Lichfield Squash Club Newsletter Summer 2026 - A Busy Few Months Ahead

There is lots happening at Lichfield Squash Club, with plans for the Lichfield Squash Festival for 2026, beginner sessions, junior development, leagues, county squash, schools outreach and court improvements.

Here is a quick update:

1. Lichfield Squash Festival 2026

We are pleased to confirm that the 2026 Lichfield Squash Festival will take place in late September.

Moving the Festival later in the year avoids the summer holiday period and gives us more time to organise a strong event.

The Club Closed Championships and Junior Championships will form part of the Festival, with early September likely to be used for any preliminary rounds. There will also be an opportunity for members of the community outside of the club to try squash.

More details will follow, but please keep late September in mind.

2. Free adult try-it sessions

We are planning to launch free adult beginner try-it sessions as part of Tuesday Club Night.

The idea is to set aside one court at 7pm once a month, probably on the first Tuesday, for adults who want to try squash or return to the sport after time away.

A coach will give a friendly introduction to the basics for around 40–45 minutes, after which players can stay for a social hit or mix in with Club Night.

Members can help by spreading the word and encouraging friends, family, colleagues or neighbours to give it a go.

3. New Junior Squash Academy beginner sessions

We are also looking to launch new Junior Squash Academy beginner sessions for children who are new to the sport. This will be for both primary school and high school age children.

The plan is for our existing juniors to continue in their 10.00am usual slot, with a new beginner session running afterwards at 11:00am.

This will give new children a fun and welcoming introduction to squash, while allowing our current juniors to keep progressing.

4. Club leagues

The relaunched club leagues have been up and running for a couple of cycles now, with new divisions, WhatsApp groups and a clearer structure.

We need members to keep arranging and playing matches. A new league cycle is due to be arranged imminently, so please arrange to play your matches in a timely manner across the league cycle period.

The leagues are a great way to meet other members, improve your squash and keep the club active, so if you are interested in joining, just let me know (contact details at the end of the newsletter).

5. County update

The summer team league is now around four weeks in. It has been a difficult start for Lichfield, but there is still time to build momentum.

If you are interested in widening your opportunities for competitive play, and challenging yourself, team squash is a great opportunity. We are always interested in welcoming new players to the squad, so do get in touch if you are interested.

More widely, there are initiatives underway to revitalise the Staffordshire squash scene, improve links between clubs and create more playing opportunities.

Lichfield Squash Club wants to play an active and positive role in that wider county picture.

6. Working with schools

We have already started an after-school squash programme at King Edward VI School on Wednesday afternoons, giving students the chance to try squash in a structured setting. These are receiving excellent feedback and we hope will bolster our Junior Squash Academy.

From the next school year, we hope to accelerate this work with more school outreach and a clearer pathway into the club and Junior Squash Academy.

We are particularly interested in trying out England Squash’s Ready Set Squash programme to help introduce more children to the sport.

7. Courts refurbishment project

We continue to explore options for improving the squash courts and surrounding areas at King Edward VI School Sports Centre.

This could include court wall and floor improvements, better signage, storage, seating and the overall presentation of the squash area.

The project will depend on funding, permissions and partnership working with the school, but we will keep members updated as things develop.

Final thoughts

There is a lot of positive activity around the club at the moment. As ever, the club works best when members get involved, support each other and help create a welcoming atmosphere. Whether that means playing your league matches, coming along to Club Night, encouraging someone new to try squash or helping out where you can, every contribution is very much appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support and see you on court.

James Roberts

Club Chairman