We are excited to announce that works to build three new padel courts at The New Croft will commence next week. The courts, located on the grass opposite the main building, will be developed and operated by Haverhill Padel Club Limited, a new company set up by local businessman Callum Slater.
The development will broaden the range of activities available at The New Croft and provide the local community with access to one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Padel offers a fun, social, and active experience for people of all ages, and these new courts will be a fantastic addition to Haverhill’s sporting facilities. This project is the result of months of collaboration between The New Croft, Callum, The Football Foundation, West Suffolk Council, and four sets of legal teams, whose shared commitment has turned a complex vision into a reality.
Site preparation and groundworks will begin on Monday 17th November, with steel canopy construction and court bases following in early 2026. We expect the courts to be fully open by March/April 2026 at the latest.
“This is a fantastic moment for The New Croft and for our community,” said Peter Betts, CEO of The New Croft. “Having a start date confirmed brings us one step closer to offering something truly special. The teamwork behind this has been outstanding. It’s taken significant effort to bring everything together, but the result will be something that benefits the whole community."
When The New Croft first opened, it was little more than a single fenced grass pitch and a small building. Fifteen years on, it’s incredible to see how the facility has developed over this time. What started as a small centre has grown into a huge asset for our local community that operates 7 days a week. The New Croft has developed into a community hub and a place where people come together for football, education, wellbeing programmes, social activities, and now, padel too.
