Exhibition match to help flood-hit squash club

A sports club is to host exhibition matches to help fundraise for a squash centre that has seen four of its courts devastated by recent flooding.

The changing rooms, viewing area and foyer area at Cleaver Squash & Fitness in Nuneaton were also damaged by a deluge which affected swathes of the West Midlands last week.

The fundraising event, featuring players such as Abdallah Eissa v Will Salter, will take place on 19 January at Kenilworth Tennis, Squash & Croquet Club, and is being organised by squash coach Guy Pearson.

Tickets have sold out, but people can still help out via a GoFundMe page to donate money to the clean-up fund.

The club is hoping for £30,000 to help cover the cost of repairs, and was almost halfway towards its target.

“Water got into the whole club, so all four courts were flooded," Mr Pearson said.

“All the hallways were flooded and they’ve had to rip out all the carpets.

“They’ll have to take all the wood off and replace it with new flooring.”

The event will see three exhibition games of squash, as well as food provided by Guy's Cliffe Catering.

Andy Pallett, who owns the Nuneaton club, said the club flooded 12 years ago and was unable to get insurance cover for any subsequent flooding.

“As a small family owned club, the cost of repairing all four courts along with the changing rooms and viewing areas far exceeds what we can afford,” he said.

He posted online to thank people for their support, and said he hoped to have the new court laid within the next six weeks.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: [email protected], external