Alan’s Blog

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 [...]

Thoughts of gold and golf, with the British Open in between and a brave new world lying ahead Interview by ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor Nick Matthew flew out with the England squad today to compete in his final Commonwealth Games, with his heart set on a third singles gold medal after triumphing in Glasgow [...]

‘I’ll just keep working hard and see where it takes me’ By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor Tesni Evans is already the highest-ranked female player from Wales in history, having reached a career-high position of 12 in the PSA World Tour list. Her gutsy approach to this immensely challenging sport, and her readiness to accept [...]

Six-times champion Nick Matthew makes farewell appearance at the East Wintergarden By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor The Canary Wharf Squash Classic will enjoy a boost in status as the popular London tournament celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2018 with a significant rise in prize money. A dazzling array of the world’s leading players, led [...]

Squash is just one big global family By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor World Squash Day brought the sport together like one big global family with some amazing events taking place all over the planet. And nowhere was the idea of family more apparent than at the US Open in Philadelphia, where Egyptians Ali Farag [...]

Squash’s history in bite-sized chunks By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, October 14th 2017, In celebration of World Squash Day, The East Coast Squash Academy is excited to release the most all- inclusive infographic of squash statistics representing the history of squash, its massive global appeal, fun facts and interesting trivia. The Squash [...]

Double the fun says Cam Pilley The world’s leading squash players are encouraging every club on the planet to open their doors to support World Squash Day.  This annual event to promote the game takes place on Saturday October 14th and former world champions Nick Matthew and Laura Massaro, and world doubles champion Cam Pilley, [...]

Laura and Nick urge clubs to get involved to grow the game By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor England’s leading squash players are encouraging every club in the country to open their doors to support World Squash Day. This annual event to promote the game takes place on Saturday October 14th and former world champions [...]

Nick Matthew targets the World Champs, British Open and a fourth Commonwealth Games gold in his final season on tour By ALAN THATCHER, Squash Mad Editor Squash star Nick Matthew has announced that the 2017-2018 squash season will officially be his last playing season. The 37 year-old from Sheffield, Yorkshire is already classed as one of [...]

Time waits for no man, apart from the never-ending knock-ups in squash By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor At long last, the PSA are planning to reduce the length of pre-match knock-ups. A trial will be held in the forthcoming World Series Finals taking place on stage at Dubai Opera House. And I hope all [...]