Team Lewisham in final weeks of training for Club Games 2025
The "Older Persons Olympics" are billed as a "fun, competitive and social" celebration of sport. There's still time to sign up.
The Club Games 2025 will be held on Friday 26th September at Crystal Palace, and Wednesday 1st October at Olympic Park in Stratford.
Team Lewisham are hoping to do even better than last year where they came 4th across more than 20 teams with over 700 contestants.
The event brings together members and customers aged 60 and over to represent their local GLL/Better leisure centres.
GLL is a charitable social enterprise and workers' cooperative, owned by the staff that run its Better leisure centres and libraries.
Events will include walking football, walking netball, pickleball, darts, dominoes, badminton, table tennis and short mat bowling.
Claire Pitter from Catford is competing in the dominoes event and putting together a team from the Hummingbird community centre, where she works as a programme manager.
“Dominoes is a very competitive sport and there’s a lot more to it than you might think,” she said. “It all depends who you’re playing with and you have to read your partner’s hand.
"We’ve got a lot of really good players, so I think we’re going to have to have some sort of internal competition to select who’ll be going to the Club Games.
"Last year was our first time and we did pretty well – we came second in our event. Now we know how it works, we’re going in fighting for our borough! But it’s also a fun occasion. The camaraderie is good and you get to meet people from other areas.”
Trevor Pybus is a community link worker from Downham and has been taking part in the walking football event at the games for several years. He is hopeful that Team Lewisham could triumph this year.
"It’s an excellent competition and I’ve always got hopes that we’ll do well, but it’s more about participation,” he said.
“It’s great to be part of a group. And Matthew Houghton plays a crucial role in encouraging team spirit.”
Matthew Houghton is the GLL Community Sports Manager in Lewisham. "Last year was such a success and it was due to the hard work and excellent performances of those who took part.
"Jumping from 18th to 4th place is a real testament to those who got involved.
"We would love to go one better this year, but need more people to come forward and represent Team Lewisham. If you're 60 years or older and would like to represent the borough and help us reach the top three, then sign up today!"
The Club Games will take place on Friday 26th September at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, and Wednesday 1st October at Copper Box arena, Olympic Park in Stratford.
There's still time to join. Drop in to your local Better leisure centre or sign up here.
