Former Leeds United midfielder Stuart Dallas and ex-Yorkshire tennis champion Mike Tolman are part of the team behind a new eight-court premium padel club in Leeds.
The new club in the Cross Green area, south east of the city centre, will be the first club from new operators Optimum Padel when it opens in March.
The venue’s eight courts will all be finished with the highest-grade blue turf, housed beneath a 10.5-metre-high roof — creating one of the most spacious and visually striking padel environments in Yorkshire.
Optimum Padel will have a strong focus on community, coaching and wellbeing. Features will include large luxury changing rooms, shower facilities, a heated indoor social hub, offering speciality coffee, matcha, beers and snacks.
Coaching will be available for all abilities — from first-time players to experienced competitors. A strong emphasis will be placed on junior development, with engaging, child-friendly coaching courses aimed at introducing children to sport in a fun, inclusive and accessible way.
The club is led by a director team with a blend of sporting, business and leadership experience:
- Adam Silverwood, Managing Director, is an entrepreneur and owner of multiple construction companies.
- Jordan Vincent, Operations Director, brings extensive experience from the hospitality sector.
- Stuart Dallas, Executive Director, is a former Premier League footballer with Leeds United and Northern Ireland international, now an LUFC ambassador and pundit.
- Caroline Tolman, Marketing Director, is a property investor and former tennis player turned padel enthusiast.
- Mike Tolman, Executive Director, is a GB padel player, Yorkshire padel captain and business owner.
- Andy Deeley, Financial Director, is a business owner, Chartered Accountant and LTA-qualified padel coach and competitive player, having transitioned from a high-level junior tennis background into padel.
Optimum Padel will host leagues, tournaments, social events and corporate activities.
Speaking ahead of the launch, the directors said the vision was to create a venue that “raises the bar for padel in Yorkshire — not just in terms of facilities, but in how welcoming, inclusive and community-focused a sports club can be.”
Optimum Padel is scheduled to open end of March. The club will be launching on Playtomic in mid-February.
The launch announcement comes on the heels of The Padel Paper‘s recent news of other big openings in Leeds that are collectively set to catapult the West Yorkshire city into one of Britain’s busiest padel hubs.
