About Us

Esselle’s story is rooted in a genuine love of sport, people and travel — and a belief that the right experiences can leave a lasting impact.

 

Founded over 40 years ago by father-and-son team Steve and Les Rigby, Esselle began life creating entertaining and well-organised bowling festivals. You can visit our dedicated Esselle Bowling website here. From the very start, the focus was simple: bring people together through sport and make every experience enjoyable, memorable and expertly run.

 

Drawing on Steve’s background as a professional footballer, the business naturally evolved. Alongside festivals, Esselle began supporting professional football clubs, managing the complex logistics of away matches and training camps. This hands-on experience at the highest levels of sport shaped the standards Esselle is still known for today — precision planning, calm delivery and a deep understanding of what teams really need.

 

As the years passed, Esselle continued to grow, expanding into sports such as rugby and field hockey, while building long-standing relationships across the sporting world. In 2023, after more than four decades at the helm, Steve and Les retired. It was at this point that James and Abby stepped in to take ownership of Esselle, taking it into its next chapter.

 

While the leadership may have changed, the ethos remains firmly the same: people first, quality always.

 

For over 15 years, Esselle has worked closely with its trusted USA partner, Premier International Tours, supporting young sportspeople travelling from the USA to Europe and the UK for football and cultural tours. These partnerships reflect Esselle’s reputation for reliability, care and consistency on an international stage.

 

Since August 2023, Esselle has expanded further, now delivering tours across dance, cricket and basketball, alongside its established sports. In that time alone, we have arranged logistics, accommodation and excursions for 70 tours in the UK and abroad, supporting 5,900 young people and their chaperones, and transporting almost 2,000 professional footballers to competitive fixtures.

 

What truly sets Esselle apart, however, is not just experience — it’s how we work.

 

We are a small, passionate team who care deeply about every group we support. We listen, we plan meticulously, and we stay hands-on from first enquiry to journey home. Our core values guide everything we do: being empowered to take ownership, putting people first, and continually learning and improving so every tour is better than the last.

 

We’re proud to work with organisations including Crewe Alexandra, England Hockey, Cyprus Rugby, Surbiton 1874 Hockey, Yorkshire RFU and Somerset Rugby, and we’re equally proud of the trust placed in us by schools, clubs and partners year after year.

 

As Esselle continues to grow, our commitment remains unchanged: to deliver exceptional, carefully crafted experiences that inspire confidence, connection and unforgettable memories — both on and off the pitch.