Squash Club of the Year: Meads Squash Club

THE WALES SQUASH AND RACKETBALL annual presentation evening was held recently at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff.

One Pembrokeshire club received its fair share of awards. Meads Squash Club, who run out of Milford Haven Leisure Centre, for the first time ever a Pembrokeshire club received the WSRB Squash Club of the Year award. The club was against the largest clubs in Wales and were selected eventual winners not only for the work they undertake at the club but also the help and support they show to other clubs within the county and the work they carry out within the local community.

The club has worked hard over the past three years to achieve a player pathway out of the county, not only for club players but for any Pembrokeshire player to enjoy. They now have five teams playing league squash in Pembrokeshire, South Wales and in the Welsh Premier Divisions.

As well as a player pathway, the club have put into place a coaching pathway and, again for the first time ever, Pembrokeshire has regular coaching courses being run in the county at the club from Leaders, Level One and the first Level Two coaching course run this year.

As well as coaching at the club, the coaches go out into the community on school and club visits, giving children within the county the opportunity to have a go at the sport using portable rebound walls. They are also active with disability sport and again using the rebound walls, they have run a series of sessions with the Lets Get Active Milford Haven group whose participants achieved the club’s Green Squash Skills Award this year.

The quality of the coaches coming from the club has not gone unnoticed; for the third year running, a coach from the club has received an award at the WSRB presentation evening and, this year, Alfie Wheeler received Young Coach of the Year – a fantastic achievement at 16. Alfie has also completed his UKCC Level 2, which shows the level of support the club gives to their coaches.

On the junior front this season, the club has 25 attending regular coaching sessions only limited by the number of courts. Out of these juniors, the club have a number who play within the adult leagues through to premier division; six juniors attend the WSRB Academy training programme, four attend the WSRB National Squad training programme, four juniors were selected to play in the English inter counties and two juniors have received the Young Coach of the Year award this year.

Not limited to juniors, two of the club’s adult players received Welsh representational caps this year. James Walters, Manager of Milford Haven Leisure Centre, represented Wales in the home nations over 50s held at Aberdeen, whilst Nick Dyer, Headmaster at Huberston and Hakin junior schools, represented and captained the over 45’s side in Cardiff this year.

The club also received the WSRB Silver charter award this year for running good policies, procedures and practices at the club, including ensuring all coaches are DBS checked and have undergone safeguarding courses. The club is also working towards their insport ribbon award.

Pete Crook, Head coach at the club, commented: “It has been quite a year for the club and receiving the Club of the Year award is a fantastic achievement, knowing the size and quality of the other clubs throughout Wales within the category. This shows testament to all the good work being carried out at the club and beyond and by a lot of people behind the scenes.

“The player pathway has been put together for all Pembrokeshire players to enjoy the highest level of squash on offer in Wales, whilst the juniors have surpassed our expectations. Not forgetting the most important part for myself, the coaching pathway the club have put in place, this really is the backbone and the only way clubs can remain sustainable in the future. I am proud to be a part of such a dedicated group of people who have achieved so much in a short period of time.”