One of the biggest names from the world of squash was the star turn when he dropped into the East Glos Club in Cheltenham.

Marwan El Shorbagy, the former world number three, played a training match with fellow professional Sean Conroy, who is ranked 112 in the world, in front of 20 or 30 members and also held a Q&A session with some very excited youngsters at the club.

The 26-year-old Egyptian, who these days is based in Bristol, was the guest of businessman Adrian Brown, a very enthusiastic amateur squash player who has been a member at East Glos for the past 15 years.

“It was quite something to see the top players put on a training match,” said Brown. “Marwan’s as fit as a fiddle.

“And it was fantastic that he had a Question and Answer session with some of the juniors. He really is a fantastic fella, he’s a lovely guy.”

He’s also a fantastic squash player, someone who was good enough to twice win the world juniors crown, something that only a very select few have achieved.

One of those is his older brother Mohamed who is regarded by many as the top player in the world today.

That’s something that Marwan would love to be one day and although he dropped out of the top 10 after climbing into the top three, Brown believes he is on the way back.

“He wants to get back into the top five and then make it to number one,” Brown said. “It’s said that a squash player’s best years are from the ages of 26 to 31, so who knows?”

Brown has a special interest in Marwan because he has recently agreed to sponsor him. He also sponsors Nathan Lake, the squash professional at East Glos who has had a highest world ranking of 46.

“I’m a big squash fan,” said Brown, who has been playing the game since the age of 15, “I’m a very average player and am really only a social player but it’s such a great game.

“I had a break from the game a few years ago but I took it up again when I wanted to lose a bit of weight and get a bit fitter. It’s a great sport for fitness.”

Brown who is 51 and married to Joanna – they have two grown up daughters – is the only member of his family who plays the game although he has high hopes for granddaughter Ruby.

“She’s only four but she’s showing a massive interest, I want her to be number one in the world,” laughed Brown. “I’m an extremely pushy grandparent!”

Brown is chief executive of his own business Freelance Plater Company Ltd (FCP) based in Quedgeley – he moves cars and vans for the UK motor trade – and it’s a job that obviously takes up a lot of his time.

It’s also given him the opportunity to support the sport he loves and he says: “Squash is a niche sport but Marwan is as well known in squash as Andy Murray is in tennis.”

And Marwan is certainly grateful for Brown’s backing.

“I’m very happy to be signing a sponsorship deal with FCP,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my career with them.

“Thanks to Adrian for making this happen, he’s been supporting the sport and for me to have him in my team is a great addition.”

And as well as backing Marwan and Nathan Lake, Brown, a former Brockworth School pupil, has another claim to fame because he was in the same class at school as one-time squash star Fiona Geaves, who reached number five in the world back in the day.

“She was some player,” said Brown, who lives in Abbeymead. “I see her all the time at East Glos.”