Aspire

Aspire is the first step on the England Talent Pathway, for younger developing players. The programmes goals are to feed the England Potential programme, preparing players for the regional team championships at the end of each season, whilst supporting player development.

What does the programme consist of?

5 Weekend training dates

1 Selection Events: Regional Team Championships

Selection Criteria

Selections are lead by the Aspire Head Coach for each region. They are supported in their selections by their assistant coach, county head coaches and further key coaches in the region.

Selection remains continual ensuring equal opportunity for selection for all players across the season preventing date of birth bias as to where players peak due to maturity in the season.

Head Coaches may award selection based on core places where players will remain on squads for the foreseeable future or rotational places where they are looking at the player on a squad by squad basis.

Key selection events for these squads are Silver, Gold and Platinum Events.

Aspire Regions

The following 8 regions are part of the Aspire Programme:

North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands, East, South East, South and the South West.

Aspire Coaching Team

Ben Hutton - Aspire Head Coach (South East)

Ben is the Head Coach at Hove Squash and Fitness, he bring with him a wealth of experience having built a very successful junior programme at his club that has featured players such as Jonah Bryant, Tom Walsh and Jasmine Hutton.

Ben leads our South East Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Ben: bn_hutton@yahoo.co.uk

Andy Longman - Aspire Head Coach (South)

Andy is Head Coach at Beaconsfield Squash Club and brings a wealth of experience to the team having developed several very successful junior programmes.

Andy leads our East Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Andy: longmansports@hotmail.co.uk

Ian Thomas - Aspire Head Coach (South West)

Ian is Head Coach at Millfield School where he has developed a very successful squash programme and worked with several elite players including Marwan and Mohammed El Shorbaggy.

Ian leads our South West Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Ian: thomas.i@millfieldschool.com

Tom Fairhurst - Aspire Head Coach (North West)

Tom Fairhurst is Head Coach at the National Squash Centre where he leads the city wide programme across Manchester. Tom has a great background in working with regional and county level players out of Manchester.

Tom leads our North West Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Tom: t_fairhurst@hotmail.com

Andy Cockerill - Aspire Head Coach (North East)

Andy is Head Coach at the University of Hull where he has developed a very successful squash programme and worked with several elite players including Fiona Moverley.

Andy leads our North East Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Andy: ac@andycockerill.karoo.co.uk

Dan McGinn - Aspire Head Coach (East Midlands)

Dan is Head Coach at the University of Loughborough and Uppingham School in Rutland. Dan leads our East Midlands Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Dan: info@racxsports.co.uk

Emily Ison - Aspire Head Coach (East)

Emily is Head Coach at Ipswich Sports Club & is lead Junior County Coach for Suffolk. Emily has been coaching for 12 years & has a wealth of coaching experience. She was also assistant National Coach to the Senior & Junior teams in Norway. She has a huge passion for the sport & in particular women & girls squash.

Get in touch with Emily: emily.v.ison@gmail.com

Chris Tasker - Aspire Head Coach (West Midlands)

An ex British Junior Champion and ex World No.172 Chris has experience of high level junior squash and the often difficult transition from successful junior to professional player.

Chris leads our West Midlands Aspire programme developing players for transition to our England Potential programme and thus helping to develop the next generation of players.

Get in touch with Chris: chris_t_grindley@hotmail.com