Alan’s Blog

Coll wins epic battle 13-11 in the fifth By SEAN REUTHE in Philadelphia – Squash Mad Correspondent New Zealand’s World No.8 Paul Coll became the first male Kiwi since the 1990s to reach the semi-finals of a major PSA Tour event after he claimed a massive 3-2 win over World No.3 Tarek Momen at the [...]

From Poznan and Graz to Colchester and Chattanooga, clubs go crazy for World Squash Day By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor World Squash Day 2018 is being launched with music and fireworks as clubs all over the globe join forces to promote the sport. The Official Single for World Squash Day “Africa” (sung by Oliver [...]

Massive boost for squash in St Petersburg By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor Looking ahead to World Squash Day, I am very keen to see what events take place in Russia. One of the world’s great political and military superpowers, a group of enthusiasts are determined to make Russia a squash superpower as well. If [...]

Tickets go on sale next week at London’s sell-out tournament By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor Tickets go on sale next week for the 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Squash Classic, which will take place between March 10-15 next year. There will be an extra bonus for squash fans in March with an [...]

Squash-loving composer Stuart Sharp supports World Squash Day By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor World Squash Day takes place on Saturday October 13th and this year it aims to hit all the right notes with a musical theme. The track called ‘Africa’, written by squash-loving composer Stuart Sharp, is scheduled for release on October 5 [...]

Bitter-sweet memories planning World Squash Day and a club reunion By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor On top of organising World Squash Day, and pestering clubs and federations all over the planet to pull their fingers out to promote the sport, I have also been involved in planning a big squash reunion in November. Both [...]

Demos in Derby and Teesside against court closures as squash is saved at Gidea Park By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor Feelings are running high at many David Lloyd clubs across the UK as the company’s cull of squash courts continues.   It is understood that more than 100 courts will disappear nationwide, despite [...]

James Willstrop and Declan James top the bill By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor James Willstrop and Declan James top the bill in a special charity day at the St George’s Hill Club in Weybridge, Surrey, on Saturday (September 22). There are some fun coaching sessions earlier in the day with Niall Engerer, plus [...]

Canary Wharf tenants Citigold Wealth Management sponsor sell-out Classic and Corporate Challenge By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor The Canary Wharf Classic, long established as one of the best tournaments on the world calendar, has a new title sponsor. The tournament will now be known as the Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Squash Classic. [...]

Court closures put on hold for six months By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor Squash players at the David Lloyd Club in Gidea Park, Essex, are celebrating tonight after learning that plans to close the courts have been put on hold.   Campaign leader Laura Northeast was enjoying a family meal in a restaurant when she [...]

Sumner Malik, 2006-18: An amazing young man whose brave smile lit up the world of squash By ALAN THATCHER The squash world is mourning the passing of a brave young man whose battle against an aggressive form of childhood cancer captured the world’s attention. Sumner Malik died at the Royal Marsden Hospital today with his [...]

CEO: ‘We will look at saving the courts at Gidea Park’ Club manager: ‘They close on September 10th’ By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor Campaigning squash players appear to have lost the fight to persuade David Lloyd Clubs to halt plans to close most of their squash courts across the UK. David Lloyd Clubs [...]

Fury at ‘dishonest’ media response from David Lloyd Clubs By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor Squash players all over the UK are up in arms at plans by David Lloyd Clubs to close the majority of their squash courts to make way for a new fitness circuit called Blaze. The gym and rackets-sports chain were [...]

Special brew named Three Wall Boast ready for Charlottesville By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor Some 800 squash players, from 59 nations, have pitched up in Charlottesville, Virginia, to compete in this week’s 2018 World Masters. Age groups range from over-35 to over-80 in 19 different sections and the USA is hoping to grab some [...]

Players taken by surprise by referees’ get-tough policy By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor NICK MATTHEW has joined the debate that has sprung up over a sudden “get-tough” refereeing policy at the Commonwealth Games. Officials have clearly been instructed to clamp down on lets, but the result has led to a chorus of confusion among [...]