England Squash : new roles for Matthew & Robertson

Nick Matthew appointed Team England Assistant Coach ahead of Birmingham 2022

England Squash has appointed three-time Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Nick Matthew as Assistant Coach to help prepare the Team England squash squad ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Matthew, who retired from professional squash in 2018, is one of the most successful English squash players of all time, with three Commonwealth Gold medals, three World titles, three British Open titles and 10 National titles to his name.

The 40-year-old represented England for 15 years, winning 127 caps and captained England to World Team Championship success in 2013.

As Assistant Coach, Matthew will work alongside National Coach David Campion, bringing his unique elite-level experience in the sport to help Team England’s players prepare for and achieve success at the Games.

Since 2018, Matthew has been working with England Squash as a high performance coaching consultant and already plays a key role in nurturing and developing a number of England stars at the England Squash performance hub at Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club in Sheffield.

“Along with the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games is the pinnacle of our sport and being involved in events like this is exactly why I got into coaching.

“Despite it being relatively early in my coaching career, I am learning every day and have enjoyed being part of England Squash’s build-up and preparation up to this point. The Commonwealth Games is a unique experience, particularly in doubles and I hope my experience of previous Games can help our players achieve their individual and collective goals.

“It’s a real honour to be part of Team England in what will be an extra special occasion with it being a home Games.”

National Coach David Campion said:

“We are delighted to have Nick on board to assist the England team at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Nick brings a wealth of experience as a multiple gold medallist and his unique insight, particularly in doubles, is one of the reasons why he has been appointed. His level of professionalism and attention to detail adds a lot to the environment.

“We have been preparing for doubles in Manchester for quite some time now and Nick has been involved in those preparations throughout. It’s a home Games and we are fully aware that this represents an opportunity to showcase our wonderful sport to a wider audience.”

England Squash CEO Mark Williams said:

“We are delighted that Nick has joined our coaching team for Birmingham 2022 and I’m sure he will have a significant impact on the team and the players before and during the Games.

“The Commonwealth Games presents a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on our sport, and the experience and attention to detail that Nick will bring will give our chances of medal success a real boost.”

Chris Robertson appointed as Talent and Performance Strategic Lead at England Squash

England Squash has announced the appointment of Chris Robertson as Talent and Performance Strategic Lead.

Chris, a former Head of Player Development at England Squash is one of the most respected and experienced coaches in the sport, leading England to podium success from 2011 to 2017 including Gold at the 2013 Men’s World Team Championships and nine medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In his new role, Chris will work alongside National Coach David Campion to lead the strategic direction of England Squash’s performance team and the development of the talent pathway to achieve success on the European and world stage.

‘’It feels great to be back working with England Squash,” said Chris.

“I’m excited for the future of the talent and performance department and what it can achieve. I will use what knowledge and experience I have to help shape and develop the programme towards sustainable and aspirational success at all levels of the pathway.’’

Chris, a former Wales National Coach, joined England Squash in 2011 where he played a pivotal role in the evolution of the performance pathway and led England to outstanding medal success. He also played a key role in supporting some of England’s finest players, including three-time world champion Nick Matthew, two-time British Open champion Laura Massaro and former world no.1 James Willstrop.

In 2017, Chris left England Squash to head up coaching in Hong Kong which coincided with a period of considerable success for their national team including Bronze at the 2017 Men’s World Team Championships – their highest ever finishing position.

England Squash CEO Mark Williams said:

“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Chris back as Talent and Performance Strategic Lead. Over the years, we have seen first-hand the significant impact he can have on a performance programme through his experience in the sport and the quality of his leadership.

“Chris brings a vast amount of knowledge, ideas and a fresh perspective to this pivotal role, and has all the attributes necessary to take us forward, particularly as we prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year.

“I look forward to working with Chris to maintain our competitive edge and create a stronger, more sustainable high performance programme that will continue to deliver success.”

Chris’s coaching methods and philosophy build on his experiences as a world-class player in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His career highlights included reaching a career-high world no.2 in 1991 and finishing runner-up to the legendary Jansher Khan in the 1992 British Open.