For over 100 years we’ve been at the forefront of developing women’s sport, championing hockey, cricket, golf, tennis, rowing, athletics and many more teams and events.
Thanks to the phenomenal success of the Lionesses at the 2022 European Championship and this year’s Women’s World Cup, football has become more popular and talked about than ever before. And so, to continue our legacy of leading the nation in competitive sport, we hosted our inaugural women’s 5-a-side football tournament on Saturday 16 September.
A room with a view
Such an auspicious occasion deserved an equally impressive arena upon which to showcase the talent on display. And so, the England training camp at St George’s Park in Burton-upon-Trent was the obvious choice. Not only for its central location and accessibility, but for it’s history, status and connection to the English national side.
The indoor pitch was the perfect venue to play host to 18 teams of 150 civil servants, public sector colleagues and armed forces from across the nation, ensuring the remarkable surroundings were topped only by the impressive skills, commitment and determination on display.
Footballing Royalty
We were honoured to name the new trophy, which teams would be competing for, after our long-standing patron, The Duchess of Gloucester, who was gracious enough to attend our festival of football and present the winners with their medals and trophy.
As part of CSSC’s commitment to share exceptional, magical moments with our members, we were determined to make our first ever women’s 5-a-side tournament a memorable one. And so, to greet the players, coaches and spectators and share her incredible knowledge and passion, footballing legend, Ellen White MBE joined teams pitch-side and watched the festivities unfold.
As England’s third top goal scorer of all time, winner of the Golden Boot, Bronze Boot, consecutive league winner, International Player of the Year, Olympic athlete and famed Lioness, who helped the English National Team win the 2022 Euro’s and qualify for this year’s Women’s World Cup, Ellen was extremely comfortable in the familiar surroundings at St George’s Park and the perfect guest to accompany the impressive skills on display.
We are extremely grateful to Ellen for agreeing to spend the day with us and meeting all the teams and players, posing for photographs and signing autographs, all day.
We are the champions
A huge thanks and congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s football festival. You truly made it an incredible and memorable experience for all. And well done to the CSSC events, coms and sports teams who hosted this exceptionally well-envisioned and delivered showstopping event.
But, of course, special congratulations go to The Royal Navy Women’s Team, who lifted the Duchess of Gloucester Trophy.
The Royal Navy Team hailed from bases across the UK, coming together to take on and defeat the best of the best. Teams from the NHS, the West-Midlands Police, Dept of Education, Civil Service Football Club, Land Registry, The Army, The Wirral Valkyries, The London Fire brigade and many others all challenged the Royal Navy with passion, heart and fair play.
It’s coming home
It may sound like a cliché to say that everyone was a winner, but seeing the skills on display, hearing the enthusiasm and bringing teams together in such a manner, which fosters incredible tales and communities as it has, genuinely feels like a tremendous victory, for not only CSSC members and their colleagues, but for women’s football and sport in general, everywhere.
We hope next year’s tournament will be even bigger and offers more opportunities for everyone to take part in sport and find a passion which connects, unites and enthrals the civil service, public sector and armed forces for years to come.
We’ve worked hard to include only the best images of the tournament, however, if you would like us to remove any images, please get in touch here.