Young Eagles take part in London Fire Brigade workshop

Organised through the Academy’s Player Care programme, the visit combined practical firefighting activities and team-building exercises with discussions about teamwork, communication, resilience and future career opportunities.

The day began with From the Field to the Fire, a presentation delivered by London Fire Brigade volunteers, including firefighters and station leaders from across the capital. The session explored the similarities between elite football and the fire service, highlighting the importance of discipline, leadership, adaptability and personal responsibility.

The players also compared the Brigade’s values with Palace Academy’s PROUD principles – Progressive, Respectful, Optimistic, Unified and Dedicated – considering how these qualities can be applied on and off the pitch.

They heard about the demands of working in the fire service, from maintaining physical fitness and checking equipment to preparing for each shift, as well as the wide range of incidents firefighters attend, including fires, flooding, hazardous materials and animal rescues.

The Young Eagles then put those lessons into practice, changing into full personal protective equipment (PPE) before learning about the routines followed at the start of a firefighter’s shift, including the roll call where personnel receive their duties for the day.

The practical challenges began with ladder drills, as the players learnt the correct climbing techniques before safely making their way back down. They also handled fire hoses, discovering how to operate the equipment and direct the water.

The biggest test came inside a darkened training chamber, where the players wore breathing apparatus and navigated a pitch-black environment filled with tunnels, uneven surfaces and confined spaces.

Working in pairs, they had to communicate clearly to identify obstacles and guide one another through the course. The exercise also involved moving a 70-kilogram training dummy through tight spaces, simulating the challenges firefighters face when bringing someone to safety.

Each activity required trust, teamwork and composure, with the players encouraging one another as they tackled unfamiliar situations and pushed themselves outside their comfort zones. The experience demonstrated how the skills developed through football can be applied in different environments, where clear communication and collective responsibility are equally important.

Former professional footballer Grant Basey reinforced the importance of looking beyond the game when he joined the group to discuss his career and the need to prepare for life after playing.

Basey progressed through Charlton Athletic’s academy after joining at the age of eight, eventually making 46 first-team appearances before spells across professional and non-league football. He also represented Wales at youth international level.

However, an injury in his mid-20s brought his playing career to an end much earlier than anticipated. Having once imagined himself playing until his mid-30s, Basey spoke candidly about the challenges of adjusting to life outside football, including a period of manual work before beginning his career in the fire service.

He asked the players what they would do if they were not offered a scholarship or did not become professional footballers, prompting several to acknowledge they had not yet considered an alternative career.

Basey encouraged the Young Eagles to pursue their ambitions wholeheartedly while recognising that football does not always go to plan.

Drawing on his own experiences of rejection and setbacks, he highlighted the resilience required to navigate difficult periods and the importance of matching confidence in your ability with hard work and determination.

U16s captain Emilio Brazier welcomed the experience, particularly the insight it provided into the work of the London Fire Brigade and the opportunities available within the service.

“I thought it was a very good experience, understanding what all the Fire Brigade people do to save us and help the community,” he said.

“It was good to understand all the different roles that they have here and the kind of future that it could hold if you became a firefighter.

“I learned about some communication skills, teamwork skills and team bonding, to be together more, to work out problem-solving and off the pitch.”

Henry Armstrong also enjoyed learning about a profession far removed from his usual routine.

“Yeah, I thought it was a very good experience. Good to see what they do every day and what they do for a living,” he said.

Asked about their favourite parts of the day, the players highlighted navigating the tunnels, operating the hoses and pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones.

The workshop formed part of the Academy’s wider commitment to developing its young players beyond football, broadening their horizons and equipping them with skills that will benefit them whatever their future holds.

With thanks to the London Fire Brigade, alongside Crystal Palace Player Care staff Dominic Nerves and Alex Wynter, for helping to deliver such a wonderfully beneficial experience for the lads!