Ordinarily I would write a report about the teams at the end of the season, April time, but this has been no ordinary season. The fate of all 3 men‘s teams has already been cast and little of it makes good reading.
To say it’s been an unfortunate season doesn’t quite cover it but here goes;
Before the players’ story there was the court situation. Days before the start of the season no heating, no believable explanations, belligerence and a season long battle for warmer courts.
Player wise early September 2018 looked reasonably healthy with 26 team players to call upon. The 1st team, in Division 1 had always sailed close to the wind with only a handful of players suited to Division 1 standards. The large number of well coached and very fit young players coming through Northumberland’s (Jesmond) Northern and Tynemouth’s third and fourth teams made it all the more challenging.
Days before the start of the season we lost James O’Neill from the first team line up. To be fair we were already aware that Jamie Morton was off to Primrose, our cold courts and their effect upon injuries being the main reason. So….. The 1st team were running with 4 instead of 6 which automatically placed a burden on the team below.
That team below had themselves lost a regular- Steve Goldie.
After only a few games played, 1st team player Andy Dolan fell to injury, team mate Tony Hedley soon followed- he was not to play for the rest of the season.
The 1st team soldiered on short of 2 sometimes 3 players, relying on 2nd and 3rd team members. Results were not good.
We have to bare in mind, the 2nd team are playing Division 4 squash, it’s quite a leap up to Division 1.
Meanwhile Dan Cusack’s 3rd team also had their woes.
Dan had high hopes of promotion this season but immediately lost his two top players, Gary Storey and Joe Race. Neither played much of the first half and declared their season over before Christmas.
The 2nd team made steady if not great progress and remained mid table while Ian Morton, myself and Peter Archbold effectively became tied to the 1st team by Christmas.
1
Although we got a fresh start at the turn of the year in terms of nominations and playing ‘up’ it was clear that the 1st team were struggling. Chris Brock steadfastly insisted his team battle on however it was becoming increasingly difficult to get a team out, particularly when 2nd team players didn’t want to be tied and 3rd team players were not keen to play 10 minutes of murderous squash being on the receiving end of a mis-match. No disrespect but we can’t get away from the dynamics of our club. We have a fantastically enthusiastic group of players many whom are the wrong side of 40. Playing well coached 20 year olds is a big ask.
By the end of February, which is where we are now, the 3rd team are all but relegated. The 2nd team remain strictly mid to lower table but safe (Northumberland 3 and Chester-le-St running away with it- already promoted and 2 bottom teams virtually relegated)
With Chris Brock now also injured, a tennis elbow type injury and out for the season, it’s left Andy Dolan and Simon Long heading up the 1st team. Ian Morton and myself had already played twice, (3 times if you include a cup match) and Peter Archbold available for only one more game, the 1st team were doomed. Virtually all remaining team players were ’unavailable’ or honest enough to declare they were reluctant to play in Division 1, acutely aware of the hike in standard.
Dan Cusack and Martin Davison are perhaps the exception to this who had gone head first into the 1st team challenge.
With 5 fixtures still to play and no pool of players to draw upon it was an obvious decision to make to withdraw the 1st team from the Northumbria League.
It’s a real shame as well as the end of an era, we’ve had a 1st team in Division 1 (Premiere League for a number of years.) for a very long time.
There will be much to discuss before the start of next season but the anticipated outcome is that the 2nd team become the 1st and play in Division 2, the 3rds become the 2nds and play in Division 4. That will be tough.
Ironic since the 3rd team (of old) have been relegated to Division 6.
Andy Dolan and Tony Hedley have indicated they no longer wish to play team squash, I myself have to stop, the injuries and resulting day to day torture has to stop. I have to stop.
Chris Brock is looking to play in a stronger league so may play elsewhere.
Much can happen between now and September so watch this space however the club should continue to thrive. The club ladder is working well, once again a big thank you to Roland Smith who, despite retiring from playing the game, continues to run the league and website for us.
Look out for the closed competition to be arranged for April-ish.
I’ll look at where Easter falls and work the competition around that.
Ian Mc.
To say it’s been an unfortunate season doesn’t quite cover it but here goes;
Before the players’ story there was the court situation. Days before the start of the season no heating, no believable explanations, belligerence and a season long battle for warmer courts.
Player wise early September 2018 looked reasonably healthy with 26 team players to call upon. The 1st team, in Division 1 had always sailed close to the wind with only a handful of players suited to Division 1 standards. The large number of well coached and very fit young players coming through Northumberland’s (Jesmond) Northern and Tynemouth’s third and fourth teams made it all the more challenging.
Days before the start of the season we lost James O’Neill from the first team line up. To be fair we were already aware that Jamie Morton was off to Primrose, our cold courts and their effect upon injuries being the main reason. So….. The 1st team were running with 4 instead of 6 which automatically placed a burden on the team below.
That team below had themselves lost a regular- Steve Goldie.
After only a few games played, 1st team player Andy Dolan fell to injury, team mate Tony Hedley soon followed- he was not to play for the rest of the season.
The 1st team soldiered on short of 2 sometimes 3 players, relying on 2nd and 3rd team members. Results were not good.
We have to bare in mind, the 2nd team are playing Division 4 squash, it’s quite a leap up to Division 1.
Meanwhile Dan Cusack’s 3rd team also had their woes.
Dan had high hopes of promotion this season but immediately lost his two top players, Gary Storey and Joe Race. Neither played much of the first half and declared their season over before Christmas.
The 2nd team made steady if not great progress and remained mid table while Ian Morton, myself and Peter Archbold effectively became tied to the 1st team by Christmas.
1
Although we got a fresh start at the turn of the year in terms of nominations and playing ‘up’ it was clear that the 1st team were struggling. Chris Brock steadfastly insisted his team battle on however it was becoming increasingly difficult to get a team out, particularly when 2nd team players didn’t want to be tied and 3rd team players were not keen to play 10 minutes of murderous squash being on the receiving end of a mis-match. No disrespect but we can’t get away from the dynamics of our club. We have a fantastically enthusiastic group of players many whom are the wrong side of 40. Playing well coached 20 year olds is a big ask.
By the end of February, which is where we are now, the 3rd team are all but relegated. The 2nd team remain strictly mid to lower table but safe (Northumberland 3 and Chester-le-St running away with it- already promoted and 2 bottom teams virtually relegated)
With Chris Brock now also injured, a tennis elbow type injury and out for the season, it’s left Andy Dolan and Simon Long heading up the 1st team. Ian Morton and myself had already played twice, (3 times if you include a cup match) and Peter Archbold available for only one more game, the 1st team were doomed. Virtually all remaining team players were ’unavailable’ or honest enough to declare they were reluctant to play in Division 1, acutely aware of the hike in standard.
Dan Cusack and Martin Davison are perhaps the exception to this who had gone head first into the 1st team challenge.
With 5 fixtures still to play and no pool of players to draw upon it was an obvious decision to make to withdraw the 1st team from the Northumbria League.
It’s a real shame as well as the end of an era, we’ve had a 1st team in Division 1 (Premiere League for a number of years.) for a very long time.
There will be much to discuss before the start of next season but the anticipated outcome is that the 2nd team become the 1st and play in Division 2, the 3rds become the 2nds and play in Division 4. That will be tough.
Ironic since the 3rd team (of old) have been relegated to Division 6.
Andy Dolan and Tony Hedley have indicated they no longer wish to play team squash, I myself have to stop, the injuries and resulting day to day torture has to stop. I have to stop.
Chris Brock is looking to play in a stronger league so may play elsewhere.
Much can happen between now and September so watch this space however the club should continue to thrive. The club ladder is working well, once again a big thank you to Roland Smith who, despite retiring from playing the game, continues to run the league and website for us.
Look out for the closed competition to be arranged for April-ish.
I’ll look at where Easter falls and work the competition around that.
Ian Mc.
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