By Steve Tomkins Squash is one of those sports the British excel at, but no one seems to pay any attention to. Now the country's foremost squash club - the "Wimbledon of squash" - faces closure to make way for a block of flats.
By Steve Tomkins Squash is one of those sports the British excel at, but no one seems to pay any attention to. As the country's foremost squash club faces demolition, the sport is weathering a serious image problem.
Lambs squash club in Moorgate was described by Jahangir Khan, the six-times World Open champion, as the best he had ever played in. It is one of the most well-loved and prestigious squash clubs in the world, the largest in the UK, and home to the British Open.
Lambs squash club in Moorgate was described by Jahangir Khan, the six-times World Open champion, as the best he had ever played in. It is one of the most well-loved and prestigious squash clubs in the world, the largest in the UK, and home to the British Open.
This year the nine-court facility, known as the Wimbledon of squash, will be closed down, to make way for a block of flats.
This year the nine-court facility, known as the Wimbledon of squash, will be closed down, to make way for a block of flats.
This sounds like the story of a sport in the doldrums. It is hard to imagine Wimbledon or Cardiff Arms Park being unceremoniously sold to developers. Squash has not captured British hearts and minds, it seems. You certainly have to sit up pretty late if you want to catch a match on TV.
This sounds like the story of a sport in the doldrums. It is hard to imagine Wimbledon or Cardiff Arms Park being unceremoniously sold to developers. Squash has not captured British hearts and minds, it seems. You certainly have to sit up pretty late if you want to catch a match on TV.
Recognise him? Peter Nicol, winner of just about every squash titleAnd yet when you consider just how well Britain does at the sport, this coolness seems rather extraordinary.
Recognise him? Peter Nicol, winner of just about every squash titleAnd yet when you consider just how well Britain does at the sport, this coolness seems rather extraordinary.
"We have consistently had half the players in the world top 20 - male and female - since the rankings began," says the commentator Alan Thatcher. "Can you imagine the reaction if our tennis players achieved anything like that?"
"We have consistently had half the players in the world top 20 - male and female - since the rankings began," says the commentator Alan Thatcher. "Can you imagine the reaction if our tennis players achieved anything like that?"
The English squash player Peter Nicol has a level of success that would have made Tim Henman not so much a superstar as a national god. He retired from professional squash last summer after winning gold medals in both singles and doubles at the Commonwealth Games. He was number one in the world rankings for 60 consecutive months, and won every national and international squash tournament.
The English squash player Peter Nicol has a level of success that would have made Tim Henman not so much a superstar as a national god. He retired from professional squash last summer after winning gold medals in both singles and doubles at the Commonwealth Games. He was number one in the world rankings for 60 consecutive months, and won every national and international squash tournament.
Why Nicol's stardom is such a secret is a mystery. The British public is routinely thrown into a frenzy over the smallest hope of success in football and tennis. Even Nigel Short became a household name on the strength of completely failing to beat Garry Kasparov at that least glamorous of all sports, chess, in 1993.
Why Nicol's stardom is such a secret is a mystery. The British public is routinely thrown into a frenzy over the smallest hope of success in football and tennis. Even Nigel Short became a household name on the strength of completely failing to beat Garry Kasparov at that least glamorous of all sports, chess, in 1993.
Many English soccer fans under 40 still seem to be reeling from the world cup victory that happened before they were born. Why so little interest then in one game that British players actually win.
Many English soccer fans under 40 still seem to be reeling from the world cup victory that happened before they were born. Why so little interest then in one game that British players actually win.
"It is a little bit strange," says Nicol. "I was at the Sports Personality of the year awards, and I was put near the front with the likes of Linford Christie and Boris Becker, it was very nice. But there wasn't a single mention of squash all night."
"It is a little bit strange," says Nicol. "I was at the Sports Personality of the year awards, and I was put near the front with the likes of Linford Christie and Boris Becker, it was very nice. But there wasn't a single mention of squash all night."
Donald Rumsfeld recently said he plays it every day. I'm not sure that helps Former world No 1, Peter Nicol "That was frustrating," agrees Thatcher. "His Commonwealth Games final was the sporting highlight of year, and it deserves recognition. The Telegraph and Times have just released their squash correspondents, and yet the game is better than it's ever been before at the top level."
Donald Rumsfeld recently said he plays it every day. I'm not sure that helps Former world No 1, Peter Nicol "That was frustrating," agrees Thatcher. "His Commonwealth Games final was the sporting highlight of year, and it deserves recognition. The Telegraph and Times have just released their squash correspondents, and yet the game is better than it's ever been before at the top level."
How has squash remained so hidden? Thatcher points his finger at the British obsession with football, and, at a local level, "the rape of the sport by health and fitness clubs"; Lambs being the most tragic example.
How has squash remained so hidden? Thatcher points his finger at the British obsession with football, and, at a local level, "the rape of the sport by health and fitness clubs"; Lambs being the most tragic example.
Nicol suggests there may be an image problem too.
Nicol suggests there may be an image problem too.
"It has a rather corporate image. People think of aggressive yuppies knocking each other about on the squash court. Michael Douglas played squash in Wall Street. Donald Rumsfeld recently said he plays it every day. I'm not sure that helps."
"It has a rather corporate image. People think of aggressive yuppies knocking each other about on the squash court. Michael Douglas played squash in Wall Street. Donald Rumsfeld recently said he plays it every day. I'm not sure that helps."
Perhaps the fact that squash involves a small ball moving very fast, in an enclosed space, has not invited TV coverage. But Thatcher says that the game has adapted itself to that challenge.
Perhaps the fact that squash involves a small ball moving very fast, in an enclosed space, has not invited TV coverage. But Thatcher says that the game has adapted itself to that challenge.
"We have a glass court now, with a white ball against a dark background. And the rules have changed to make the games shorter. It's perfect for TV, but TV doesn't seem to realise that yet."
"We have a glass court now, with a white ball against a dark background. And the rules have changed to make the games shorter. It's perfect for TV, but TV doesn't seem to realise that yet."
Gym exercise has surged in popularity, while squash has declinedAnother tactic in winning the PR game is mini-squash, played in canvas courts in school playgrounds. Chris Sly teaches squash and mini-squash in London.
Gym exercise has surged in popularity, while squash has declinedAnother tactic in winning the PR game is mini-squash, played in canvas courts in school playgrounds. Chris Sly teaches squash and mini-squash in London.
"I've trained 6-year-olds and 70-year-olds," he says, "and they love it. There's something very primitive about hitting a ball against a wall."
"I've trained 6-year-olds and 70-year-olds," he says, "and they love it. There's something very primitive about hitting a ball against a wall."
"We missed two or three generations," says Thatcher, "but a lot of coaches are going into schools now, and it's making a big difference."
"We missed two or three generations," says Thatcher, "but a lot of coaches are going into schools now, and it's making a big difference."
Nicol too is devoting his time to promoting the game, as a decade of winning it somehow failed to do. "I was quite fortunate during my career to be able to live my own life. All I wanted was to play squash, not talk about it on TV. At the same time, it is frustrating."
Nicol too is devoting his time to promoting the game, as a decade of winning it somehow failed to do. "I was quite fortunate during my career to be able to live my own life. All I wanted was to play squash, not talk about it on TV. At the same time, it is frustrating."
He sees that changing over the next five years. "I see squash getting more popular year by year, more people playing, better coverage. And hopefully we'll be in the 2016 Olympics. I believe in the sport, I love the sport, I'm very positive about where it's going."
He sees that changing over the next five years. "I see squash getting more popular year by year, more people playing, better coverage. And hopefully we'll be in the 2016 Olympics. I believe in the sport, I love the sport, I'm very positive about where it's going."
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