Lee Beachill
The World number two has been working with Malcolm
since the age of eight
...
When did you start working with Malcolm ?
I first went to Malcolm when I was 8 years old. I was fortunate because I
got recognised by a coach at the local club where I played who luckily
knew Malcolm. I had coaching with this guy for a few months, and he asked
Malcolm to look at me. I went over to Pontefract, and that was it really.
I’ve been pretty much every day since.
Could you define Malcolm’s coaching?
He basically starts at a very early age, with a sound technique, and then
he watches you, he watches you develop as you get older, and your game
develops from there. A lot of discipline, everything is based on a sound
tried and tested technique from a very early age. It’s a technique that
shouldn’t let you down under pressure, it’s very simple, no complication,
a swing that produces the racquet correct to the ball. Once it there, it’s
a sound place for you to add your own little style, which Malcolm’s
players do.
Is he very technically orientated?
To be honest, probably since I was 18/19, Malcolm hasn’t really spoken
about technique. If he sees something coming out of place, if I start
getting into bad habits, he’ll mention it, but we haven’t changed my
technique since I was probably 12 years old. It’s basically the same. And
he let me develop as a player, and that’s been about it. Now, Malcolm
organises my time, he gets me on court in the morning, and all the stuff
we talk about now is tactical with regards to other players, the countries
we are visiting, different courts, just different ways of approaching
every match. The technique and the squash should hopefully take care of
themselves.
On a professional level, what did he bring
into your life?
He gave me a career basically! I went to him as an 8 year old kid with
ambitions of being a squash player, and now, I’m a 26 year old man, and
I’ve got a great career in squash. And I’ve had a great career in squash,
and hopefully it will continue to get better, and I obviously want to
become number one. So he gave me a career in a sport and a lifestyle which
I love.
What makes Malcolm different from other coaches,
do you think?
He brings to the kids a great discipline I think. The thing about
Pontefract is the way he teaches, there are kids around in a social scene
who mix with adults on a daily basis. And I don’t think you find that
generally in other walks of life. It’s quite unusual to find kids of 11 to
15 actually mixing and socialising with adults. The early age in which
Malcolm brings the kids into an adult environment is priceless for the
kids. And I have that, and James obviously had that, and the kids, even
just local players who hang around at Pontefract, they all have that, and
generally, they are a lot better people for it for getting that, and
hopefully, I’m a better person for getting that.
Is Malcolm a father figure for you?
Well, I have my father, with whom I don’t speak much about squash. He
obviously takes a massive interest in what I’m doing. I love spending time
with my dad, because it’s just a completely different aspect of my life,
and deals more with the day to day living of my life, and everything apart
from squash. Malcolm is certainly my father
figure when it comes to my career, and my squash, and how I conduct myself
and all that sort of stuff.
If you had to describe him?
Just a very down to earth guy, who doesn’t want for anything, but
basically gives everything. People like that are few and far between,
squash is a whole lot better for having people like Malcolm, well
actually, I don’t think there is anyone else like Malcolm. To have someone
like Malcolm involved in squash is priceless because he gives his life to
the game and has done pretty much forever without actually getting
anything back in return. And actually he didn’t want anything. He wants to
see the game grow, and he obviously wants the best for me and I want to be
the best that I can for him.
Could you describe Malcolm with 3 words?
Old…Na…
Opinionated, fair, humble.
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"He gave me a
career
in a sport and a lifestyle which I love." |
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"He gives his
life to a minority sport which basically gives him back nothing." |
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