How Abbeydale welcomed 68 new junior players through Squash Stars

*Abbeydale's thriving junior section, with multiple children starting their journey into the game with Squash Stars.

For many clubs, attracting new junior players can feel like a constant challenge. Abbeydale Squash Club had already built strong links with local schools and worked hard to introduce children to the game, but they were looking for new ways to reach families beyond their existing networks.

That led them to Squash Stars.

The club first heard about the programme through positive conversations with other clubs and county volunteers. While there was some hesitation about offering six free sessions, they decided it was worth taking a chance.

As Abbeydale coach Jo Wallis puts it:

"Either you get no new children for nothing, or you get 20 new children for nothing. Which would you prefer?"

The answer was simple.

Since launching Squash Stars, Abbeydale has welcomed 68 children onto court through the programme, with many of them coming from families who'd never previously engaged with the club.

Reaching new audiences

Like many clubs, Abbeydale had already invested time in local school outreach. But Squash Stars helped them connect with an entirely new audience.

The club believes only two or three participants would have discovered squash without seeing the programme promoted online.

That wider reach was made possible through the national marketing campaign from England Squash supporting Squash Stars, combined with the club listing on squashstars.co.uk and managing sessions through ClubSpark - the booking platform that powers the Squash Stars website.

Jo explains:

"The biggest benefit was reaching players we hadn't reached before."

For a club that was already active in its community, that additional visibility proved invaluable.

Making it easy to get started

Abbeydale had never used ClubSpark before launching Squash Stars.

While there was a learning curve at the beginning, the team quickly became comfortable with the platform and now use it confidently to manage and list sessions as well as registrations.

The club also shared their squashstars.co.uk booking links through their own social media channels, giving parents an easy way to find information and sign up.

Most importantly, it reduced barriers for families trying squash for the first time.

"It was lovely to see so many new faces; new parents and new players."

The impact didn't stop there. Several younger siblings who attended alongside participants have since joined sessions themselves once they became old enough, creating a pathway for whole families to become part of the club community.

A simple opportunity to grow

While Abbeydale believes the marketing support was the key driver behind the programme's success, having sessions visible online and easy to book helped convert curiosity into participation.

Their experience shows that even clubs already delivering school outreach and junior activity can find new audiences when supported by national promotion and a simple online booking journey.

For clubs considering listing sessions through ClubSpark and using England Squash's new session finder, their advice is straightforward:

"Give it a go. There is literally nothing to lose."

For Abbeydale, taking that chance led to dozens of children discovering squash, new families becoming part of the club, and a stronger foundation for future growth.

Looking for a new way to engage juniors to join your club? Find out more and get started with Squash Stars here.