The Jack Murley Sports Show
Leigh Armstrong & Ace Players Tennis Croydon: LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Community & the UK’s Longest-Running Queer Tennis Club
Published: 27 May 2026 at 04:01 Europe/London
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Episode notes
We often say that inclusive sports clubs are about more than results — and Ace Players Croydon is the perfect example of that. For nearly 50 years, the club has been a place not just to play tennis, but to find friendship, support and community.
Leigh Armstrong has been part of the Aces since 1984, and in this powerful conversation, he takes us through the incredible history of the club — including the vital role it played during the AIDS epidemic, when it became a lifeline for so many in the LGBTQ+ community.
This is a story about resilience, belonging and the power of sport to bring people together — on and off the court.
Our conversation with Leigh from the Aces will make you feel all of the emotions, and we’re so grateful to him for choosing us to tell the club’s powerful, poignant story.
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#rainbowlaces #pride #tennis #inclusivetennis #sport #representation #lgbt #lgbtq
