New coach set to make squash one of Surrey’s showcase sports

Monday 14 September 2009

Graeme, a level 3 qualified coach, represented the North of England at junior level whilst at senior level he has played the BSPA tour events in 2001/02. More recently Graeme secured the National Doubles Racketball title in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He is currently one of eight Regional England Squash and Racketball Development Coaches, with a remit to develop the elite junior players in London and the South East.

The Surrey Sports Park has identified several sports which will be used to showcase the magnificent new facility and squash is one of these sports. Six new state-of-the-art glass backed squash courts are being built, with two show courts for 160 spectators. The University currently runs one of the 12 national Premier Squash League (PSL) teams with two male teams and one female student team that compete in the British University and College Sports (BUCS) League.

The multi-million pound Surrey Sports Park, which is owned by the University of Surrey, is due to open early in 2010 and will be one of the premier training facilities ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

Williams will have a wide remit in his new role, which will include a complete overhaul of the current squash programme. Specific roles will include managing the University’s PSL team, coaching and developing the junior and adult squash programme, coaching and developing the student squash team, developing links with England Squash and Racketball at all levels, increasing student participation in squash and racketball, as well as attracting leading student squash players to the University.

Commenting on the new appointment, Surrey Sports Park, Managing Director, Jason Harborow, said, “Squash will be one of the Surrey Sports Park’s showcase sports and as such we need the very best people within the sport to take full advantage of the facilities and opportunities we will have available to us. Graeme has all the necessary skills and attributes to help make the Surrey Sports Park’s name synonymous with squash”.

Jason also commented, “We have had an exciting couple of months what with the partnership with Guildford Swimming Club which will open up new opportunities for swimmers of all ages and abilities in the area, and the recent affiliation with netball Superleague team, Surrey Storm. We have the ambition to build a world class Sports Park and further announcements over the ensuing months will confirm this.”

Graeme Williams added, “This is a really exciting challenge and a magnificent opportunity for the Surrey Sports Park to become one of the key centres for the sport of squash in this country. Squash is a sport that should attract more student participation and that will be a top priority for me, as well as taking advantage of the fact that we run one of the 12 PSL teams in England.”

The Surrey Sports Park has already been registered as a suitable training venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, as well as catering for elite athletes it will also provide the best and most up to date sport and facilities for anyone interested in sport and fitness.