THE MARINE SIGNS OFF
My little contribution to your career, Dave, x...
VIDEO FAREWELL
MEL PALMER His Wife, Friend, Rock
I
am proud and honoured to be have been along side David
throughout his career.
To have been through the good times, tough losses, and triumph
wins.
He is rewarded with his amazing career by the dedication, hard work,
determination, character building and sacrifices that had to be
made.
He has had to do it living away from family and friends for the
past 16yrs. Which has been one of the hardest thing to have
done.
We have been fortunate to have travelled and meet some amazing
friends through out the world.
He is any amazing father to his 2 girls and a wonderful husband.
You could not ask for a more kind hearted and family orientated
person.
SHAUN
MOXHAM His Coach
When asked to describe in short the career of David Palmer I
guess it would be easy to start with his 2 World Open and 4
British Open victories, or achieving the World nr 1 ranking.
Countless PSA tournament victories worldwide, twice victorious
at the World Teams Championships representing his beloved
Australia or 100 consecutive months ranked inside the world’s
top ten players. These are the more commonly known things about
the man Robert Edwards nicknamed “The Marine”
Things which people may not immediately know about David Palmer
are his passion for the sport, early in his career he was
President of the PSA, and afterwards on all of his travels he
remained a great ambassador of the game.
The loyalty he has shown to his friends and family, besides his
Mum and Dad who have supported him tremendously throughout his
career, the fact that he has only ever known 3 coaches from his
junior days until today.
He left Australia with his high school sweetheart Mel in 1998 to
chase his squash dreams; they married in 2005 and together have
2 daughters, Mel has played a silent but huge role in his
success.
He has provided us with some spectacular duals over the years,
with Peter Nicol, Jonathon Power, Amr Shabana, Johnny White,
Gregory Gaultier and James Willstrop to name just a few, always
exciting and never a dull moment.
The super series semi-final match against Jonathan Power in 2001
remains a personal favourite. Who could forget the two World
Open final victories, both with multiple match balls against
him, these moments sum up the true character of the man.
It’s been my privilege and honour to have been associated with
David as a friend and coach over the past 12 years. For any
player who wants to understand the true meaning of sacrifice,
discipline, belief and commitment, look no further than David
Palmer.
JOHN WHITE,
Partner in Crime
I
have known David for around 20+ years. I have seen him come out of
juniors to become one of the best players in our time.
We have travelled the world playing squash and doing what we love
for a living.
David has been one of the most consistent players in the last decade
which has kept him at the top of the rankings for so long. He was
one of the strongest players physically and mentally on the court.
He
has given everyone a lot of memories.
He is now getting into coaching in the States which is always great
to see the other to players giving back to the sport.
It is always the toughest decision when it comes to retirement. I
wish Dave and his family all the very best.
I am sure we will meet somewhere on the court again soon.
all the best mate.
(runner up world open 2002!!!)
JOE SHAW,
Former Coach
David was a very shy and introverted boy who trusted people
implicitly. He had no vinegar in his blood and accepted all
actions given against him as a part of his life.
His Father John Palmer still claims that “David was a nice boy
until he met you !!! “
The fact is that the troubles he encountered at the start of his
career with the AIS (don't want to get into details now, it's
history), and also his long stay in Brazil while preparing the
U19 World, where he was continually home sick although
surrounded by lovely people changed him into a true professional
mentally tough player.
While all of the English Team were being paid an Annuity had Physios and Trainers and Coaches David for all of those years
paid for all assistance from his own earnings, with the
assistance of his friend Pat in particular.
His prime asset is his loyalty not only to me but to all of
those who helped him in his career, including Shaun Moxham of
course, who accompanied him throughout his career, Lollo, Paul
and Eduardo from Brazil are still in touch 18 years later. His
school girl friend Melinda has been a rock for him totally
supporting his goals.
A two time world champion, four times British Open champion, an
entrant in the Guinness Book of Records a Postage Stamp in his
honour, an Order of Australia in his possession he is recognized
as the toughest Marine in world competitive sport and the few
hurdles exposed here are only a small part of the story.
He has now Captained Australia many times in International
competitions and he is a credit to his country. He will now
undoubtedly be confirmed as a Legend of Australian Sport and
installed into the Hall of Fame but everyone should recognize
the hurdles that he had to overcome to achieve those results.
He is now back with the A.I.S in a guidance role after a career
forged by himself with amazing tenacity and wonderful family
support.
He is an example of how a true champion can overcome
overwhelming obstacles to achieve his dreams and goals. He can
forgive the A.I.S and has and that is something that I cannot
do.
David should be back in Australia where his talents and coaching
experiences should be used for Australia's benefit as there is
no doubt that he is far more experienced in modern technological
educational training programs than any of our other coaches.
PAT HERMANS
Physio
The first word that pops up in my head when I think about Dave is
"respect".
What he achieved in his match here against Thierry Lincou is
amazing. Being sick all night and day, coughing, taking antibiotics
and still playing for 2 long hours. This is not the first time that
I said to myself "this guy is not human"...
But also what he achieved throughout his career is amazing. I
started to work with Dave and Shaun at the worlds in Antwerp and it
started quiet well: first world open for Dave!
Immediately I felt that there was a sort of chemistry between the 3
of us! Almost every tournament where the 3 of us were together, a
victory was at the end... I never worked with or met a guy who was
so disciplined, trustful and loyal like Dave.
Several weeks ago, he told me that he would stop playing squash. I
knew this once would happen. For me this was quiet emotional.
The world of squash will loose one of its best players. For me he is
and still will be! But at the end, I still got him as my best
friend.
Thanks Dave!!
Physio and friend...
Tribute to a
mate… by Mark Burke
I’ve known David for probably going on 20 years now…ever since
he was a young hopeful, when we both played in the Sydney 1st
Grade competition.
Even then he was a dynamic mover, who hit the ball with ferocity.
His Dad John used to be there at these matches, taking notes (stats)
& supporting his son in every way. Dave was a pretty quiet guy
really, & mostly still is. A quiet achiever, with an immense
amount of motivation & will to win.
David’s PSA career took him away from Sydney eventually, but it
was obvious he was definitely going places in the sport.
Later on, I had moved to Europe to chase my own dreams of
playing full-time PSA, securing a league team in Europe & honing
my coaching skills in a European club.
Fortunately, with the help of some other Australian players, I
landed in Amsterdam, & eventually settled in The Hague at a
small club there.
It was at this moment that I met up again with Dave, as he had
begun working with Shaun Moxham in Antwerp.
I was invited to come to Antwerp to train with him, & eventually
Shaun became my coach as well. For me this was a 3 year period
that left an indelible impression upon me.
Training daily in this environment with Shaun, Dave & the #1
Belgian player at the time, Peter Pastijn brought me to my peak
as a squash player. I was able to witness 1st hand, the courage,
determination, suffering & unbelievable workload that Dave used
to punch out day after day.
During this period, like all the people that have been close to
Dave, we became great mates. Dave shows a lot of respect &
loyalty to the people around him, & to those that help him in
his career. This is maybe one of his best qualities as a person.
Mel, his wife is also a lovely person, & very much the rock
behind the man.
During the years I’ve become close with his family, in Lithgow,
having spent some summers training with him there. I used to
enjoy running intervals with Dave, as to this date it’s the only
thing I could ever be competitive & even beat him at! (which I
still like to remind him about every now & then!).
This last week I had the privilege of stepping into the coaching
role for David at his last PSA event, the World Open in
Rotterdam.
This was something I didn’t have to think about for a second. As a coach,
it was definitely a highlight.
The match with Thierry was the best I’ve ever seen live, it had
everything. It summed up the career of a talented sportsmen that
has been at the top of the game for 10 years. Even though his
legs were weary & the body considerably undertrained (for his
standards), he produced one of his gutsiest performances ever.
David’s best quality for me has always been his mind. I’ve
described it to people before as ‘a mind like a steel trap’. His
ability to concentrate, compartmentalise & squeeze out every
last drop from his body is amazing to witness.
So, to Dave… thanks for the memories mate, thanks for your help
& inspiration, & I look forward to sharing many more in the
future…
I have been
very lucky in the last 4 years to have dealt with David both
Professionally and also to have witnessed some amazing games
played by him.
He is to me the ultimate professional Squash player and a great
role model for any aspiring young player.
I will miss our little chats and times sitting watching matches
and I feel privileged to have seen perhaps for me the best
Squash match ever played by David and Thierry at the world Open.
I wish him all the best and hope he can put as much back into
the sport as he did on the court. We need him.
I have come into contact with David on a regular basis over the
last 10 years not only as a squash fan but also in a work
capacity.
Over that period of time I have seen many great players, in fact
all the great players. But few have capitivated me in the way
that David has.
I can't think of any player that strikes the ball as well as he
does. His physique and athletisism is probably the best of his
generation, if not any generation.
His desire to win knows no bounds. he is never beaten. I've seen
him come back from match balls down in both World and British
Open championship finals.
He is a squash legend, and a real nice guy. Some may not agree,
but I have allways found him to be polite and amiable and always
prepared to chat.
Well allmost allways.
I did share a taxi with him and Shaun Moxham once after a defeat
in the Super Series Finals. He was not too pleased with the
refeerees after the match. There was a tension in that cab, and
i thought i had best just keep my moth shut, which for me is
difficult...
I can honestly say, if any young junior wants to know how to
play squash, then they should watch a a dvd of the Marine.
Thanks for the memories Dave, it's been a great ride,
Hi David,
I watched your last PSA match against Karim last week in
Rotterdam. I regret I didn’t get to Rotterdam in time to see
your epic match against Tierry.
Having seen you both at the top of the game over your
professional careers, I want to express the pleasure I have
received watching you play. It has been nice getting to meet you.
I have not witnessed the hard work you have put into being the
player you are, only you have been there every step of the way.
You remain an inspiration to those whose life you’ve touched.
So now you go on the more other things. Perhaps I’ll see you on
the Legends’ tour soon. I know you will appreciate having more
time with your wife and children and all the friends you have
made around the world.
Best regards,
TRIBUTE FROM
WORLD No1
Just catching up on my internet reading after all the chaos of
the last week and was reading through your David Palmer tribute.
I think it was a lovely tribute and as you said in your report
Fram, I think he was very clever in choosing his last match to
be played in such an arena in front of such a knowledgeable
crowd (with i'm sure many friends from his former base in
Belgium present in the crowd).
Of course, Thierry nearly had something to say about this, as
did the young pretenders in the 1st 2 rounds, and it's a
testament to his never-say-die spirit that enabled him to battle
through to this fitting finale.
His 2 World Opens and 4 British Opens, and the manner in which
match balls were saved in some of these, sum up his warrior
spirit. His mental strength, amongst other things, is an example
to any young player.
I was once critical of Robert Edwards for introducing me as 'the
English David Palmer', for I felt I'd done enough at that stage
of my career to stand on my own two feet, but now I realise this
was a compliment of the highest order.
ROBERT EDWARDS The Voice of Squash
Where
have the years gone?
It seems like yesterday that Joe Shaw contacted me from
Australia, to ask if I would keep an eye out for a young Aussie
who was taking the well worn path to the northern hemisphere to
ply his trade on the PSA Tour.
His name was David Palmer from Lithgow in NSW. That was 1995 and
since then this raw talent has developed and grown to make him
one of the highest achievers that the game has ever seen.
Slowly David and I became close friends. I saw him develop both
as a player and as a man. He formed a tremendous relationship
with the coach that he and Joe had selected to take him to
another level – Shaun Moxham. It was a marriage made in Heaven
as was his real marriage to his lifelong girlfriend, Mel.
It was in this comfort zone of working with Shaun and having Mel
join him in Europe, that David developed and grew. The results
started to come and with them he was to rise in the PSA
rankings.
Our friendship also became closer as I watched and shared most
of his biggest achievements. With financial stability, he and
Mel returned to Australia to marry in front of both of their
families. With the arrival of Kayla & Miley, David & Mel have
chosen to make their home in Florida. Here the family will
continue to grow and David will start a new career, post PSA.
Together with his mum and dad, John & Sylvia, family Palmer came
to visit Sandy & I at our home in France during 2007. On meeting
his parents it became obvious where David had got his sports
talent from. His mother had been a good enough tennis and squash
player to have played professionally on either circuit. As for
John, he is an example for all of us with his no nonsense
attitude towards keeping fit in later life.
I have lost count of the number of times that I have introduced
“The Marine” (the monocle that I dubbed him with) to squash
audiences around the world.
In the latter years I have felt that his achievements allowed me
to add – “With Geoff Hunt the best squash player ever to have
come out of Australia”. Now with two World Open Titles – four
British Open titles and nearly 30 PSA Tour Event titles –
Commonwealth Games medals besides being in the PSA world top 10
for a continuous 10 years - a former World number 1. David has
left an indelible footprint on the history of squash.
My favourite all time match was when he won the World Open for
the first time in Antwerp 2002, beating his great friend John
White in the final.
It had everything – a magnificent setting – both families had
come from Australia (and showed great dignity in the way that
they supported their own) - the biggest title in the world, the
winner to be crowned WORLD CHAMPION – drama as The Marine saved
match ball after match ball, with the spectacle going down to
the wire in the fifth game – a crowd that were enthralled and
vocal.
Finally
the humility of two exceptional athletes as they publicly dealt
with the exultation of victory and the horror of defeat. What an
advert they both were that day for squash. This match could be
held up as a defining example of why squash should be an Olympic
sport.
Now as David walks away from the PSA tour, he will leave a void
that will challenge the young Australian products of today to
fill.
For my part David has been a mixture of friend and son over the
years. I have shared many of his highlights and also the bad
times with him. During all of those years he has proven to be a
deeply honest & loyal friend and colleague.
Bonne chance with your new life David – I know that you will
rise to new challenges with the same professionalism and
endeavour that that you adopted all of those years ago in 1995.
Bravo pour la
Carriere de David pour ses nombreux titres.
Il a marqué l'histoire du squash et je suis fier d'avoir
traversé avec lui plus d'une décennie dans le top.
Je garderai en mémoire de belles batailles, de belles victoires
comme de marquantes défaites
C 'est un véritable compétiteur et il sait comment gagner.
De plus comme pour moi il a toujours eu le soutien de sa femme
et de ses deux filles.
Et ses coachs de toujours me font penser aussi au miens : Joe
shaw/Paul Sciberras, les têtes pensantes et Shawn Moxham/ Franck
Carlino, le vécu d'anciens joueurs.
Bonne continuation
All my respect to David Palmer, he is one of the greatest and
the best example for everyone, he will be missed by all the
player and all his fans on court ..
David Palmer good luck in you life I wish you all the best..
Marwan El Shorbagy Junior World Champion 2011
I'm
feeling sad about the retirement of this guy ,, he is such a
legend and a great image to the sport of squash ,, I've been
watching him since I was 9 I remember in the world open in Egypt
when he won the final, I just ran down the seats to take his
wrist and take a picture with him.
He will be greatly missed by everyone ,, the sport will lose one
of the greatest of all time ,, he inspired everyone with his
determination and consistency I have a lot of respect to this
man.
I want to wish him luck for his new career whatever it is.
Runner-up Junior World Champion 2011
It was my honour to play the last
match of David's career..
He's one of the legends of the game.. I wish him the best of
luck in his life
David has been a top player for so
many years and obviously very successful, with his 2 World
titles and, is it 4 British Opens?!
I along with many of my fellow pros from all nationalities have
looked up to him, and tried to mirror his game and the way he
plays.
I am similar in that we wear our heart on our sleeve and will
not accept giving anything less than 100% as soon as we step on
a squash court.
I think when Thierry and David eventually stop it will be the
end of an era. They have given so much to the game and I'm sure
everyone involved in squash is extremely thankful and privileged
to have been able to watch them or play against them.
I would like to play David one last time as we have had some
extremely tough matches, and give myself just 1 win against
him?!!
I wish him all the best for the future and praise him for what
he has given to the world of squash.
FAN OF...
Saw him play at the Invitational Doubles in Manchester before
the CWG in Delhi. The man is truly inspiring!
Just wanted to say that his drive, determination and fairness
makes him a true great of the game. Above all though, one of the
nicest people I've ever met.
If you look in the dictionary for 'gentleman' it has a picture
of David Palmer next to it.
Many thanks
Power x Palmer......best games for EVER....!!!!!!!!!!!
Un homme m'a fait pleurer aujourd'hui à Rotterdam.
C'était un de mes joueurs préférés par son style de jeu. C'était
très émouvant à rotterdam aujourd'hui et sa sortie par la grande
porte fût un moment très spécial.
Seul le sport peut procurer des émotions pareilles,
incompréhensibles mais cette sortie m'a d'abord donné des
frissons puis la chair de poule et enfin les larmes aux yeux à
la grande surprise de mes copains de voyage.
Un autre joueur me procurera les mêmes émotions quand il partira
et j'espère être présent pour sa dernière (le plus tard
possible).
Une génération continue à s'en aller. Après Power, Nicol,
Ricketts, Palmer, reste encore notre Titi national puis
viendront Shabana et Nick qui laisseront définitivement place
aux nouveaux. Un géant s'en va.
Good bye the marine and thanks for everything you gave us.
« A Great Player ..A Fighter ..Squash world will miss him dearly
! »
Great to watch you play a number of
times over here in the UK. Superb entertainment.
Personal favourite was the British Open final against James
Willstrop, probably the most tense sporting occasion I have seen.
Fantastic performance from you both but its the winning that
counts.
All the best
My name is Ricardo Bahia and I'm from Belo Horizonte Brasil.
Thanks to Internet we've been able to watch your games.
Unfortunately I did not see you out court but I like your squash
so much that people in my club call me
RICARDO `PALMER`.
If you decide to come visit us here in Brasil we will be very
happy.
David I wish all the best
Je suis très déçu de ne pas avoir
assisté à cet évènement. J’ai réellement les …
Je me rappelle juste, en 1996, à Nîmes, de sa venue pour le PSA
que le club des Arènes avait organisé avec Tony Hands, Ahmed
Barrada et bien d’autres.
Je m’en rappelle surtout parce que c’était mon petit frère qui
lui servait d’accompagnateur et que le Marine appréciait bien la
bière (une ou deux seulement).
Je lui souhaite bon vent pour la suite de sa vie, il a l’air
d’avoir une famille formidable.
i'm feeling like an orphan. David and Peter Nicol were my
exemple tactically physically and mentaly...
My preferred shot is his trademark backhand volley drop...
Thank you for your carreer and we will missed you
Send your
memories or farewell to David to gommendy@aol.com
