Kevin Lincoln has been at the epicentre of “a brilliant place” for the community for more than 50 years, reports Olivia Opara

Kevin Lincoln receives a British Empire Medal (credit Royal photographer)

A Tottenham resident has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) by the King for his services to sport and the community.

Growing up in Tottenham with an interest in sports from a young age, Kevin Lincoln established the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, in Tottenham High Road, in 1969 with his friend Malcolm Springthorpe, alongside Haringey Sports Council, a collection of local sports clubs and groups. This followed a campaign and petition to the Conservative government organised by Kevin and the sports council to convert the Middlesex Regiment Drill Hall, a territorial army base, into a sports centre.

Kevin had been playing football with his eleven-a-side team at the disused drill hall prior to its closure.

In 1976, the government eventually agreed to offer the freehold of the army base to the sports council but the council couldn’t afford it, so Kevin and the sports council petitioned Haringey Council to purchase it. The council renamed it Tottenham Sports Centre from 1977 until it became a casualty of government cutbacks in 1990. The local authority would later close the centre in 1998.

Kevin would then rally the local community to take out a lease on the centre and run it as a charitable trust which he still volunteers for as the secretary to the trustees, helping with the finances, bookings and day-to-day management.

Kevin said: “I was immensely proud and also humbled to receive this award and having been born, educated and married in Tottenham, I have always considered it ‘home’.

“In addition to a 40-year career with Haringey Council, my 54 year involvement with Tottenham Community Sports Centre and local football has given me so much enjoyment. If, along the way, I have helped people of the area, then I feel proud that I have been able to do so.”

Kevin was also the winner of the former mayor of London Boris Johnson’s ‘special award’ in 2015, which he was presented with by Ledley King.

The former Tottenham and England footballer said: “This place creates lots of opportunities for people to better themselves. I grew up in East London and there weren’t many sports centres around and just through boredom kids can make bad decisions. But a sports centre can allow youngsters to thrive, and the people here can help take them along a whole new path and help them do something good with their lives.”

Since opening 50 years ago, many Tottenham locals both past and present have utilised the centre and become part of its sports community – with founding volunteers still in connection with the centre today. Like Kevin, Malcolm Springthorpe still volunteers for the centre as chair of the trustees and both were present for the centre’s 50th anniversary in 2019.

Former mayor of Haringey, Sheila Peacock, said: “I was a part of the centre right from the beginning and I still come to play bingo on Tuesday nights! You can come here anytime of the week, and anytime of the day, and there are groups and clubs for you to take part in. It’s a brilliant place.

“[I] think the sports centre is very important because [it has been] the only constant sports provider in this part of north Tottenham and on the High Road and having been here for 50 years, we’re now seeing the third generation of families coming through.”

Both Kevin and Malcolm are passionate about the centre and both aim to ensure that it will continue on and have a long legacy in the community: “I have accepted the award on behalf of the people who helped found the centre and those who continue to use and benefit from it.”

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