Eight south east London schools have joined a girls flag football league set up by NFL team The New York Jets, with a £75,000 grant supporting the inclusion.
The Jets and Palace for Life Foundation (PfL) announced the partnership and the $100,000 (£75,600) grant on Friday, taking the number of schools involved to 40.
The NFL Jets Girls Flag League, operating since 2023, aims to increase access and participation to flag football, a non-contact version of American football.
Each will school receive Jets NFL Girls Flag League uniforms, practice jerseys and flag football equipment, as well as travel support to help pupils take part in games.
Jets “creating opportunities for young people”
The launch event held at Crystal Palace F.C Performance Centre involved 90 pupils, with more than 450 expected to participate in the league’s Spring Kick-off series in 2027.
Jets chairman Woody Johnson was key in orchestrating the partnership, with the sum granted by the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation which is named after Johnson’s late mother.
Johnson, who acquired a 43% stake in Crystal Palace FC last year, said: “Sports have the power to bring people together and create opportunities for young people.
“We’ve seen how quickly girls flag football has grown, and we’re proud to continue expanding our efforts internationally and creating new pathways for young women in South London and beyond.”
Jets’ vice-president of community relations Jesse Linder added: “We want to try to bring a first-class experience [like what] we would do for any of our girls in the States.”
The NFL team have now invested over $1.5 million in girls flag football initiatives across London and Dublin, with a reported $3.5 million invested in total.
Palace for Life growing their reach outside of football
Palace for Life have worked across south London for 30 years, supporting more than 18,000 young people yearly through education and physical activity.
CEO Mike Summers said: “Offering something different from our usual football activities could inspire girls we might otherwise miss. It’s an exciting time to get involved.”
Flag football is set for its Olympic debut at LA 2028.
Paul Cleal OBE, chair of the board of trustees, said the foundation have a “particular focus” on getting more women and girls into active lifestyles.
Croydon-born Cleal, who was previously chair of the Premier League’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard, added: “We’ve got a lot of diversity in populations in South London. It’s making sure everyone gets the same opportunities.
“Increasingly a lot of our work transcends sport and goes into employability. What you learn from sport, you know the teamwork, the confidence, starts to play into your life chances.”
From grassroots to elite success
The grant will also go towards providing a pathway to elite sport for girls in London.
The Jets announced in March they were forming a 14-player Jets Flag Elite (JFE) London travel team, with selections made from schools across the league.
The team travelled to New York in August and won the We Run The World Flag tournament – the largest girls flag tournament series in the US.
Ella, who plays as a center, called the experience “life changing” and was keen to share her wisdom with the next generation.
The 14-year-old said: “One year ago, I was these girls. Now it feels like we can be the inspiration for them.”
The Flag Elite players oversaw Friday’s event, helping to coach pupils and even participated in a showcase match at the end.
Their defensive coordinator Chrissy Ibironke said it gave her a “sense of pride” to be part of the Jets’ latest investment into girls’ flag football.
Ibironke said: “Back when I played there wasn’t this level of opportunity. To see girls find sisterhood and realise they belong here no matter their size, shape or experience, it’s fantastic.
“Having representation from south east London schools so important. I’m a south Londoner myself. I think seeing themselves represented in the coaching staff means a lot.”
Flag football offers accessible alternative for schools’ PE curriculum
Working with its existing network, PfL identified eight local schools to join the Jets’ league: Orchard Park, Langley Park School for Girls, La Retraite, Orion Eden Park, Hayes Park, Carshalton High School for Girls, Orion Ravensbourne, and Sedgehill Academy.
Adam Jessett, tennis coach at Sedgehill Academy, said his pupils feel flag football is a “safe space.”
He added: “It’s just very inclusive. The feedback we’ve had is that it is something they want to play. There’s a sense of understanding, a sense of belonging.
“It will give us a really good opportunity to embed it in the PE curriculum.
Feature image credit: Lily Saunders
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