08-08-08:
Felix takes the reins at Duffield
In his time, he has been a long-time sponsor, regular club player,
occasional driver of the supporters' club minibus and has, every so
often, served in the bar.
Now Felix Frixou is to take on a new role which has made sure
the name of Benz-Bavarian Duffield will challenge again in
the Premier Squash League next season.
Frixou has taken over as manager of the two-time champions from
Brian Hargrave, who stepped down at the end of last season.
As managing director of Benz-Bavarian, his sponsorship was a
big factor in helping the Derbyshire village team become the most
successful club team in the country and now he has the task of
helping to win back the title.
 “I
couldn't just let it die,” he said. “Nobody else could do it so I
had to take it on or else that was a lot of people's hard work, and
15 years of sponsorship, down the pan. It was a bit of a no-brainer
really.”
After 15 years of managing Duffield in the PSL and leading them to
national titles in 2006 and 2007, Hargrave announced he would leave
the role at the age of 66, when they were knocked out in the
semi-finals of last season's play-offs.
His last season was a mixed one, with the team extending their long
winning streak to 23 games, which was broken only when a string of
injuries to their top players left them in no state to seriously
challenge for a hat-trick of titles.
With a clean bill of health, Duffield will be fancied to be among
the leading contenders but Frixou is aware that, as the new man in
charge, there is an added dimension to this challenge.
 “It's
a two-way thing really,” he said. “I suppose the pressure is off in
the eyes of a lot of people because we didn't win last season but,
for me, it has put the pressure on to get that third title.
“I didn't realise how much work Brian did until I tried to do what
he did. He's a hard act to follow.
“Following Brian and trying to improve on something as good as we
had really does test you. I've been used to challenges all my life
and this is certainly one of those.”
The first part of Frixou's task was to sign up the players he wanted
and it has certainly helped that those who were so important to
Duffield, when they were winning titles, already had a good
relationship with their new manager.
Men's world number seven Nick Matthew is fit again and keen
to make up for a season wrecked by injury, as is women's world
number six Tania Bailey.
“Nick has been playing some tournaments and has been playing very
well,” added Frixou.
“It was a tough decision for him to make to step out of it at a
crucial stage of the season and have surgery but he took the right
advice. I spoke to David Pearson, the England coach, the other day
and he is quite happy with Nick's progress.
“Tania reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open a couple of
weeks ago and I had an e-mail from her to say she was feeling good
and looking forward to playing for Duffield again.
“Persuading players to stay wasn't that difficult. They all want to
play for us. The crowds are good and they feel at home.”
Andy Whipp, Peter Billson, Alex Stait, Laura
Hill, Shaun Le Roux, Laurence Delasaux and
Millie Tomlinson have also committed to the squad.
One new face is Chris Fuller, a 17-year-old who was the 2007
British Junior Champion and played for England in the Under-19
European Junior Championships in March this year.
|
Original story from thisisderbyshire
PSL site
The Duffield
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