Men’s Squash, 1st Team Squad 2006/07
Read the first team match reports here.
Nick Buckley
The youngster of the team at 23, Nick Graduated from university squash stronghold UWIC in 2004. Ranked in the top 5 in England as a Junior, he is known for being incredibly talented with an annoying knack of blowing 8-0 leads. A harsh training regime of pressure sessions, ghosting and court sprints imposed by captain McGill has led to some much improved form throughout the summer season and so he is ready to take the heat up the order through the winter season in the top flight. For a resume of his achievements including the notable success of helping the team to promotion please contact Nick directly.
Simon Evans
Plucked from local rivals Cumberland (for whom he still plays in the bath cup) for the upcoming season he has quickly established himself as the most accomplished shotmaker of the team. Though slightly short of top form he has slotted nicely into the mid order and we are all expecting great things from the new man. Thinks the tins at Coolhurst are too high!
Damian Smith
Despite the actions of his 30-something peers (some with significantly less hair on top) dropping themselves to the 2nd team at the promise of rub downs by the skipper, Smithy has vowed to fight for his place in the top flight. Always a harsh competitor his fitness seems to be returning after a poor winter season following the birth of his first child and various dodgy IT contracts around the country. The former Portsmouth University Captain is known for charging around the court like a man possesed and is in fastest in the club over 400m, if this could one day be complimented with a salvo of nicks we'd all be in trouble.
Peter Baird
The 'Whippet', last season's most consistent performer is looking forward to the challenge ahead. Extremely quick around the court (he weighs approximately 7 stone) with an interesting array of cross court drops, kills and volleys, Pete is always a very tricky opponent. Captain of the very successful Nottingham University side, he has also played regional squash in New Zealand and county squash for Kent. One defeat all season last year has left him craving some real competition, no doubt this will be available this season! One of the games truely awful markers. Pete is a 27 year old town planner and assures us all that it is an interesting job.
Ally McGill
Team skipper and county captain suffering from a recent adjustment in metabolism (no doubt influenced by beer intake and insistence that playing social matches is enough to keep oneself adequately fit!). Widely known as a fat man waiting to get out, McGill adopts a harsh training regime involving circa 8-9 games a week to balance the inevitable beers and curries on the weekend. Former Scottish Junior internationalist and Scottish University Champion, the 25 year old is around the peak of his game and will relish the challenge of playing in division 1. Also seen drinking port down at the RAC club and at various clubs off the back end of beyond in the Cambridgeshire leagues.
Richard Gourlay
Sadly our Club Champion dropped himself to the 2nd team after succumbing to the temptation of warm massages in the showers by the captain. Always useful as a reserve, he will be missed by squad and the regular home crowds who will need to find someone else to take the @@@@ out of for being bald.
Tim Vail
TBA
Peter Genever
TBA
Phil Nightingale
I was introduced to squash at age 8 while at Chinthurst School in Tadworth. After a few years I joined the Surrey County Squad and then progressed to the South-East England regional squad. At age 14, I was awarded a squash scholarship to Wycliffe College Squash Academy in Gloucestershire. From the ages of 14 to 18, while at Wycliffe, I played numerous national and international tournaments and also undertook tours to South Africa and Australia. At 18 I took a gap year, during which I played full-time as a junior and then went to Birmingham University to read English and German for a joint-honours BA, where I graduated with a 2:1 in June 2005.
- Highest PSA World Ranking 163 (August '06)
- Surrey County Men’s Team Member
- England Universities Team– 2001/2002 – No. 3 String
- BUSA British Universities Team – 2002/2003 – No. 4 String
- PSA Bishop’s Stortford Open – March 2004 – ¼ finalist
- PSA French ‘Open du Gard’ – January 2005 – ¼ finalist (6th position)
- PSA Brixia Open (Italy) – November 2005 – ¼ finalist
- PSA Clod Open (Italy) – March 2006 – ¼ finalist
- PSA Prague Open – March 2006 – ¼ finalist
- PSA Croatia Open (Super Satellite) – April 2006 – last 16
- PSA Losone Open (1 Star) – May 2006 – last 16