Tony Lee, UK Padel Federation President
A lifetime spent in the food industry and an enthusiasm, however misguided, for sport and tennis in particular lead to an infatuation with padel tennis when Tony, Susie and their three young boys moved to Spain in 2002.
Following the decision of former UK Padel Federation president Brian Thompson to stand down, Tony took up up the challenge of developing padel in the UK. “The vision is clear” he says “more courts, more players and more competition will inevitably lead to this wonderful game becoming firmly established throughout the UK. We already have the first ever 2 court club openning at Huddersfield Lawn Tennis & Squash Club 4th March 2011 and other clubs will follow across the UK.”
Recently back from the Mundial Mexico 2010 (World Padel Championships) and already looking forward to the next world championships in Houston, USA 2012 Tony is convinced the next few years will see a significant development in the growth of padel across the world. With countries such as Holland, Australia, USA and of course the UK adding to the other european and south american countries already active in helping more than 4 million players worldwide to enjoy this wonderful game we know as padel.
Joanna Joyce, UK Padel Federation Secretary
Joanna, who was brought up in the UK, has now been living in Madrid for 9 years. Having spent a year of her degree course in Madrid she fell in love with the city and decided to set up home once she finished at university.
She is an Associate at the Real Estate consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield where she has been working in the Retail Department since 2002 advising international retailers on their expansion strategy for Spain.
Joanna took up padel about 5 years ago spurred on by her boyfriends love of the sport. She was a member of the team representing the UK in the 2009 European Championship in Estoril, Portugal and will also be a member of the team going out to Mexico in November for the World Championship.
“Padel is a thoroughly enjoyable sport which is decidedly more-ish! It´s a game which can be played by people of all ages and abilities and it´s easy to get to a stage where you can have a great game with players of a similar level.”
Jonathon Drury, UK Padel Federation Director
Jonathon was born in Harare, Zimbabwe where his love of sport was ignited initially playing for the Zimbabwe Little League Baseball Team aged 8, he then emigrated to the UK where he played first team rugby at school and squash for Gravesham Under 21s when 11 years old.
Moving to Spain a number of years ago, golf was the obvious sporting choice but in the end padel won.
“Padel is a fantastic highly addictive team game – I challenge anyone with a liking for racket sports to not enjoy this game!”
Paul Cosgrove, UK Padel Federation Director
Paul Cosgrove
The reason the sport had grown so quickly in many parts of the world appeared obvious, and as Paul for many years would tell any one that would listen, and those that wouldn’t, he believed there was a big future for the sport in the UK. The enthusiasm for Padel is infectious and Paul is convinced set to become one of the fastest growing sports across the world in the coming years.
Eva Lambert FCCA, FRSA, FCMI
Eva Lambert has worked in a voluntary capacity at Huddersfield Lawn Tennis and Squash Club for many years, as Chair, Finance Director and now as a General Director. Her current role is to help develop the staff following recent changes at the Club and to take responsibility for Padel.
She has worked with Peter Vann, previously Chair at the Club, on the Padel project since its inception.
She plays Tennis, racketball and golf and has played Padel abroad.
Eva is also currently Chair of Governors and Chair of the Remuneration and Search sub committees at Greenhead Sixth Form College, ranked in the top 10 in the country.
She is an accountant by profession and had a career in the Health Service. She started as a clerk and Salaries and Wages in 1973 and finally became Chief Executive of the Huddersfield NHS Trust from 1992 untill 1997.
She has worked as Chief Executive for a women’s health charity and as an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of York. She has also held voluntary Trustee appointments with the University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield Mencap and Kirklees Active Leisure. She is Company Secretary and Finance Director for the family haulage business.Eva is married with three children and five grandchildren. Her leisure interests are tennis, golf, skiing, reading and various handicrafts.
Peter Vann
Peter Vann has been a keen tennis, squash and racketball player since being taught to play from the age of 5 by his late father – a Surrey county tennis player.
He has represented Yorkshire in vets tennis for the last 5 years.
A member of HLTSC since the early 1980’s he voluntarily served as a director for 3 years prior to being Chairman for 6 years.
He has worked closely with Eva Lambert – previously Finance Director of HLTSC on their Padel project – having first proposed the introduction of Padel to the HLTSC board in 1996.
He discovered Padel at La Manga Club in Spain around 10 years ago as a regular visitor there with his wife Sara and two sons George (20) and Harry (18) and has played it in Spain ever since.
Peter’s career in sales and marketing has been in the home improvement industry.
He worked for 14 years at Spring Ram Corporation PLC, who manufactured bathrooms and kitchens, becoming marketing director of its ceramic tile manufacturing subsidiary before departing in 1992 to become co-owner of a ceramic tile distribution company in Leeds www.tilesandmosaics.co.uk
As well as sport, Sara’s cooking and his family, Peter is a lover of music (listening and watching) and although has wide tastes his roots are firmly in 1970’s rock and progressive rock.
