Signatures in support of John Mullins

Come to my shop in Barkers Pool for all your squash equipment

John has been a great asset to the club and I sincerely hope that his that his proposed departure has been by mutual consent !

John is great with the kids and is integral to the family participation in the club. I'm a member as is my eldest son who very much enjoys the sessions John handles on Saturday mornings. No kids no family club future.

John is much more than a resident coach, he is the focal point of the club for a very large section of its members His warmth and personality are still a part of what makes this club different, welcoming and succesful. This issue has to be resolved amicably

Some of the newer members of the club may not realise the significant role that John has played in the development of the club Without his efforts the club would not be where it is today On a personal level all of my sons had a fantastic time as juniors ,due to John's enthusiasm and encouragement My whole family would be very sorry to see him go

l have been a Hallamshire member for many years & John has always been there. Members know that John has always worked to improve our club for everyone. It is due to his efforts that Hallamshire is the flagship club for racketball in the whole country & also third in the country for squash. We need to praise & thank him for his hard work & support him. It would be a grave mistake & a sad day if he were to leave Hallamshire.

I am very sorry to hear that John is leaving. He has coached myself and my daughter. He is very inspirational and passionate. He is a great asset to the club and will be greatly missed.

I am sad to see John leaving, he has got so many in to racketball including my sons and myself... Won't be the same in Hallamshire Club without John ...

I resigned from the Squash & Racketball Committee as I did not wish to be associated with the Board's strategy which lead to the forced resignation of John. The Board's position is not in the best interests of the Club or it's members.

John is a friendly, welcoming face in the club and is always someone who has time for you and makes you feel a part of the club. He is an inspiring coach to children starting out and is encouraging of all children in his role as head coach. Both my boys have taken up squash and one only recently thanks to John's gentle persuasion. It is critical that the Hallamshire encourages children of all ages to take up sport and if it becomes unaffordable for most families it will take this option away or they will go elsewhere. very disappointed that John could be treated in this way after years of loyal service.

John is the glue that holds the Hallamshire together, installing confidence, friendship and enthusiasm amongst the members to take on new things. He promotes team spirit and drives forward the leagues and club competitions. His help and and encouragement towards the members young and old is above and beyond. He welcomed me into the Hallamshire and from that my children and then my husband joined, a similar story can be told by many families holding membership at the Hallamshire. John coached my children to play squash and racketball giving them the tools to confidently join clubs at university. John is unique, he is always smiling, he takes interest in the members at the club and even years after he last saw them he remembers their name. It will be a very sad day for the members but more so for the club when he leaves. John will be an exceptionally hard act to follow and I as a member would like you to stay.

John has dedicated so much time and energy to the club. He is totally committed to the squash and racquetball section and is always very welcoming and encouraging to both young and old. It would be a shame to lose such a valuable asset.

As a relatively new member to Hallamshire I've found John to be incredibly supportive, friendly and welcoming. His training sessions are as well as being very useful, great fun. He has gone out of his way to help me suggesting people to play and helping find a team for me to join in the summer leagues. My son has also been to holiday squash/racketball sessions and really enjoyed them. John obviously has great rapport with adults and children alike encouraging and nurturing progress. In only a short time as a member I can't quite imagine the club without him!

So sad to see him go but his health issues are getting the better of him now, sad to say. Wishing him the best in retirement!

John is a wonderful influence on my children and amazingly supportive of my racketball! The club will be so much poorer if they let him leave. It is impossible to think that the wonderful environment he has created will continue without his support, encouragement, mince pie eating and charm.

Support john. Over so many years he has done a great job for the hallamshire

John Mullins is a very special man. His enthusiasm, energy, selfless time and support, has benefited so many children and families, to a value impossible to measure. The Hallamshire Club has been extremely fortunate.

I am writing to voice my dismay at the clubs decision to allow John to leave. John has worked tirelessly in his support of particularly young people and has ensured that the club is inclusive and welcoming to players of all standards. In particular John has fund raised over the last few years to provide coaching for young people with severe learning difficulties, allowing them access to sporting activities in the community from which they are almost always excluded. John (and his coaches) have provided a warm and friendly environment in which these young people have blossomed and gained much confidence and many skills. Some of these students have been able to play matches but for others even getting onto the court and holding a racquet has been a major achievement. That the Hallamshire has had such students playing on courts at a venue where world and Wimbledon champions train speaks volumes for the club and greatly enhances its reputation. Without John’s hard work, consideration and foresight none of this would have been possible; not everyone can be an elite sportsperson and John has shown how even some of the most vulnerable, physically disadvantaged (and invisible) young people in society benefit from being given the opportunity to play sport at a club such as the Hallamshire. The club would be a much poorer (and I worry less inclusive) place without John and I feel the board should do everything in their power to ensure that he stays

John has been an inspiration at the Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club. He has helped youngsters develop a love of sport in general, and squash and racketball in particular. I can instantly see the players he has coached, with their skills, court management and etiquette. He has enhanced the social aspects of the Club with the Summer leagues. He will be sorely missed should he have to leave.

John has contributed massively to the vibrant atmosphere at the club and I find it deeply saddening that the board are willing to dispense with his services after so many years of dedicated commitment to the club. John tirelessly supports the development of players of all ages and standards through morning and weekend drop-in sessions - kids don't get kicked out for not being good enough like they do in football teams, rather John spends unpaid evenings supporting them in the summer league etc. I feel that John deserves to be offered a financial framework to work in that allows him to make a reasonable living. How do the squash/racketball membership numbers, opening hours and bar takings compare at this club compared to others in the area and why is this club in such a strong position? The board have made great improvements to the club in recent years but this situation is bewildering.