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The new Squash Club is born !

 

After almost twelve months hard work through correspondence, persuasion and negotiation, seeking professional advice, clearing, cleaning, decorating, not to mention that both Jim and Mark had to almost sign their lives away (!), the newly formed Wrexham Brymbo Squash Club finally became reality on 1st March 2007 .

 

Months prior to opening as a Squash Club, an Interim Committee had to be agreed to handle all of the negotiations with Squash Wales, the Sports Council, Brymbo Directors and others. In particular, this Interim Committee involved Mark Davies and Jim Tunley, as Chairman and Secretary (both heavily involved with Wrexham Squash) who dealt with much of the detail.

 

The initiative for a new Club had been progressed through Wrexham Squash, which had been formed back in April 2002 to promote junior squash (under age 19) in Wrexham, using courts at the Phoenix and Sports Connection Clubs, at a time when there was no formal coaching available for our local young people.

 

Having accepted our business plan and agreed the formalities between the Club and Brymbo Directors, there was much work required to get the courts and changing rooms to the point where they may be utilised.

 

For those interested in understanding the extent and detail of the work required during 2005 / 2006 to achieve our move to Brymbo, go to the Years Pre 2007 Page within the History Page

 

Committee Members for the Club's first year were agreed, as follows:

Mark Davies Chairman); Jim Tunley (Secretary); Louise Jones (Treasurer); Garry Fisher and Andy Bunning (Team Representatives); Margaret Meadowcroft (Schools Liaison); Gareth Williams (Maintenance); Ian Davies and Craig Stevens (Ordinary Members).

 

Subscriptions to the Club were agreed at £50 in this first year and these represented great value as they covered a 15 months period, to ensure our future financial years would coincide with that of the Sports & Social Club i.e. from 1st June to 31st May.

Court light fees were set at £2.50 per 45 minute session and, in our first year, we attracted around 100 members.

 

It was a busy first year in many ways:

- we started our internal monthly leagues ,
- re-established our Junior Coaching Programmes (which included the Wrexham Schools Squash Programme),
- teams were submitted into both the North Wales and North West Counties Squash Leagues,
- of significant importance for the Squash Club, the Club’s website (developed by Jim Tunley) went live for the first time in 2007:

 

www.wrexhambrymbosquash.co.uk.

 

The Club's Committee met a couple of times during the year, as follows:

 

Committee - 5 November 2007

 

Committee - 6 December 2007

 

Our Juniors in 2007 ...

 

Regular coaching continued with between 20 and 25 young people - 7 of these were involved with the Wrexham Performance Centre (subsidised by Squash Wales).
From the begining, our Club has believed that coaching is best supported through play and all juniors continue to be encouraged to play both in the Club’s internal leagues and as part of the Club’s teams.

 

The Wrexham Schools Squash Programme continued with support from Squash Wales and, in particular, through work undertaken by Margaret Meadowcroft, who took on the role of Schools Liaison for the Club.

 

Fundamental to our business plan had been the promise to develop junior squash coaching in Wrexham and, with support from Phil Carnell, who was North Wales Squash Development Officer, approaches were made to go into the local Primary Schools at Tanyfron and Brymbo, with others to follow.
An outcome from this would be to provide an introductory session in the schools (this was pre-Mini Squash), followed by an invitation to attend a taster session back at the Club.

 

A major highlight of 2007 included Hannah Davies being invited to play for the Welsh Under 17 Team at the European Championships, with Wales finishing in third place.
Also, Emily Jones was invited to play for the Welsh Under 13 team at the Home Internationals in which Wales finished in first place.

 

After just ten months, the new Squash Club hosted a fantastic and very successful first Juniors Christmas Tournament in which 25 young people took part, in five competition categories.(With thanks to Darren Booth, who sponsored the event on behalf of Procurasell International)

 

Our winners were:
Under 11 Girls
Winner - Natasha Jackson, Runner-up Frances Wellings. Medals also to Ellie Pugh and Hannah Philpot.
Under 11 Boys
Winner - Aled Goddard, Runner-up Neil Wellings. Medals also to George Hughes, Thomas Hewitt, Luke Griffiths and Edan Jackson.
Under 15 Girls
Winner - Hannah Davies, Runner-up Llinos Evans
Under 15 Boys
Winner - Perry Shoemark, Runner-up Joseph Newnes
Under 19 Boys
Winner - Jon Evans, Runner-up Abbas Bowen

 

Our Juniors picture gallery ...

 

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