The New York Jets and Palace for Life, the charitable foundation of Crystal Palace Football Club, joined forces to stage the Championship Day of the 2026 Jets NFL Girls Flag League in London.
Hosted at the Crystal Palace FC Academy in South London, the day-long event marked the culmination of 10 weeks of league competition and brought the fourth season of the initiative to an exciting finish. Kingston Academy secured the championship title after edging Grey Court School 20-18 in a closely contested final. Individual honors were also presented to recognize exceptional performances throughout the tournament, with Ella Fallahi Alvani of Kingston Academy earning Offensive MVP and Olivia Green of Grey Court School receiving Defensive MVP recognition.
“Congratulations to Kingston Academy on winning the Jets UK Girls’ Flag League Championship,” said New York Jets Chairman and Partner and Director of Crystal Palace Football Club Woody Johnson. “Holding the championship tournament at the Crystal Palace FC Academy was a significant milestone and a proud continuation of the work we’ve done with our girls’ flag football program in the United States. Watching the game establish itself and thrive in the U.K. has been truly impressive. We remain dedicated to helping it continue to grow.”
As part of the newly established partnership with Palace for Life, the Jets plan to further expand the league throughout South London in 2027. Palace for Life will identify schools already connected to its community network and invite them to participate in the competition. Those schools will receive Jets NFL Girls Flag league uniforms, training jerseys, and flag football equipment, along with travel support for fixtures. The Jets also intend to continue hosting future league kick-offs and championship events at the Crystal Palace FC Academy.
Championship Day additionally featured the official introduction of the inaugural Jets Flag Elite London roster, a new all-girls flag football travel team made up of standout athletes from the London league. Coached by Jay Taylor of the Fruit Bats flag football team and first announced during the league’s launch in March, the program is designed to provide advanced player development opportunities and establish a new pathway for talented girls pursuing flag football across London.
“The Jets NFL Girls Flag League in London is opening meaningful opportunities for young women to participate in flag football,” said Jesse Linder, Vice President of Community Relations for the New York Jets. “With our new partnership alongside Palace for Life, we’re thrilled to grow the program in South London and continue strengthening the pathway from school-based participation to high-level competition through Jets Flag Elite London.”
“At Palace for Life, we harness the power of sport to positively impact the lives of young people throughout South London,” said Palace for Life CEO Mike Summers. “We’re delighted to work with the New York Jets to introduce flag football at Crystal Palace, creating fresh opportunities for girls from our partner schools to take part in sport within a welcoming, enjoyable, and competitive setting.”
The Jets NFL Girls Flag League in London has continued to expand year after year, with more than 300 girls between the ages of 12 and 15 representing 32 secondary schools during the 2026 season. The program remains a major priority for the Jets, whose combined investment in Girls Flag football initiatives across London and Dublin has now exceeded $1 million.
The initiative is designed to broaden access to sport and increase participation among girls throughout London through NFL Flag. By offering a dynamic, engaging, and accessible version of the game, the program helps participants develop valuable lifelong skills such as strategic thinking, communication, and resilience while working together to execute successful plays.
Flag football is among the fastest-growing sports globally, boasting more than 20 million participants across 100 countries. Women and girls continue to represent the fastest-growing segment of the sport. Flag football is set to make its Olympic debut at the LA 2028 Olympic Games, following efforts led by the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL. Meanwhile, the British American Football Association (BAFA) remains committed to collaborating with the NFL to further expand the growth of flag football throughout the United Kingdom.
