Squash players in Lichfield are reaching the end of an era as their league goes online.
For more than 30 years staff at Friary Grange Leisure Centre have pinned up league tables before tallying up the rankings at the end of each month.
However a merger with the new Lichfield Squash Club-organised league means the traditional methods will now disappear in favour of a more up to date alternative.
“The online league has been the beating heart of our club since we formed in March last year and has proved very popular with our members,” said Lichfield Squash Club chairman James Roberts. “It was such a shame watching the slow demise of the old Friary League and in some ways, the club has been contributing to this by providing an alternative format.
“We therefore decided it made sense to merge the two formats in order to provide all players across the city with the same opportunity to compete in a thriving league.”
The move means that the new competition has eight divisions of six players battling it out at Friary Grange Leisure Centre and King Edward VI Leisure Centre.
James added: “Our online system fully automates the whole administration of the leagues, with players able to arrange their games and enter their scores online and league rankings being updated as results are entered.
“The addition of the new players will undoubtedly increase the competitiveness of the new leagues and we hope will provide us with a stronger platform from which we can continue to increase squash participation in Lichfield.”
The club has also set up a squash ladder system to allow members to play competitive games and help beginners and less experienced members to take part.
For more information on the new setup, visit www.lichfieldsquash.co.uk or email club secretary James Hallett at jamesrhallett@aol.com.
