Racquets are first squash club to get Clubmark award

Lisburn Racquets has become the first squash club in Ulster to achieve the prestigious Clubmark NI quality standard.
Mayor Andrew Ewing looks on as Declan Steele, third from left, Sport NI club development consultant, presents members of Lisburn Racquets Club with a Clubmark NI accreditation award for effective management, quality coaching and competition safety in sport. US1444-505cd  Picture: Cliff DonaldsonMayor Andrew Ewing looks on as Declan Steele, third from left, Sport NI club development consultant, presents members of Lisburn Racquets Club with a Clubmark NI accreditation award for effective management, quality coaching and competition safety in sport. US1444-505cd  Picture: Cliff Donaldson
Mayor Andrew Ewing looks on as Declan Steele, third from left, Sport NI club development consultant, presents members of Lisburn Racquets Club with a Clubmark NI accreditation award for effective management, quality coaching and competition safety in sport. US1444-505cd Picture: Cliff Donaldson

The certificate of accreditation was presented to June Fahy, representing LRSC, by Declan Steele of Sport NI, in the presence of Lisburn’s Mayor, Andrew Ewing, and representatives of Ulster Squash.

The squash club follows in the footsteps of Lisburn Racquets Badminton section, Alpha Badminton Club, who achieved Clubmark accreditation earlier this year.

An accredited club is recognised as a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages and abilities, as well as helping parents and carers know that they’re choosing the right club for their young people.

The standard is based on four key areas of club development; activity/playing programmes, duty of care and welfare, ensuring the club is committed to fairness and equity and club management.

Club chairman, Michael Graham, on behalf of Lisburn Racquets Squash Club, thanked June for coordinating the Clubmark application process, and all club members who had contributed time and effort to the final submission.

June commented, “Any of us involved in the Clubmark application initially viewed the process with some scepticism, and a fear that it might be a badge for badge’s sake, but we quickly realised the benefit of self-analysis.

“Already we have made major progress in addressing issues identified as weaknesses in, or threats to, our club.

“We thank Racquets Club manager Trevor Woods, Bob Colhoun and the LRC Management Committee, and Ulster Squash for their support.”