It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Michael Hennings, a cherished coach, player, and mentor who gave so much to the Surrey squash community. Michael’s contribution to the game, particularly through his work with county squads, has left a lasting impact on countless players, coaches and families across the region.
Michael coached the Surrey county squads for five years, overseeing a period of exceptional success. Under his leadership, the squads achieved four national titles in the 2023/24 season and an unprecedented five in 2024/25. These results are a testament not only to his technical expertise but to the passion and care he brought to his coaching.
Michael had been involved in squash for over 30 years, representing Surrey at both junior and senior levels and captaining the county’s squash 57 team. A true ambassador for the sport, his playing experience informed his coaching and inspired those around him.
For over 20 years, Michael coached at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, where he built one of the strongest junior and adult programmes in the region. More than 100 juniors and 50 women now play regularly thanks to the community and culture he nurtured. Among his proudest coaching achievements were guiding two juniors from their very first squash sessions to elite levels—one becoming a British junior champion, and the other representing England.
Surbiton itself flourished under Michael’s leadership, winning the men’s Surrey Cup and the national squash 57 title in recent years. Beyond his club work, Michael took on the role of Surrey Head Boys’ Coach in 2017. After a period of transition, he led the county to three national titles in 2019 and 2020—a clear sign of his vision and ability to bring the best out of young players.
His coaching philosophy was grounded in individual development. Every Surrey squad session was designed to challenge, teach, and encourage reflection, helping players grow both on and off the court. In recognition of his talents, Michael was appointed assistant coach for the South East regional Aspire Squad in 2021, expanding his influence even further.
Michael’s coaching legacy includes:
• Mentoring a British junior champion and an England team player
• Winning three national inter-county titles with Surrey boys
• Leading Kingston’s boys’ and girls’ teams to victory at the London Youth Games
• Building a thriving school squash programme
• Coaching Surbiton to Surrey Cup and national squash 57 success
• Serving as Surrey Head Coach and South East Aspire assistant coach
Michael Hennings’ legacy will live on in the hundreds of players he coached, the teams he inspired, and the community he helped shape. His contribution to squash in Surrey has been immense, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
