England Squash In Search For The Stars Of Tomorrow

The search is underway to discover and nurture the squash talent of tomorrow - players who will go on to represent England and hopefully following the footsteps of the great players that have gone before them.

This weekend sees the staging of the first England Squash Area Championships, for boys and girls in three age groups: Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17.

The Championships offer young players the chance to receive coveted places in one of the six England Squash Academies four times per year - and ultimately a place in a National Squad where players have the opportunity to progress to represent England.

Adrian Christy, the Director of Development & Competitions for England Squash, said: "This is a great opportunity for young local players to show our coaches their talent. Each Area is buzzing with excitement at the prospect of unearthing a star and, who knows, maybe even a future World Champion!"

The six areas, and the clubs at which the new England Squash Academies are based, are:

North East Area: Pontefract SC
(including Durham & Cleveland, Northumbria, Yorkshire)

North West Area: Manchester Northern SC
(including Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside)

Mid East Area: Duffield SC, Derbyshire
(including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk)

Mid West Area: University of Birmingham
(including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire)

South East Area: Wimbledon Health & Rackets
(including Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex)

South West Area: Exeter SC
(including Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire)