Why ex-footballers love UK's fastest growing sport: 'There are so many benefits'

Ex-Premier League stars Dion Dublin and Joleon Lescott reckon the fun and friendship of the new sporting craze padel is the perfect substitute for playing football.

The racquet sport, which combines tennis and squash in a court surrounded by glass walls, is already a smash hit across Europe and South America. Lionel Messi , Jurgen Klopp and David Beckham are huge fans while a number of Premier League clubs are building courts at their training grounds. And it is now one of the fastest growing sports in the UK with 400,000 playing last year - up from only 15,000 in 2019.

Many of the addicts are ex-footballers who love the competition and workout - and the camaraderie of playing sport after years being part of a team. Former Manchester United and England striker Dion Dublin, 56, said: “The fitness is good for us and there is the social element as well. It is great that when we finish playing, we have a chat, have a drink and talk to each other. It is like being in a dressing room. No wonder so many ex-footballers are playing.”

Mirror columnist and ex-Manchester City and England defender Joleon Lescott, 43, saw his team - including ex-Burnley and Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens - win the Celebrity Pro Am Padel Tour National Final at Canary Wharf this week.

“Padel is definitely a way for ex-players to get together and enjoy their time together being active and being competitive,” he said. “I live in Cheshire and play padel and football with a group of ex-pros.

"My padel partner is Dale and there is Danny Drinkwater, Danny Simpson, Wes Brown sometimes. There is a variety of players who play Padel and we use the group to communicate, with whatever that may be, and play Padel a few times a week.

“There are so many benefits to playing. The fact that you are spending time together and not always talking - just being around someone that maybe you know is going through something and helping them out and being distracted for an hour.”

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John Terry , who competed in Padel Aid last year, has played with fellow ex-footballers Francesco Totti and Peter Crouch.

“I absolutely love it,” said the former England and Chelsea captain Terry, who plays up to three times a week. “It is really attractive to ex-sports stars, especially footballers. A tennis court is probably a little bit too big but we can still get around a padel court. It is really competitive as well - the competitiveness will always be there.

“It is high intensity. It gives you a little buzz. I just love the fitness it gives me as well. I don’t like doing too many long runs so this gives me little short bursts.

“I play with Jody Morris, Steve Sidwell, Crouchie. We were in Dubai playing a tournament. I played against Totti. Carles Puyol plays a lot.”

But one of Padel’s appeal is that is easy to pick up.

“You can play with all age groups,” Terry added. “You can play with your wife or your mum or your kids. It is a game for everyone. “You don’t need to be an expert.

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“It is easier than tennis or squash. It is all touch and feel. It is like beach tennis or playing tennis at school with a foam ball. And you don’t need to be ultra fit to get around the court.”

The number of courts in the UK has also climbed from 68 in 2019 to 1,000 in July this year, according to the LTA. Many more are planned - and an increased supply should bring down the cost. Andy and Jamie Murray have invested in the company Game4Padel. The average cost in the UK for 60 minutes is £58 - divided by four but it is still not cheap.

There is a worldwide circuit of pro padel and four Majors. British No.1 Christian Medina Murphy plays up to 35 events around the world and is based in Alicante. “In Spain, it is now the second biggest sport after football,” said the world No.127.

“There are courts in nearly every street. It is huge. And it is not only in Spain. It is massive now in France, Portugal, Italy and Argentina. In Italy. It is crazy how quickly this sport is growing.”

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Padel - or sometimes called padel tennis - is a racket sport which combines tennis and squash. It started in Mexico in the 1960s and has now spread across the world.

Padel courts are designed for four players and are 20m long by 10m wide - about 25 percent smaller than a tennis court

The court is divided into two service boxes either side of the net – like in tennis – but it’s surrounded by glass walls, a metal cage, and doors on either side.

Scoring is like in tennis but the rules and techniques are different. Serves are underarm and all shots must bounce in the court before hitting the wall. All four players often stand at the net exchanging volleys. The perforated paddle bats and larger balls make the sport easier to play at a starter level than tennis or squash.

The US version is called pickleball which is played on a smaller tennis court without walls.

CUPRA is the proud sponsor of the Pro Am Padel Tour 2025. For more information visit www.cupraofficial.co.uk

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