www.tpsquash.co.nz

About us.

Te Papapa Squash club is a Section of Te Papapa Onehunga Rugby Football & Sports Club Inc which was originally named Te Papapa Club until the name change in 1985.   

 The Te Papapa Club was first formed in 1944 by a committee of local people with two schoolboy  rugby teams.   At this time the Te Papapa area was being developed  and a large  area of State Housing   was being built, creating a large influx of young  families and young  children.   As the club had no grounds or club facilities, the Te Papapa Primary school  grounds were used for training until in 1945, the club was permitted by the Onehunga Borough Council, the use of an old animal pound for training.  A small changing shed was erected and a few lights were provided.

In 1946, the original clubrooms were started at Captain Springs Road with voluntary labour.    These were completed in 1947 and enabled indoor sporting activities to be introduced, namely bowls, table tennis and darts.    Cricket and softball teams were started as summer sports and girls’ basketball teams were prepared.    

In 1967, after much hard work by many club members, new premises were built in the newly developed Fergusson Park and was amongst the best in Auckland, with indoor and outdoor training  facilities and social rooms.  

1975 saw further development when the indoor training area was converted from sawdust tan floors to wooden squash court floors, and so the Te Papapa Squash Section was formed.     This brought a considerable number of new members and increased the facilities available to existing members.    The Te Papapa Onehunga Rugby Football & Sports Club Inc  own the building on council leased land. 

So from a small beginning in 1944, Te Papapa still offers sporting and social activities.  The aim of the club is to promote sport within the community so young and old alike can enjoy the facilities provided by so many unselfish and dedicated members during the club’s existence.  

Te Papapa Squash started off as an idea for rugby players to get some training during the off season but it was not too long before serious squash players came on the scene to encourage the competitive game that is played now.     Over the years Te Papapa Squash has achieved various levels of success both in individual and team competition at both local and national levels.     

Te Papapa squash facilities has three courts, ladies and men’s ablutions, changing rooms and an upstairs lounge/viewing area.    The fully serviced club kitchen and bar  and huge lounge area is shared by the different sports sections, although on most occasions, the squash players socialise in the lounge/viewing area above the courts so they can watch games being played.  The outside wall of the upstairs lounge /viewing area is all windows  giving a  sunny area and  offers an unobstructed view overlooking the rugby fields of Fergusson Park and beyond towards  Ellerslie, Penrose and Mt Wellington.  The club facilities are in a lovely setting surrounded by the well presented  Fergusson Park,  a huge space to enjoy the outdoors, kick a ball, run around the field,  laze in the shade of the mature trees  or  go indoors to enjoy a vigorous game of squash.

Te Papapa Squash club membership numbers were high so a limit of 300 had to be put on number of members.    As well as a Senior membership the club actively encouraged Junior interest  some years offering  junior nights on Friday nights as well as Junior membership.   The memberships offered was full membership for both senior and junior players which enabled the players to be on the national grading list to play District and National competition. 

To encourage growth to the club and the sport a decision was made to introduce a social/casual membership with restricted playing hours.    Today the social/casual player trend is more popular as players want to play squash for recreation but not wanting to make a commitment to go on the national grading list and play district and national competition. 

For junior growth we encourage school membership and school teams train after school for the College Sport competitions, some of which are played at Te Papapa during Term 2 and 3.    We currently have a very young group of juniors ranging from 5 to 13 yrs attending Junior night.    Our aim is to keep it fun while developing racquet and ball skills, provide basic coaching and play some games.    We have separate dates for two different groups but the juniors are welcome to attend both.   These dates were set to work in with their parents.  

Set bookings of courts are allowed for tournaments run by Te Papapa, senior and masters interclub, club nights, junior nights, school training and College Sport competitions.   Club nights are on Thursday nights starting 7pm, a good opportunity for members and non members of any ability to come along and have some social games.    Junior nights are held every 2^nd and 4^th Friday for group 1 and every alternative Friday for group 2 starting at 6pm.  School training  bookings are set for elected days after school 3.45pm -5pm  with the provision to stay longer provided the courts are free and no members are waiting.   College Sport bookings are set as for interclub, when the draw is done. 

The Te Papapa Club members  take pride in our squash club facilities which are kept clean and tidy with good maintenance making it a pleasant and safe place for members and visitors to the club.   Courts are sound and court lighting is very good.  

The Te Papapa Squash Club has had committed volunteer club operators over the years and that commitment is still prevalent today as we continue to oversee the operations and financial affairs of the club.   The Committee holds meetings and has constant communication with each other through emails.

 Te Papapa Squash club has always offered reasonable full senior, junior and social membership fees and are negotiable regarding methods of payment.   Direct Credit payments are accepted. 

New members are always welcome.   Application forms and contact details are on our website, www.tpsquash.co.nz  and membership application are to be made directly through the Te Papapa Squash club secretary.

Acknowledgement must go to the people who first instigated the forming of the Te Papapa  Club back in 1944 and to all the Management Committees, section committees, players and supporters, over the years  for their contribution to making an ‘idea’  a reality for the benefit and enjoyment of the entire community.