Nick Matthew To Be Honoured As Sheffield Legend by Kate Reveley August 13, 2013 -
Two time World Squash Champion Nick Matthew will join Jessica Ennis,
Sean Bean, Michael Palin and Sir Sebastian Coe as a Sheffield Legend
when the Lord Mayor of Sheffield officially unveils his plaque on the
city’s prestigious ‘Walk of Fame’ on Friday 13 September 2013.
Members of the public
are invited to watch the unveiling which will take place from 12pm
outside Sheffield Town Hall. Lord Mayor Vicki Priestley announced Nick
as the next Sheffield Legend back in June this year, following
nominations from the Sheffield public.
Nick claimed his
maiden British Open title back in 2006, the first home-grown winner for
67 years, and has since gone on to become a two time World Squash
Champion and double Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist.
He was the first
English player ever to be crowned World Champion and has contributed
more to the sport of squash than any other British player in the last
10 years.
In addition to his
sporting accolades, Nick has also been a massive inspiration for junior
players at his squash club, Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club, where
he regularly plays exhibition matches and where the club has named a
new show court after him.
He has helped teach
sport to disabled pupils from Talbot Special School, is patron of
several local bodies and charities including St Luke’s Hospice and
Amy’s House, the Yorkshire section of the Sports Aid Foundation and has
a pending patronage for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Nick’s philanthropic
efforts are not limited to Yorkshire though, as he has also raised
money for national charities Help For Heroes and Sports Aid. Nick does much to help
promote Sheffield wherever he goes in the world and has been working
with Marketing Sheffield supporting the city’s highly successful
Conference Ambassador Programme.
Brendan Moffett,
Director of Marketing Sheffield said “Nick fully deserves his Sheffield
Legend status. He is a great ambassador and advocate for the city and
has used his well-earned profile to benefit many excellent community
causes”.
About Nick Matthew:
Nick Matthew made his
breakthrough on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Men’s World
Tour in 2006 when, seeded six, he claimed his maiden British Open title
to become the first home-grown winner of the world’s most prestigious
event for 67 years.
In 2009, Matthew went
on to reclaim the world-famous trophy and the triumph brought to a
notable climax a twelve-month period in which the England No.1 battled
back to top form after undergoing career-threatening shoulder surgery
in January 2008.
Title triumphs in four
successive 2010 events, the Swedish Open, North American Open, Canary
Wharf Classic and Sky Open, led to Matthew topping the world rankings
for the first time in June to become the first English World No.1 for
six years and was followed by success in the Australian Open of the
same year.
Boosted by Gold Medals
in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi, Matthew went on to finish the year on a high, winning the
World Open for the first time in Saudi Arabia and becoming the first
Englishman to do so. Closing out the year by winning the PSA Masters,
again in Delhi, ensured that Matthew was crowned 2010 PSA Player of the
Year.
Nick has maintained
his status within the sports peloton with subsequent career highlights
including successfully defending his World Open title in 2011 and
winning a record fifth British Nationals title and third British Open
crown.
For more information, visit: http://www.facebook.com/nmsquash & www.nickmatthew.co.uk
About Sheffield Legends:
Sheffield Legends was
first introduced by Sheffield City Council in 2005 to acknowledge
specific individuals from Sheffield, who have contributed to the
profile of the City in their own unique way.
Sheffield Legends are
honored with a plaque on the ‘Walk of Fame’ which is located on the
paving outside Sheffield Town Hall. Much like the Hollywood version,
the plaques bear each famous person’s name and credits why they are
famous.
From 2013 onwards,
Marketing Sheffield will head up the promotion of the Sheffield Legends
campaign on behalf of Sheffield City Council.
Legends are nominated
by the public once a year. All nominations are then considered by an
independent Selection Board representing various sectors from across
the city, including arts, sport, education, media and business.
Successful nominees
for this prestigious accolade need to be living, have a strong
affiliation with Sheffield (having been born in the city or lived there
for many years) and need to have achieved either national or
international acclaim
Born out of the
Marketing Team in Creative Sheffield and the former Yorkshire South
Tourism team, Marketing Sheffield is the official promotional arm for
Sheffield.
Marketing Sheffield
works in partnership with the private sector to drive the city's
reputation and visitor economy, attracting major events, conferences
and maximising economic impact.
Marketing Sheffield is
also responsible for the Sheffield Convention Bureau, Welcome to
Sheffield Website and Tourist Information Centre.
Marketing Sheffield's strategic approach works on a model of three key areas: Trade, Talent and Tourism.
Visit: www.welcometosheffield.co.uk
For more information, visit: http://www.facebook.com/nmsquash & www.isportgroup.com
