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Lee Beachill The World number two has been working with Malcolm since the age of eight ... When did you start working with Malcolm ? I first went to Malcolm when I was 8 years old. I was fortunate because I got recognised by a coach at the local club where I played who luckily knew Malcolm. I had coaching with this guy for a few months, and he asked Malcolm to look at me. I went over to Pontefract, and that was it really. I’ve been pretty much every day since. Could you define Malcolm’s coaching? He basically starts at a very early age, with a sound technique, and then he watches you, he watches you develop as you get older, and your game develops from there. A lot of discipline, everything is based on a sound tried and tested technique from a very early age. It’s a technique that shouldn’t let you down under pressure, it’s very simple, no complication, a swing that produces the racquet correct to the ball. Once it there, it’s a sound place for you to add your own little style, which Malcolm’s players do. Is he very technically orientated? To be honest, probably since I was 18/19, Malcolm hasn’t really spoken about technique. If he sees something coming out of place, if I start getting into bad habits, he’ll mention it, but we haven’t changed my technique since I was probably 12 years old. It’s basically the same. And he let me develop as a player, and that’s been about it. Now, Malcolm organises my time, he gets me on court in the morning, and all the stuff we talk about now is tactical with regards to other players, the countries we are visiting, different courts, just different ways of approaching every match. The technique and the squash should hopefully take care of themselves. On a professional level, what did he bring into your life? He gave me a career basically! I went to him as an 8 year old kid with ambitions of being a squash player, and now, I’m a 26 year old man, and I’ve got a great career in squash. And I’ve had a great career in squash, and hopefully it will continue to get better, and I obviously want to become number one. So he gave me a career in a sport and a lifestyle which I love. What makes Malcolm different from other coaches, do you think? He brings to the kids a great discipline I think. The thing about Pontefract is the way he teaches, there are kids around in a social scene who mix with adults on a daily basis. And I don’t think you find that generally in other walks of life. It’s quite unusual to find kids of 11 to 15 actually mixing and socialising with adults. The early age in which Malcolm brings the kids into an adult environment is priceless for the kids. And I have that, and James obviously had that, and the kids, even just local players who hang around at Pontefract, they all have that, and generally, they are a lot better people for it for getting that, and hopefully, I’m a better person for getting that. Is Malcolm a father figure for you? Well, I have my father, with whom I don’t speak much about squash. He obviously takes a massive interest in what I’m doing. I love spending time with my dad, because it’s just a completely different aspect of my life, and deals more with the day to day living of my life, and everything apart from squash. Malcolm is certainly my father figure when it comes to my career, and my squash, and how I conduct myself and all that sort of stuff. If you had to describe him? Just a very down to earth guy, who doesn’t want for anything, but basically gives everything. People like that are few and far between, squash is a whole lot better for having people like Malcolm, well actually, I don’t think there is anyone else like Malcolm. To have someone like Malcolm involved in squash is priceless because he gives his life to the game and has done pretty much forever without actually getting anything back in return. And actually he didn’t want anything. He wants to see the game grow, and he obviously wants the best for me and I want to be the best that I can for him. Could you describe Malcolm with 3 words? Old…Na… Opinionated, fair, humble. |
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