You know after reading Fram's account of the squashsite saga, and I guess it is the closest we have got to putting squash's demise on the world stage.  Yes, I get a funny feeling in my body when I reflect on what has been said, and what could have easily happened to squashsite. Thanks to an outsider Mick Todd who had the foresight to know the closing of Squashsite would have been another nail in the coffin of squash.  Forget the bit about the Olympics as that only lasts for a short time, and then when the "dust settles" that is the end of it.  Rest assured,  it is the day to day and ongoing publicity, the exposure for the game day in day out, the promotion of the players, the immediate feedback to the fans, the real "bread and butter" stuff that is what keeps our sport vibrant.   How many times in posts on this site alone has the lack of cohesion in squash been talked about, the lack of responsibility taken to ensure all good things in squash continue to grow and prosper.  This applies from Club level right through to the International body. When things get tough there seems to be a lot of "smoke" and the establishment just seems to be too busy putting out the fires, and not really doing anything to make sure every positive initiative is recognised, rubber stamped, and continues.

So, do we need an Ambudsman to draw groups together?,  There is definitely a missing link in our overall organisation right through from Club, State, National and International level.  Yes, there are heaps of meetings held all over the world, that cost heaps in air-fares and accommodation, but, but, but ......

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Couldn't agree more Rita - it's an invaluable site.

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Thanks Pirate for the news.

Read all about the return of Squashsite. It is good news for squash that Squashsite will reopen and keep the squash community up to date with the latest in the world of squash.  Good work Mick Todd.

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Well - looks like it's back. Don't know if that was there plan all along, but looks like closing it down flushed some money out!

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Well I still find myself going to squashsite to get my fix every day, and browse the same old stuff day after day since the closure.  Well it is hard to get excited when you try gathering  the latest news results by reading a black and white sheet of print - boring.  A picture means a thousand words, and that is true; and, whatsmore, the WSF site is "down" today.

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bosartek - I only know as much as you do from the comments made by Squash Site, and that they were busy following the announcement, and considering any further options that had come forward.

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Will the site still be online (i.e. the website will remain but content will not be updated)? Or will it be removed altogether and not accessible at all, even for the archived information?

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I can't believe that Squashsite has gone.  I have always been amazed at the dedication of Steve and Fram and just assumed that the site was making them enough to keep it going, rather than it being a pure labour of love.  Like many others, Squashsite was always a site that I checked daily (along with this site of course!) often being the first address to get typed in.  Reading their forum, there are many users saying that they would be prepared to pay a subscription and I for one would be one of those if it could bring the site back.  However, I fear that there is more to this than meets the eye, with the actual media rights to the sport being at stake here and PSA/WISPA wanting to reign things in under their total control. 

I wonder if we will see additional services being made available through PSAlive.tv, as they must already have some contractual arrangement with the PSA in order to be able to broadcast the matches and I suppose it would make sense to channel all squash news through the one portal?  In addition, they are already attending many of the events, albeit not to the extent that Squashsite used to cover.  If we are not going to get Squashsite back, then I hope that the PSA & WISPA will move quickly to replace in some shape or form the excellent dedicated squash news coverage that we all used to enjoy, although I'm sure that no one will ever be able to match the high standards that Squashsite spoiled us with.

Cheers

Jimbob

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Sorry, members I have spent 20 minutes trying to find something to report and I find nothing has been included in any of our prominent sites since last Friday (and it is now Wednesday).  What I did find was about a week old.  The PSAlive site is busy with scheduled and calendars and matches, but sorry no preliminary talk with the players, no photos, and in fact the players could have quit, and nobody would know.

We miss you Squash Site.

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lets not take this lying down everyone. visit www.squashsite.co.uk and voice your opinions and show your support for them on their forum. it sickens me the way that wsf and psa have treated steve cubs and fram but it doesnt surprise me either. squash should be a worldwide recognised sport like tennis etc, but the reason it isnt is because of the squash governing bodies. their refusal to support squashsite shows how incompetent and useless they really are, bloody typical......

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Here here - Adz it was because of the amount of appropriate and varied squash knowledge that I read in Squashsite that I could hold an intelligent conversation at the Squash Reunion last Friday, eg the PAR Scoring, the upsets in the World Open, the comments from Rachael Grinham (our home grown player, now it sounds like squash the vegetable!), why Natalie is a Dutch citizen,  stuff that our retired players want to know about and remember about the game and how it has changed.  These people might be retired but that does not mean that they have forgotten squash.  Adz if only sponsors had the vision, the advertising opportunities, but, sadly, I guess every man for himself in this sport.

Adz - I suspected the new baby had arrived,  Congratulations.  It is surprising how a little bundle can put you out of routine!!  Another player for WISPA in about 2028!

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I may have sat silently over the last few months, not posting my usual essays and long-winded drawn out posts, but some things cannot go unsaid or unwritten.

Squashsite for some was unknown, but for most was the definitive place to go and get any news or updates in the world of Squash. I found that site to be the source and this site to be the forum. I say the same of that site as I do of this site..... Each member of staff does a fantastic job and I envy each of you in your positions.

Many times in my last few years I have wished I could swap places with the staff of Squashsite. If I was free of the financial restraints of having a family to support (the reason for my recent silence is the addition of a baby girl!!), then I would have gladly hopped on a plane to travel the world in support of the Squash scene. Sadly it seems the people of Squashsite are also constrained financially and their journeys have come to an end.

I appreciate that there are some very rich people in the world. Billionaires and multi-millionaires who buy football (soccer) clubs for fun and something to show as a status symbol, but if one of these people had sponsored squashsite with just ONE WEEK's worth of wages for a top footballer (£130k??) then we would be able to see this sport grow.

In the past 2 weeks I have been looking for a way to get £60-£100 of sponsorship for my local team to pay for shirts. My offer in return was a free meal for the main sponsor every home game, easilly worth £5 per night and 12 home matches a season. Hell I'd even buy them a few beers of my own money as a thankyou.

Sadly in this climate it seems no one wants to pay out on the squash scene. Friends of mine were horrified when I told them that the finals tickets for last year's British Open were £50 a head. "How come so expensive?" asked one. £50 for the finals of one of the main tournaments of the Squash calendar. £50 to sit within touching distance of the best Squash players on the planet. £50 to be close enough to see every strained facial expression. £50 to see the agony of defeat or joy of victory after two gladiators have battled for over an hour to win such a modest sum of monies but such a huge prize.

£50? I'd pay it gladly.

Membership for this site?? Once again...... I pay it gladly and I don't even use the Gold Membership material at the moment. I pay the little I can to keep this sport alive.

So what gives me peace of mind? I play whenever I can. I string racquets. I buy racquets for people in my local area. I coach people who want to learn (no charge I might add!!). I offer advice in the local clubs, and giv e comments on the online forums. I do whatever I can, whenever I can to add or give back to this sport. Once I've managed to save up some spare cash I'll be the one sponsoring the local team for kit next year.

If I was one of those billionaires I'd gladly pay £130k a year into a website like Squashsite. I'd be sponsoring tournaments around the world. I'd set up a fund for Squash development and help to make the sport thrive anyway I could.

Sadly my pipe-dreams don't help to change the world of Squash. Sadly any marketing ideas that I could add to a site like Squashsite would have come too late. Sadly I and everyone else will no longer be able to visit that site for updates. Sadly I fear that this sport is dying from the one thing enthusiasm cannot solve...... Cashflow.

Ray, Rita, I am not a rich man, and I wish I was, but if this site ever gets into a situation where you cannot run it without help from others, please let us know and I'll give what I can to keep it going. Hell I'll even have a charity tournament in my local area to try and raise something.

With Squashsite this wasn't an option.

I for one will miss the updates, the funny behind the scenes stories, the moving tributes to retiring players, the news, the views and the written joys of people who did what I wished I could do.

Farewell Squashsite. We wish you a well deserved retirement, but can't help but be sad you're going!

Adz

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unfortunately, it is all too familiar.

check my blog

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what a shame. i checked that site every day. it will be sorely missed.

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