Craig McBride
Scottish padel coach bringing Spanish flair to Edinburgh & Glasgow – book a session and ¡vamos!
About
If you're looking for someone who can bring the authentic Spanish padel vibe to Scotland, Craig McBride is your guy. An Edinburgh native who first picked up a padel racket back in 2016 at Hatton Sports Club, he's since trained in the padel heartland of Malaga and earned his stripes with a PadelMBA CPC. Now you'll find him coaching across Edinburgh and Glasgow – at Hatton, David Lloyd Shawfair, Thistle Padel, and as Head Coach at Golf It! Glasgow's new courts. Craig's sessions are a perfect blend of technical know‑how and genuine enthusiasm, and he's especially brilliant if you're completely new to the sport. Keep an eye out for his annual Padethon charity event too – it's a cracking way to try padel for a great cause.
Coach
Craig McBride is an Edinburgh native who is passionate about padel and the physical and mental benefits it can have for people of all athletic backgrounds.
Full Bio
Craig McBride is an Edinburgh native and a certified padel coach accredited by PadelMBA. He first discovered padel in 2017 at Thistle Padel Club in Edinburgh and has been passionate about the sport ever since. Craig grew up playing tennis and football, and also did a lot of running and cycling. He lived in Vietnam for four years teaching English before deciding to move towards sports and outdoor education, making padel a perfect fit. In 2022, Craig completed the first LTA padel coaching course to be held in Scotland, which deepened his commitment to the game. He then spent the first half of 2023 in Malaga, Spain – the heartland of padel – training as a player and completing the Certified Padel Coach course (PadelMBA CPC) in El Puerto de Santa Maria. During his time in Spain, he immersed himself in Spanish padel culture and played with high‑level players. His mission is now to bring a slice of that culture back to Scotland, and he even plans to run some coaching sessions in Spanish for the most authentic experience. Craig coaches at multiple venues: Hatton Sports Club (where one of Scotland's first padel courts was installed in 2016), David Lloyd Edinburgh Shawfair, Game4Padel at Thistle Padel (Colinton and Edinburgh Park), and as the Head Padel Coach at Golf It! Glasgow, which is home to Glasgow's first padel courts. He offers both group and individual coaching to players of all levels and athletic backgrounds, with a particular passion for introducing complete beginners to the sport. Craig emphasises the social, mental, and physical benefits of padel and believes competition is not a requirement to enjoy the game. In August 2023, Craig led the organisation of the 6th annual Padethon charity event at Hatton Sports Club, introducing dozens of new players to padel while raising over £6,000 for Alzheimer's Scotland. He also organises other padel events and tournaments throughout the year. Craig himself loves to compete and has had success in the G4P Championships with his brother Rory. Craig can be contacted by phone at +447724707268, by email at craig@getinpadel.com, or via WhatsApp. You can find him on Instagram (@getinpadel), Facebook (game4padel), and LinkedIn. He speaks English.