Matthew After French Double In PSL Final

Just days after leading England to title success in the European Team Championships, British champion Nick Matthew will be hoping to finish the season on a double high when he guides Derbyshire club Benz-Bavarian Duffield to a historic fourth victory in the final of the Premier League (PSL) tomorrow in Nottingham.

The 28-year-old world No6 from Sheffield claimed a crucial victory in Saturday's European final against France by beating the event's highest-ranked player Gregory Gaultier, the world No2, to give his country a significant lead. And in the PSL final against Chapel Allerton, Matthew is expected to play the decider against French star Thierry Lincou, the former world number one and world champion who is the Leeds club's top string.

With victory in 1998, 2006 and 2007, Duffield are one win away from establishing a unique status in PSL history by edging past fellow three-time champions Leekes Wizards, of Cardiff, and Cannons, from London, in the climax of the 25th season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

The village of Duffield, some five miles north of Derby, boasts a population of just 5,000 - yet its squash club has already established a worldwide reputation for its squash prowess. The club is celebrating its 16th season in the league, a longer continuous run than any other club

"The club seems to be the focus of the village - and I think this is one of the reasons for its success. The whole village supports us," Matthew explained.

Undefeated in eight matches for Duffield this season, Matthew will be joined in the club's all-English squad by world No14 Tania Bailey, the former British champion from Lincolnshire who boasts an unbeaten PSL run of 22 matches since March 2005! Like Matthew, Bailey also played her part in England defending the women's European title in Sweden. Both players featured in Duffield's triumphant 2006 and 2007 successes.

Bailey's career has been beset by injuries: after recovering from knee surgery last year, the 29-year-old from Stamford will undergo hip surgery immediately following her Duffield appearance in the PSL final.

The PSA final gets underway at Nottingham Park Squash Club at 7.00pm on Tuesday. The anticipated final line-up is:

Benz-Bavarian Duffield v Chapel Allerton
Nick Matthew (Yorkshire) v Thierry Lincou (France)
Joey Barrington (Somerset) v Alister Walker (Gloucestershire)
Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) v Aaron Frankcomb (Australia)
Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) v Chris Simpson (Guernsey)
Tania Bailey (Lincs) v Carrie Ramsey (Yorkshire)