Year of success brings Forster Maximum level of satisfaction
MAX FORSTER believes he can go all the way to the top after another successful year in his burgeoning squash career, writes TONY HODGSON.
The 16-year-old from Gosforth can look back with pride on a memorable 2018, during which he won the Cologne Open in Germany and retained his Northumberland Closed Championship under-17 and under-19 titles.
Forster, who plays for the Jesmond-based Northumberland Club, also claimed an impressive second place in the under-17 section of the British Junior Open in Nottingham.
He was also the winner of the first Eldon Challenge Open earlier this year, taking a gripping final against Cai Younger.
The teenager claimed the senior men’s title at the 2018 Northumbria County Closed Championship at the start of the year and also took the under-17 and under-19 Closed Championship honours.
Buoyed by those performances, Forster now has his sights set on playing for England - and hopefully turning professional one day.
He said: “It has been a great year for me and I am very pleased with how things have gone for me on court.
“I was seeded to finish where I did at the British Open so I was happy with that.
“I only just missed out on the semi-finals.
“It was the first time I had competed in Cologne and there were players there from countries like the USA, Qatar and France involved.
“I was up against some of the best under-17 players in the world.
“It was incredibly tough so to come through and win was a massive boost.”
The teenager added: “My aim next year is to contest more competitions abroad where I can really test myself.
“I also want to make the England junior squad.
“I have missed out by just a point in the rankings in each of the past two years.
“I attend England training camps in Manchester on one weekend every month but I would love to make the full squad. I also hope to play in the British Open and maybe the Scottish Open as well.
“However, the focus is on playing abroad rather than at home.”
Further ahead? Dave Barnetttrained Forster said: “I would love to turn professional if I can continue to develop the way I am.
“That is something which really appeals to me.”
Forster began his sporting career by playing tennis at Jesmond before switching to squash, saying: “Once I took it up I was just hooked and I have loved playing ever since.”
In 2016 he was the British Junior Closed champion at under-15 level and also celebrated the 2016 Irish Open title.
A year later he was named as one of Sport Newcastle’s Rising Stars of Sport Award recipients.
This year he was also awarded Tatlented Athletes Scholarship Scheme backing at Newcastle University, which gives him vital funding and access to training at the campus.
Sponsored by Unsquashable, Forster regularly competes in tournaments around the country .
He also plays for Darlington squash club every week at No 1 in a men’s team in the Durham League and for the Northumberland club’s men’s team every week in the Northumbria Squash League.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS GRASSROOTS SPORT WILL BE PROFILING A SERIES OF NORTH EAST SPORTS STARS WHO ENJOYED GREAT SUCCESS IN 2018 AND WHO HOPE FOR MORE IN 2019. IN THE THIRD OF THESE WE FEATURE SQUASH STARLET MAX FORSTER