EXCLUSIVE
THE PADEL PAPER can reveal that the world’s oldest recognised Football League Club is set to open a new four-court padel centre.
Notts County FC, which was formed in 1862 and also became one of the famous 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888, hope to have the facility in full operation by the end of summer.
With the venue, set to be called the Nottingham Padel Centre, the only custom-built padel venue within a 40-mile radius of the club’s historic Meadow Lane ground, our picture below reveals that work is already well under way on the facility which it is hoped will service surging demand for padel across the East Midlands.
The idea for the exciting new development came from co-owner Alex Reedtz, who along with brother and fellow owner Christoffer Reedtz, are behind the London-based company Football Radar, which specialises in analysing football matches and leagues to provide betting advice to customers.
There is no doubt that there is something pleasing about England’s oldest football league club proving its most forward thinking in being the first to officially position itself with the most exciting and latest sport to cascade from the continent to the UK.
County media manager Nick Richardson explained: “Our owners are Danish and padel is incredibly popular in Scandinavia. One of our owners, Alex Reedtz, is a great fan of padel and also a very good padel player, so he has been the driving force and brought the idea to the table as an opportunity to drive new revenue to the football club.
“But it is also important to us to enrich the sports facilities we can offer our community which is also a priority to Alex, and his brother Chris, who are the joint owners.
“So they have sanctioned the build and the facility and are now very much looking forward to getting it open. But our main focus at the minute at the club is to establish an infrastructure around Notts County as a community sporting facility.
“The focus will be on the day-to-day logistics of how people will access the courts and also getting the word out to the community and then to ensure as much participation within the community as possible.
“Whether or not that will lead to us hosting Pro events in the future we will see but right now the initial focus will be about getting families playing and the community enjoying the opportunity to discover padel and then play it.”
While the total investment figure in the facility has not been released Football Radar’s total equity, its assets minus its liabilities, rose to £3.67million in 2021 from £1.92 million in the 12months prior.
A statement from County’s board of directors confirmed the padel facility is seen as a new revenue opportunity: “We’re delighted that work has commenced on a project which will drive new revenue for the club and enhance Nottingham’s reputation as an incredible city of sport.
“We’re confident the facility will attract people from across the East Midlands and we’re looking forward to seeing the courts in action.”
But Richardson was keen to stress the pleasing nature of the venture which aligns English football’s oldest league club with the shiny new sport which is growing apace in Britain.
The County spokesman said: “We are very aware of the fantastic history behind Notts County. We are an iconic sporting name within the city of Nottingham but we don’t dwell on that and we try to be forward thinking and add to new elements to the sporting tapestry of the city. This is hopefully a great reflection of the way Notts County is now run.
“So we think we are moving with the times and are delighted to embrace a new and hugely exciting sport that is growing around Europe and now the UK and one we believe can be very popular in Nottingham.”
With Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a known devotee of padel, Richardson has no doubt it won’t be long before Magpies gaffer Luke Williams and his players are ‘bat-tling’ it out on the courts of the Nottingham Padel Centre.
He said: “Our new manager Luke Williams is forward thinking for sure and I’d imagine he and the players will see it as a useful training facility. And knowing how popular it is at some of the other top clubs in England, I am sure they will take time to enjoy it.”
It might also help to attract some big-name signings from Spain and Argentina. Football legends David Beckham, Sergio Aguero and Peter Crouch are known to be big padel fans.
