How to play tennis, football and cricket without paying

As fans queue up at Wimbledon in the hope of securing a ticket to watch some of the biggest names in sport, many tennis lovers face another challenge. Trying to book a court to play at this time of year can be as hard as returning a professonal tennis player's serve. And families trying to be healthy, active and entertained by any sports often face another hurdle - money. Yet, there are a host of opportunities to try out sport for free. "Record numbers of adults and children are active, and cost should never be a barrier," says Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, which is responsible for growing participation in grassroots sport. "But the reality is that for many people and families, amid rising bills, it's increasingly a concern - particularly in the communities which face the greatest challenges. "We're focused on supporting the people and places that need the most help." Football - with the men's World Cup currently giving it unrivalled prominence - is often held up as a mass participation sport because it is so cheap to play. However, the well-versed ball and jumpers for goalposts claims may ignore the cost to families of kit, club fees and transport to matches. Tenn