By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor)
The latest inductee to the New Zealand Squash Hall of Fame has been announced with Glen Wilson confirmed to join a prestigious list of Kiwi squash legends.
Wilson, now 51, was a popular coach at Lambs Club in London when it was regarded as one of the foremost squash clubs in the world.
In New Zealand, he has had a large impact on the sport from his playing days through to coaching and growing the game. He will the 31st inductee.
He first played at Maidstone Squash Club in Upper Hutt (not the one in England) and went on to win the U13 age group titles in 1982, 83.
He then continued with U15, 17 and U19 in successive years before win the New Zealand national men’s title in 1990, 91 and returning to take the title again in 2003.
The success didn’t stop at national level as Wilson gained a top world ranking of 25 and went on to represent New Zealand at three Commonwealth Games, 1998, 2002 and 2006. He claimed bronze in the mixed doubles with Sarah Cook at Kuala Lumpur and gold at Melbourne in 2002 with Leilani Joyce.
There was also a mixed doubles silver medal with Shelley Kitchen at the 2004 World Doubles Champions.
Wilson represented New Zealand for 15 years from 1991 to 2006 and then took on various coaching roles around the world before returning to New Zealand and becoming a national selector in 2015, a role he still holds today.
There has also been positions as New Zealand women’s head coach, junior head coach, world doubles head coach, men’s head coach in 2019 where they finished fifth and the successful head coach of the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games team.
He currently coaches at the Howick Squash Club and has a growing junior programme and plenty of club support and increased membership.
Other recent inductees to the NZ Squash Hall of Fame have been former referee Chas Evans as well as former world No 6 Shelley Kitchen.
Wilson will be inducted at a special ceremony on Saturday 12 November at the Trustpower Arena during the NZ Open international tournament in Tauranga.
Pictures courtesy of PSA, Squash NZ and social media