PHOTOS:
The Meads main team
Chris John and James Walters receiving the league trophies
 

 
Premiership Squash is back in Pembrokeshire after a fantastic season for the Meads Squash Club, who play out of Milford Haven Leisure Centre.

They won the Pembrokeshire League and gained promotion to the top echelon by winning division two of the South Wales (West Division Two)
 
Not content with those successes the MLC Geriatric team were Spring 2015 winners of Pembrokeshire Division 2, whilst the most remarkable feat was achieved by the club’s under 16 players as they leapt from bottom of Pembrokeshire Division Two in the winter league and by the end of Spring 2015 they were third in Pembrokeshire Division Two!
 

Two-year plan pays off

 
So how has this been achieved? The club, under SWRB R.D.O and coach Pete Crook has had a two-year plan, to rejuvenate squash in the county and provide the highest level of squash possible for any player in the county wishing to progress forward on a pathway.
 
To achieve this a new team was formed 18months ago so that MLC 1 team had a core of seven committed players that wanted to improve their standard of squash and gain promotion to the higher South Wales leagues; a coaching plan was implemented to include both on-court and off-court work, entailing a weekly fitness session, which is open to any and all Pembrokeshire players.
 
The team just won the spring 2014 Pembrokeshire division 1 league to gain promotion to the higher South Wales Division Two. The training was pushed forward over the summer and the players put a lot of hard work in both on and off court. This work meant they were starting the winter 2014 season match ready.
 

Impressive margins of success

 
Peter Crook told us,
“Although at the time it could have been a risky decision we only played the team’s No 1 player James Walters when short, which was to push players forward, and they all had to step up a position, playing tougher matches. The winter 2014 season showed what could be achieved with hard work and dedication, as without their No 1 player the team won the Pembrokeshire Division One by 48 points and an impressive South Wales Division Two (West) by 50 points to gain promotion to South Wales Division One (West) in Spring 2015.
 
“It was at this point James Walters re-joined the side to play again at No 1 helping the team in the higher league, in the Spring 2015 season - and MLC 1 won the Pembrokeshire Division One by 53 points and were winners of the South Wales Division One (West) league by 27 points, a fantastic achievement.
 
“Our other sides also benefited from the training programs - and our MLC Geriatrics team won Pembrokeshire Division Two without dropping a match, with 12 straight wins.
We also entered a full junior side into the Pembrokeshire league remembering their age 12 to 15, winter season they came bottom but gained valuable match experience and in spring 2015 they have come third in Pembrokeshire Division Two, far beyond our expectations.
 

 

The future for the club and squash within Pembrokeshire

 
Peter Crook added,
“It has always been our vision and intention to offer a higher calibre of squash to any player in Pembrokeshire wishing to progress forward and the only way this was achievable was for the better players in the county to join the side as they progressed and  gained promotion to the higher leagues.
 
“Thankfully this has been embraced and made our plans possible and for the first time since the days of squash at Wolfcastle, Premier squash is back in Pembrokeshire and when you consider we are one of the sports that has this level of sport being played within our county it shows what an achievement it has been.
 
“The five core players that will make up the premier side going forward will be Nick Dyer Haverfordwest, James Walters (MLC), Jonny Leigh (Narberth), John Mammet (Narberth) and Will Beresford (MLC).
 
“We also intend to field another side in the South Wales League Division Two and this will then give us a full pathway for both Adult and Junior players.”
 
For details on Meads Squash club Face book Milford Haven Squash Club – Twitter Meads squash club or contact Pete Crook 07809 236762.

The Geriatrics and junior squads