In this episode of Padel Stories, we sit down with Scott Ledger, one of the most experienced officials in English football, having overseen more than 537 league games across his career as both a referee and assistant referee in the Premier League.

Scott shares his fascinating journey from leaving the army to carving out a career at the very top of elite sport, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to operate in such a high-pressure environment. His story is one of resilience, progression, and a deep passion for the game.

Away from the pitch, Scott has found an unexpected outlet in padel: A sport that’s become more than just a hobby. What started as a personal escape has quickly grown into something bigger, with his enthusiasm spreading across the refereeing community, notably his big friend Paul Tierney. Now, padel sits at the heart of a referees’ WhatsApp group, helping to strengthen relationships, encourage team bonding, and create a positive shared outlet beyond football.

This episode is packed with insight into elite performance, the human side of officiating, and how sport can bring people together in unexpected ways.

We hope you enjoy

Nick and Jen

Xx

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

(🚨Please note: there are a few moments in this episode where aircraft noise can be heard overhead, which may affect the sound quality at times. We recorded live at Soul Padel. Thanks for your understanding 🚨)

In this episode, Sophie discusses her life on the Ladies European Tour before moving into broadcasting with Sky Sports. She shares how padel has become such an inclusive sport and something she sees as a real passion and hobby and is proud to be an official Ambassador of Soul Padel.

As an early adopter of the game, Sophie explains how padel has grown in importance, especially when travelling on the road with camera crews, presenters, broadcasters, producers and riggers, who are now playing regularly together. She talks about how the sport has helped bring the team closer and created a stronger sense of connection.

Sophie also reflects on why she loves padel’s accessibility and inclusiveness, while feeling golf still has some way to go in achieving full male-female equality. A really insightful and engaging conversation

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

Fantastic to catch up with Jack Williams from On The Court and John Preston from Baseline Digital Marketing at BigBox Padel Club in their impressive 9-court indoor facility in Huddersfield.

In this episode, Jack and John discuss BigBox Padel Club’s decision to move forward without a third-party booking app, and how that approach supports greater ownership of the customer relationship. As the app provider and the brand and marketing lead supporting the club, they explain how better access to data can help deliver more effective messaging, more relevant communication, and a stronger user experience both on and off court.

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

In this latest Padel Stories Tiebreak, we share some recent padel postcards from the USA with listener and friend Ivo Maciel and catch up on the games we’ve been involved in, including a fantastic, hard-fought tie NB was involved in featuring Jon Wilkin, Michael Vaughan, and Chris Reimann, aka Chris the Pilot.

Jen talks about her recent holiday to Tenerife, while Nick confesses to overindulging on Easter chocolates and getting back on track with a bit of a diet.

We also look ahead to some exciting upcoming guests, including Sky Sports golf presenter Sophie Walker, who we’re absolutely delighted to have joining us soon as well as the recorded interview NB did with John Preston and Jack Williams at the newly named Big Box Padel in Huddersfield.

We hope you enjoy

Nick & Jen

Xx

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

Fantastic leading interview with the Founder of Padel 39, Will Boyce, discussing the explosion of Padel in USA, his expansion plans and how he is spearheading the boom in Texas where he and his family are based..

Let's get into it! Enjoy..

Nick and Jen xx

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

This episode is all about health optimisation..looking well, feeling well, and living well.

Projuvenate is a holistic centre based in Manchester that focuses on all of these areas, and it was great for Jen and I to interview founders Rob, Dr Libby, and Kim Artingstall, who each shared their roles in building the business and their approach to helping people perform at their best.

Rob is also developing padel-specific programmes, which we’ll be returning to film very soon: helping players stay stronger, healthier, and playing padel for longer. 🎾

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Nick and Jen xx

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

Fantastic for us to sit down with our friend Robert Smethurst, Macclesfield FC Owner for our upcoming leading interview.

We dive into all things football ⚽️, padel 🎾, his BBC series 🎥, and the many projects he’s driving as the true entrepreneur that he is.

Padel has become Rob’s escape, playing a huge role in both his physical and mental wellbeing with running a football club and his 5 other businesses, while tackling his open struggle with addiction.

Hear Macclesfield's fantastic FA cup journey beating Crystal Palace in 3rd round and the subsequent global media attention he and the club received..

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

A new era of Corporate entertainment..

Fantastic day supporting Equilibrium Financial Planning on their Corporate Padel Day as their media podcast partner 🎙️

It was a brilliantly run event by Tim Crutchley and it fantastic to work alongside Julie Anne Jackson & Lucie Bloomfield from Equilibrium FP.

Lovely interviews with Julie Ann, their clients Phil Waine, Simon Pooler and James Webster, as well hearing from key EQ colleagues Jack Williams, Tim Latham and Nathan Lingham about the day and why Padel is becoming their #1 corporate entertainment tool

Episode out Now 🎙️ .

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq