“He represents the badge with pride” – Damola Eniola, our Community Captain

When Damola Eniola first got involved with Palace for Life, he was a young player turning up to kick a ball around with his friends and nearly two decades later, he’s helping the next generation of young South Londoners find their place in the game and in their community.

Damola has been named our Premier League Community Captain, recognising his long standing contribution to Palace for Life’s Premier League Kicks programme and the positive impact he continues to have on young people across South London.

Chris Richards presented the award to Damola at the Crystal Palace Training Ground

Damola was presented with his Premier League Community Captain trophy, armband and pennant by Palace defender Chris Richards at the Crystal Palace Training Ground on Monday. The recognition forms part of the Premier League’s More Than A Game campaign which celebrates the impact clubs and their charities make in communities across the country.

Damola’s story with Palace for Life began at Milne Park in New Addington where he first attended Premier League Kicks sessions as a participant. Those early sessions gave him a place to play football and spend time with friends, but they also opened the door to something more.

While completing his A-levels, Damola began volunteering at sessions and gained his Level 1 and Level 2 coaching badges, taking his first steps into mentoring young people in the same community he grew up in. Since then, his connection to the programme has only grown.

Damola has now been involved with Premier League Kicks for around 18 years, first as a participant and now as a Casual Coach, supporting sessions at venues a stones throw away from Selhurst Park including Legacy Youth Zone and Merky FC HQ.

Away from the pitch, Damola has built a career in education and now works as a teacher, holding senior roles within his school, but he has always stayed connected to the programme that helped shape his path.

Through Premier League Kicks, Damola supports young people from a wide range of backgrounds, including displaced and refugee participants, helping create a positive space where they can play football, build confidence and feel part of their community.

Since launching in 2006, the programme has used the power of football to support young people in communities across the country, offering free sessions that help them develop confidence, build friendships and make positive life choices.

Jamie Broughton, Head of Community Engagement at Palace for Life, said Damola’s story shows the lasting impact the programme can have.

“Damola has been such an asset to our Premier League Kicks programme. He has been a role model to so many participants to become better people and shape their futures.

Head of Community Engagement Jamie Broughton said Damola ‘has been a role model to so many participants’

“He represents the badge and the project with pride and shows what can be achieved through programmes like Premier League Kicks.”

From turning up as a teenager looking to play football, to helping guide the next generation through the same programme, his journey shows how the impact of Premier League Kicks can come full circle, and we couldn’t be prouder to name him out 2026 Community Captain.

This season is the 20th anniversary of Premier League Kicks, which sees 93 Premier League, EFL and National League clubs delivering free weekly football and personal-development sessions.

Since the launch of the programme, which uses the power of football to inspire young people to reach their potential, more than 600,000 young people have participated at over 5,000 venues across England and Wales. Sessions take place in some of the most under-served communities, supporting those who need it most.

For more information on our Premier League Kicks session in South London, head here.