Our Team
Meet our management team and professional coaching staff
Richard Hall Smith
MD - Padel United UK | Founder Go Padel Foundation CIC
Go Padel UK was founded by myself, Richard Hall Smith, and I am the current C.E.O. We have been building and operating padel clubs in the UK since 2015 making us the longest serving operator in the UK.
We currently have 4 venues in Essex, and more are under construction or in the pipeline as we speak!.
Each centre is at the heart of its community, we work with over 5 local schools, NHS and teaching sectors and many other areas. We pride ourselves on our social inclusion policies and aim to deliver one message at all our venues, padel is for everyone! With the experience, we have built over the last 5 years we have built up a base of over 1000 padel players in Essex, with the largest junior padel academy in the UK.
I am thrilled to merge with Padel United UK, delighted to be working with Rikard And Markus from Padel United International and can’t wait to continue transforming the Padel landscape in the UK.
Gary Mallard
Head Of Marketing
Gary comes from a background of music and event production and promotion. From these roots he started a web services and graphic design business 15 years ago called ‘Brighton Beach Design’ specialising in the event industry. This rapidly expanded into other sectors including solar energy companies, media and publishing, estate agency, international financial services, scuba diving safaris, fine art and many other online stores for various individuals – to name but a few!
He met Rich just after the Maldon centre first launched and built the website and handled all the social media and online promotion for the club.
The rest is history and and from those small beginnings the team are about to launch many new and exciting padel projects all around the UK.
Padel development is now his full focus. He just built this website. Watch this space!
Kai Woodgate
Coach
Hi, My name is Kai Woodgate and I am one of the coaches at Padel United UK. I started playing padel in 2019 in Maldon. I have always had a love for sports and played them throughout my life. While growing up I played football for around 10 years for local clubs, regularly went skiing and competed in cross-country running as well as watching and playing many other sports. As sport has always been my passion, I decided that I wanted to study it more in depth while in school and sixth-form college. I studied GCSE PE in secondary school and then went on to study a BTEC level 3 extended diploma in sport alongside an A-level in biology.
Henry Jiggins
Coach
My name is Harry Jiggins, and I am one of the coaches at PDL Padel United. Sports, especially football, has been a passion of mine since a young age, and I actively played for local teams for over 5 years. As time passed, I discovered Padel, which started as a hobby but quickly became my true sporting love. I’ve always been determined to improve and expand my knowledge of the sport.
Representing Great Britain in Padel is one of my ultimate goals, and I’m also aspiring to manage my own PDL Padel United Club. From the early days of my Padel journey, coaching and understanding the intricacies of running a sports business have fascinated me. Working at the club and actively participating in its operations has provided me with valuable insights, and I’m enthusiastic about the possibilities the future holds.
Ben Welsford
Coach
I am Ben Welsford, and my journey in the world of Padel has spanned just over five exhilarating years. Initially, I stumbled upon this captivating sport as a means to pass the time during the summer months, little did I know that it would ignite an unwavering passion within me. Padel has transformed from a mere pastime into an integral part of my life, and I find myself wholeheartedly in love with the game.
Now, I have the incredible opportunity to share this love with others as I coach juniors, passing on my knowledge and expertise to the next generation of Padel enthusiasts. Witnessing their growth and enthusiasm on the court brings me immense joy, and I am committed to nurturing their talents and passion for the sport.
Aside from coaching, I also take pride in contributing to the maintenance and upkeep of the Padel facilities. Keeping the courts in top-notch condition ensures that players, both seasoned and newcomers, can enjoy the game to the fullest.
Being recognized as one of the finest young Padel players in the UK is truly an honor, and I am humbled by the support and encouragement I receive from the Padel community. To those seeking an exhilarating Padel experience, I extend an open invitation to join me for a thrilling hit on the courts. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a curious beginner, I wholeheartedly welcome you to share in the excitement and camaraderie that Padel offers. Together, let’s create unforgettable moments on the court and further grow our love for this incredible sport.
Improve your game!
We offer both 1 on 1 and matchplay coaching.
Everyone can benefit from sessions with our professional and friendly coaching team from absolute beginners to elite players.
We coach all ages from young kids to the vets – beginners and those new to padel are paticuarly welcome!