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SQUASH AROUND THE GLOBE
By: Esteban Casarino
Most of us that have been playing squash for a while, have had old rackets
hung on the wall, but there´s someone in Australia who has taken that to the
next level. I was searching for a especific “old wooden racket” and a friend
from Scotland told me wich direction to go, that´s how I met this big squash
fan, Albert Amstrong is “ The Man” when we talk about squash
memorabilia. He has his own squash court and, probably, the biggets squash
museum in the World. We contacted him about his collectión, and this is what
he told us:
Albert,
how and when, did you get involved in squash?
Played a few social games around 1967 while living in Sydney came to Melbourne
1969 and Joined the South Yarra Club one of the original 5 clubs that started
competative squash in Australia. Started playing Pennant (Leauge) in1969 in
the lowest F grade,they merged with Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in 1987 whom I
still play with, have played about 1050 matches to date.
Do you
still play regularly?
Yes
2 – 3 training /social matches and 1 Pennant(Leauge) each week, about
110-150 matches each year
Now,
getting into your collection, how and when did it started?
Have a court at home, around 1985-6 hung a few of the old broken / tired
Rackets up, they looked good, friends donated their old ones, and away we
went! One signifigant development was acquiring a large Banner while playing
in the World Masters Games in Demark in 1989, I have got Banners from most
games since then.
How big
it is?
800
Squash Rackets (Frames) 90 Lawn Tennis, 30 assorted Badminton, Racquet
Rackets,Real tennis, 100 year old Table tennis set, anything you hit a ball
with. 180 Squash Books, badges,Postage Stamps, Flags, Posters, Photographs
Have you
ever heard about another “ Squash Museum” like yours??
No, a
few clubs have some Rackets and Posters,but not in the scale of mine but I’m
sure some other “Nut” around the World is similar to me. Who I
would love to hear from
Where is
it located?
Melbourne, which is in the South East corner of Australia
You also
collect squash balls, wich is not as usual, tell us about that.
Unless a ball is still in its original packaging all balls look the same,but
packaged unused balls with endorsed ranked players pictures on the box are
collectible. I have aound 30 boxed ball earliest c,1970
Mention
a few Jewells of your collection? ( frames, balls, pictures etc. like 5 or so
)
Racket Geoff Hunt used to win 1981 British Open, White ball signed by all 8
players in English Super Series,.Page of London Illustrated News,Feb 8 1862
showing boys hitting up against wall of Harrow school London. Squash Racket
Pin produced in 1932 for Los Angeles Olympic games, Signed
leather bound book by Heather McKay
If you
had to take 3 frames, wich will you pick and why?
Geoff’s 1981 Winning racket a Stellar, Prosser c.1905 terrific
condition. Wisden c.1910 a beauty
Any good
memories while building this “ Squash Dream”??
Meeting
people like you, from all around the World
How big
is it gonna get?
Never
finísh!!!
Any squash fan around the
world, should visit, at least virtually, Albert Amstrong’s collection.
Good memories makes happy
people and to most of us SQUASH means exactly that. Thank´s Albert.
For more info, go to:
www.squashcollection.com
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