World Squash Library & SquashInfo Form Partnership
In a move to
consolidate the history and records of the sport, the World Squash
Library and website SquashInfo are joining forces, with
effect from 1 January 2021.
The move
reunites the Library founder Andrew Shelley, the former World
Squash Federation CEO, and Howard Harding, owner of
www.squashinfo.com and WSF World Media Director for more than two
decades.
First unveiled
in 2004, SquashInfo was designed to be the definitive online squash
resource - uniquely providing digitised and searchable records of the
world's leading players and events in one place. In addition to the
established PSA World Tour, and World Championships managed by the World
Squash Federation, the site also covers the leading events run by the
world's regional and national federations.
In partnership
with WSL, the site has recently posted detailed results of all senior
and junior World Championships, both individual and team - including the
World Amateur championships which took place in the 60s and 70s before
the sport went 'Open'.
Shelley has
worked for over 40 years in the sport, including 15 as Chief Executive
of the Women's Professional Tour before taking up the same role for the
World Squash Federation until 2019. He has wanted to 'give something
back' to the sport by collecting and preserving the history of the sport
- books, magazines, handbooks, photos, videos - with free access to
ensure that future generations will have it, as well as answering
questions now.
It makes
perfect sense for SquashInfo and the Squash Library to partner up, as we
already work closely together linking the online results and playing
records with the Library's archived information,"
said Shelley. "The entities complement each other so well."
he intention
is that SquashInfo and Squash Library will continue to operate
separately, but closer together - sharing data whilst also providing an
opportunity for commercial supporters to come on board to help fund the
services.
Harding, whose
association with squash stretches back to the mid-80s, recognised the
need for SquashInfo after taking on the role as World Media Director for
the WSF, Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the then Women's
International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) in 1996. Designed by
his son Charlie, then a student and now an Anaesthetic Fellow in
Melbourne, the site soon became an invaluable worldwide resource.
"For too long
the management of SquashInfo has been a 'one-man-band' operation,"
said Harding senior. "I now very much look forward to the site
growing and moving forward, in partnership with Andrew and the Library.
The new relationship will also ensure SquashInfo's long-term future."
Whilst current
information is freely available to all-comers, SquashInfo is primarily a
subscription site - with subscribers around the world currently having
access to the site's full records.
"One focus of
the new partnership will be an expansion of the subscriber levels,
particularly to recognise the needs of national and regional
federations,"
added Harding.
For the World
Squash Library, please visit
www.squashlibrary.info - and for SquashInfo, go to
www.squashinfo.com
|