Prestbury’s work earns national accolade
PRESTBURY Squash Club has been named England Club of the Month in July, following its efforts to encourage female participation, engage juniors and, in so doing, firmly establish the club at the heart of the local community.
Situated alongside the River Bollin in a village just north of Macclesfield, and in business for over 50 years, it was the first, and is now one of the few remaining, private members’ squash-only clubs in the country - with four courts dedicated to squash and squash 57.
Boasting nearly 150 members, its numbers in the female and junior categories have increased most sharply in more recent times through new initiatives such as ‘Squash Girls Can’ and sessions for schools that have offered local children the opportunity to learn and enjoy the sport.
Ladies’ Second Team Captain Jen Powell is a national Squash Girls Can Ambassador - having first taken up the sport in 2016, since when Prestbury’s female playing membership has doubled to 20.
“I’ve seen the club inspire so many ladies - myself included - in recent years,” said Jen, “and what was a relatively static female membership blossom into a thriving, welcoming and active community.
“My team of players new to squash - which in its second season this year has trebled the points we scored during our first - is like a family to me. And I know we wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the nurture and support Prestbury Squash Club has provided for its female members.
“It’s a fantastic standalone squash club, entirely reliant on membership, and it absolutely deserves this recognition from England Squash.”
Men’s Teams’ Co-ordinator Gareth Evans took over as Chair of the club in April 2018, and during his first year in office initiated an important new partnership with the adjoining village primary school that, since September, has seen all children in six separate junior classes receive weekly introductory coaching for a half-term each.
“I am delighted that, after years of simply co-existing alongside each other as next-door neighbours, we are working in this way with Prestbury Primary School,” said Gareth.
“My son was a pupil there, but the only one in the school who played squash at the time. Now we shall surely see many more children from the village take up a sport that they might not otherwise have got to hear about.”
His son, Rhys, now plays for Cheshire Under-17s - and was part of the victorious county team that triumphed in the recent inter-counties Northern Cup. And Prestbury looks set to be even better represented by the next wave of junior players - with 10 children from the Primary School, on the back of their taster sessions, attending more advanced training, run by Club Coach Brian Lomas, for years three to six.