Better Club Games 2025 - Croydon Crowned

A record 1,000 over 60s took part in this year's Better Club Games - the UK's 'Festival of Active Ageing'.

The Better Club Games is provided by charitable social enterprise leisure operator and worker-owned co-op GLL which works in partnership with local authorities.

Also known as 'The Older Person's Olympics', this year's friendly tournament saw 20 teams from across London, Rugby and Surrey compete in 11 sports for the coveted winners title at Copper Box Arena in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 1 October.

In a hotly contested competition it was Croydon who took the spoils - boosted by top place finishes in pickleball, darts and table tennis.

Team Croydon husband and wife table tennis players Ping Yang and Quan Zhou – both 63 - were celebrating their third year at the Better Club Games.

Quan commented:  “We were confident at doing well this year but to be honest, the enjoyment of the whole day is more important than the competition aspect.”

Team Hackney finished second and Team Greenwich grabbed third spot.

Team Hackney's Wendy White, 69, a retired teaching assistant was marking her fourth time at Club Games - this year taking part in the walking netball event – where Team Greenwich came first – and the static cycling.

“The Club Games is a nice thing,” she notes. “Once you retire, what else are you going to do? This is a great way to get active and meet new people. I would definitely advise other people to come out and join in.”

This year marked the 19th anniversary of the Better Club Games, taking place on The International Day of the Older Person - highlighting the important contributions of older people to society.

The evergreen Better Club Games participants are recruited through weekly centre programmes at Better Leisure Centres and proudly represent their teams in Badminton, Short Tennis, Table Tennis, Darts, Short Mat Bowls, Timed Cycle, Dominoes, Walking Football, Walking Netball, Pickleball, Timed Swim.

The Better Club Games highlight the importance of active ageing, with clear benefits for physical health, mental wellbeing, and tackling social isolation.

The event was opened by star of tv ('Hi-de-Hi', 'You Rang M'Lord?' and 'Oh Doctor Beeching!'), theatre ('Annie', 'Godspell' and 'Still Fully Charged') and panto ('Beauty & The Beast') and 'national treasure' Su Pollard, 75. 

Su launched the proceedings, toured the sports to boost morale - rallying Team Islington, who were representing her home borough - took part in an audience Q&A and presented the winners trophies alongside Mayor of Greenwich Linda Bird and GLL Deputy CEO Phil Donnay.

GLL Deputy CEO Phil Donnay said:

"As a charitable social enterprise and worker owned co-op, GLL exists to improve the mental, physical and social health of local communities.

"Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than at our Better Club Games - this year bringing together record numbers of older people to celebrate active ageing at a time when there is a growing national momentum for senior participation in sport. 

"Congratulations to our winners Team Croydon - and to all those who took part in this friendly competition."

Speaking at the Games, Su said: "I'm thrilled to be here - I'm a big fan of equality - including age equality.

"These Games are marvellous - the participants don't want to sit down!"

This year the success of the Better Club Games was mirrored nationally, with senior events staged or scheduled across the UK:

Cumbria (13–14 Sept): 80 participants across 17 sports; Carlisle won 
Cornwall (30 Sept): 30 participants across Walking Sports; East Cornwall won
York (1 Oct): Timed Swim, Timed Cycle, Walking Netball, Pickleball
Oxfordshire & Reading (7 Oct)
Cardiff (15 Oct)
Belfast (17 & 20 Oct)

GLL suppliers supporting the event were:

Addison Lee
Taylor Made Designs
Oak View Group International

https://www.better.org.uk/healthy-communities/club-games

Better Club Games 2025 Results:

1 Croydon 
2 Hackney
3 Greenwich
4 Waltham Forest
5 Mole Valley
6 Enfield
7 Merton
8 Camden
9 Hillingdon
10 Sutton
11 Reigate and Banstead
12 Islington
13 Barnet
14 Kensington & Chelsea
15 Lewisham 
16 Ealing
17 Rugby
18 Hammersmith and Fulham
19 Newham
20 Welwyn Hatfield