Sheffield’s former world No 1 Nick Matthew learning to adapt to new role as squash ‘mentor’

Just over two years after calling time on his pro’ career, Matthew seems as busy as ever, lockdown or no lockdown.

Whether it be coaching remotely via a Zoom session, recording and presenting podcasts, or putting out his own keep-fit sessions on YouTube, Matthew has rarely taken a minute.

But then given the helter-skelter way he approached his playing career, that should really come as no surprise.

Along with fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop and the likes of Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro, Sheffield-born Matthew was part of the ‘golden generation’ of British squash, arguably proving the most successful of that revered group.

It was back in 1998 that a fresh-faced 19-year-old Matthew embarked on the long road to achieving his ambition of becoming the world’s best, something he eventually achieved 12 years later.

Briefly replaced at the top of the world rankings, he regained his world No 1 status by the end of 2010, spending the whole of the following year as the one to catch.

In a glittering career, Matthew picked up more than 35 PSA World Tour titles, including three world titles, as well as three Commonwealth Gold medals and a record 10 British National titles.

Matthew was renowned throughout his career for his tenacious style on court, a never-say-die approach that saw several fierce rivalries develop, not least with Willstrop, with whom he had a long-running duel for his entire career.

Before retiring at the end of the 2017-18 season, Matthew had already begun to think about life after playing, by setting up his own self-titled academy at his beloved Hallamshire Squash Club in Sheffield.

He also has an ambassadorial and coaching role with England Squash, while pre-lockdown he was still playing at a competitive level, for Nottingham in the Premier Squash League and for Hallamshire in the Yorkshire Squash League.

“It’s pretty much two years on the dot now,” said Matthew, when recalling the moment his pro tour career came to an end at the PSA World Series Finals in Dubai.

“I think initially after I retired I was maybe gradually working towards that post-playing career with the coaching and stuff, but my mindset was still that of a player.

“I could always remember the feelings and the instincts and then all of a sudden – earlier this year – I realised how long ago it was since I had actually finished on the tour.

“It was almost like the flicking off a switch where one minute I was a tuned-in player and then the next just realising I’d been a long time retired.”

Like the rest of the world, Matthew has had to adapt in recent months given the total sea change to how we live our lives that has been brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

Social distancing meant his Jonah Barrington-style tour of UK squash clubs – labelled ‘Wolf on Tour’ – had to be curtailed, as well as preventing him from doing regular one-on-one coaching sessions with players under his guidance, including rising British stars Declan James and Greg Lobban.

Hours on the court were replaced initially by occasional Zoom workout sessions, although in recent weeks, 39-year-old Matthew has been able to get together with the players on a cricket field near to his home.

Matthew also found other ways to fill his time during the more stricter periods of the UK’s lockdown, recording podcasts with former England team-mate Daryl Selby called ‘Bobby and The Wolf’ whereby they would invite former team-mates and opponents on for a chat. He also produced his own squash-themed YouTube workout videos, filmed in his own back garden.

Squash clubs, along with other ‘indoor sports facilities’ were last week finally given the green light to open their doors again from July 25, allowing the long process for a return to some kind of normality to begin.

Matthew can’t wait to get back on court with his proteges but, in terms of coaching, he admits he has had to develop a different mindset to the one he possessed when taking centre stage out on court.

“It is hard,” admitted Matthew. “My personality is a bit all or nothing. I throw myself out there and I have to remember that these players are on a journey and you can sometimes be guilty of trying to create instant rewards or success.

“So you learn about what makes each individual tick, it’s definitely been a challenge and I have to remember to pace myself with it.

“I think it is natural that you will draw upon your own experiences with coaches and how they coached you.

“There are going to be certain elements that are almost going to be non-negotiable and there’s other aspects where you have to be a kind of sounding board, or a mentor.

“I still speak to my old coach David Pearson once a week and he’s almost like a sounding board for ideas.

“I’m also lucky that I’ve got Neil Guirey at Hallamshire who was working with me during my career and he’s now head coach at my academy now along with myself.

“He is very steady whereas I’m up and down like a yo-yo. He keeps me grounded because you have to remember that you are in it for the long haul.”

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