Former top pro Aaron Frankcomb is busy building squash in Australia, one club at a time
By Squash Mad Australia Correspondent
Bondi, NSW, Australia – Bondi Waverley Squash Club has signed up to become the second facility for the East Coast Squash Academy in Sydney, Australia. A complete schedule of coaching clinics, tournaments and activities will be led by a top 100 profession squash player who will become the resident squash pro.
“We looked at several options and chose The East Coast Squash Academy because it met our social/community, financial and elite sport performance goals with the most attractive value proposition,” explained BWSC Club President, Steve Greig. “One of the key factors to go ahead was the fact that this was a working model just across town, at Willoughby Squash Club.”
Among the objectives Bondi set forth when signing up was to promote and expand the sport across the seaside community, especially for young players with the development of a junior program for boys and girls that accommodates all levels of play, not just the elite.
With the signing of this landmark agreement, activities will launch early in the new year with several “kick off” events that will attract attention to this exciting new collaboration.
‘We’re thrilled to have Bondi join the Academy,” declared Aaron Frankcomb, the Academy’s founder and Managing Director.
“Bondi boasts an outstanding reputation within the local squash community. The club has a buzz to it, being in a vibrant part of town in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. We’re going to capitalise on that goodwill to create a fun and exciting environment for squash players of all standards with innovative competitions, clinics and activities.”
The East Coast Squash Academy is a value-add to existing squash clubs generating additional revenue by leveraging off-peak time slots whilst promoting the sport of squash in an variety of innovative ways.
The numerous benefits for the hosting squash facility include: Increased use of the facility, more members, higher revenues, longer tenure of members, greater exposure and visibility within the sports and social communities as well as improved health and wellbeing for participants of all ages.
Even though elite performance is at the core of the Academy’s curriculum, after-school and multi-sport programs are an integral part of the offering and cater to participants of all skill levels from young boys and girls to mature seniors who play competitively at the Masters level (35 to 80+ years of age).
Bondi Waverley Squash Club:
Bondi Waverley Squash Club Limited is a fully licensed, not-for-profit members squash club which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013.
The club has a long and proud squash tradition, producing many male and female players who have excelled and proudly represented New South Wales and Australian national teams.
The club continues to provide first class squash facilities with an excellent bar which are open to members and non-members (guests).
The East Coast Squash Academy:
Founded in 2011 when Aaron Frankcomb retired from the Professional Squash Tour, the East Coast Squash Academy set out to create a business model to expand the presence of squash within local communities surrounding squash centres. The first installation was at Willoughby Squash Club, where Frankcomb was hired as the club’s resident squash pro.
Since inception, the Academy has produced some stellar results including: Attracting a handful of junior players with aspirations of going on the professional (PSA) tour. Its junior program has the biggest contingent of players on the NSW Squash Junior ranking list, with players on the NSW junior state teams, Australian junior teams and Australian senior players. The Academy has developed NSW and Australian Junior Champions.
The Academy is home base to two full time senior players that have reached careers highs of top 240 in the world on the Men’s PSA Tour. Its best female professional reached a top world ranking of 130.
The junior program now boasts over 500 children participating in weekly squads and training sessions. Memberships and participation in squads have increased by 100% and 300% respectively and tournament registrations are at an all-time high.
Aaron Frankcomb:
Aaron Frankcomb was ranked in the top 100 professional squash players for eight years, four years in the top 50, winning three PSA titles.
He represented Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, was a Junior Champion in all age groups including twice in the Under 19 category, and holder of scholarships in the Tasmanian and Australian Institutes Of Sport.
He now coaches professionally and remains Sydney’s top-ranked squash player and is still considered within the top five players in Australia.
