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Golden boy Lee proud of glittering career
Lee Beachill knows his retirement from the professional squash circuit owing to a knee injury has been somewhat premature.
"Sad" describes his current state of mind but when the dust settles Beachill can bask safe in the knowledge he achieved his lifelong aim of becoming the best player in the world.
Pontefract Squash Club's Beachill is leaving the sport aged 31 after failing to recover from the cartilage damage to his left knee he picked up in July last year.
Two operations have failed to rectify the situation and this week's National Squash Championships in Manchester will be Beachill's last appearance on the men's professional tour.
Twice a gold medallist in the Commonwealth Games and world number one in 2004, Beachill has slid to 24th in the rankings but felt he had more to offer if he could recover from his knee nightmare.
He hasn't, but when all is said and done, the Pontefract ace knows he can reflect on a fine career, in which he fulfilled his ultimate goal.
"I'm happy with what I've done and the only thing I ever wanted to do since I was eight-years-old really was become world number one," said a reflective Beachill.
"I achieved that and that is something that no-one can ever take away from me which is something that I am very proud of.
"I've won two Commonwealth gold medals and I have done a lot of things that I am very, very proud of.
"I did not envisage that I could have achieved that much as a youngster and, looking back, I have been as successful, if not more so than I ever thought I would have been.
"I am happy with what I have achieved, I would like to have played for another year or maybe two and unfortunately that wasn't to be but looking back I am pretty proud of what I have achieved."
Huddersfield-born Beachill has landed nine Professional Squash Association World Tour titles and has played a leading part in a golden era of squash in Yorkshire with club-mate James Willstrop the world number five and Sheffield's Nick Matthew at 9.
British Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2005, Beachill took gold at both the Manchester and Melbourne Commonwealth Games in the mixed doubles, partnering Peter Nicol in both 2002 and 2006.
Autumn 2004 saw Beachill defeat Nicol in the final of the US Open and dethrone him to become the first English-born player to be crowned world number one and the squash ace was also runner up in the World Open that year.
Beachill, coached by club-mate Willstrop's dad Malcolm, also helped England win the World Team Squash Championships in 2005.
For all his past glories, Beachill is adamant he had more to offer.
The Yorkshire ace had no intentions of dragging out his career longer than necessary but admits 31 is too soon to be leaving the sport.
"I feel sad really, as one thing I always wanted to do is call time when I felt the time was right and unfortunately I haven't been able to do that," said Beachill, who first began playing the game at Skelmanthorpe Squash Club.
“I wanted to play for at least another year or so but I am just not able to do that and unfortunately I had to make a tough decision.
“I’m 31 but I didn’t really put a time limit on it – I just always thought I would know when the time is right, I wouldn’t carry on playing longer than I should do and I always thought I would be quite sensible about that. Unfortunately things happen, things crop up and you have to reassess and reevaluate then.
“That’s something I have had to do over the past couple of months, I have got my head around it a bit more now but for the first couple of months it was a little bit difficult really.”
Beachill toyed with the idea of playing through the pain but his personal pride would not allow him to become an also-ran of the professional tour.
This week’s National Squash Championships will be Beachill’s swan-song, the sixth seed playing Surrey’s 11th-seed Tom Richards in the last 16 last night.
“I’ve ummed and aahed about it for the past couple of months, I’ve been trying to get it right and trying to get my knee right,” said Beachill.
“I resigned myself to the fact that if I couldn’t compete at the very highest level then maybe I would compete at the one from highest level but I am just not happy doing that.
“I’m not prepared to do that and I can’t justify travelling around the world and not being able to compete at the highest level that I know I can – there is my family and all the rest of it and I am not prepared to just go around surviving really on the squash tour.”
Beachill is now contemplating his future but says he will definitely stay involved in squash – he’s planning to announce a new role at the end of the month.
The Pontefract-star can no longer taste personal glory but hopes in some capacity he can still utilise his expertise.
“I’m definitely staying within the sport,” he said. “The sport has given me so much and I still think I have got a lot to offer whether that be in a coaching capacity or something more.
“I have decided to retire and I have let people know that this will be my last tournament and several opportunities have come up.
“I am thinking that through and will hopefully decide what is best for me. I am hoping to be able to announce more at the end of February into March maybe.”
A new chapter beckons but as a player, Pontefract, Yorkshire and Britain is now losing one of their brightest talents of recent years.
However, one’s loss is another’s gain and after 13 years as a professional, Beachill is looking forward to dedicating more time to
partner Nicola and children Jessica and Ben.
Times are a-changing and Beachill’s biggest headache will now be choosing their destination for the rarity of a summer break abroad.
“The people around you have to sacrifice so much when you are a professional athlete and there comes a time when you have to give a little bit back,” said a sentimental Beachill.
“Whatever I decide to do after this I will give it 110 per cent no doubt but the fact that we are probably going to be able to go on a family holiday for the first time in about six years is going to be quite nice and quite a novelty!”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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