Sport

Inside Club de Padel – Manchester’s staggering new sports facility dedicated to the world’s fastest-growing sport

The sports club is open now and it looks unreal.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 19th December 2023

Club de Padel has finally opened its doors in Manchester city centre this week, bringing the world’s fastest-growing sport to the city for the first time.

The brand new sports club has taken shape at the foot of the Deansgate Square skyscrapers (and all the others springing up nearby).

There are four state-of-the-art open-air courts where players can take on the popular game, all with jaw-dropping views of the surrounding towers.

Federal, a wildly popular local brunch and coffee spot, has also opened here in a shipping container, serving coffees, pastel de nata, and a selection of alcoholic drinks in the evenings.

For those unfamiliar, Padel is a mash-up of tennis and squash, where players are enclosed by walls and can play the ball off any wall.

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The sport was first invented in Mexico in the late 1960s but has exploded in popularity across Europe in recent years, drawing legions of famous fans.

Andy Murray, David Beckham, Pep Guardiola and Serena Williams have all declared themselves fans, and Lionel Messi went so far as to install a Padel court at his home.

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Federal at Club de Padel in Manchester
Federal at Club de Padel in Manchester
There are four state-of-the-art courts at Club de Padel
There are four state-of-the-art courts at Club de Padel
Inside Club de Padel Manchester
Inside Club de Padel Manchester
Club de Padel is at the foot of the Deansgate Square towers
Club de Padel is at the foot of the Deansgate Square towers

Speaking of the club’s launch, Lucy Noone-Blake said: “We can’t get over what an incredible opening day it’s been. We’ve been almost fully booked all day with seasoned players and new players alike, everyone seems to be so excited.

“We’ve got a few spots available for the rest of the week but it’s filling up fast and we’re looking forward to our coaching programme starting in the new year.”

Club de Padel is partnering with Adidas and HEAD on its equipment and will have one of the UK’s top padel competitors, Alberto Cubero Torregrosa, as head coach.

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Alberto said: “I can’t wait to get started at Club de Padel. Having grown up in Malaga, I have been playing padel for over 25 years, so I’m delighted to see it finally arrive in Manchester, where I now call home.

“It is important to me that everyone can enjoy this amazing sport, so it doesn’t matter if you are a complete beginner or an experienced player, I am committed to helping you improve and have fun while doing it.”

Club de Padel is open now with bookings open.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Sport

Salford City FC have been bought out by a new consortium

Danny Jones Danny Jones Salford City FC buyout Gary Neville David Beckham

Another era beckons for Salford City as a buyout of the Greater Manchester football club by a new consortium has been announced.

Well, sort of.

Salford City FC were famously the subject of a joint takeover by Singaporean businessman Peter Lim and members of Manchester United’s Class of ’92 over a decade ago, and now 11 years on from that last milestone moment in their history, the local side has a new administration once again.

It is a fresh chapter for the club, but supporters will be glad to hear that there will also be some continuity and key throughline of consistency among some of those at the top.

Led by Man United legends Gary Neville and David Beckham, who have been involved with Salford since 2014, the new nine-member consortium consists of the Dream Sports Group – a leading sports technology company based in India – along with a number of other key figures.

One of those is Lord Mervyn Davies, a former Labour MP and Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Small Business, who still serves as a trade envoy between the UK and Sri Lanka.

Another is Irish-American entrepreneur Declan Kelly, who is Chairman and CEO of The Consello Group, a global advisory and investing firm.

While the previous co-owners and fellow Class of ’92 United graduates are no longer shareholders at Moor Lane, it is said they will still play important roles at the club.

As the official statement reads, “The acquisition includes a commitment by the new shareholders to invest significantly in the Club, the team and its facilities”, meaning there will funds will likely be sweet aside not only for some healthy transfer business but more updates to the Peninsula Stadium.

Commenting on the announcement, Neville said: “I’m passionate about Salford City. This is a unique partnership with a diverse range of minds and expertise, held together by a love of football.

“Football will come first, however, it’s critical that we drive the Club towards sustainability in the next 4-5 years. I can’t wait for the next part of this journey.”

Meanwhile, Beckham went on to add in the excitable Instagram post seen above: “Salford played such an important role in my life growing up… It’s where I trained with United alongside my best mates every day, it’s where I bought my first house and where me and Victoria lived.

“I’m so proud to be part of a new ownership group alongside my mate [Neville] as we begin the next chapter of Salford’s journey. Football is at the heart of this community and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Ammies.

Are you happy with the news, Salford fans?

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Featured Images — Salford City FC (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sport

Chester Zoo’s sellout 10k charity run returns this summer with three new routes

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Chester Zoo Run For Nature

Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this summer, and this year, there’s three new routes to run.

The UK’s biggest charity zoo saw success with similar sold-out events in 2023 and 2024, and is now looking for 2,500 runners to sign up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences when it returns later this year – with all funds raised from the popular event going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.

Participants will this year take on a brand-new route winding through more of the zoo than ever before, and enjoying glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.

Chester Zoo is inviting runners of all abilities to take part this year, as there’s a new 5km run added to the usual 10km route, and even a one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run for kids aged four-15.

With only 2,500 places up for grabs, organisers say the event is expected to sell out quickly, just like it has the past two years, as runners race to support a very special cause.

All proceeds from this year’s Run For Nature in September will go directly towards protecting Nubian giraffes in East Africa – a species which has seen drastic population declines in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans.

Chester Zoo Run For Nature
Chester Zoo’s sellout 10k charity run is returning this summer with three new routes / Credit: Chester Zoo

Runners will receive a wooden medal at the finish line and free entry to the zoo for the remainder of the day, so they can relax and celebrate their achievement among 30,000 amazing animals.

If that didn’t all sound brilliant enough as it is, top fundraisers from the day will also be in with a chance of winning some exciting prizes too, including annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions, and even special behind-the-scenes zoo experiences.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing back Run For Nature for a third incredible year,” explained Sarah Jones, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo.

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“We’ve now doubled the distance runners spend inside the zoo, so they’ll pass by even more iconic animals, [making it] a really special experience you won’t get anywhere else.”

Run For Nature is back at Chester Zoo this Sunday 21 September, and you can find out more and sign up to take part here.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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