Des Allen modestly omits the fact that his appointment as chief executive officer of Tennis Ireland two years ago brought the highest single honour to the Malahide Lawn Tennis and Croquet club.
He cannot remember a time when he was not passionately involved in the game of tennis. "I am probably one of those few fortunate people who are able to make a living from their passion in life."
Membership: Lots of new faces about over the past year or so. We have a membership of about 1,200, catered for with nine synthetic grass courts. Status: We vigorously maintain the battle to achieve class one status. In recent times we have gone as close as a match point to realising this aim. Development since 1991 includes a magnificent new club house. To the rear of the club is the view of the new marina.
Honours: Modest enough on a personal note. I managed this year to play class four Dublin league. It was quite a struggle. The greatest honour for me as a player has been to captain the club in 1996.
Finest hour: The day in August 1996 when I was appointed chief executive officer of the national association.
Worst hour: On the day of the Irish Women's Open, when we struggled with the decision to move the final indoors. Other than that type of nail-biting stuff, there haven't been many bad hours.
Club hero: Malahide over the years has produced many fine players. Michael Nugent was the junior to show most promise. His talent was identified by the late Arthur Ashe and he went on to play for Ireland in the Davis Cup.
Greatest rival: There's lots of them; the weather, Sutton LTC, soccer, Gaelic football, rugby - mainly anything that takes young kids away from Malahide to lessen their chances of developing into tennis greats.
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