we started winning because we realised we got a system down and we realised we are a pretty good duo.
McCandless described the arrangement as having
worked out very well indeed, adding that
He's a very strong young junior and I think he will be a top class player.
What complementary strengths do they bring to the court?
The two players bring distinctly different assets to their doubles strategy. McCandless began playing tennis at age 14 in Culdaff and has accumulated decades of court experience, though he is self-taught rather than formally coached. He believes his years of play allow him to guide McCurry's positioning and movement during matches.
I do have a bit of experience and I do think that I can help him as regards how to move on the court at times. And he knows what I'm capable of and he covers for me at other times.
McCurry, by contrast, received coaching from an early age and possesses the technical foundation that McCandless never had. The teenager is equally appreciative of his partner's contribution:
He's a solid player and consistent and I've learned a lot from him playing in the league.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, McCandless uses restorative yoga to maintain fitness and prevent injuries, a practice that helps him sustain his demanding schedule.
Who is City of Derry Tennis Club?
The club now has approximately 100 members despite operating without its own clubhouse or dedicated courts. Instead, it runs sessions at Foyle College and Waterside Shared Village, offering weekly social tennis and beginner-improver lessons across the week in structured four to eight-week blocks.
Keith Bloomfield, the club's spokesman, emphasised the inclusive nature of the membership:
We have a great cross community and cross border club and we have many foreign nationals now taking up the game - from India, Ukraine, and Malaysia amongst others.
The club's growth reflects broader interest in tennis as both competitive sport and social activity. Coach Catherine Gallen highlighted the mental health benefits of the game:
It's just so good for your physical and mental health. Like I'd come back from school and play tennis and it's just such a release. I've made so many friends from tennis. It's just so sociable.
Club member Alison Miller echoed this sentiment, describing tennis as
a fantastic releaseduring difficult periods.
What facilities does Derry have for tennis?
Despite the club's success, it faces a critical infrastructure challenge. The city lacks a dedicated tennis facility of its own, forcing the club to rent courts from multiple locations. Bloomfield expressed frustration about the absence of permanent home:
It is a great shame that such a beautiful and iconic facility cannot be restored. What will happen to those courts?
For decades, the tennis courts at St Columb's Park served as the city's primary tennis venue. The club has campaigned for restoration of this site, arguing that neighbouring towns possess bespoke clubs and clubhouses that Derry lacks. Bloomfield stated:
Neighbouring towns have bespoke clubs and clubhouses and facilities and it's a pity that a city the size of Derry doesn't have such a facility of its own.
The reality of available courts differs markedly from official capacity figures. While the city theoretically has twelve courts across three locations—four at Waterside Shared Village, six at St Columb's Park, and two at Clooney Park West—practical access remains limited. The St Columb's Park courts were closed to the public throughout the summer pending a safety assessment, while the tarmac courts at Clooney Park are in poor condition. The Waterside Shared Village courts show visible wear, with line markings deteriorating with age.
Bloomfield noted that funding for repairing and upgrading courts has not been included in any council capital plans. Over the past two years, club representatives have met with council staff to discuss potential solutions.
What is the council's position on tennis facilities?
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council acknowledged
the value of tennis and the very positive contribution local clubs make to the sport.The council confirmed that representatives had met with the club to discuss facility concerns and had engaged with Tennis Ireland and Sport NI to explore funding opportunities for court upgrades.
However, the council's assessment differs from the club's view. The spokesperson stated:
It is council's assessment that there is currently adequate provision for tennis across the city, based on existing capacity, usage levels and booking demands across available facilities.
What does the partnership represent?
For McCandless and McCurry, their two-year collaboration exemplifies tennis's capacity to unite players across generational divides. The partnership demonstrates that age need not be a barrier to competitive success or meaningful athletic collaboration. As the club continues to grow despite infrastructure constraints, the unlikely duo serves as a symbol of tennis's enduring appeal across all age groups and backgrounds in the community.
