Crystal Palace’s match day anthem Glad All Over has been covered by the Palace for Life Foundation’s Down syndrome football team to raise money for one of the charity’s initiatives.
The Down’s Syndrome Eagles recorded the track alongside some of the first-team players from both the Crystal Palace men’s and women’s squads.
Chris Richards, Aimee Everett, Fliss Gibbons and Shanade Hopcroft all collaborated on the track and feature in the music video too.
Ruairi Coyne, one of the DS Eagles who lends his vocals to the track, said: “It was so good singing with my friends – I was singing my heart out.”
The Palace for Life Foundation‘s disability inclusion officer Ben Perryman explained some of the challenges in recording the track.
Perryman said: “Getting in the booth made some of the lads really nervous, as you can’t hear anything with the headphones on.
“I told them to imagine they’re in the stands and sing like they’re at a match, and they all really stepped up to the challenge.
“It came out really well that way.”
Glad All Over by the Dave Clark Five was first played at Selhurst Park in 1964, and the DS Eagles’ cover was recorded to raise awareness and challenge outdated assumptions about disability and work.
All money raised from the single goes towards the foundation’s GAME ON programme, a year long course designed to support young people with Down’s syndrome.
The GAME ON programme aims to build skills and confidence for the workplace, and is part-funded by the Premier League and Professional Footballers Association, and topped up by fundraising efforts by the foundation.
Palace for Life Foundation chief executive Mike Summers said: “It’s about showing everybody that young people with disabilities have immense talent.
“The only thing they lack is opportunity, and that is what the GAME ON programme gives them.”
He continued to list the different skills the programme offers, including being trained as baristas, exploring caring and learning to cook.
Recent data from learning disabilities charity Mencap showed 65% of young people with Down’s syndrome want to work, but fewer than 20% are employed.
Summers referenced this statistic to emphasis how important the GAME ON programme is, with 164 young people supported by it in 2024.
To listen to the DS Eagles’ cover of Glad All Over and support their fundraising efforts, visit the foundation’s website.
Feature image credit: Palace for Life
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