The remit of the Squash Committee is to pursue the interests of the club and members and ensure a healthy and thriving squash section at Northern. The committee meets regularly to plan upcoming events, review the ongoing management of the squash section, and plan future improvements to the club.
Our committee members come from a wide range of backgrounds within the club. New members are welcomed by agreement with the existing committee.
Allan Curry
Chairman · Safeguarding Officer · NFC Executive & FinanceAllan leads the Northern Squash Committee with a clear mission: to keep Northern at the forefront of squash in the North East.
Working closely with the committee, Allan oversees the squash section's direction, facilities, and membership experience — ensuring the club continues to attract and retain players at every level. He also serves as Safeguarding Officer and represents squash on the Northern FC Executive and Finance Committees.
Andrew Smith
NFC Management SupportAndrew has been trying to master squash since the age of seven — and readily admits he's still working on it.
What he has mastered is bringing his professional background to bear on the technical and management challenges that occasionally arise at a modern squash facility. In his committee role Andrew provides valuable NFC management support, helping the squash section navigate the occasional in-depth technical issue with the benefit of an experienced outside perspective.
Bob Aynsley
Adult Lead CoachBob's coaching philosophy starts with one simple belief: that enthusiasm is contagious. His passion for squash drives everything — from the way he plans sessions to the way he motivates players of all abilities.
Bob takes the time to understand how each individual learns best, adapting his methods and setting achievable goals that keep players progressing. Despite years of high-level play and a wealth of accumulated knowledge, he remains committed to his own development as a coach — always seeking better approaches and staying current with coaching practice.
His sessions are carefully structured, honest and open. Players are encouraged to ask questions, identify their own patterns, and make positive changes — with video analysis used where it helps. Sessions can be physically and mentally demanding, but always delivered in an encouraging and genuinely fun environment.
Bob asks only two things in return: maximum effort, and a willingness to learn.
Dave North
Team Fixtures Secretary · County RepresentativeDave has been a Northern member since 2003 and on the committee since 2008 — making him one of the club's longest-serving volunteers.
He coordinates all team fixtures and nominations, represents Northern on the County Squash Committee, and organises the popular Saturday Adult Club Play sessions alongside occasional club competitions.
Dave's squash story began in Cheshire in 1981. A move to the North-East in 1990 took him through Ponteland, Kingston Park, and the Northumberland Club in Jesmond before he found his home at Northern. Today he plays in the internal leagues and men's teams, captaining the sixth team in recent seasons.
Keith Linsley
Health & Safety OfficerKeith joined the committee in 2020 as Northern's COVID officer, bringing the methodical risk-assessment skills of an NHS consultant psychiatrist to the task of getting squash bubbles safely back on court.
As restrictions lifted and squash returned to something approaching normal, Keith found himself with a growing appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes — and stayed on. He now holds the Health and Safety brief.
Like Tim, one of his ambitions is to crack league one of the internal leagues. Age, knees, and a candid self-assessment of previous performance suggest this remains an aspiration rather than an expectation.
Lesley Vitty
Ladies SquashLesley has been part of Northern's squash story since 1996, bringing over 25 years of competitive experience and a genuine passion for growing women's squash at the club.
Introduced to the game in her teens, Lesley competed at the Dolphin Centre and Darlington Squash Clubs before representing Durham & Cleveland at county senior level. After relocating to Newcastle in 1992, she found her squash home at Northern — and has been a dedicated presence in the club leagues and ladies teams ever since.
In recent years Lesley has stepped into a coordination role, supporting Ladies Team Captains and helping develop the broader women's game at Northern. Her county career has extended to representing Northumbria at both Senior and Over-40 levels. She joined the committee formally in 2024.
Tim Barker
Junior Committee · NFC Executive RepTim caught the squash bug through his children — both of whom came through Richard Vitty's schools outreach programme — and has been an enthusiastic convert ever since.
Now Chairman of Junior Squash and captain of the fourth men's team, Tim loves the team environment, the social side of club life, and watching his daughters develop through the junior structure.
Originally from Lancashire, Tim's law firm sponsors the club's annual junior event — a tangible commitment to the game's future at Northern. He harbours an ambition to reach league one of the internal leagues. Watch this space.
Wayne Eastaugh
Internal Leagues · Online Bookings · WebsiteWayne took on the internal leagues following the emigration of Andy Lee — his predecessor and close collaborator — and has been managing them through Wazygoose ever since.
Wayne worked with Andy to build the Wazygoose League Management system that now powers the club's leagues, before taking on the role himself. He also administers the club's online bookings and website.
Having picked up squash in his mid-twenties, Wayne remains a committed if pragmatic mid-table player — currently working with coach Derek Collins to nudge that standing in the right direction. His squash journey before Northern included playing in Preston and Manchester, where he represented Springfields Club in team squash and was a regular at the National Squash Centre at SportCity.
