In Memory of Malcolm Wilstrop

On Monday 3rd May 2021 the squash world mourned the loss of probably one of its greatest coaches, Malcolm Willstrop.

Malcolm had a huge impact on the lives and careers of an incredible number of squash players, including both his son, James, and also Lee Beachill, both of whom he coached to World Number 1. Other squash players came to him and as a result of his coaching won more than 60 National titles between them, but of far more importance to him, were the younger players and most notably his 4 and 5 year olds who he worked with regularly, early on Sunday mornings, rewarding good behaviour and effort with an apple or an orange.

I was lucky and privileged to meet Malcolm at St Peter’s where he was my English teacher. He spotted me kicking a rugby ball to Peter Hall in our lunch break on the practice pitch and invited both of us to join his rugby squad and to attend his squash training sessions. Through Malcolm’s extraordinary teaching, I never looked back and was hooked – he seemed to have that effect on many people he introduced to the sport.

Malcolm went to university and made the squash teams there outstandingly successful. Towards the end of my time at St Peter’s, I received a letter from him re-establishing contact and inviting me to visit Gresham’s, where he was now teaching. He had been following my progress through junior squash and offered to help if I wanted to play more seriously in the senior game.

Malcolm was becoming ever more committed to coaching, so we spent a whole week together at Gresham’s, trying to develop training methods that would help lay the foundations for a squash playing career and so began the Malcolm Willstrop way. I am proud and honoured that I was by his admission the first international squash player he worked with.

Malcolm was contacted by Abbeydale Squash Club in Sheffield (one of the premier clubs in the country) that was to change his life. There was an opening for a professional squash coach and so, he moved to Sheffield and not long after I joined him there. The first training group was formed and there were among others a young David Pearson who went on to play for England and became a very successful England National Coach. Malcolm’s stock was rising, as his teaching career was now left behind in favour of his coaching.

Malcolm had only been in Sheffield for around 18 months when the Walton Hall Country Club came calling. Another training group was formed, this time with not only nationally ranked English players but one or two Australians finding their way to Wakefield as well – word was spreading.

The next move was the big one for Malcolm to Pontefract Squash Club. This was the final move for him as Malcolm spent the next 30 years at the club spanning the most successful coaching years of his life. Malcolm once said to me that he would be happiest to leave ‘his beloved squash club feet first’ and as it turned out he did.

Malcolm was the Number 1 coach in world squash for a long time, some say more than 60 years, but it certainly spanned the duration of his 3 clubs, probably longer. There always seemed to be a constant stream of talent endowed with the Willstrop way, beautiful ball striking, freedom of expression in how the game should be played, easy and efficient movement, but all based on certain standards of expected behaviour. It was required that all who came to Malcolm, aspired to that standard. The reward was that all his pupils seemed to hit the ball beautifully, quite how he successfully achieved this has always been a mystery. For Malcolm, it was always the holistic approach, the person and whether they were nice and how he could improve them in every sense.

Malcolm’s loss has hit all in the squash world particularly hard. It is a gaping hole to fill particularly at Pontefract. For me he was my English teacher initially, my squash coach (sports – rugby and cricket also), my mentor, and my lifelong friend. He was so influential in everything I did. I owe him a huge debt for the foundations he laid for me in not only my sport but also my life as well. The things I have achieved would not have been possible without the start and ongoing maintenance he gave me. Thank you Malcolm – rest in peace. Ian Robinson (Temple 1971)

James and Malcolm with Ian and Logan Willstrop (James’ son) outside Betty’s tea rooms in York on the occasion of the York Squash Club’s 50th anniversary

We have just close to 70 pupils playing Squash regularly each week during daily mixed sessions. We offer Squash every day, with six sessions a week.

The sessions are all mixed and we have all years and standards playing together.

During our last complete competitive season our record was Played 25, Won 21, Lost 4. The First Team were runners up in their division of the York and District Squash league and gained promotion. We also came third place in the North Area of the National School Finals. Squash continues to grow each school year and with the support of York Squash Club and the Railway Institute we have first class courts to train and play on.

The strong players are encouraged to join York Squash Club, to play more competitive Squash, mini-leagues and tournament Squash to continue their development.

A very competitive House squash tournament is played once a year. The Manor were crowned champions this year.