Origins

AFC Leyton was founded in 2015 to create a non-profit dedicated female only football club, to cover all aspects of football with a common aim of building self-esteem, confidence, and life skills. Our players are encouraged to set and reach their Goals in a fun, inclusive environment.

In 2020 we were awarded charitable status having registered charity number 1187690 and in 2021 we were awarded Grassroots Club of the Year by the London FA

Guiding Principles

It’s no secret that females face inequality across the globe. Here in London, it’s no different. Access to sports, regardless of social and economic backgrounds is increasingly difficult in the City with rising costs of facility hire and cost of living.  Grassroots sports shouldn’t be a middle class pursuit but it is increasingly becoming so.

Football has enormous benefits, for women and girls. It helps to remove unrealistic body expectations, building confidence and self esteem, plus supports emotional wellbeing and personal development.

At AFC Leyton we challenge and empower women and girls through team sports, creating opportunities for regular social interactions, and an environment where females work together to achieve goals, and build essential skills such as teamwork and leadership.

These important life skills along with increased fitness and healthy lifestyles really can translate into advancement in the workplace.

Female football matters.

Contextual statement:

AFC Leyton is extremely proud of the cultural diversity of our players, staff and coaching team, a diversity which reflects the area of London in which we are based. We believe girls’ and women’s football can inspire personal confidence in all girls and women; and that coming together to play with others from diverse backgrounds encourages openness, tolerance and a greater understanding.

We appreciate that girls and women come in all shapes, heights, sexualities, religions and skin colour, and want to ensure AFC Leyton is an environment where everyone is welcomed, where difference is a cause for inclusion and celebration, not division and exclusion.

We know racism and sexism persist in all levels of football as it does in all levels of society. By making our position explicit as an anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-discriminatory club, we can start to make a difference, and we strive to actively challenge discrimination wherever it occurs.