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Prestbury Squash Club has been named our 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.
Jen said:
"I've seen the club inspire so many ladies - myself included - in recent years 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 stand-alone 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.
Gareth said:
“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.”
“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.
The school, for its part, is equally pleased with the results of the partnership’s first year, as teacher with responsibility for Physical Education, Juliet McCurrie, explains.
“As a school we feel that the squash lessons have provided the children with an insight into a new sport that is not normally included within our regular sports curriculum. The coaching at Prestbury Squash Club has given the children a chance to develop and improve skills that they will be able to transfer into many other sports.
“We have been delighted to see a number of children who might not normally feel confident during PE become fully engaged in the squash lessons.
"The children have thoroughly enjoyed the lessons and it has been lovely to hear the positive feedback from children, parents and staff.
“Several children have continued with weekend lessons at the club. We look forward to continuing our partnership next year and promoting this exciting sport.”
The Club Coach provides further training sessions for children in and around Macclesfield by arrangement with two local secondary schools, and at the younger end of the age scale, a new tots group for the under-fives takes place on Saturday mornings.
Of 22 full junior members at the club, 12 played for men’s and ladies’ teams registered with the North West Counties and Cheshire Leagues in which Prestbury fields seven and two sides, respectively.
And Prestbury also leads the way in the newly-created North West Counties Junior League - with its ‘Firsts’, in Division One, and ‘Seconds’, in Division Three, having been crowned ‘champions of champions’ in their respective sections for both the inaugural Winter and Summer Leagues. The club’s trophy cabinet was further boosted in between those competitions during May, when a team of its most talented junior players beat all-comers to lift the Spring Cup at the National Squash Centre.
Off court, the club has undergone a heavy programme of improvements to its building’s fittings and fabric - most noticeably, around its bar area where players and spectators alike can gather to watch action in the most relaxed of settings.
“The club has worked, and will continue to work really hard to try and maximise the experience that members and guests get from belonging to, and visiting, Prestbury,” added Gareth.
“We are proud of what we do here - especially when offering opportunities for the people of Prestbury, whatever their age or experience, to learn and enjoy the sport.”
To find out more about Prestbury Squash Club, visit their website.
