Help us open more doors for young people in south London by donating today.

65% of people with learning disabilities want to work. Less than 20% get the chance. Our Down’s Syndrome Football team, AKA The DS Eagles, are challenging that.

Croydon is one of 32 London Boroughs with the highest number of 16-17-year-olds not in education, training, or employment. Many young people face obstacles like limited experience, lack of confidence, and restricted access to support.

For those with disabilities, like Down’s Syndrome, the barriers can be even greater, ranging from prejudice to low expectations about what they can achieve.

While there is no specific data on how many people with Down’s Syndrome are in work, but disability charity Mencap estimates that 65% of people with learning disabilities, Down’s Syndrome included, want to work, yet fewer than 20% are employed. Here’s where Glad All Over comes in.

For over 60 years, Glad All Over has been synonymous with Crystal Palace, ringing out at Selhurst Park as the team takes to the pitch and when they score.

Now, the DS Eagles have recorded their own version of the iconic Palace anthem, not just to sing it, but to make history.

This powerful cover marks the culmination of DS GAME ON, a year-long Palace for Life programme that helps people with Down’s syndrome develop skills and confidence for employment.

By combining two of Palace for Life’s most impactful programmes, the DS Eagles, which provides sports sessions for people with Down’s syndrome, and GAME ON, its flagship employment programme. Through the year-long course, the DS Eagles gained hands-on experience in a range of job roles, from barista training to music production.

Recorded just minutes from Selhurst Park, this version of Glad All Over features guest vocals from Palace players Chris Richards, Aimee Everett, Fliss Gibbons, and Shanade Hopcroft, alongside Palace for Life coaches.

The first year of DS GAME ON saw 15 participants explore careers in cooking, t-shirt design, caring, barista training, and music. Their journey proves that, when given the chance, people with Down’s syndrome can thrive in the workplace, but barriers like prejudice, limited opportunities, and low expectations still persist.

With Glad All Over, the DS Eagles are raising awareness, challenging outdated assumptions, and generating funds to support employment programmes for young people across south London

The DS Eagles are part of a wider community supported by Palace for Life, the Crystal Palace’s official charity. Working with over 16,000 young people each year, Palace for Life runs programmes that boost employment prospects, build confidence, and create opportunities, alongside initiatives focused on mental and physical health, crime prevention and mentoring.