ADRIAN CHRISTY:  MR PSL…

I only met Adrian for the first time during the Dunlop British Open, and we had a rather… how shall I put it… lively conversation about politics in squash, but the man doesn’t seem to mind my fiery temper, so he will do fine as far as I’m concerned…

More seriously, he’s been doing a lot in the ranks of England Squash for the past six years, first as National Development Manager and now as Director of Development & Competitions, a role he was promoted to last year.

“Our main focus is quite a simple one: to enable more people to play more squash more often'’ smiles the tall man when I ask him what is his role, “more coaches coaching more often, more members in clubs, and to offer more and better competition from grass roots to National level.”

And that’s just for starters!

“Since I took my post at ES, we have put in place the Club Charter, which enables a complete analysis of the club from their management through to quality of facilities and the playing and competitive programmes provided for their members; we have introduced the Areas Academies in each of our 6 Areas from which will hopefully come our next generation of talent, aimed at the young players not quite at the National Squad level, but above the county standard.”

“We also had the feeling that we were missing a whole generation of youngsters, and wanted to ensure a throughput of young players into the county structure. That’s why we’ve introduced, with the help of high profile players like Peter Nicol, James Willstrop, Jenny Tranfield and Vicky Botwright, the Unsquashable Mini Squash scheme, to address that weakness.”

But he’s now focused part of his endless energy to the former National League, today’s re-branded Premier Squash League, or PSL.

“Quite rightly, England Squash have taken a fair amount of criticism in the past in how we supported what was the National League, its continuation came more from the energy and tremendous commitment of the managers than anything else. But we soon came to realise that the PSL is one of ES key properties, in particular as it gives spectators everywhere in England to have the chance to see stars rubbing shoulders with and playing alongside emerging talents.”



“So it was a no brainer - we had to invest time, energy and effort in the league. I firmly believe that PSL is the pinnacle of Club Squash, and I think that the managers are doing a great job in promoting the event, as more and more people are coming each time to see it! We also have a very exciting new initiative, as we will be streaming some of the matches via the internet, allowing the best league in the world to go worldwide”

Yes, the new PSL has a new energy field around it. Two more teams this year in the South Group, the Team Surrey Health & Racquets Club (Esporta Croydon) and the University of Birmingham, new clubs waiting in the wings for next season, a new name, a new logo, a redesigned website, live web streaming and lots more to come in the tank.

But Adrian is the perfect illustration of what I’ve been saying for quite a while, as in you do not have to be a squash player to promote and “sell” squash, as he has a football and tennis background.

“I have worked in Governing Bodies before and I always loved squash both as a spectator and very poor player, so when the position became available at ES, it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss."

And when I asked him to describe our sport, he paused for a while and said "Squash is exciting, fast, and it is great fun, isn’t it????”

Like I said, that man will do fine….

IAN ROBINSON:
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE…

Ian Robinson is always smiling. I don’t know if you’ve ever met him, but he is one of those people that always seem to be jolly. Mind you, I guess that when you have a gorgeous wife and daughter (not to mention a three year-old boy Thomas at home) like Claire and Holly, you smile all day! Not to mention that Ian is deeply involved in the best sport on earth, ours.

Ian has been “swimming” into squash for years, and it started with a certain Malcolm Willstrop noticing his skills years and years ago… Nowadays, among other activities, the man is on the board of England Squash, commentates the WISPA matches on Sky, is Head Coach of the South East and works his racquet off in Surrey as the Squash Performance Director.

Exciting Development Programme

“This is a very exciting time for the University of Surrey as the development programme both in an academic and sporting context is starting to move forward. We are seeing the first signs of new buildings, which means that the time for the planned new squash centre is getting nearer. Architects were appointed in the summer and so there is more than a deal of reality about a project that has been talked about for a very long time now - Barry Hitchcock, our Sport Director, might confirm that he has been working with this in mind for something like a decade or so. Nothing is finalised yet but we are hoping that we may be able to include something like 10 courts and a championship court with a healthy amount of spectator seating, at least enough to countenance a major annual events programme. Somebody whispered to me that 2007 might well see the keys to the door but it has to be pure guess work at this point.'

It will be exciting for squash if we can successfully bring such a major new-build squash centre to the country to provide a focal point for squash in the south east, much as the National Centre, Manchester, has done in the north and midlands. Early discussions have been taking place with England Squash to ensure that we are able to develop a facility that will satisfy a partnership arrangement of some description with the governing body as we would like to deliver a brand new modern squash centre with up to the minute facilities.

Our core events activity is based around our need to stage our PSL matches, which are increasingly generating exciting levels of support from the local enthusiasts. But we would envisage aiming for a regular major International event on the calendar under the PSA and WISPA guidelines and maybe even looking at the possibility of staging a World and/or a European Championships should we be able to build the required level of facilities. That does not take account of the need to build local infra-structure in terms of Club, School, Area and Inter County events.


The PSL is a major part in our development, it showcases the talent available before the best players disappear off on the world circuit, and as much as this is the shop window of the sport at the professional level, our dedicated team of squash 'developers' are taking the sport into the local community and by all accounts we have been able to outreach to something like 1,000 school children in the last year. We are beginning to see the signs of a healthy junior section at the club, but crucially in our primary function as an education establishment we are able to provide them with the opportunity to study and pursue their sport at the same time all under one roof.

TASS & PSL ... A perfect mix

The government backed Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme now fills the gap as university students and students in their last year at school can qualify for funding to cover some of the costs of their coaching and competitions. This TASS scheme sees us introduce at the professional level in our PSL squad players of the calibre of Brandon Hanley, Emma Matthews, Katie Hanley and Neil Desai among others, some of whom have already had a taste of pro squash this season.

There is, not unlike the City of Manchester council, a team of squash 'developers' at the University of Surrey headed by Barry Hitchcock, but also including Ian Woodley, Jacqui Fraser, Ash, Chris Tredwell, Vicky Hansford, Dan Brown among others who are lending their not inconsiderable skills and enthusiasm to putting squash on the map as one of the sports selected for special consideration on the University sporting programme.


Barry Hitchcock is pivotal in all of this. He is now more suited than track suited and spends his time doing the difficult work of promoting squash's best interests at the high powered executive end of the scale. We are counting on his powers of persuasion, negotiating abilities and good all round diplomatic skills to ensure that squash achieves the best possible facility in the money/power broking stakes when the details are finally discussed - no real pressure there then Barry!

Clearly these are exciting times for the University and squash. We are crossing our fingers that within the next two years we see a major new squash centre built in Guildford, which in the longer term will endeavour to create a National and World wide reputation for all that is good in the game of squash.”



Well, it looks like I will be coming to Guilford more and more often, don’t you think????