Local Olympic heroes help open new sports and athletics centre

23 November 2021

Southwark’s new sports centre and gym opened with much celebration on Saturday 6 November. More than 1000 visitors came to see the new facilities. Visitors also took part in activities on the Olympic grade running track, at the council’s new Southwark Park Sports and Athletics Centre, and met their sporting heroes:

•        Christine Ohuruogu, one of Britain’s most successful and best-known female athletes and decorated medallist across three Olympic Games.
•        Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Peckham born, Tokyo Olympic medallist and one of the top female sprinters in the country.
•        Conrad Williams, 400m runner who competed in the London Olympics.
•        Dwayne Cowan, World bronze medallist, European Team Champion and Diamond League winner.
•        Steve Gray, Guinness World Record holder and professional football freestyler.

The athletes talked to fans and posed for photographs, while Steve mesmerised crowds with his technical skills, sharing tips with his audience.

London City Athletics Club and London City Runners were out on the track with enthusiastic adult and child runners. Both clubs will use the new sports centre, which is managed by sports and leisure operator, Everyone Active, on behalf of Southwark Council.

The council invested £2.6million to build the new leisure centre. The new facilities cater for sports groups using sports pitches in Southwark Park, as well as members and other users of the centre. Football clubs from Burgess Park are also using the space inside the running track, while Southwark Council installs new Astroturf pitches for them.

At the event, Southwark Council paid tribute to the former local and Team GB coach, Lloyd Cowan. Lloyd and was an international athlete and one of Britain's most successful coaches.

Sadly, Lloyd Cowan passed away in January 2021, after contracting Covid-19 at the age of 58. Southwark Park was Lloyd’s home track and he worked closely with London City Athletic Club, coaching many of his athletes in the park.

All of the athletes at the opening event knew Lloyd and some had personal ties with him. Dwayne Cowan, his son, talked about how his Dad was a coach and a mentor. He explained that Lloyd supported youngsters with food and a reassuring word when needed; encouraging them to join group sessions and get involved with the club.

The open day marked the start of a new athletics competition for the PE and School Sports Network. Schools will now compete at the Southwark Park Sports and Athletics Centre for the Lloyd Cowan Cup, every year. The Cup is jointly sponsored by Everyone Active and London City Athletics Club.

In addition, Southwark Council honoured Lloyd with a memorial sign, at the entrance to the track.

Cllr Alice Macdonald, Cabinet Member for equalities, neighbourhoods and leisure, said: “Southwark Park and its local coaches have a great history of producing and nurturing home grown athletic talent. We are committed to investing in high quality leisure facilities for all our residents and I am delighted that our new sports and athletics centre will secure sporting opportunities for coming generations. I hope that our commemoration of the late, great Lloyd Cowan will spur everyone at the centre on to be good, kind and do their very best.”

Mark Basker, Regional Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said: “It’s been fantastic supporting high profile sporting clubs and GB athletes at the track in previous years. However, we are so excited to welcome the local community into the new Southwark Park Sports and Athletics Centre and open leisure services up for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

“It is also a great honour to be able to pay tribute to such a well-respected athlete and coach, Lloyd Cowan. We are proud to be able to support a new competition in his name which we hope will inspire the next generation of young athletes.”

Page last updated: 30 November 2021