I Was a Tennis Player
At least it's a racket sport!
I started my racket-sports journey playing tennis. I started at about 12 years old and dreamed of being a professional. Alas, I wasn't good enough. When I was about 16 years old, the tennis coach of the Wembley and Sudbury Tennis and Squash Club, Harry King, introduced me to squash and I realised I liked that more.
I spent the next 3 years playing with the members of the squash section and improved quickly. The combination of walls, corners, fitness and tactics appealed to me in ways that tennis never did. I didn't play team squash at this stage and thoughts of playing to a higher level was surprisingly absent considering my previous tennis "dreams".
And then one day in April 1985, my closest friend Amir said those fateful words to me...
Sharpen Every Shot.
Then a World Record
"We're breaking a World Record in November, so you better get ready"
He and my cousin had decided in my absence that we were going to break the World Squash Endurance Record. I'm not sure if it was teenage stupidity or just dumb acquiescence, but I remember simply asking "Okay, what do we have to do?".
And so began our training. It was then that we started going to Wembley Squash Centre almost everyday, and met and became friends with Rahmat, Aman and Jahangir Khan. Amir more than I because he is of Pakistani descent.
Training for squash everyday solidified my love of the game and we did break the record. I will recreate a page detailing the event one day. Until then, the video below will give you a glimpse.
Consistency Builds Confidence.
Then a Professional Coach
My patience and eye-for-detail helped.
After breaking the record I decided I wanted to train full-time and those "dreams" of being a tennis professional transfered over to squash. Without proper guidance and the fact I started so late, meant I had no real chance of playing to the highest standard, irrespective of sharing the court on a daily basis with professionals.
I did play in two British Open Championships in the qualifying rounds and the same for the World Championships.
When the current coach at the Wembley Squash Centre decided to go back to Mexico, the management asked if I might be intersted. So, with the arrogance and confidence of a typical young man, I agreed.
As it turned out, I was quite good at it, and quickly gained a reputation for improving players quickly.
I also received my first sponsorship from a company called Oliver.
Practice Today, Stronger Tomorrow.
More Clubs, Middlesex County Coach, and the Dunlop Roadshow
Even coaches need to challenge themselves.
When Wembley Squash Centre closed, I had to look for other clubs and I was incredibly lucky because squash was booming. In a one hour's drive, there were probably 8 clubs, one with 14 courts.
I coached at a few or them, and eventually settled at a club called Herga. It was around this time that I became the Middlesex County Coach, which involved working with all the juniors who represented the county.
I remember seeing a report in a squash magazine about the first few Dunlop Roadshow, which was an event where Dunlop coaches visited a sports centre and offered an introduction to squash for juniors. I called the organiser and said that I wanted to participate, he said only Dunlop coaches were needed and I remember clearly saying "Make me a Dunlop coach and I'll come along!". He seemed impressed with my enthusiasm and the next month I was sponsored by Dunlop!
I eventually went on to run the whole event and became the Squash Promotions Manager for Dunlop Slazenger!
Precision compounds. Effort reveals.
Regional and National Squads
Climbing up the coaching ladder
It was around this time that I started getting invited to Regional and National Squads. Through meeting various coaches, players and administrators via the Dunlop Roadshow, I was increasingly being included in more elite coaching squads. I was lucky enough to coach on an Under 19 squad, with one future world number one and probably 10 other top 25 professional squash players.
This was a fantastic period of my coaching life and I look back on it with fondness.
Do Something Every Day To Improve Your Squash
The Lansdowne Club, London
My New Home.
I decide to pivot and go back to working with club players. ELite players, both juniors and seniors are often seen as the pinnacle of a coach's portfolio, but I always enjoyed working with beginners and improves as much.
An offer came my way from the Lansdowne Club and I decided to was a good fit for me, so I started coaching there.
I stayed there for nine years and really enjoyed my time there. I moved "up" the management ladder and invited various coaches to take over from me.
When I left the club, it was to move to Spain, and that's where I am now.
You Are Not A pro, But You Can Train Like One
Online Squash Coach
Viva La Internet!
after a short break from squash to get settled, I started making videos and helping local players. Where I live, there aren't any squash clubs in the traditional sense i.e. specific buildings. They have "clubs" within sports centres.
Eventually, I decided to create a proper YouTube channel and created a website, and started promoting my services.
And this is where we are now.
If You Are Not Performing Solo Drills, Then You Are Not Maximising Your Practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Admittedly not many, but some.
No. The reality was that I started too late and just as importantly didn't take it seriously until I was 21.
Yes, I played the British Open qualifying at least twice, maybe three times, and I even won a few matches, but I never reached the main draw. Back in those days, the main draw was 16 or maybe 32 players. If it was 32 players, then I think 4 came from the qualifying rounds. They were incredibly competitive, with plenty of professionals fighting for the few places.
I also played in the World Open in Birmingham in 1987 and I lost my second match in spectacular fashion: I went 6-0 (it was up to 9 in those days) up in the first game by playing ultra-agressive squash only to begin to doubt myself and eventually lost 0-3.
Because I was the coach at Wembley squash centre, I was very lucky to share the court with many visiting professionals, including all of the Khans, including the great Jahangir Khan himself.
Not only that, we would spend some summer afternoon in the fields nearby doing fitness work. I remember one day I was on court with Qamar Zaman and I knew who he was and how good he was, but I had the arrogance of youth and felt that I could take a game off him, only to find that his skill was beyond my understanding and he was a lot fitter and faster than he looked.
From that day forth, I considered him the "Columbo" of the squash world: easy to underestimate unless you have shared a court with him.
I rarely coach on court anymore due to issues with my hip, but I am always open to new challenges. So feel free to contact me.