North London Lob-sters LGBTIQ+ tennis club were recognised for their work at The Out For Sports Awards 2025 picking up Emerging Club of the year. The competition was fierce at the glitzy awards ceremony in The City of London in early April with many other sports represented. However tennis was a big winner on the night and Emerging Club is one of the major awards.
Club chair Simon Shipman said “We are truly honoured to receive this award, and I want to dedicate it to all the amazing volunteers who make the club so special. We are enormously proud of the club’s inclusivity and friendliness, taking tennis to people who wouldn’t otherwise play.”
The Lob-sters originated in 2022 and are based in Finsbury Park. They work with Access to Sports Project and host 4 coaching and play sessions a week, all year round. The club has just celebrated its third anniversary and has 50 people playing every week, and more than 500 members. They regularly compete in tournaments and have a busy and popular social programme off court.
