Fram reports
In 2005, I didn’t know much about Squash, except that I loved playing it and watching it, and especially nothing AT ALL about women’s squash. And we were in Rennes for the Europeans, and I remember England just eradicated some poor buggers on the glass court, like in 6m each match.
I arrived in the large press room, and went with my usual diplomacy: “Jzzzzzz, this was one of the most BORING women’s matches I ever saw,” in French.
At that point, a ‘smiling not much hair’ gentleman came up to me and introduced himself, saying “, Hello Fram, my name is Andrew Shelley, CEO of the WISPA Tour, so nice to meet you.”
I would have paid the ground to swallow me at that point… Would you believe it was truly and utterly the beginning of a beautiful friendship of over 20 years now…
Andrew has been supportive of me throughout my career, always there when I needed advice or support. I’m so sad he has decided to retire, as he knows everything about squash: I could summarise his knowledge by saying ‘What Andrew doesn’t know about Squash is not worth knowing.
Pssss, did you read the Books of All Squash Books?
BOOKBRUNCH WITH ANDREW
Who is Andrew Shelley?
Andrew has been involved in squash administration and management since 1976,
organising prestigious events like World Opens and British Opens galore.He also acted as Championship and Technical Director for many International Championships and worked closely on the Egyptian scene for nearly 30 years.
From 1976 and for18 years, he managed events and operations for the English SRA (now England Squash)
From 1994 until 2010 he was CEO of WISPA (the Women’s Pro Tour).
Following that; he became CEO of the World Squash Federation until retiring in 2019
He then founded the World Squash Library to ‘give back’ to the sport.
He was awarded an MBE for services to squash in 2021.
He says that he is immensely grateful to his wife and family who have allowed him a lifetime selfishly dedicated to squash!
Chatting with Andrew at Optasia 2025
-
20 British Opens: Evolution!
“In terms of specifics, you cannot get beyond the 20 British Opens I administered. It was a time when squash was doing well. It was a time when there was a buzz, and the British Open was the most anticipated ten days of the year.
The events at the Wembley Conference Centre in later years, from 1984 onwards, were terrific.
We had the Wembley Squash Centre and of course, when I started on the British Open, the finals were on a glass back court there, before we went to the Wembley Conference Centre initially on a purely glass back, demountable court on the stage.
They were really great times: we had the glass back courts, moved to all glass, to coloured
walls, to white balls, to coloured floors, and we were on BBC Grandstand. It was enhancing presentation the whole time.
Prince Philipp and the 1991 British Open Trophy –
or more precisely the lack of it!
Well, it was the British Open 1991.
It was being attended by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and finals were played, Lisa Opie won the women’s, Jahangir won the men’s.
Only thing, Jahangir hadn’t brought back the trophy. He’d forgotten it and the trophy was not an old cup where you could just present something else. It had Hi-Tec lettering as part of it, who were the sponsors, so it was a disaster!
So I said to Lisa “after the Duke of Edinburgh gives you the trophy, come and stand next to me”. She handed me the trophy. I handed it to Prince Philip, who actually looked at it, and saw it said WO Women’s.
As you would expect, he didn’t blink and presented it to Jahangir.
But if you look in the photographs, there is only one trophy and when Jahangir’s holding it, his finger is over the WO of women’s.
-
Losing the Olympic Bid(s)
Obviously, one law of squash was that every time we got turned down by the IOC for the Olympics, having been told by everybody concerned that ours was the best bid, we had all the attributes, etc, etc, and we were top of the shortlist.
But the IOC did not want squash at the time, and found a way to avoid us getting in. And it was immensely frustrating because although we’re not the biggest sport in the world and we are
a traditional sport, still, we are a sport that doesn’t require judging, it’s supreme athleticism,
perfectly formed in terms of a world federation, regional national bodies, men’s and
women’s tours and so on. It ticked all the boxes.
That changed with leverage for 2028, which now needs to be built upon to try and stay in
2032 – Australia – because there’s many other sports knocking at the door, including sports
that have got in, been dropped and now trying to get back in!
-
Egypt
1985 – Men’s World Teams
Their first major event was interesting – I attended as we were following up in 1987 –
because the hosts had organised 4 venues for the competition. There was the Academy, Al
Shams, the Stadium and Heliopolis, but they hadn’t organised everything around it.
Organisers would arrive at the start time for matches, but not always bring the balls. It was the beginning, and it all changed very quickly; it got better and better event after event, with a great team organising it.
That Day a Camel squashed the phone line at the Pyramids …
Helping to run all the all the Al-Ahram events from the start – 1996 – was a fantastic
experience.
Of course, because you have the setting – Al-Ahram means Pyramids in Arabic – also, I must
have driven in the van up to the court about 100 times in total and still, you forget about
squash, and having the privilege to see them every day close up, wonder about their
building … It never lost its spark.
At the time when media, communication and technology were not what it is today,
and doing an event in that sort of location was an interesting challenge.
You would have to call them basic compared with what we have now for mobile phones,
internet and so on. So the Press there had a Port-A- Cabin with telephone lines installed in
it.
One year, I think it was probably 1998 or something like that, we had an army camel at
the perimeter (guarding the site with wooden guns!) literally treading on the phone line,
cutting all communications!
So I had to send the media back to the hotel where they were able to watch it live on
television. I would get the quotes from the players after the match, bring them back to the
hotel so that they could add them and phone in their text… it was just, it was a different
world.
But the whole atmosphere and especially when Egyptian player Ahmed Barada was doing
well, the rhythmic clapping goosebumps to the back of your neck, it’s just a fantastic
experience.
Remembering Dr Samiha – The Mother of Egyptian Squash
I’ve nothing but praise for the Egyptian Federation and organisers what they did for Squash
in Egypt, with one of the highlights was seeing, from the zero beginning, what Dr Samiha
Aboul’Magd did for the Girls, eventually becoming the Women, all from 5 girls playing in the
whole of Egypt!!!
I first met Dr Samiha when she played in the British Open in 1982 and 1983 and then, we
talked regularly as she started developing young girl players, bringing them to events.
She was so committed, inspirational and generous of heart.
The world of Squash and Egyptians in particular owe her a huge debt, and it is so sad she’s not actually seeing it now So much just a friend, a really good friend. Greatly missed.
Last words?
You know, when I joined the SRA in 1976, I thought to myself it would be for a couple of
years after which I would get a ‘proper’ job.
The fact that I never did, coming up to my 50th year involved (coinciding with what I expect
will be my playing peak) speaks to what a wonderful sport it is, filled with great people,
players and administrators alike, with whom the journey has been one of unalloyed
happiness.
For me, a fortunate working life, and I wouldn’t change anything.
