History, Goals and Aims

The Past

Merthyr Squash Club started with a group of enthusiastic local legends that played out of Aberfan Leisure Centre nearly 50 years ago. Some of the founding member included Barrie Lewis, Ken Barrel, Mike Lynch, Peter Steed, Geoff Skyrme and Adrian Williams. When the original Rhyd y Car Leisure Centre was built in 1975, they left Aberfan and started to play in Merthyr, and so Merthyr Squash Club, in its earliest form was born. It soon became part of the Squash Wales community when fixtures against many local teams were played, including against Cardiff Vets and Caerphilly Squash Club.

Merthyr Squash Club has continued to grow and develop, enjoying many highs and disappointing lows in the intervening years and notable events have included moving into the new Rhyd y Car leisure Centre, helping to produce future professional Joel Makin through or junior system and the unfortunate break due to covid-19. Since Covid restrictions ended, the club has grown as the community have looked for ways to get out and get active again and is now thriving with the largest junior division in Wales, and has started to host Squash Wales events in addition to the Squash Wales leagues.

The Future

With the golden jubilee of Squash in Merthyr in 2025, the club has decided to celebrate this event by offering the citizens of Merthyr and the Valleys the opportunity to experience the fun and exhilaration of the sport of Squash. To mark this milestone of sport we have set ourselves objectives to secure another 50 years of squash in the Valleys. Looking at the most successful clubs in the area and South Wales there are several ingredients to their success, and so the idea of Project 50 was born. In a few words, Project 50 is the celebration of fifty years of Squash in Merthyr Tydfil and securing the future of our sport for the next 50 years.

The aims of Project 50 - 

Tell the Squash story

Education of the social, physical and cognitive benefits of Squash.

Increase of participation.

Secure the future of Squash in Merthyr and the surrounding area.