More Than Just A Ranking is a series where we get a personal insight into squash players about more than just who they are on court.
In the latest episode, we speak with English player Grace Gear on how she was inspired to play squash, how her family and friends inspire her within her game and the legacy she hopes to leave in the sport.
“I didn’t get into squash the traditional way. Most people say it’s for their parents, but none of my family played.
My mum actually won a competition in the newspaper for a gym membership and then when she went down there to Heart Country Club, which is where she got the membership for she saw junior squash advertised.
She got my brother playing, who’s four years older than me. Then it was only when she started taking him round to training and like little events that where I had to go with her because I was younger, that I then got involved at five years old.
I did a bit of everything at school rounders, cricket, football, everything and outside of school I did netball as well up till 15. But then that was the age you kind of had to knuckle down with one sport and obviously squash.
When I was a lot younger, I didn’t really pay much attention to the pro game. I was kind of just doing it because I loved it. It was fun.
I didn’t really have any introduction to pro squash, especially as none of my family played, so they weren’t watching it. It was kind of just for the enjoyment.
It was only when I was about 12 or 13 that I started to watch and squash TV and get to know all the players, and that was when it was Nicol David, Raneem El Welily and then also, Alison Waters, who trains near me: she was a role model for me growing up.
[The hardest part of travelling for squash] For me, I think it’s just, not being able to spend as much time with family and friends. You miss out on a lot, like family events, birthdays with your friends going out.
I’ve wanted to spend more time with family at home, but this is my job. At the end of the day, you have to go and do this, but you just have to try and make the most of the time that you do have when you are at home.
There’s a lot of people supporting me. I can just get on the phone anytime with my family, my mum. and then I’ve got my coaches who I can, get in contact with and see as well.
I just want to try and be a good role model, try and behave well on court. I don’t want to set any bad examples for youngsters. I just want to inspire the next generation, hopefully get more people playing squash. Show them that it is such a great sport to play.”
