Alex Minogue-Stone has deferred his place at university to run Lemon Pickleball – and if its current success continues, he doesn’t anticipate starting his studies any time soon.
The 21-year-old co-founded Lemon Pickleball with close friend Ash Spencer in August. Together, they run coaching, matchplay and special events every day of the week at venues all over London, and have so far introduced over 500 adults to the sport.
Alex and Ash met whilst they were junior tennis players in Finchley, before progressing into competing and coaching. They discovered a passion for pickleball via different routes, with Ash introducing it to Alex for the first time during the pandemic.
Both are now IPTPA Level 1 accredited pickleball coaches and run venues at nine locations across London, with a mixture of pickleball novices and more experienced players. It’s a full-time occupation for both of them – they’ve gone ‘all in!’
Alex (pictured below) tells Pickleball 52: “I’ve deferred university and if Lemon Pickleball works out then I’ll drop out. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t!”
Ash ended up co-managing the business via a different route to Alex. He has toured worldwide with his band Yossarian over the past decade and discovered pickleball whilst in Australia. On returning home to north London, he was disappointed he couldn’t find anywhere to play. So, after the pair had visited the English Open in Telford in August, they formed Lemon Pickleball.
“We’ve done corporate events, social mix-ins and we are trying to connect with schools to coach children too,” says Alex. “We have six coaches in total and we want to add more venues. Ideally one day we’ll have our own premises.
“A lot of the people we’re targeting are new to the sport. Our top priority is to make sure they have a great first experience of picking up a paddle.”
The sport’s trajectory is only going one way – so Alex is mentally preparing to make that ‘thanks, but not thanks’ call to university admissions and keep building his pickleball empire.
“The sport is booming – that’s what we think and that’s what most people within the sport seem to think too,” he says. “It’s so hard to get that perspective when you’re as invested in it as we are. Lemon Pickleball is our baby and we see why reason why it shouldn’t work grow and grow.”
Keep up the great work Alex and Ash.
Lemon Pickleball is such a cool name. Keep up the awesome mission. 👏