Simon Boughton
Four-time Scottish Masters champ and head coach at Edinburgh Sports Club – Simon brings 28 years of passion to your game.
About
If you're wandering through Edinburgh's West End near the Water of Leith, you might just spot Simon Boughton at Edinburgh Sports Club – a coach who fell into the job by accident in Milan decades ago and never looked back. He's the kind of person who makes you feel welcome whether you're picking up a racket for the first time or chasing national titles. Tucked away among trees by the Scottish Museum of Modern Art, the club itself is a gem with six squash courts, padel, tennis, and even Europe's only hardball doubles squash court. Simon coaches all levels, from kids to masters, and you can book a session through ClubSpark. Insider tip: he's a four-time Scottish Masters champion, so you'll be learning from someone who truly walks the talk.
Coach
Simon Boughton is the Head Coach at Edinburgh Sports Club, with over 28 years of coaching experience. He trains players at all levels including juniors, seniors, performance, and masters, and is a four-time Scottish Masters National Champion.
Padel
Edinburgh Sports Club has added padel courts and offers outdoor padel play, with padel coaching available for members and non-members.
Squash
Edinburgh Sports Club features six squash courts, including the only hardball doubles squash court in Europe, along with a gym and padel courts.
Tennis
The club has three tennis courts.
Full Bio
Simon Boughton is a prominent squash coach and Head of Coaching at Edinburgh Sports Club (ESC) in Edinburgh's West End. His coaching career began accidentally in the 1990s when an impromptu trip to Milan led to a job offer at Poli Squash Club. He stayed for a year, learning Italian squash phrases from a list while coaching with a racket in one hand and the list in the other. He later earned a degree in Sport and Leisure Management from Brunel University London before moving to Scotland. Simon coached at Bridge of Allan Sports Club for two years before taking up his role at ESC, where he has been for over 20 years. He trains players at all levels – Juniors, Seniors, Performance, and Masters. He is also a four-time Scottish Masters National Champion and was part of the ESC squad that won bronze at the 2019 European Club Championships on home turf. As a player, Simon reached England Under-16 top 10 and represented his county at senior level, but he admits he lacked the single-mindedness to turn professional. He continues to play competitively for ESC in the East and National Leagues. During lockdown, he started a fitness blog on the ESC Instagram account, showcasing circuits from different sources, and he played tennis and padel outdoors when allowed. Edinburgh Sports Club is located at St James Square, Quarter, Edinburgh, EH1 3AD. The club is tucked away at the bottom of a slope, surrounded by trees nurtured by the Water of Leith, near the Scottish Museum of Modern Art. It has six squash courts, three tennis courts, a gym, padel courts, and the only hardball doubles squash court in Europe. Simon coaches group and individual sessions for members and non-members, with pricing: squash 40 mins £25 (members) / £35 (non-members); tennis/padel 55 mins £35 (members) / £48 (non-members). Booking is via ClubSpark; for juniors under 16, a parent/guardian must register an account. The club also has 7 electric vehicle charging points (Type 2, 7kW, Level 2, AC single-phase, 230V, 32A), all operated by POD Point (UK) with a usage type of 'Public - Membership Required' and a complicated tariff structure of £0.45/kWh and £0.75/kWh. Simon can be reached by phone at +441315397071 or through the club's online contact form. He has a website feature on Squash Mad and social media presence via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Squash Mad accounts). His coaching career started around 1992, spanning 28 years as of 2020. He holds the position of Head of Coaching at ESC.