Alfie Wheeler is one of the very talented young squash players nurtured by Peter Crook at the Meads Squash Club in Milford Haven and as a measure of the improvement he has shown Alfie has already played three times in the club's premier league team and been invited to join Squash Wales Academy Squad.
Alfie is only 16 years old but is maturing nicely on the court - and showing an excellent attitude off it, as he proved alongside his playing chum Tomos Edmonds at a recent club competition when they helped to run the Sunday part of the event because club coach Peter Crook was unavoidably detained elsewhere.
Alfie and Tomos sorted out the order of play, recorded the results and even did more than their fair share of refereeing, to earn unstinting praise from senior Welsh international players James Walters and Nick Dyer, who were also in attendance.
"Alfie has really settled in well since he joined us," said James, "and made great strides because he is prepared to listen to good advice, works hard at his fitness and skill levels - and is ever-ready to help in anything we do."
Started in Manchester – and then Newcastle Emlyn
Alfie first played the game in Manchester when he was visiting older brother Thomas in university there and was a little bored - so mum Mary, who had played some squash in her younger days, took him along to a local leisure centre for a knock about.At first he preferred badminton but on his return to West Wales joined the Teifi Squash Club, based in Newcastle Emlyn, and played there for six months as he got used to hitting the ball cleanly against the back wall of the court.
Then squash coach Aled James took Alfie to his first competition at The Meads Leisure Centre, although he wasn't really sure if he wanted to go – and it wasn’t an auspicious start because Alfie came last in a competition won by Tomos Edmonds!
Inspired by Mr Crook!
But he met Pete Crook and was inspired to stay involved as Pete offered Alfie some coaching on the Sunday.
“It meant more travel for my parents, Mary and Chris, but they have given me great support,” said Alfie, and in the 2.5 years since I haven’t really looked back.”
One of the target areas that Pete suggested was a high level of fitness and it is a discipline that Alfie has embraced because he pops over to the Teifi Squash Club almost every morning and evening to put in some practice, often on his own.
Not content with those solo practice sessions at Teifi Squash Club, Alfie also regularly attends Saturday morning fitness sessions with Peter Crook in Milford Haven which he describes in one word - 'brutal'!
After that, plus a break for his trembling legs, Alfie really enjoys a one-to-one session with Peter Crook.
"Pete does a great job in looking at my technique and making suggestions on how to improve things - and sets targets which I enjoy trying to reach.
Busy Sundays – coaching and playing
"Then I travel back down again on a Sunday and I spend the first two hours coaching five or six juniors who are just starting out in the game and are very keen to improve. They are a lively bunch and I always try to introduce an element of fun into every session.
"After that I have another two hours where I join Tomos, Lloyd and the rest for more coaching with Pete, as well as some practice match play amongst ourselves - and a bonus is that sometimes we are joined by Welsh internationals James Walters and Nick Dyer and it is a great challenge to see how much players like me can still improve against them."
Called to higher things
Another bonus came recently when Alfie was invited to join the South Wales Academy Squad, which is coached by Nick Birt, which comprises all the top junior players from the area.
“We train on Wednesday evenings in Swansea (my mother is again a great chauffeur!) and we spend lots of time on routines, building skills, tactical play - and a bit of fitness when time allows.
“It sometimes takes me out of my comfort zone, what with the intensity of it all, but again I am up for the challenge because I know my squash is improving!"
Come a long way already – and learned a lot
Alfie has actually come a long way since his first official competition, which was the Welsh Closed Championships in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, because there were a lot more people than he was used to, both players and spectators. He came ninth out of ten entrants in his class but laughingly admits that his only consolation was the fact that his team mate Tomos finished below him!
But Alfie has certainly learned a lot since then as he has competed in the open events at Swansea, North Wales, the Welsh Closed again and the Welsh Open.
"As well as these I won the Newport Junior Open, which was a smaller competition, and came runner-up in the Cardiff Junior Open.
"All these were at under 17 level and since this is my final year in this age category I know that next year will be even tougher - but I am looking forward to the challenge already.
Lighter moment
One of the lighter moments so far came when Alfie made his debut for The Meads team in the Premier League in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, and he played at No 5 against Sarah Creed, the sister of Welsh No 1 Peter Creed, and won an exciting five-setter.
He then sent Tomos a text to announce that he had beaten 'Creedie', knowing that Tomos would think he meant the Welsh Men's champion - and Pete Crook had also been primed to continue the leg pull. Tomos was mightily impressed and when he later found out the truth he shared in the good-natured joke!
Moving onwards and upwards
Alfie has since played in another two Premier League matches and won one of them but in the main he has played at No 1 for the second team, comprising the likes of Kieran John, Tomas and Lloyd Edmonds. They started out in senior squash as the rank underdogs who lost every match in their first league spell but improved so dramatically that on their next venture they came a creditable second - and recently won their Winter League Division Two to be assured of promotion!
Final word
We leave the final word about Alfie to local squash doyen Pete Crook.
"At the Meads Squash Club we want to develop quality players but we also want our youngsters to develop respect for team-mates and opponents alike - and to be part of the wider sporting community if they can.
"We are delighted with Alfie Wheeler on all counts and if he maintains his current enthusiasm and rate of progress he is going to be an asset to our club and county in the game of squash!"
We saw at first hand his willingness to help out at The Meads and could praise Alfie Wheeler no higher than that – and like Pete we wish him every success in the future!