Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid took part in skills training at a festival celebrating girls’ football where she was guest of honour.

Susanna, a patron of the Palace for Life Foundation, the official charity of Crystal Palace FC, joined in with mini-games as more than 50 Year 3 and 4 pupils from local schools took part in the festival part of the Premier League Girls programme at Heavers Farm Primary School in Selhurst

Speaking at the event, which took place on International Day of the Girl, Susanna said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see so many girls playing football and enjoying themselves here.”

Lifelong Palace fan Susanna became a Patron for the Foundation in early 2018 and spoke positively about the impact of their work in the community:

Adding: “It was an honour to be asked to be a Patron, Crystal Palace has been part of my family and part of my life for a very long time. You can see today the impact it’s having on these girls.”

The Foundation delivers sessions in five primary schools each week that is focused on building girls’ confidence, running PE lessons, after-school and lunchtime activities with pupils. 

Roxanne Bennett, from the Foundation, added: “This is all part of our PLPFA programme for 5 to 11-year-old girls, we’re trying to inspire novice girls to play football and keep active and healthy. We’re definitely having more girls asking to play football now in schools and that is brilliant.”