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I tried UK’s fastest growing sport in Southend – even novices can play
The Echo went to Padel4all in Southend to find out if even novices can get on with the sport.
Padel tennis is a combination of tennis and squash that is played by two players (singles) or by four players (doubles). You play using a small thick racket (a paddle) and a tennis ball. The courts are much smaller than a tennis court and they are enclosed with a glass rear and sidewall.
The centre at Garon Park officially opened in November 2021 and since then has proved a hit with racket sport lovers like Anne Wodhams and Diane Caulkett who are in their 80s and are regular players at the centre.
Padel4all is linked to schools like nearby Cecil Jones Academy and partnerships with charities such as the Hamelin Trust.
the Hamelin Trust support young people and adults who are living with learning disabilities and members come along to the centre to try out the sport.
Martyn Dolton, Hamelin Trust’s fundraising and marketing manager, said: “Hamelin Trust’s vision is to ‘create compassionate communities where people live the life they choose’, which is why we’re delighted to be part of this initiative so the people we support can try new and fun activities.”
Having a go at padel tennis
Walking into the outdoor centre it looks modern and well maintained, with covered courts and changing areas. I speak to head coach Zack Smith who explains the basics about padel tennis.
“It is a very accessible sport, the smaller court and ability to play the ball off the walls with a solid, stringless racquet makes the ball easier to return and leads to longer rallies,” explained Zack.
The sport was originally invented in Mexico in 1969, but it’s in Spain where the popularity has soared.
It is quickly gaining momentum in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association and there are around 90,000 players including the likes of Jürgen Klopp and Andy Murray.
Zack has a tennis background and is a pro real tennis player. He explained that they have a lot of squash, tennis and badminton players who visited there, who have added another racket sport to their repertoire, like Charles Allnatt and James Bartram, who were playing that day.
Zack walks me over to the court and we start with some simple hitting the ball, then onto serving, and then letting the ball hit the glass and then returning it.
I am pretty useless when it comes to racket sports but honestly I really enjoyed padel.
Afterwards I speak with the founder Christopher Wilkinson about Padel4all.
The accountant worked in London for 35 years and had been looking for an investment opportunity.
He saw the potential of investing in padel tennis after seeing there are 25 million players in 90 different countries.
“I live in a village near Colchester and we had friends to stay and we went to play padel tennis with them and they loved it. It’s the most inclusive sport I have ever come across and the potential in the UK is unbelievable.
“Spain has almost six million padel players, more than 20,000 padel courts and they have a smaller population that the UK. Here the sport is relatively new, with under 300 courts, but it is growing fast.”
Padel4all currently has three operational centres in Southend, Swindon and Bristol, with plans to open more sites in 2023.
The session costs £5 and is available at all centres. To find out more visit: www.padel4all.com.
