Coronavirus Scotland: Aberdeen squash players caught breaching city-wide lockdown for sneaky game

ABERDEEN squash players were caught breaching the city-wide coronavirus lockdown for a sneaky game.

Senior members at the Aberdeen Squash and Racketball Club owned up after they were challenged over “the unmistakable noise of a squash ball being struck”.

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Dave Ireson, secretary of the club, and other committee members are facing calls to step down.

Under regulations put in place by the Scottish Government, indoor sport and leisure activity is not permitted.

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Members have continued to pay fees – including the highest category of £666 a year – during the crisis, even though they have been unable to use the club’s facilities since March.

Emails reportedly show some members, Mr Ireson, have been using the time in lockdown to carry out a major refurbishment of the club, including replastering and repainting courts.

In response to member’s question about why “the unmistakable noise of a squash ball being struck” could be heard from the courts during lockdown, Mr Ireson admitted: “The concession for this level of effort was that we have occasionally had the odd hit after finishing working in the evenings.

“Given the close proximity of working there was no way that if either of us had Covid-19 we would not pass it to each other; therefore having a hit after added no material risk to the community.

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“I believe the majority of the committee either knew directly or indirectly that this was happening, and some have confirmed in writing on more than one occasion given the level of maintenance activity that this was deemed okay given the circumstances.”

He added: “I realise that everyone is getting to the end of their tether with the lockdown and distancing rules – our intent was never to disrespect the membership, but rather use it as an opportunity to improve the facility free of charge for the benefit of all.

“The small quid-pro-quo is the occasional game of squash to keep the spirits and enthusiasm up which genuinely have flagged at times.”

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