Chumani Ward

As a founder of South West Saints FC, I’ve focussed on creating a club where women’s football is the priority, not an afterthought. After experiencing how women’s teams are often sidelined—facing restricted resources, minimal visibility, and playing in the shadow of men’s teams— it’s always been important to me that South West Saints provides autonomy, celebration, and opportunity for female players.

A key part of this mission is visibility. At our previous club, social media was reserved for men’s teams on Saturdays, leaving the women’s side in the dark. Now, I’m making sure that South West Saints proudly showcases every achievement—because representation matters. The impact has been huge, with the club about to be featured by England Football for the third time.

I’m also a vocal advocate for better male allyship in the game. I believe support for women’s football must extend beyond the glory of first teams to beginners, development squads, and those returning to the game. My insights on the topic were featured in Women’s Football Magazine in October, where I spoke about the need for genuine, long-term support rather than surface-level engagement.

We’ve partnered with Football For Future to promote environmental responsibility, reflected in our stylish away kit, designed to spark conversations about a greener game. I also designed out standout home kit, inspired by a map of South West London, which has been turning heads while celebrating the club’s community roots. It’s really important to me that players feel good in the kit they’re wearing.

With two tournament wins already under our belt, the team challenging to stay in the top 3 of the league all season, a growing presence in the football world, and a clear mission to reshape grassroots women’s football, South West Saints is proving that the game can thrive on its own terms.