BLACKBURN Northern Sports Club is sending out an SOS...Sample Our Squash!

The Pleckgate-based club, which is more than 100 years old, has spent nearly £10,000 refurbishing its two courts and recently launched a scheme to get youngsters to take up the sport.

While the club is bucking the trend in terms of adult members, it is the junior ranks they want to increase and it hopes new Saturday morning coaching classes will encourage budding squash players to join.

The sessions are run by qualified squash coach Sarah Bailey between 10am-12noon and players aged from seven and eight to 16 are welcome to attend. No experience of the game is required.

Club official Jeremy Clarkson said the game has been hit by dwindling numbers at grassroots level and said it was important to bring fresh faces in to the club to secure the future of Northern’s squash section which has been running for 40 years.

The club has four senior teams competing in the NWCL Squash League and has several leisure players and a handful of junior members.

“It is vital we get youngsters in to the club because they are out future,” said Clarkson who plays for the club’s first team in the North West Counties Squash League.

“Our adult section is bucking the trend slightly as we have had an influx of players because the court at Stonyhurst College has closed and we have attracted a lot of the Clitheroe players.

“But generally, numbers have dropped and that is across a lot of clubs at this level.

“So we want to spread the word that we are holding these coaching sessions for juniors and it would be great to see more youngsters involved because it is a wonderful sport to be involved in.”

For more information contact Jeremy Clarkson on 07891 958394 or Sarah Bailey on 07721 005024.

n Two members of the junior set up were in action at the Fairways Open. Edward Bailey finished second in the U11s while Thomas Bailey was seventh in the U15s.