Updates from Crystal Palace Women’s Academy programmes

This season marks Palace Women’s Academy’s first with a Category 1 PGA licence, which builds upon and develops our previous existing structure and partners in women’s youth football in South London.

Chosen by the Football Association, PGA Licences are awarded to clubs who can provide a high-quality training environment for talented female players aged 14 and upwards, readying them to compete at the highest levels of the game.

Our Category 1 licence has allowed for Palace Women’s Under-21s team to compete in the PGA U21 League, where they have taken on some of the finest Academies in the country.

Managed by former Republic of Ireland youth coach Orla Haran and former Palace captain Annabel Johnson, the Eagles have recorded recent wins against Liverpool (3-1) and Bristol City (3-2) at home, and away to Tottenham (3-0) recently.

Additionally, our Under-16s side are this season competing against Under-18s sides in the Junior Premier League, providing a valuable challenge for the players’ development.

The two teams are also taking on a number of domestic cup competitions, such as PGA Cup and the Women’s National League Plate.

In addition this season, Palace Women have also extended the club’s youth pathway, with Under-12s and Under-14s programmes having been launched. Teams are playing in the Junior Premier League and associated cups, as well as the Surrey County Cup after successes in previous years.

This also allows for potential opportunities for Palace for Life’s Emerging Talent Centre players to progress through the club based on their rate of development.

Overseeing this season is our new Women’s Academy Manager, Lewis Craig, who has joined the club following a three-year spell at Manchester United, where he served as Under-21s lead coach.

Craig’s other roles have included that of Youth Development Phase Lead Coach at Morecambe FC; Assistant Head of Academy at Salford City for over three years; and Academy Lead Coach at Burnley, where he served for over eight-and-a-half years.

Head of Women’s Football Grace Williams said: “This is a very exciting time for girls’ football in this country, and we are excited to continue to develop young talent in South London.

“We have enjoyed some excellent results already this season and with Lewis’ knowledge of, and experience within, youth football, the future for our Academy programme looks incredibly bright.”

Craig added: “I’m enjoying the challenge of helping the club transition into its new structure this season. We have enjoyed a strong first half to 2024/25.

“I believe we can build something here at Palace that will go above and beyond in player and person development, and I'm excited to play my part in that.”