Served with heart in Praia da Luz
The Luz Ocean Padel Club came alive on 17–18 October as Liverpool legend John ‘Aldo’ Aldridge brought his trademark drive to the padel court for his inaugural charity tournament. Bringing together visiting friends and family from Liverpool and Ireland alongside local players, the event aimed to create a fun-filled weekend in the sunshine while raising vital funds for young children in the western Algarve.
Competitors enjoyed glorious sunshine right up until a dramatic thunderstorm halted play during the final. The sudden downpour resulted in a shared victory between UK team ‘Liverpool2London’ (Gary Slawson and Jay Welsh) and local favourites ‘A Lad from Portugal’ (Tandy Dias and Adam Morgan).
John told Tomorrow, “It was nut. But great nuts! The young guys from Liverpool and Ireland all really loved the weekend away and everyone mucked in and mixed in with the locals to make it a really great weekend. They all said they want to come back next year.”
Off the court, The Terrace Sports Bar provided the perfect backdrop for tournament action, post-match refreshments, and evening entertainment, with DJ Johnnie Sunset setting the mood as the rain took hold. A highlight of the night was a mega-raffle organised by Tandy Dias of Salpijardim landscaping and pool company, featuring prizes donated by generous local businesses. John then auctioned off a Liverpool shirt signed by the Liverpool squad, including Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Federico Chiesa. Combined with tournament entry fees, the event raised a phenomenal €13,000 and counting.
100% of the funds will go directly toward medical treatments and quality-of-life care for three local children and their families: Vicente (living with cerebral palsy) and Constanza (living with KAT6A syndrome). The two children arrived with their mothers to see the auction and show their appreciation. John told me, with his voice breaking, “That was the icing on the cake. It really pulls at the heartstrings to see those kids smiling, and it´s why I do this.”
Thank you to all the sponsors, players, venue partners, and spectators in Praia da Luz who turned out to show that in the Algarve, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”!
