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 Hallamshire,
in the heart of Sheffield, is one of the UK's most famous clubs, and has
hosted many world-class events.
Hedley Matthew tells its story ...
HISTORY
The club was founded in 1885 as the Sheffield and Hallamshire Lawn
Tennis Club with grass courts in Endcliffe Park. Two squash courts were
built in November 1970 with 250 members. The subscription rate for
the five playing months in 1970/71 was £3.
Notes from a club meeting at the time:
“The club is pleased to welcome all these new members and it is
gratifying to see the clubhouse busy throughout the winter where
previously a few hardy souls in tracksuits would appear in all weathers to
play floodlit tennis once a week.”
In 1996 the club received £714 thousand in Lottery Funding which
was used to build two new indoor tennis courts, an extra squash court
(making 8 courts in total, 4 glass backed) to turn one court into a show
court with balcony and to add a fitness suite, new reception area and
crèche.
The club is owned by its members with all adult members having a vote in
club affairs.
Going Gold
 In
2000 Hallamshire gained the prestigious Gold Accreditation Award
from England Squash and was also named Squash Development Club of the
Year. At that time this was only the second Gold Award in the country and
the only one in the north of England.
The award was achieved through working closely with England Squash and
reaching the criteria set by them including a coaching and playing
programme and a full Child Protection scheme.
Over the past few years the club has paid for over 20 of its juniors to
take the England Squash Level 1 Award enabling them to take an active part
in helping the club’s Head Coach, John Mullins, with the coaching
programme.
Racketball
Packed Gallery for
the Racketball finals
Racketball is
still an expanding sport at Hallamshire and has staged the National
Championships on three occasions. The sport has actually been played
at the club for more than 20 years with over 400 players in the leagues
including Full Leagues, Mixed and Women’s Doubles League.
Between June and September runs a Summer League Team Tournament in both
Squash and Racketball with 40 teams competing with a total of 350 players
including over 40 juniors.
Trophy presentation Racketball Summer League.
Adult beginners
and improver courses are held every weekday morning. You don’t have to be
a member to take part in these and this is where most new members are
recruited from.
Junior Racketball Club is held on a Saturday morning with Junior Squash
Club on a Sunday with ages ranging from 3 to 18 years and as many as 80
juniors attending. Hallamshire has currently the Sheffield and District
Under 11 Champion, William Lumb, the Under 13 Champion, Nick
Webber and the Under 17 Champion, Colin Wilson.
Racketball Summer League Champions
(2 years running), Direct Express.
Mini-Squash
Hallamshire is also an official Mini-Squash Centre with Mini-Squash
Manager, Chris Rowland, establishing several school to club links,
school taster sessions and follow-up courses at the club.
Some of the many juniors who played in
Racketball Summer League. |
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www.hallamts.org
Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club
716 Ecclesall Rd
Sheffield, S11 8TA
Tel. 0114 266 2153
Fax. 0114 266 3885 |
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BRITISH JUNIOR OPEN
for the past 10 years:
• Every year the club is swamped with over 450 players from 34
different countries.
• In co-operation with Abbeydale Squash Club and Sheffield City
Council everything now goes like clockwork.
• Wonderful junior players over the years: Gregory Gaultier, Ahmed
Faizy, Mohammed Abbas, James Willstrop, Alberto Manso plus of course
Hallamshire’s own Nick Matthew. |
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Nick visits the
Club Shop
NICK MATTHEW
• Started playing at Hallamshire when 8 years old.
• Still does most of his training
at the club.
• Regular player partners visiting the club include: John White,
Philip Barker, John Rooney, Renan Lavigne, etc. |
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1999 Vth WORLD MASTERS
• Over 650 players from all parts of the globe aged from 35 to 83
competing for 20 titles.
• Oldest competitor at 83 was Hashim Khan.
• John Barrington made a competitive comeback after
11 years.
• Late Ahmed Safwat beat
Brian Cook of Australia in the
final of the Over 50’s.
Highlights of the week:
• The men’s shower boiler breaking down on the second day
leaving the male competitors queuing for a single shower in the
disabled toilet. Everyone took it in their stride and there were no
complaints!
• The South African girls doing the Limbo in reception at 5 o’clock
in the morning!
• Josephine’s nightclub after the closing dinner with 8 World
Champions up on stage dancing the night away with Ross Norman
leading the way. |
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2000 WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
• 22 Nations.
• England beating Australia in the final.
• Players appearing at the club during the tournament: Leilani
Joyce, Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Omneya Abdel Kawy, Linda Charman, Tania
Bailey.
Highlights:
• The glass court was sited on the indoor tennis courts but the
pieces only just fitted in the doorway taking 8 men to lift each
piece.
• The temperature was so cold that we hired huge blower heaters but
could only use them before the audience came in. The girls’ game
changed dramatically on the glass court as the ball got colder and
colder.
• The Australian team drinking with the regulars at the bar and
ended up with a Hallamshire fan club. Sarah Fitz-Gerald is still a
popular visitor to the club. |
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ENGLAND v
REST OF THE WORLD:
• Featured Jonathon Power, Lee Beachill, Karim Darwish.
• Cassie Campion v
Sarah Fitzgerald
• Challenge Evening with Peter Nicol.
• Past two years qualifying for Mamut English Open and
English Junior Open before it moves to Crucible Theatre.
• Nick Matthew v John White Exhibition:
Nick went down with a back injury the day before but a last minute
call to James Willstrop saved the day. Nick stepped in as compere
and nearly upstaged Malcolm Willstrop while members are still
talking about the doubles between James and Peter Hughes and John
White and Tim Garner. |
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