- .Prince William held the event in his position as President of the FA
- .Match was highlight of event to mark the FA's 150th anniversary
- .The football match featured two of the oldest amateur clubs in England
- .Event earlier saw medals presented to 150 'Grassroot Heroes'
Prince William heralded the first ever football match to be held at Buckingham Palace with a stern warning today.
'I cannot tell you how excited I am that later today we will be playing football on my grandmother’s lawn. One warning, though: if anyone breaks a window, you can answer to her,' he joked.
William was given the run of Buckingham Palace in his role as President of the Football Association by his grandmother, the Queen, who has herself been patron of the organisation for 61 years, for an event to mark its 150th anniversary.
Warm-up: William trains with members of the royal household in the grounds of Buckingham Palace (left), while footmen bring on oranges during the half-time break
Sprint: William makes a dash for it in his brightly-coloured football boots as he trains in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Back garden: Polytechnic FC, in blue, take on Civil Service FC in a Southern Amateur League football match in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Catching and running: The Duke of Cambridge trains with members of the Royal household, during the second half of a match between the Polytechnic FC and the Civil Service FC, in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
To me, to you: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge trains with players in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Celebration: The President of the Football Association, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is hosting the football match between Civil Service FC and Polytechnic FC
The highlight of the event was a game in the gardens of the palace between two of the oldest amateur clubs in England.
Civil Service FC, the sole surviving club from the eleven that met to create The FA in 1863, and Polytechnic FC, which was formed in 1875, battled it out in an official Southern Amateur League fixture.
At half-time the two teams were even treated to oranges and drinks, brought out on silver platters by footmen.
William welcomed those arriving for the event, saying: 'It is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome you all here today. This magnificent home, Buckingham Palace, is at the heart of the nation, and so there cannot be a more fitting setting to celebrate our national game, and to celebrate all of you.
Training: The Duke of Cambridge, president of the FA, helped organise the event, the first of its kind at Queen Elizabeth II's London home, as part of the Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations
Skills: Prince William enjoys a kickabout at the event to mark the 150th anniversary of the FA
In training: Prince William warms-up ahead of the match in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Hands off: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge trains with players in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Team talk: Prince William has hosted the first ever football match to be held at Buckingham Palace
Kick-off: Prince William hosted the match as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the Football Association. Referee Howard Webb is pictured centre
Historic: Civil Service FC (in red and white) is the sole surviving club from the eleven that met to create The FA in 1863
On-field battle: The match is the highlight of the event to mark the FA's 150th anniversary
'In fact, Her Majesty, who has been the proud Patron of The FA for 61 years, sends her regrets that she cannot join you today. The one small silver lining to Her Majesty not being present today is that there shouldn’t be any corgis running on to the pitch!
'The beautiful game has changed an awful lot during The Queen’s reign, but it remains the most loved game in the country, most probably the world.'
Firstly, however, there was an awards ceremony in the palace ballroom to celebrate The FA’s 150 'Grassroots Heroes'.
William, accompanied by the FA chairman Greg Dyke, presented medals to 150 volunteers who work tirelessly to support grassroots football.
Line-up: Prince William poses for a photograph with Polytechnic FC before the match at Buckingham Palace
Team photo: The Duke of Cambridge stands with the Civil Service FC before they take on Polytechnic FC at the palace
Preparation: Groundsmen clear away leaves before kick-off
Pitch-side: The touchlines are marked out in the back garden of Buckingham Palace
They included everyone from coaches and referees to kit washers, groundsmen and club secretaries, all of whom have one thing in common: they give up their time so that others can enjoy the 'beautiful game'.
Those honoured had been nominated through a number of schemes, including The FA Community, The FA Referee, Football Futures, Groundsman of the Year, Asian Football and Muslim Women Awards.
Each of the grassroots champions were presented with a medal by HRH The Duke of Cambridge and FA Chairman Greg Dyke.
Mr Dyke told the prince: 'I'm not sure my grandmother would have been quite so generous [about lending her garden] but then I am sure her garden wasn't as large.'
Discussion: The Duke of Cambridge (centre) walks behind the goal netting prior to the match between Civil Service FC and Polytechnic FC
Before the match: Civil Service FC warm up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Grand setting: The goalposts are up and the pitch looks perfect ahead of the Southern Amateur League fixture
Volunteers honoured ranged from 17-year-old Taome Caville, who transformed her life after becoming involved in youth coaching, to Harry Hardy, who at 86 is the oldest active referee in football with over 55 years of experience at a grassroots level of the game.
Joining the 150 winners were former England striker and FA150 ambassador Michael Owen as well as Premier League Chairman, Anthony Fry, Football League Chairman, Greg Clarke and Sports Minister, Hugh Robertson.
In a short but clearly from-the-heart speech, the prince paid tribute to what he described as the 'original games makers'.
He said; 'Whilst it is a privilege to be President of The Football Association, if I am honest, for me, the role is more an extension of a personal passion. Football, in particular being a Villa supporter, has brought me a great deal of pleasure over the years. A chance to escape with friends and family and enjoy its virtues – teamwork, competition, endeavour and, more occasionally on my part, skill.
Event: Prince William sits alongside Michael Owen at the event to honour The FA's 150 Grassroots Heroes
Ballroom: The awards ceremony to honour the Grassroots Heroes was held in the palace ballroom
Presentation: William, accompanied by the FA chairman Greg Dyke, presented medals to 150 volunteers who work tirelessly to support grassroots football
'At its best, football is a powerful force for good in society. It binds people from different backgrounds, communities, faiths and abilities – and gives them a common interest, a unifying identity. I believe over its 150 years, football has remained a wonderful example of the power of community and of our ability to come together to organise and to enjoy a simple pastime.
'As a nation, we were rightly proud of the volunteer ‘gamesmakers’ who supported last year’s Olympic Games. But for those of us involved in football, this was not a new phenomenon. Grassroots football thrives on the support of its volunteers week after week. You and your colleagues are the original games-makers, and we are all in your debt for it.'
William continued: 'Reading through your citations, I don’t think any of you realise quite how impressive what you do is. You change lives, you give people meaning, enjoyment, perspective, a release, an outlet; you bring people together and inject fun, laughter, passion, goals and challenges into others’ lives. It is people like you who make our country what it is. I sincerely hope that you are immensely proud of your efforts and achievements.'
Speech: The Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to what he described as the 'original games makers'
Honour: Those who received medals included everyone from coaches and referees to kit washers, groundsmen and club secretaries
Arrival: Prince William (centre), in his role as President of The Football Association, and Greg Dyke (left), the Chairman of the FA, arrive to award medals to the FA's 150 Grassroots Heroes
After the ceremony William posed for a group photograph with the winners and chatted with former England star Michael Owen.
The prince asked the retired player whether he had 'brought his boots with him.'
'I don't know if I can play any more,' he joked.
'Ah don't be modest,' the prince joked. 'You've still got it.'
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