The All England Lawn Tennis Club is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Alan Little Bursary for research into tennis history. We are asking anyone wishing to apply for the Bursary to submit a proposal of around 1,000 words outlining the nature of their research, the value it will provide to the tennis history community, and how the bursary will help them to complete the project. The Bursary can be used to start a new project or complete an existing one, however we do ask that the project should be completed within one year.
The value of the Bursary is £3,500 (to be paid in two instalments) and the money should be used to cover expenses involved in research, including visits to the Kenneth Ritchie Wimbledon Library. The project should be completed within one year, at the end of which the completed research of 8,000 – 10,000 words should be lodged with the library.
The winner of the Bursary will be invited to speak at Wimbledon’s 2025 Tennis History Conference, to be held on Tuesday 9 December 2025. As such, we would encourage Bursary submissions that tie in with the conference theme of ‘Trailblazers in Tennis’. Topics could include:
- Historic and contemporary players, pioneers and personalities who have changed the game.
- Advances and innovations in technology, equipment, playing surfaces, and training methods.
- Visionary figures shaping the next generation of players through coaching and mentorship.
- How coverage and storytelling in broadcasting and media have evolved to reflect and influence the sport.
- The impact of fashion on tennis style, culture and expression.
- Social and cultural history relating to issues of race, gender, class, and accessibility in tennis.
- Club and local histories offering insights into the foundations of tennis worldwide.
The closing date for applications is Monday 21 April 2025. Entries will be judged by a panel consisting of All England Lawn Tennis Club and external representatives, and our decision will be announced in May or June 2025.
The Bursary, first launched in 2018, is named in honour of Alan Little (1928–2017), who founded the Kenneth Ritchie Wimbledon Library and served as Wimbledon’ Honorary Librarian for 40 years (1976-2016). Alan dedicated his life to researching the history of Wimbledon and the sport of Lawn Tennis in general. The Alan Little Bursary seeks to celebrate Alan’s legacy by encouraging continued research into tennis history.
Click here for the terms of the Bursary. Applications, or any questions about the Bursary, should be directed to the AELTC Club Historian, Robert McNicol (rmcn@aeltc.com
Contact Information
Robert McNicol, rmcn@aeltc.com
