Trust opens £650,000 padel facility at Stanley Sports Hub

Accrington Stanley Community Trust has officially opened its new padel courts at the Stanley Sports Hub, bringing one of the world's fastest growing sports to Accrington for the first time.

The new development features two state-of-the-art covered and floodlit padel courts, offering Hyndburn’s 86,000 residents the chance to enjoy the increasingly popular sport all year round.

The project represents an investment of £650,000, with £325,000 funded by Accrington Stanley Community Trust and a further £275,000 in match funding provided by Hyndburn Council. This includes £200,000 from the Pride in Place Impact Fund and £75,000 from the council. Football Foundation funding of £50,000 was also received for a new catering unit.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund is a government programme that supports projects which improve local communities and public spaces. Hyndburn Council was awarded £1.5m over two years to invest in initiatives that make the borough a better place to live, work and visit. This project reflects the fund's aim of enhancing sports and leisure facilities, supporting the work of local charities and creating opportunities for residents to be more active.

Built by Readstone Construction, the courts have transformed a previously unused area of land at the edge of the Stanley Sports Hub into a modern sporting and social space.

Players can bring their own rackets or hire equipment on site, with free parking also available. The development includes a new drinks and snack bar, The Brew Box, providing a welcoming place for visitors to grab refreshments before or after their game.

Padel has seen a huge surge in popularity across the UK and Europe, thanks to its fun, sociable nature and accessibility. Suitable for all ages and abilities, the sport is easy for beginners to pick up while offering plenty of excitement for more experienced players.

The facility will also host regular school and community activities including for the over 50s and veterans, helping to introduce even more people to padel and encouraging participation in sport across Hyndburn.

Accrington Stanley Community Trust chief executive Martin Fearon said: "We're incredibly proud to have brought padel to Accrington for the first time. It's been a fantastic project, the finished courts look brilliant, and I'd like to thank everyone involved for making it happen. It's an exciting addition to the Stanley Sports Hub and another fantastic facility for our local community to enjoy."

The opening marks the latest milestone in the continued growth of the Stanley Sports Hub, which has benefited from significant investment over recent years and has developed into a £5m community sports facility.

Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, Councillor Munsif Dad, said: "This is a fantastic new attraction for Hyndburn and something I'm sure local people will be keen to try. Padel is growing rapidly in popularity, so it's wonderful to have such an impressive facility right here on our doorstep, making the sport accessible to our residents."

Purves Ali, chair of trustees at Accrington Stanley Community Trust, said: “This is about more than just sport. It's about creating opportunities, bringing people together and investing in the future of our community."

Sarah Smith, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said: “It’s fantastic to see the government’s Pride in Place Impact funding supporting projects like this, delivering real investment into our communities and creating new opportunities for local people to get active.”

The courts will be available to play on from Monday 9 November and are now open for bookings, with players able to reserve their sessions quickly and easily through the Playtomic app.

To book a court, visit https://playtomic.com/clubs/stanley-sports-hub

A number of sponsorship opportunities are also available for local businesses looking to get involved with the new facility, including a main padel sponsorship package and individual court sponsorships.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Scott Dawson Advertising on 07854 697876.

The new padel courts are located at Stanley Sports Hub, Thorneyholme Road, Accrington, BB5 6BD.