Nick Clegg Supports

The new Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg hasn’t forgotten his constituents, as on 21 May the Head Squash & Racketball Coach of Hallamshire Tennis & Squash club, John Mullins, was invited to the Ministers office in Sheffield. On the agenda was a fact finding mission regarding the Hallamshire Outreach Project.

During the last 3 years the project has given over 3,000 children from the locality, the opportunity to learn how to play Squash and Racketball. This has been made possible by the injection of funds, initially through Lottery funding and more recently through a grant from Comic Relief to subsidise both courts and coaches at the Hallamshire Tennis & Squash club.

According to John he explained to Nick Clegg that the project epitomises his desire to make sport more accessible to children. By getting the children and their parents down to the club they can have a go at playing squash and racketball under the guidance of qualified coaches. Many then get interested, enjoy competition with others and join the Junior club or the box leagues. This is just the start they need for an active healthy lifestyle; it keeps them off the streets, gives them a competitive spirit and builds their self confidence. With the current World number 1 Squash player Nick Matthews a member at Hallamshire since the tender age of 6; his talent was identified and developed at the club, he is indeed an amazing role model for any aspiring player.

By the involvement of the School Sport partnership and the creation of after school clubs, beginner and improver sessions and the promotion of low cost Junior membership rates up to the age of 23, with courts priced at only £1/court, the club is now booming. In fact the club will shortly be hosting the inaugural National Junior Racketball Championships (12-13 June) when almost 70 players aged 10 – 19 years will be competing.

Currently the club is hoping to re-develop and upgrade the facilities at the Club which will include an additional court and a show court with spectator seating to enhance the delivery of their community programmes and member activity.

According to John the discussion lasted about a quarter of an hour and during that time he discovered that Nick Clegg played both tennis and squash, but had to give up squash after 2 slipped discs. John empathised with him, as he too has also suffered similar problems, but has now overcome these, so he is able to coach.

The interview concluded with a request from Nick Clegg to keep him informed about the progress of the project and let him know about any developments at the club in the future, as he is interested to know if the next Squash World number 1 will also be born and bred in Sheffield

Click here to see photos of Nick and John>>