Four squash enthusiasts from Burton Manor Sports Association got as close as they ever would get to the world open trophy when they joined the current world champion Nick Matthew on stage in Rotterdam. "We'd travelled a long way to support the English players, so we thought why not?" said Alan McDonald, Burton Manor's team captain who had organised the trip.

 

Regular spectators at major events in England, the group found it hard to resist when it was announced that the World Open was to be staged in Rotterdam. "We were early enough in our planning to manage to get great tickets for the semis and the finals" said McDonald "and we were treated to some spectacular squash".

The World Open is the most prestigious of all the squash titles and Nick Matthew is one of only a few players to have retained his title in defeating Frenchman Gregory Gaultier.