Jonah Barrington (England)
Jonah Barrington was a pioneer of professional squash and one of Britain's first true stars of the game. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the English-born Barrington, who famously represented Ireland internationally, dominated the sport, capturing six British Open titles within seven seasons.
At a time when no Briton had won the Open in decades, his victories from 1967 to 1973 made him the de facto world champion of that era. Barrington's relentless training ethic and charismatic persona helped raise squash's profile.
In 1969 he became the first player to turn full-time professional, laying the groundwork for a global pro circuit. His legacy includes not only his titles but also his impact on the sport's professionalism and popularity, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Squash" among fans.
Janet Morgan (England)
Janet Morgan was the leading figure in women's squash in the 1950s and remains a major name in UK squash history. The English player won ten consecutive British Open women's titles from 1950 to 1959, an achievement that established her as the dominant player of her era.
Morgan also won major titles in the United States and Australia during that period. Her unbeaten run at the British Open, the sport's most prestigious tournament at the time, stood as the benchmark until the arrival of the Australian great Heather McKay.
Morgan's time at the top laid the foundation for British excellence in women's squash and inspired future generations of players.
Martine Le Moignan (England)
Martine Le Moignan was a trailblazer for English women's squash in the late 1980s. Hailing from Guernsey and competing for England, Le Moignan reached a historic milestone by winning the 1989 Women's World Open Championship, becoming the first Englishwoman to claim the world title.
In the final she beat New Zealand's Susan Devoy, then the dominant player, to take the championship. Le Moignan also ranked consistently among the world's best, reaching another World Open final and winning multiple British National titles.
Her world title in 1989 broke a long drought for English squash on the global stage and paved the way for greater British success in women's squash.
Cassie Jackman (England)
Cassie Jackman, also known by her married name Cassie Campion, was England's leading female player throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. She crowned her career by winning the 1999 Women's World Open, defeating Michelle Martin in the final.
Her career honours included:
- 28 professional titles in total.
- The women's World No. 1 ranking, reached for the first time in January 2000.
- Five British National championships.
She earned nearly every major honour in the sport, with the notable exception of the British Open. Jackman's powerful game and resilience, which included coming back from multiple back surgeries to regain the No. 1 ranking, set her apart.
Widely regarded by coaches and peers as one of England's greatest female players, she helped keep England at the forefront of women's squash during her era.
Laura Massaro (England)
Laura Massaro reached the pinnacle of the sport in the 2010s and ranks among Britain's most successful squash players. The Lancastrian achieved a career highlight by winning the 2013 World Championship, played in Penang in 2014, becoming the first Englishwoman in 15 years to claim the world title.
Massaro also reached the World No. 1 ranking in 2016 and won two British Open titles, in 2013 and 2017. Her 2013 British Open victory made her the first English woman to lift that trophy in 22 years, ending a long home-title drought.
In total Massaro won 23 professional titles and four British National Championships. Known for her tactical game and mental toughness, she also won multiple Commonwealth Games medals.
Her consistency, spending more than a decade in the world top 10, and her achievements have cemented her place among British squash's best, for which she was honoured with an MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours.
Peter Nicol (Scotland/England)
Peter Nicol brought success to both Scotland and England during his career. Born in Scotland, Nicol became the first British male to reach the World No. 1 ranking, in February 1998. He won the 1999 World Open Championship, confirming his status as the world's best that year.
Nicol also captured two British Open titles, in 1998 and 2002, and at his peak he was involved in intense rivalries with players such as Jansher Khan and Jonathon Power. In total, Nicol won 49 professional titles, including major crowns such as the US Open four times and the Hong Kong Open three times.
After switching allegiance to represent England in 2001, he added four Commonwealth Games gold medals to his record:
- Singles in 1998 and 2006.
- Doubles in 2002 and 2006.
Nicol's tactical play, fitness, and longevity, including 150 consecutive months in the world top 10, make him one of the all-time greats in UK squash. He is widely credited with inspiring a new generation of British players through his professionalism and success.
Nick Matthew (England)
Nick Matthew is regarded as one of England's greatest male squash players, known for his competitiveness and big-match temperament. The Sheffield-born player won the sport's two biggest titles, the World Open and the British Open, three times each.
Matthew became the first Englishman since 1939 to win the British Open when he triumphed in 2006, and he went on to win it again in 2009 and 2012. He also took three World Championship crowns, in 2010, 2011, and 2013, often after long battles with rivals such as Gregory Gaultier and Ramy Ashour.
Matthew reached World No. 1 in 2010 and spent a total of about 19 months atop the rankings during his career. A three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in singles, in 2010 and 2014, and in doubles, Matthew combined relentless fitness with tactical acuity.
His haul of major titles and his leadership in England's World Team Championship victories have left a lasting mark on British squash.
James Willstrop (England)
James Willstrop, nicknamed "The Marksman" for his precise shot-making, is one of the most respected English squash players of his generation. He rose to World No. 1 in January 2012 after a strong run of tournament wins to close 2011.
Over his career, Willstrop captured 23 PSA World Tour titles and repeatedly reached the finals of the sport's biggest events. He is a four-time British National Champion and a three-time British Open finalist, as well as a World Championship finalist.
Though a world title eluded him, Willstrop won the men's singles gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, defeating New Zealand's Paul Coll in the final. He added a Commonwealth doubles gold in 2022.
Beyond the trophies, Willstrop's attacking style and sportsmanship have made him an ambassador for the sport. He extended his playing career into his late 30s while maintaining a high level of performance.
David Evans (Wales)
David Evans put Welsh squash on the map with a win at the 2000 British Open. In that tournament, the unseeded Evans became the first, and to date only, Welsh player to win the British Open men's title.
His straight-games win in the final was the highlight of a career that saw him reach a highest world ranking of No. 3. With a powerful attacking game, Evans also helped Wales to a runner-up finish at the World Team Championships during his era.
He represented Wales in four Commonwealth Games, underlining his status as the country's top player. While he did not add another major title to that 2000 Open triumph, Evans' achievement inspired a new generation of Welsh players and showed that world-class talent could emerge from Wales.
He later contributed to the sport as a coach and national performance director, guiding rising Welsh players.
Madeline Perry (Northern Ireland)
Madeline Perry is Northern Ireland's most accomplished squash player and one of the leading women to come out of the British Isles. She broke new ground for Irish squash by reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in 2011, the highest ever for a player from Ireland, north or south.
Perry had a long career spanning nearly two decades on tour, during which she won 11 WSA titles and reached 27 finals. A regular presence in the world's top 10, she reached the semi-finals, a bronze-medal position, at the 2008 World Championships in Manchester.
Her career also featured remarkable longevity and home dominance:
- A record 15 Irish National titles, dominating her home circuit.
- In April 2014, at age 37, she became the oldest female player to still hold a top-10 world ranking, at No. 9.
- Five Commonwealth Games appearances for Northern Ireland.
Competing for Northern Ireland on the world stage, Perry put Northern Irish squash on the international map. She continues to inspire and coach younger players.
