Fram Gommendy reports
Of course, I could tell you about how important for Squash Andrew Shelley has been for squash for donkey years. Because as long as you can remember squash, he was involved!
He began his association with the sport in 1976 when he joined England Squash (was called Squash Rackets Association). He was in charge of managing major events, like the British Open (20 times, I kid you not), so many events in Hong Kong, Qatar, Egypt, including a famous World Open in Cairo – ask him to tell about about the time he had to run back all the journalists back to the hotel as a camel stepped on the telephone cable – and so many more.
He then made a big difference in Women Squash as in 1994, he started running the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA). Over 15 years, he oversaw a 300% growth in the women’s pro tour. Another new started in 2010, as he became WSF CEO in 2010.
Since leaving the WSF in 2019, he’s been working alongside Howard Harding from SquashInfo, another one of my Squash Bibles, and runs the immensely entertaining and documented Squash Library.
But what the bios don’t say about Andrew is that he has an extremely sharp sense of humor. I hope he’ll be the one writing my eulogy, as he has a true talent. Along with that, he is a truly fantastic friend and a “puits de sciences.” Also, he is extremely patient, understanding and diplomatic without losing his ability to send you “to send you to hell and make you enjoy the ride.” Qualities I’m completely deprived of!
Not to mention that he has a copy of anything you want to know about squash or any document you need!
So it was logical that he would write a book about squash; he associated with Bas van Hoorn, a noted collector and specialist in early squash history.
Introduced by the two legends Jonah Barrington and Nicol David, that book is a mine of information, with fabulous unique images from the early years from Bas’s collection, right up to captivating photos of today’s stars. A glance at player names in the index reveals that around 400 are featured in the book!
Christmas is coming, so… what are you waiting for?
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
