John Acres Tries Padel for the First Time
Last week, we had a very special visitor on court—John Acres from the BBC Radio Devon Breakfast Show! He came down to try his hand at padel for the very first time, and let’s just say… he smashed it.
Welcomed by our experienced club pros Gary Hayes, Ian Shoard, and Nigel Moores, John was quickly put through his paces. With some quick tips, coaching, and plenty of laughs, he was rallying and ready for a match within 30 minutes. That’s the magic of padel—it’s easy to pick up, hard to put down, and fun from the very first swing.
Meeting the Marjon Padel Varsity Team
John didn’t just play—he also brought the mic! He had a chance to speak with the Marjon Padel Varsity team, who are gearing up for their much-anticipated showdown against Plymouth University Padel.
The team shared their excitement about the fixture, how padel has brought students together, and what it means to represent their university in one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports.
Padel United: Our Mission
At Padel United, we’re on a mission to make padel the most accessible, inclusive, and community-driven sport in the UK. From school sessions to university leagues and local club nights, we’re passionate about building spaces where people of all ages and abilities can come together, have fun, and improve their fitness—all while enjoying this exciting sport.
John’s visit was a brilliant reflection of what we aim to do: introduce padel to new audiences and show just how easy it is to fall in love with the game.
Listen to the Episode on BBC Sounds
Want to hear how John got on? You can listen to the full segment now on BBC Sounds—you’ll catch all the behind-the-scenes action, his first impressions of Padel, and his chat with the varsity team.
It’s between 7:30 am and 8:20 am on the app!
Thank You, BBC Radio Devon!
We absolutely loved having John down and can’t wait to welcome him back for round two. Thanks to BBC Radio Devon for shining a light on the growing padel scene in the South West.
See you on court!
