Powerleague Liverpool is converting four of its five-a-side pitches into padel courts as part of an £850,000 investment at its Whittle Street site in Kirkdale. Liverpool City Council approved the plans last month, and work is expected to finish in November 2026.
New Courts to Meet Growing Demand
The new padel courts will feature canopies, lighting, and enclosure boards, replacing two all-weather pitches deemed surplus to requirements. The project was scaled back from an initial proposal in February 2025, which sought six courts.
Padel, a racquet sport combining tennis and squash with underhand serves, is considered the fastest-growing sport globally. Since 2019, more than 700 courts have opened across the UK.
John Gillespie, chief executive of Powerleague, said: “We’re continuously striving to provide the very best facilities and increased opportunities to play. Completed towards the end of this year, the new courts will make the sport more accessible to those in the local area and that is something we are committed to do. Whether you’re a first-time player or an experienced pro, padel has continued to be incredibly popular across the UK, thanks to its sociable nature and the community it has attracted.”
Padel’s Growing Popularity on Merseyside
Padel has already gained traction in Liverpool. Three specialist courts were installed at Liverpool Cricket Club in November 2023. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is an investor in Game4Padel, and former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has been an avid player post-Anfield.
The courts will be enclosed with clear reinforced glass panels around three metres tall and white mesh, with a canopy rising to approximately nine metres providing open-air shelter.
