With most people still enjoying the festive spirit between Christmas and the New Year, Nuffield Health St Albans was playing host to a group of young squash players training to become international stars of the future.

A group of 12 players aged between 14 and 20 from England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, Czech Republic and Belgium gathered at the club to be trained by resident Nuffield coach John Milton.

By attracting the former national coach of England to base himself at the club, Nuffield Health St Albans has become a significant centre for squash at all levels – junior, club player, international and professional.

With Milton working full time alongside a group of young professionals the club is working hard to help them reach their goal of becoming world top ten ranked players.

One of the young professionals based at the club, 19-year-old Adam Auckland, is playing in an exhibition match against the world ranked number four woman player, Alison Waters this Saturday.

Waters is extremely experienced having won World and European team titles with England and being a former national champion.

Auckland is a former England international who played at the 2011 Under-19 World Championships. He has moved from his home county of Lincolnshire specifically to work with Milton in St Albans.

Milton said: “It’s an interesting challenge. Adam is extremely quick around the court but Alison has so much experience and better consistent control of her shots which could be enough to negate the raw enthusiasm of her younger opponent.”

The exhibition will start at 7pm on Saturday with both Auckland and Waters playing club players and juniors before the main event.

Anyone interested in seeing the match should contact Nuffield Health on 01727 816100.