Palace For Life - Crystal Palace Women’s Walking Football Team
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Catherine D'Rozario shares her role in developing the official charity to Crystal Palace women's walking football team. From the first training session to trips to St George's, plus the dream of seeing the Lionesses bring home the cup - here's their incredible journey.
The Palace for Life women’s walking football team was set up in October 2018. Palace for Life is the official charity of Crystal Palace Football Club. This came about as I had been playing for the Palace for Life recreational team (a 7-a side version of the beautiful game) for over 35s but as I was already in my 50s, I felt I needed a slower version of the game. I asked the foundation if setting up a walking football team was feasible and thankfully, shortly after they made it happen.
Initially, the session only attracted a few players and by the end of the year we had about 8 players. Despite only three of us having any previous match play experience, we entered the 2019 Peoples Cup and although being an inexperienced team we were successful in winning the first two rounds and reaching the final stages of the competition held at St Georges Park, the England training ground. Although we narrowly missed out on a semi-final place, the weekend proved to consolidate our team spirit. That experience is still talked about years later. Posters of our team were plastered all over St Georges which felt surreal, and despite them all being ripped down the following day we still have that wonderful memory.
Since that time, we have slowly grown in numbers and players include both those of whom are experienced and those new to the game.
We have players that have represented England, Ireland and Celtic Nations and others that have never kicked a ball before. Over the past few years, our team have participated in both competitive and friendly matches as we strive to include anyone who wants to play in games the opportunity to do so.
Together we have not only shared great football experiences but also unforgettable social moments. Our ‘away’ matches and tournaments include a return trip to St Georges Park, a weekend away to play Nottingham Forest and a Devon tournament in 2024 where we were able to field two teams. We may not all remember the football moments but we do still remember the fun and laughter we shared on these wonderful occasions.
Some of us have been fortunate to witness live the Lionesses win the Euros both in 2022 at Wembley and 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.
We had booked tickets for both finals before knowing that England would actually make it through and so expect there to be a contingent signing up for the Euros in 2029 wherever it is held!
For the past six years, a group of us have also met up regularly to train for the annual Crystal Palace Marathon March which helps raise funds for the Palace for Life Foundation who do fantastic work within the local community including sports participation to engage those hardest to reach youngsters and targeted intervention to those that need it most.
Not only does walking football bring together those women with a common interest of playing football but also those with different life experiences and personalities.
Our main philosophy is to have as much fun as possible.
For anyone that would like to join our amazing community, we are lucky enough to train in the dome at the Crystal Palace Academy. All sessions are free at present and have been since we moved there in September 2022. We have been lucky enough to have some of the Crystal Palace Women’s First team come along to a few of our sessions and hopefully this will continue.
For further information please contact gemmastaple@palaceforlife.org
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