Meet the Squash Girls Can Coach 2020 mentors

Find out more about the mentors who will be supporting our Squash Girls Can Coach candidates.

Tania Bailey

Peterborough

Former World no.4 Tania Bailey is an England Squash High Performance Coach and heads up The Squash Girls Can Coach initiative.

“In my eight years as a full-time coach, I have worked with all levels and ages from coaching at local clubs to taking teams to the European and World Championships. I currently work with our female Academy and senior players as well as supporting Lee Drew on the world junior prep squads.”

“I believe that the lack of female coaches can have a knock-on effect on the number of females playing as there are fewer female role models to look up to. I really want to support female coaches and give them the confidence to further their careers and set up programmes in their own clubs/areas.”

“Growing up, sport was a huge part of my life thanks to my mum. I also have a daughter who loves sports so I would really like her to grow up around squash clubs where there are opportunities to play against, and be coached by, other females in the sport.”

Liam Gutcher

Newcastle

Liam has been coaching for 13 years and has recently become a course tutor delivering Level 1 and 2 coaching courses.

“Coaches are such an important part of the playing pathway and it's really rewarding, whether it's a hobby or a career path. It's great to be part of an initiative that will help to encourage more females to get into coaching and become role models for more players and hopefully grow the bottom of the pyramid in the female game.”

Anna Vaughan Hawkins

Manchester

Anna is the Head Coach at The Northern (Manchester) and an England Squash coaching course tutor.

“I started coaching when I was 18 and for a long time I just coached as a volunteer, helping and supporting at the clubs where I played. I made the decision to coach full time three years ago and I absolutely love it, I have never been happier. There were many times when I could have slipped away from the sport - when I was a teenager, when I left university or when I had my children - but at every stage the amazing people I know in squash kept me playing. I am looking forward to giving back to the sport which has given me a real sense of belonging.”

Andy Breen

Liverpool

Andy is Head Coach at Liverpool Cricket Club with over 20 years of coaching experience.

“Throughout my career I have coached players of all abilities, from grassroots development programmes to regional coaching. My role as head coach sees me bringing lots of juniors through the coaching pathway. I encourage the juniors to become involved in coaching to assist with their development both on and off the court.”

“I'm extremely excited to get involved in the Squash Girls Can Coach initiative. Within Merseyside we have struggled recently with our recruitment and retention of female squash players and coaches. It’s something we want to address and I think it’s extremely important for our junior girls to have female role models they can relate to and aspire to.”

Bev Vatcher

Bournemouth

Bev is a full time coach delivering squash and Squash 57 activities for players of all ages and abilities, including beginner sessions, school squash programmes and county player training.

“I did my Level 1 Squash Participation Award in 2007 and quickly progressed onto my Level 2 Club Coaching Award in 2008. In 2015 I completed my Level 3 which was a fabulous experience. It enabled me to work alongside some top class coaches who were instrumental in my progress as a coach and very motivational. I recognise how important it is to be able to have a communication pathway with other coaches to help with self-development. I am looking forward to helping and inspiring other coaches and sharing my passion and love for our sport.”

Kirsty McPhee

Kirsty is the Head of Performance at Leeds Beckett University and part of the England Squash Aspire coaching team.

“I began coaching at Pontefract Squash Club. Since then, coaching has taken me around the world. I have worked at the World Junior events in New Zealand and Boston; I was the Team GB coach at the World Student Games in Chennai; and I recently attended the European Under 19’s individual competition in Prague. At Leeds Beckett University I mentor and manage around 20 student coaches that deliver junior and social sports coaching across five different sports.”

“I am passionate about getting more females involved in coaching and really excited to get going with the Squash Girls Can Coach initiative. Squash has given me some fantastic opportunities and I am in a career that I love. I'd love to be able to support more women to experience this.”