Award-winning Forres squash player David Taylor eagerly anticipating return to sport
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BACK in September, David Taylor was named winner of the services to squash lifetime achievement award at the 2020 Scottish Squash Annual Awards evening.
After picking up squash in 1973, David (66), from Forres, was the North of Scotland men’s individual champion within three years, a title he won a further six times.
In the 1980s, David helped Forres Squash Club qualify for the National Leagues – the first northern club to do so. He continued to play squash while competing for Forres Mechanics, as well as Lossiemouth and Caledonian.
David remains a prominent player on the Masters circuit having captained and represented Scotland at various Home International events. He was due to skipper Scotland’s over-65 men’s team at this year’s postponed Home Internationals, but has now set his sights on competing at the European Masters Championships in Edinburgh in June.
But it’s what he has achieved in helping grow squash in the north of Scotland that David is most proud of.
He became chairman of the Highland and Islands Squash Association (HISA) at a young age with the ambition to increase participation in the region. This ambition was achieved with the establishment of local squash leagues.
David remains a dedicated coach, last year overseeing the roll- out of Scottish Squash’s landmark Junior Development Programme – Going for Gold – at Forres Squash Club. Before Covid-19 struck he was coaching up to 50 primary school kids a week as part of Going for Gold.
“Coaching is my real passion,” David said.
“I used to get on court seven days a week, helping coach and encouraging participation wherever I could. I just love being involved in the sport and will continue to play and coach as long as I can.
“It’s a big part of my life and I’m extremely grateful to have made so many great friends through squash.”
David is also eagerly anticipating the 2021 European Masters in Edinburgh.
He added: “Having the European Masters in Scotland is a real bonus, especially given the current situation with the pandemic.
“I’ll set that as a big target in my own training, although I’m more determined to get the kids back on the Going for Gold programme and making up for lost time.”
