Crystal Palace v West Ham programme 2425 by Crystal Palace F.C.

contents

Crystal Palace √ West Ham United sat 24 aug 2024 | 3pm k.o. Directors Chairman Steve Parish, David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, John Textor Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin Sporting Director Dougie Freedman Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell Head of Sports Medicine Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Academy Director Gary Issott Director of U21 Development Mark Bright Chief Operating Officer Sharon Lacey Chief Commercial Officer Barry Webber General Counsel David Nichol Head of Ticketing Paul McGowan Head of Retail Foz Bowers Head of Marketing Matt Franks Head of Safeguarding Cassi Wright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott

Editor Will Robinson Design Billy Cooke, Stu Ellmer, Lucas Gough Front cover David Flanagan

25 10 CHAIRMAN 36 HALL OF FAME 38 EAGLE EYE

41 STATS 44 DOC BROWN 46 MACCA 50 ACADEMY

Contributors Robin Johnson, Toby Jagmohan, Tom Wrigley, Doc

54 PALACE WOMEN

Brown, James McArthur, Ian King, Dom Smith, Tommy Macarthur Photography Neil Everitt, Sebastian Frej, Pinnacle Photo Agency, Kontent Haus, Toby Jagmohan, Getty Printer Bishops Printers

56 PALACE FOR LIFE

66 from the archive 70 eagle arcade 72 WHAT’S ON?

cover story

cover story#1 Welcome back to Selhurst Park for the 2024/25 campaign – a special season at Crystal Palace, as we celebrate 100 years since the club moved into our current home back in 1924.

ach issue of the matchday programme this season will feature a special edition cover, taking us on a journey through the most important moments of the last century, from on-field heroes to off-field chaos and all the weird and wonderful in between – and with our cover star each week transported back to a moment of Selhurst history. This week, we look back on the opening of Selhurst Park itself. Built on the site of a former brickfield, the stadium came to being after Palace outgrew their former home, The Nest, and searched for somewhere to house the thousands of supporters turning up each week. The figure consulting with Oliver Glasner over plans for Selhurst Park

is the renowned architect Archibald Leitch, who helped to design the main stand at Selhurst Park. Leitch had a hand in just about every major footballing arena of the period, designing some part of Old Trafford, Anfield, Highbury, Craven Cottage, Goodison Park, Villa Park, White Hart Lane and many more. The first game at the new stadium saw the Glaziers host The Wednesday on 30th August, 1924, in front of more than 25,000 fans, and although the hosts slipped to a narrow defeat, a new era of football in South London was born. Today’s first cover begins our long timeline from 1924 to the present day – make sure you keep an eye out for all our future matchday programmes this season to complete the set.

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@daveflanagan77

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Manager

oliver glasner Welcome back to Selhurst Park, and welcome to Julen Lopetegui his West Ham players and staff for this afternoon’s game.

et me start by welcoming you all back to Selhurst Park for the first time this season, after many long months without Premier League football. Last season we were so successful at home, and that wasn’t possible without the fans. But just because we had a great end to last year doesn’t mean the next year is the same. We want to create that connection again. You have to work on your relationships, you always have to build. If you don’t call your best friend for a year, maybe he is not your best friend anymore! That is what we want from this first game at Selhurst Park with our fans: to build that connection again. It was so important last season, and without it we couldn’t have had those special results against Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester United, Newcastle… Let’s continue that atmosphere, that connection, that support and that relationship we built together last season. That is the perfect foundation for success. It still feels difficult talking about the Brentford game because the result feels much worse than our performance. There were many

Last season we were so successful at home, and that wasn’t possible without the fans. But just because we had a great end to last year doesn’t mean the next year is the same. We want to create that connection again

Manager

positive situations to score goals, and the reaction in the second-half was great. We had many difficult situations to deal with: a goal not allowed, a second disallowed for offside, and just as we thought we were coming back into control of the game we were punished at the other end. It’s tough losing a season opener which we wanted to win.

There were many positive situations to score goals, and the reaction in the second-half was great. We had many difficult situations to deal with: a goal not allowed, a second disallowed for offside, and just as we thought we were coming back into control of the game we were punished at the other end Sometimes you have to feel how a defeat hurts to value a win. We had such successful months, not just at the end of last season but in the off-season for our international players. Maybe we forgot how bad it is to lose a game, but you have to feel this pain to value winning. Hopefully, we will just feel it once.

There are many tough decisions to take in picking a side, from naming the matchday squad, to picking the starting XI, to deciding who gets minutes from the bench. It’s not easy. We had to leave players out, but we have so many fantastic characters and they dealt with it professionally. This is what I keep saying: you can only be successful as a team – not just the squad, but the players, staff, employees and the fans. It’s not possible with just 11 players. West Ham will be targeting the European places this season, with a new manager and many new players since we played them in the United States. We always have a lot of respect for any opponent, but regardless of who comes to Selhurst Park, we will go for the win. I won’t have a chance to speak to you before our League Cup match against Norwich City on Tuesday evening, but I can tell you that we will take that game very seriously because we want to be in the next round. What I like in cup games is that it is do or die; you can’t be happy with a draw. You play the game for winning, and this is the mentality we play with for every single game. I’m looking forward to seeing you all once again today, and I know you will give all your support to the players from start to finish

Sometimes you have to feel how a defeat hurts to value a win. We had such successful months, not just at the end of last season but in the off-season for our international players. Maybe we forgot how bad it is to lose a game

Captain

marc Guéhi There aren’t many better feelings as a player than stepping out in front of your home fans for the first time each season, and we can’t wait to get going this afternoon at Selhurst Park.

t’s a huge honour to be made captain of this football club. Ever since I arrived you have been so supportive throughout both good periods and bad, and we always want to repay that support by making Palace successful. I made my Premier League debut here, earned my first England cap and experienced so many special moments, so thank you for that support. Now we look ahead to this season in the hope that we can create something like the momentum we had at the end of the last campaign. I want to start my first programme column by saying a few words about Joel, who is such an example for the younger players and remains a leader and an example in the dressing room. He was a massive help for me when I first arrived at the club, and I know all the new signings and Academy players continue to benefit from his guidance and experience on and off the pitch, as do each and every one of us. It’s always special when the Premier League returns and we’re enjoying getting back to doing what we love week in, week out. I

it’s a huge honour to be made captain of this football club. Ever since I arrived you have been so supportive throughout both good periods and bad, and we always want to repay that support by making Palace successful

Captain

Thank you as always for your amazing support, and for making South London one of the very best places to play football. I hope we can produce some more special moments to get Selhurst Park bouncing

know every one of the players has been working hard over summer to keep developing, and to learn the manager’s instructions so we can implement his tactical ideas on the pitch. That may take time, with some of us joining later in the process because of international football, but I’m confident we are building towards something really positive.

every one of the players has been working hard over summer to keep developing, and to learn the manager’s instructions so we can implement his tactical ideas on the pitch

The result at Brentford was not the way we wanted to begin the new season. I thought we started the game well and dominated possession, but in the Premier League things can turn any minute and that’s what we saw with Ebs’ disallowed goal followed by their opener. We did well to get back into the game in the second-half, but just as we felt we might push on and score the second, we fell behind once again. Defeat always hurts, especially as we had remained unbeaten for so long, but

there is only one possible thing to do: learn from it. We have analysed the footage this week and worked hard in training to prepare for today, and I hope we can get a positive result this afternoon. West Ham are a fantastic team who have regularly played in Europe in the last few years, and who have plenty of new faces, some familiar to the Premier League and some making their first steps in English football. We know that we will have to be at our very best to get a result, but that is something every one of the players in the dressing room believes we can do – as we did last season. We will go out there looking for all three points. Thank you as always for your amazing support, and for making South London one of the very best places to play football. I hope we can produce some more special moments to get Selhurst Park bouncing

chairman

steve parish Welcome back to Selhurst Park for our first home match of the Premier League season, and welcome to the supporters, players, staff and directors of West Ham United this afternoon. Today’s match marks a special anniversary for the club, as we celebrate 100 years of football at Selhurst Park.

ur first match here saw us host The Wednesday back in 1924, which began a long journey in SE25. So much has changed in the decades since, and we are looking forward to another transformation as the work on the new Main Stand gets going, but today take a moment to look back on all the special memories we have shared in this unique stadium. The result last weekend was not the one we wanted to start the campaign, and we were unlucky to be on the end of an incorrect call disallowing Ebs’ goal, but we all saw plenty of positives in a game of extremely fine margins that could have gone either way. It was fantastic to see Daichi make his Premier League and Crystal Palace debut, and to see Ismaïla come on for his first appearance in a Palace shirt. After our equaliser it looked as though we had the momentum to go on to win the game, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion – but I know how hard the players have been working all week to produce a big performance this afternoon.

we are looking forward to another transformation as the work on the new Main Stand gets going, but today take a moment to look back on all the special memories we have shared in this unique stadium

Chairman

On the transfer window, Dougie and I are in constant communication with the manager about how we might improve the squad, and of course there may be opportunities to do so before the end of the month. We were pleased to get three excellent bits of business done early on, with three full internationals in Daichi, Ismaïla and Chadi ready to give absolutely everything for the club. We were sad to lose Michael but we wish him the very best of luck at Bayern Munich.

Dougie and I are in constant communication with the manager about how we might improve the squad, and of course there may be opportunities to do so before the end of the month. We were pleased to get three excellent bits of business done early on I was pleased to see Palace Women have a successful tour of the United States, as we prepare for a first season in the Women’s Super League. We are all looking forward to watching Laura and her players – including plenty of new

faces – tackle the very highest level of the women’s game, and I hope you will come along to support them when the season gets underway in September. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to Selhurst Park. Aaron was a joy to watch in red and blue and went on to become one of our most successful Academy graduates, playing in the Champions League for Manchester United against some of the biggest teams in Europe. His career demonstrates the kind of players our Academy can produce, and he should be an example to the talented young players we have coming through at all age groups this season. Every game in the Premier League is a real challenge, and our second London derby in as many weeks is no different. West Ham have strengthened throughout the summer, and we know that we will have to be at our very best to get a result. That includes not only the players and the staff in the dugout, but all of our supporters who make Selhurst Park such a special place to play. It’s been a while since we hosted Premier League football in South London, so let’s remind everyone this afternoon why we have one of the very best atmospheres in the country. Get right behind Oliver and the team from the first whistle to the last. Up the Palace

It’s been a while since we hosted Premier League football in South London, so let’s remind everyone this afternoon why we have one of the very best atmospheres in the country. Get right behind Oliver and the team from the first whistle to the last

Oliver glasner

After a whirlwind run-in last season, Oliver Glasner has had pre-season to prepare for his first full campaign in South London. He talks mindset and mentality, improving on past successes, and why football might be a simple game after all… Interview: Tom Wrigley Words: Will Robinson

oliver glasner

Oliver glasner

oes the end of last season feel like a blur? A heady mixture of excitement, optimism and sheer disbelief as Palace crashed their way through the best defences in the country, less heavy metal football and more an orchestra perfectly in tune. It was bold, brash, organised yet freeflowing, controlled and yet chaotic. It was bliss. Past achievements mean nothing when the cut and thrust of Premier League football returns, however. Nobody knows that better than Oliver Glasner. His soundbite on the subject is more profound than the usual Instagram bios and hastily decided-upon holiday tattoos. “The past is nice for the history books, but it has nothing to do with the future,” he says. “We had a great end of the season, but it’s the past. Now it’s building the spirits, building this belief, knowing what to do, investing, working hard to deserve winning games in the Premier League. This is what we started in pre-season again.” It’s the never-ending conundrum that keeps us coming back year after year. It’s why football is, essentially, unsolvable – and it’s a reality that is, depending on your situation, either moraleboosting or anxiety-inducing. However weak you were last season, a new campaign means the chance to improve. However strong you were last season, it could soon come crashing down. For Glasner, focus has to be directed inwards. “What we’re often talking about is focusing on the things we can influence,” he explains. “We

Of course we prepare, but my mindset in life is that I don’t like looking at the neighbours, and then lose focus on life. I don’t care what is left or right. Just try to do your best for your family, for your life, and not always [be thinking]: ‘If he does this, should I?’ No, if you like it, do it. If you don’t like it, leave it

can’t influence the weather, we can’t influence the crowd, or we can’t influence the opponent. “Of course we prepare, but my mindset in life is that I don’t like looking at the neighbours, and then lose focus on life. I don’t care what is left or right. Just try to do your best for your family, for your life, and not always [be thinking]: ‘If he does this, should I?’ No, if you like it, do it. If you don’t like it, leave it.” When Glasner arrived in South London in March, it was the first time in his career he had taken over a club without the benefit of a full pre-season to gradually implement his ideas. He changed the formation and the playing style all while picking up the crucial points Palace needed, but it wasn’t as easy as it looks.

oliver glasner

What we’re often talking about is focusing on the things we can influence, We can’t influence the weather, we can’t influence the crowd, or we can’t influence the opponent

The past is nice for the history books, but it has nothing to do with the future, We had a great end of the season, but it’s the past. Now it’s building the spirits, building this belief, knowing what to do, investing, working hard to deserve winning games in the Premier League

Oliver glasner

I think this is in life, this is in football, this is in every job you have. If we always talk about the problem, you have no capacity in your brain for finding a solution. So it’s: ‘OK, I have this, what can we do to solve it?’

oliver glasner Success came from hard work and patience – and the same mentality of self-improvement. “It was the starting point of our journey together,” he says. “We won the first match against Burnley 3-0, but then we had six games without a win, and there were also problems to solve. “We were always focused on what we had to do to improve, in every single part: physically, tactically, mentally, on the belief that we can win everywhere, that we trust each other and that we have that self-confidence. “There is no button you have to press to switch this on, this is daily work. This we started, and this is what we are still doing every day, in the training and in the meetings. It is the journey that has just started.” Tackling a problem like a Premier League club takes a certain level of confidence, but also requires an ability to think your way out of tricky situations. There is a German acronym for this type of problem-solving: N-I-P-S-I-E-L-D. “If you just talk about the problem, you never solve it, and it gets bigger and bigger,” Glasner explains. “If you focus on the problem, it doesn’t go away, so you have to find a solution for the problem. “I think this is in life, this is in football, this is in every job you have. If we always talk about the problem, you have no capacity in your brain for finding a solution. So it’s: ‘OK, I have this, what can we do to solve it?’” It’s this kind of attitude that allows Glasner to find the

There is no button you have to press to switch this on, this is daily work. This we started, and this is what we are still doing every day, in the training and in the meetings. It is the journey that has just started

positives in defeat, and room for improvement in victory. After all, football is decided by the finest of margins, and coming away without three points does not make it a completely wasted afternoon. “It is a mindset – you can have fun playing football and lose a game, because it is sports,” he says. “For me, the better we perform, the more team spirit we have, and the more wins we will get. “The three points and the win is the result of how we perform on the pitch, of what we are doing. Again, this is what we can influence. We can’t influence the three points. So I don’t like to always talk about winning and winning, three points and three points, or about the position in the

Oliver glasner league, because if every team has the goal to win the title then 19 will be disappointed. “For me, it’s the difference between a wish and a goal. A wish can come true or not, but you don’t have to do a lot for this. If you have a goal, you have to work for it. You have to deserve it. You have to invest in it. This is the same in a game: what we train, we want to do on the pitch, always being together. “Then we can enjoy it. Then is the result, [like the] 4-0 win against Manchester United. But I could also see our players enjoying playing football against Manchester City. OK, we lost 4-2 at that time. At that moment, they were better and we have to accept it.” There may be times when it seems difficult to enjoy playing in the most scrutinised, highlypressurised league in world football, when hundreds of millions are attuned to every minor error in judgement. But it’s important to remember, says Glasner, that there is no better place to be. “The most important thing is to enjoy football. It’s your dream playing in the Premier League. Sometimes it looks like it’s so tough, but I think: ‘Oh my God, it’s the best thing you have in the world! It’s what you’re dreaming of!’ “So this is what I tell them: be yourself, every single player, express yourself and don’t be scared about making mistakes. It’s part of football. I’ve never seen a football game where we don’t make a mistake, and I think it will never happen. It’s how you deal with it. It’s part of life.”

For me, it’s the difference between a wish and a goal. A wish can come true or not, but you don’t have to do a lot for this. If you have a goal, you have to work for it. You have to deserve it. You have to invest in it. This is the same in a game: what we train, we want to do on the pitch, always being together

It’s not just the players who need that message, but occasionally the manager himself. It’s an important way to stay grounded, to keep working, to dedicate every waking hour to achieving success. “Every day I think: ‘Wow, what a great job I have, what a great life I can live, how privileged I am’,” Glasner says. “There’s always hard work, tough work, very long days. But this is what I always tell my kids: find a job that you like to do. “I don’t like this word work-life balance, where it’s either work or life. For me, work is a big part of life. It’s the best when you can enjoy it. That doesn’t mean every day is going to be easy-going, but it makes it fun. “You can have joy when you solve a problem and say: ‘Wow’.

oliver glasner

Every day I think: ‘Wow, what a great job I have, what a great life I can live, how privileged I am’, There’s always hard work, tough work, very long days. But this is what I always tell my kids: find a job that you like to do

Oliver glasner

You can have joy when you solve a problem and say: ‘Wow’. Or, when you work hard and you see progress. You have daily successes, and you have daily failures. You deal with this. This is for so many different challenges every day, and at the end of the day it is: ‘Wow, OK, we solved this, we solved this. We think we are one step further

oliver glasner

Or, when you work hard and you see progress. You have daily successes, and you have daily failures. You deal with this. This is for so many different challenges every day, and at the end of the day it is: ‘Wow, OK, we solved this, we solved this. We think we are one step further.’ “Or maybe it is: ‘Ah, this day was not how we wanted, but tomorrow let’s try it again.’ Professional footballer, professional manager, coach, professional sports, many at the Olympics – we have such a privileged life and it’s all about enjoying it. That doesn’t mean every day is easy, but I think nobody wants every day to be easy.

Professional footballer, professional manager, coach, professional sports, many at the Olympics – we have such a privileged life and it’s all about enjoying it. That doesn’t mean every day is easy, but I think nobody wants every day to be easy

“You need some challenges in life.” There’s certainly truth in that. Under Oliver Glasner, optimism is rife at Selhurst Park, but whatever the results on the opening weekends of the season, there is more of his philosophy embedded in South London too. In defeat, we learn; in victory, we work out how we can repeat it once again. Football is, after all, a sport – a sport we all dedicate so much of our lives too, so why not try to enjoy it? We ask the man in the dugout at Palace to give us the first words that come to mind when he thinks of football: “Joy.” And his coaching philosophy? “Activity.” Activity and joy. It might just be that football is as simple as that

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And finally...

and finally...

with Oliver glasner

How do statistics affect your training methods? As a coach, I’m involved in a lot of statistics these days: expected goals, expected assists, passing rates, where you win the ball, possession etc. But for me still the most important statistic is how many goals we score and how many goals we concede, because that brings three points in the end!

What motivates you as a coach? On the one hand, the greatest motivation of being a coach is to teach the players something. I think that’s where the teacher in me lies – I even studied to be a teacher once. It’s to teach them something about football, but also in terms of attitude and winning mentality. On the other hand, it is to generate great enthusiasm among the fans.

What is your favourite thing to eat? It’s Weiner Schnitzel. I could eat this every day.

What is the difference between coaching in England and Germany? I am lucky enough to have coached in Austria, Germany and now England for a few months. Each league has its own peculiarities. Of course I spent most of my football career in Austria, where football has got better and better in recent years – you can see with the international team. Germany is a huge market, very successful as you can see with two teams in European finals this year. In England, it is like the motherland of football – it’s not called that for nothing. You can feel that when you’re here. Football has an incredibly high standing and it’s something very special in England.

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West Ham united

west ham united

the hammers 1895

LIFE AFTER MOYES

Although Moyes’ style of football led to complaints from some West Ham supporters, his results were hard to argue with: the club have competed in Europe for the last three seasons, their longest run in history. Now, with no European football having finished ninth last season, there is a chance to focus momentum on the Premier League and domestic competition, and potentially the hunt for more silverware.

9th

Points

Top Scorer Jarrod Bowen

Most Assists V. Coufal / J. Ward-Prowse

away

home

NEW ARRIVALS West Ham have spent big, bringing in Premier League-proven Max Kilman, Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville, Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug, and splashing more than £25m on as yet unproven 18-year-old Brazilian prospect Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras. The headline for Palace fans, however, will be the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United – will he make a Selhurst Park return today in West Ham colours?

A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW

Position

SPAIN TO STRATFORD West Ham have turned to former Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui to take the reins, who most recently guided Wolves to mid-table in the 2022/23 campaign. The former Spain international has built a reputation for tactical astuteness and defensive stability. Having won the Europa League at Sevilla, his appointment at Wolves was seen as something of a coup – can he find similar success in East London?

third

After one of the most successful periods in West Ham’s modern history, life after David Moyes begins. The veteran Scottish manager cemented his name in the Hammers’ history books by lifting the Europa Conference League in 2023, their first major trophy since 1980 and a first European title since 1965.

Last Season

West Ham united

head2head head

0-1 √ dagenham & redbridge Chigwell Construction Stadium

√ wolves Everbank Stadium

1-3 √ crystal palace Raymond James Stadium

2-2 √ celta vigo London Stadium

1-2 √ Aston Villa London Stadium

1-2 West Ham √ Aston Villa Saturday 17th August / London Stadium

lastfive

3-1

west ham

draw

palace

2-3

1st January 2022 Selhurst Park

1-2

6th November 2022 London Stadium

4-3

29th April 2023 Selhurst Park

1-1

3rd December 2023 London Stadium

5-2

21st April 2024 Selhurst Park

“We have to know that the first minute is as important as the 90th. We have to put the focus in this part of the match and try to improve. I think we have the strength to be stronger in this area and in the same way, I think we have to be positive in good things too.” Julen Lopetegui

Substitutes

Antonio

L. Fabianski

A. Cresswell

kudus

C. Summerville

J. Ward-Prowse

N. Füllkrug

D. Ings

J. Todibo

A. Wan-Bissaka

A. Irving

goal cards

Soucek

Paquetá

20 bowen

24 rodríguez

33 emerson

kilman

mavropanos

23 areola

subs

5 coufal

west ham united

key players West Ham have added plenty of new faces since the two sides met in the Stateside Cup in Florida just three weeks ago, with Lopetegui working with a dramatically transformed squad since his arrival in East London. Here, we pick out four new faces to keep an eye on this afternoon – including one who will be well known to everyone inside Selhurst Park…

he who dares, wins -

def Jean-Clair

Todibo age

Height

6’3

joined

from

2024

Ah, the dramas of the transfer market. Jean-Clair Todibo was on the verge of joining Manchester United this summer, before UEFA’s rules on club ownership prevented the deal. A few weeks later, Todibo was on the verge of joining Juventus before West Ham swooped. Fortune favours the brave, and now the in-demand defender is lining up in claret and blue. The France international has arrived on an initial loan, with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. His footballing education began at home, coming through the academy at Toulouse before making a big move to Barcelona. Sporadic appearances in the first-team led to loans to Germany and Portugal before settling down at Nice, where he made his name as one of the most promising centre-backs in European football. He made his debut for France in a friendly defeat to Germany in 2023, but his competitive debut was far more succesful, as Les Bleus beat Gibraltar 14-0.

fwd luis

guilherme age

Height

5’9

joined

from

2024

While teenage teammate Endrick has been grabbing much of the headlines – ultimately joining Real Madrid this summer in a long-awaited multi-million pound deal – Luis Guilherme is another name from Palmeiras’ seemingly never-ending conveyor belt of talent that has set tongues wagging. To describe the winger as quick would be an understatement: he made headlines in a youth tournament in Brazil for clocking a top speed of 36.4 kilometres per hour. For reference, Usain Bolt’s world record 100m sprint in 2009 saw him clock a top speed of 37.58 km/h. Whether he will be given the room in the Premier League to show off his explosiveness is another question, but West Ham will be hoping that he can reach a level reflecting his enormous potential.

West Ham united

Home again Back to where it all began. WanBissaka is one of Palace’s most successful Academy graduates, born in Croydon and signing for the club as an 11-year-old, before reaching the first-team in 2018. Having began life in the Academy as a winger, he quickly developed into one of the most effective one-against-one defenders the Premier League has seen. After just 46 appearances for his boyhood club, during which time he was crowned Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, he sealed a £50 million transfer to Manchester United. His 190 appearances with the Red Devils saw him lift the League Cup and the FA Cup at Wembley, as well as feature in the UEFA Champions League against fellow Academy graduate and former teammate Wilfried Zaha. Now, he is back in London, but this time with the Irons. Now, he is back in London, but this time with the Irons and could make his debut for the club at Selhurst Park this afternoon...

def aaron

wan-bissaka age

Height

6’0

joined

from

2024

For years Füllkrug has proven himself a reliable source of goals in attack, but he reached a new level of prominence by scoring a fantastic winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. Bringing the ball down in behind, he raced in on goal and let fly early, catching the goalkeeper off guard and arrowing into the bottom corner. Dortmund would suffer heartbreak against Real Madrid at Wembley in the final,

fwd Niclas

Füllkrug age

Height

6’2

joined

from

2024

but the goal will stick long in the memory nonetheless. After just a single season at Dortmund, scoring 15 times in all competitions, Füllkrug has made the move to East London for a fee approaching £30 million. After coming through at Werder Bremen before playing for FC. Nurnberg, Hannover 96, Dortmund and – 21 times – the German national side, this is his first opportunity to play outside his home country.

west ham united

gk Lukasz

Fabianski age

joined

39 2018

1 from

def aaron

cresswell age

joined

34 2014

def Jean-Clair

from

todibo age

joined

24 2024

from

gk wes

Foderingham age

joined

33 2024

def Vladimir

Coufal age

joined

31 2020

def max

from

5 from

kilman age

joined

27 2024 30

from

gk Alphonse

Areola age

joined

31 2021

from

def Konstantinos

Mavropanos age

joined

26 2023

def Nayef

from

aguerd age

joined

28 2022

from

West Ham united

def Aaron

Wan-Bissaka age

joined

26 2024

from

mid james

Ward-Prowse age

joined

29 2023

from

mid Edson

Álvarez age

joined

26 2023

from

def

Emerson age

joined

30 2022

from

mid lucas

Paquetá age

joined

26 2022

mid Guido

from

Rodríguez age

joined

30 2024 31

from

def kaelan

casey age

42 from

academy

mid

Mohammed

Kudus age

joined

24 2023

mid TomÁs

from

Soucek age

joined

29 2020

from

west ham united

mid andy

irving age

joined

24 2024

fwd Michail

antonio age

joined

34 2015

9 from

fwd danny

ings age

from

joined

32 2023

from

mid freddie

potts age

62 from

academy

fwd

Niclas

Füllkrug age

joined

31 2024

fwd jarrod

from

bowen age

joined

27 2020 32

from

fwd Crysencio

Summerville age

joined

22 2024

from

fwd Luis

Guilherme age

joined

18 2024

fwd Maxwel

from

Cornet age

joined

27 2022

from

West Ham united

squaddepth st Niclas FÜLLKRUG Michail ANTONIO Danny INGS Gideon KODUA

lw Crysencio SUMMERVILLE Maxwel CORNET

rw Jarrod BOWEN Luis GUILHERME

am Lucas PAQUETÁ Mohammed KUDUS Andy IRVING

cm James WARD-PROWSE Tomas SOUCEK Freddie POTTS

Dm lb

Edson ÁLVAREZ Guido RODRÍGUEZ

EMERSON Palmieri Aaron CRESSWELL

Aaron WAN-BISSAKA Vladimír COUFAL

Max KILMAN Konstantinos MAVROPANOS

Jean-Clair TODIBO Nayef AGUERD Kaelan CASEY GK

Alphonse AREOLA Wes FODERINGHAM Lukasz FABIANSKI

Loaned In

Academy Graduate

New Signing

west ham united

through time 1900 Although West Ham were officially formed in 1900, they were almost certainly a reincarnation of Thames Ironworks FC, who began as a works team of the largest shipbuilder on the Thames five years earlier. The team were disbanded shortly after going professional after disputes about financing and administration, with West Ham founded immediately after – but still known as ‘the Hammers’ or ‘Irons’ due to their shipbuilding origins. They would move to the Boleyn Ground four years later.

1923 More than 300,000 people were thought to have attended the FA Cup final as West Ham were beaten by Bolton Wanderers amidst chaotic scenes at Wembley Stadium. The match became known as the ‘White Horse Final’, after the sheer size of the crowds required police mounted on horses to clear the pitch before kick-off.

1964 A first major trophy in one of the great FA Cup finals, as Ronny Boyce’s 90th-minute winner settled a five-goal

thriller. The Irons were enjoying a golden period brought about by the appointment of Ron Greenwood in 1961, and would lift the European Cup Winners’ Cup against 1860 Munich a year later. In 1966, under the captaincy of West Ham’s Bobby Moore, England would win the biggest prize of all.

1980 West Ham beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final to become the last team to win the competition from outside the First Division. However, after a brief return to the top-flight – finishing third in 1986 – they struggled with relegation to the second tier.

1895

Thames Ironworks formed

1904

Move to Upton Park

1919

Entry to Football League

1923

‘White Horse’ FA Cup final

1961

Ron Greenwood appointed manager

1964

FA Cup winners

1965

European Cup Winners’ Cup champions

1975

FA Cup winners

1980

FA Cup winners

2000

Paolo di Canio scores iconic volley

2011

Relegation to the Championship

2016

Move to London Stadium

2023

Europa Conference League winners

West Ham united

2002 Some of England’s finest players had emerged from the academy in the late 1990s, including Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe and Joe Cole. However, despite the introduction of Paolo Di Canio and qualification for the UEFA Cup just three years earlier, the club were relegated once again.

dreamfive GK Shaka Hislop Hislop made 157 appearances for West Ham after joining from Newcastle. He earned 26 caps for Trinidad & Tobago, keeping a clean sheet against Sweden.

cb Bobby Moore England’s World Cup winning captain. One of the greatest defenders in the history of the game – the greatest according to Pele – played over 600 times for the club.

cm Trevor Brooking Brooking played 643 times for West Ham, winning the 1975 FA Cup and scoring the winner in the 1980 final. He was crowned their Player of the Season on four occasions.

cm Paolo di Canio Chaotic, controversial, but never boring: Di Canio scored one of the Premier League’s finest-ever goals with his scissor-kick volley in 2000, inspiring children in playgrounds ever since.

st Geoff Hurst

2016 -

A second member of England’s 1966 side, and the only man – until Kylian Mbappe’s heroics in 2022 – to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final. It was definitely over the line.

Having stabilised as a Premier League side, West Ham ended their 112-year stay at Upton Park to move into the Olympic Stadium, now renamed the London Stadium.

2023 David Moyes guides West Ham to their first major trophy in 43 years, winning the UEFA Conference League thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s late winner against Fiorentina in Prague.

west ham united

kitstory best

celebrity hammers

worst

Danny Dyer

Home: 1999/00

Home: 2019/20

Di Canio’s volley was going to look good whatever he was wearing, but one of West Ham’s finest shirts adds to the glory.

A move away from traditional claret shirt and blue sleeves means several points docked. Plus, it’s just a bit boring.

best

worst

Does anyone embody West Ham more than Danny Dyer? Everyone’s favourite cockney is claret and blue through and through.

James corden While becoming a household name in the United States, Corden continued to promote his beloved Hammers in true ‘Smithy’ style.

Keira Knightley For one of Britain’s most successful actresses, Love, Actually, is all around – in East London, that is.

Lennox Lewis The former undisputed heavyweight world champion boxer was born in West Ham, and once gave a pre-match team talk. They won the game 2-0.

Alfred Hitchcock away: 2003/04

away: 1999/00

They may have lost the play-off final to Crystal Palace, but what a kit and what a team: Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Nigel Rio-Coker…

What is going on here? No, really, what’s going on here? Light blue and white stripes, the strange colour… Best left in the past.

One of the most influential directors in the history of cinema, Hitchcock had English newspapers sent to his LA home while making films like Vertigo and Psycho.

West Ham united

greatestgames 0-1 PALACE PROMOTED Promotion in dramatic circumstances back in 2004. The final was a cagey affair, though Neil Shipperley found the breakthrough just after the hour-mark after pouncing on an Andrew Johnson shot that was spilled by Stephen Bywater in the West Ham goal. In typical Palace fashion, the team didn’t make it easy for themselves and West Ham pushed on to see goals from Bobby Zamora and David Connolly disallowed for offside. Palace held on to secure an unlikely promotion, however, and return to the Premier League to resume their role as underdogs once more.

2-1 AYEW KIDDING ME? A freezing cold Boxing Day encounter in 2019, lit up by a piece of individual brilliance from Jordan Ayew. After Robert Snodgrass had given West Ham the lead, Cheikhou Kouyaté equalised and the points looked to be shared. Then, with the game entering added time, Ayew picked up the ball on the wing and proceeded to dance his way through the Irons’ defence, pirouetting away from his final opponents and dinking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. A goal to be savoured for years to come.

5-2 GLASNERBALL Oliver Glasner football in full swing. Palace blew West Ham away in South London, and were four goals up inside half-an-hour through Michael Olise, Ebere Eze and JeanPhilippe Mateta. The goals were phenomenal, too, with Eze’s bicycle-kick the pick of the bunch. Although the visitors stemmed the bleeding for a short period either side of half-time, Mateta added a fifth to send levels of optimism around Selhurst Park into the stratosphere.

west ham united

eagle eye

@MrDomSmith

Dom Smith is a Football Reporter at the Evening Standard, covering London football and the England national teams. How will the Lopetegui era differ from David Moyes’ tenure? David Moyes was a very defensive manager, with his football rooted in the principle of defending well first and counter-attacking second. Lopetegui is not so different, but he has at least managed the likes of Spain and Real Madrid before and so knows how to set up a team that dominate possession. West Ham won’t do against the league’s best teams, but against many sides they will. Lopetegui is ruthlessly competitive and will command nothing but the highest standards from his players. He is a marquee appointment. How would you rate West Ham’s transfer window so far? There is no other way of saying it: this has been an exceptional transfer window for West Ham. After replacing David Moyes with Julen Lopetegui, the club have far from stood still. Instead, they have made eight signings, and Lopetegui may even bring in another central midfielder to add to the competition in that position before the deadline. Positions like striker and right-back were in desperate need of strengthening, and Borussia

Lopetegui is ruthlessly competitive and will command nothing but the highest standards from his players.

West Ham united

Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug and Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka represent excellent purchases in those two positions, respectively. Max Kilman of Wolves and an initial loan deal for Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo will add real star quality to the centre-back position, which has looked a little weak in recent seasons. Guido Rodriguez, Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham and the exciting Crysencio Summerville from Leeds have also joined the club, who now have real squad depth.

he has at least managed the likes of Spain and Real Madrid before and so knows how to set up a team that dominate possession. West Ham won’t do against the league’s best teams, but against many sides they will

Who is West Ham’s most important player? It remains Jarrod Bowen, who was made West Ham captain last week, replacing the previous skipper Kurt

Zouma as he works towards an intended exit from the club. Bowen’s goals were crucial last season in the league, and his presence at Euro 2024 for England was a compliment to his excellent domestic season with the Hammers. The signing of Füllkrug and presence of Danny Ings and Michail Antonio in the wings mean he will be played less often as a lone striker, giving him the chance to operate where he is best: off the right wing. Whose contribution often flies under the radar? Alphonse Areola was finally given the position of West Ham’s firstchoice goalkeeper last season after years of superb service from Lukasz Fabianski. Frenchman Areola was excellent, making very few errors and showing that West Ham have a strong goalkeeper department. His agility and natural shotstopping ability could be key again this season, though signings in defence means Lopetegui will hope the goalkeeper is needed to bail his defence out as little as possible. Areola has proven a smart signing since his 2022 move from Paris Saint-Germain. Give us a name for the future to keep an eye on… Crysencio Summerville’s transfer from Leeds raised a few eyebrows and looks as though it could prove a shrewd move by the club. His four Premier League goals in the 2022/23 campaign came before he had really hit star form, which he did last season by notching 19 Championship goals.

There really has been a summer overhaul at the club, with Moyes departing for Lopetegui and eight players joining the club. That gives this season an element of the unknown, but the Spanish manager will be targeting a European place for next season by finishing seventh or higher. The 22-year-old Dutch wide man is an electric player who is unpredictable, wiry, and unplayable on his day. West Ham see him as a starting XI player. What would constitute success for West Ham this season? There really has been a summer overhaul at the club, with Moyes departing for Lopetegui and eight players joining the club. That gives this season an element of the unknown, but the Spanish manager will be targeting a European place for next season by finishing seventh or higher. The emergence of Aston Villa as well as the strength of the traditional top six make that a difficult ask, but West Ham now have a squad much better than the one they could call on last term. Certainly, a top-half finish and a cup run look well within reach

west ham united

West Ham united

HEAD TO HEAD

Nathaniel

clyne age

joined

def

nat

max

Goals

Penalties won

Penalties scored

kilman age

joined

def

nat

Apps

255

Clean sheets

Apps

128

Clean sheets

Yellow cards

Clean sheets

Assists

Red cards

Tackle success

68%

Tackle success

53%

Passes per match

38.91

Passes per match

53.28

Crosses

537

Duels won

925

Premier League matches before West Ham first leave London, travelling to Palace, Fulham, Brentford and Spurs before heading to Nottingham Forest on 2nd November.

days between Palace’s Stateside Cup win against West Ham in Tampa, Florida, and today’s meeting at Selhurst Park.

262

games managed by David Moyes across two spells, winning the Europa Conference League in 2023, before the arrival of Julen Lopetegui this summer.

Delivered by:

Crosses

Duels won

531

west ham united

doc brown & james m©arthur

doc brown

doc brown Ben Bailey Smith, aka Doc Brown, does it all – acting, rapping, writing, directing, you name it. The multifaceted Palace fan is also a patron of Palace for Life Foundation. In each edition, he offers his unique take on the world in SE25...

100 YEARS OF ’HURST Never stopped me dreaming… That’s right – 2024 marks a full century since Archibald Leitch built our South London home (look Archie up by the way, he basically built every iconic stadium in the UK). To me, the anniversary doubles as a metaphor for solidity and permanence – two luxuries the average Palace fan has rarely been afforded over the years. 2024 Palace is not 1924 Palace. Or ‘64 or ‘94 Palace. 2024 Palace is about creating stability of Leitchian proportions, new foundations laid and built upon so we can grow, develop and progress, onwards and upwards. And just like Leitch’s team of builders, we need elbow grease and dedication, commitment to and belief in a cause. Sad as I was to see Michael leave before we’d really seen what we could achieve together, there’ll never be any one builder bigger than the house itself. That’s why – after much legal wrangling behind closed doors – I’m delighted to say I’ve signed a contract extension to stay at the club in my official position as Least Useful Member of the Crystal Palace Family. As I said to the press

during the incredibly high-profile public announcement: “Staying on as a column writer for the programme is a dream come true for me. It means I haven’t got to move house again, change the kids’ schools, the missus is overjoyed. Now it’s time for me to get my head down and just focus on my writing, you know? Let my talking do the talking. So yeah, I’m just taking every column as it comes. On a personal level I’m pleased with my performance but the most important thing is the three exclamation points!!!” Honestly though, what a fascinating time to be an Eagle. Not only do we have the 2024 Archibald Leitch in the shape of one Oliver Glasner – AKA The Austrian Architect – we have some incredible building blocks: that solid wall of Mitchell, Guéhi and Muñoz; Hughes, Wharton and the exciting new Kamada providing the cement in between, topped with that high-end finish of Ebs and oooh – who’s that? It’s only Olympic hero and silver medallist Jean-Philippe Mateta. Is it wrong to think this could be the greatest, most understandable opportunity for

2024 Palace is about creating stability of Leitchian proportions, new foundations laid and built upon so we can grow, develop and progress, onwards and upwards.

doc brown optimism since that foundation stone was laid a century ago? Probably, yes. Hubris is not really a trait in the Holmesdale, or any other stand at Selhurst. Even Quiet Confidence feels weird. Cautious Optimism feels like the appropriate emotion. I’m always positive but even I’m not ready for Wild Gay Abandon.

that solid wall of Mitchell, Guéhi and Muñoz; Hughes, Wharton and the exciting new Kamada, topped with that highend finish of Ebs

Exhibit A: The BBC Football Gossip column. Now, believe it or not, one habit I’ve never changed in my working life – from my days as a youth worker right into my current life of tights, wigs and makeup – is what I do in my lunch break. It’s never changed: Tesco meal deal (other deals are available but I’ve got a Clubcard so…), phone leaning up against a can of Diet Coke as I blissfully scroll down the latest transfer rumours on the Beeb’s dedicated footy site. For me it’s a chance to unwind, take a moment to enjoy some news that isn’t really news whilst I lustily stuff salty snacks into my face. And for so many carefree years there’s been little to no mention of anything remotely

linked to my team. It’s always been akin to watching a soap opera – human tragedy and drama I can smile and even laugh at. It’s funny coz it’s not me. Then all of a sudden, the bleedin’ Euros happened. The bleedin’ Euros with that bleeding exciting young English team to whom no bleeding club in the country contributed more bleedin’ players than us. The immense pride immediately turned to fear. Oh great, Marc Guéhi is the English player of the tournament. Ebs is looking sharp every time he comes on. Wharton has become the most talked about young midfielder in the country. We could’ve sent TWO keepers if Sam hadn’t got hurt.

Next thing I know, my lunch break is packed with so much Palace-related speculation that I’m choking on my Nik Naks. Don’t get me wrong – we’ve never been sexy, now we are and I can’t lie, it’s flattering. But The House That Oli Built has the chance to be as firm as Archie’s blueprints were one hundred years ago and I just can’t bear the idea of wrecking balls and bulldozers this early in the day. So by all means, let’s celebrate this magical anniversary, but let’s also get August and this terrifying transfer window over and bleedin’ done with. Here’s to another hundred years. UTP

James M©arthur

james m©arthur Palace legend James McArthur made 253 appearances for the club, playing over 19,000 minutes in all competitions across nine years. Here, the former midfielder recalls Palace pre-seasons of days gone by, and the feeling of the season restarting…

catching up Hello again, Palace fans. I hope you’re all keeping well, and you’re looking forward to the season ahead. It’s been a while since my last game at Selhurst Park, and although I do miss playing in front of you, I’ve also been loving my retirement! To be honest, I thought that I would have struggled a bit because I love the game so much. I loved being around the lads, I loved having the banter in the changing room, but to be honest, I’ve not really missed it too much, probably because I was at a point in my career where I was struggling every day in training with pain. I knew I couldn’t perform anymore. Everyone always said to me: ‘Why don’t you drop down and play elsewhere?’ But you still need to train as intensely, you still need to chase that ball down the line. My body just couldn’t cope anymore. And I’ve got the banter side from playing golf with my mates a lot! Right now, I’m on holiday, when you would normally be preparing for a season and looking forward to starting matches.

Everyone thinks that you’ve got so much time when you play football, but everything is prepared around the game and concentrating on staying fit, recovery, working towards that Saturday. Your children and family do sacrifice a lot, so it’s been nice to chill out and spend a lot of time with them.

Pre-seasons gone by I never minded pre-seasons, to be honest, because I did like the fitness side of the game. When you’re playing, I think you take for granted how fit you are, and how much running you can do without any pains and aches. Now, I do a jog and I’m sore the next day! I don’t think people realise what these lads put themselves through to get in tip-top condition. Having said that, I can remember when I was at my first club, Hamilton, and the hardest week was the first week. Now, it’s not really like that. Obviously, the game is getting much more advanced, and it’s a gradual build-up, so I’d rather do pre-season now than what I did at Hamilton!

It’s been a while since my last game at Selhurst Park, and although I do miss playing in front of you, I’ve also been loving my retirement!

James M©arthur

That side of the game’s definitely changed from when I started. Before, when you were younger, pre-season wasn’t really sports science-focused. It was more about character building, and pushing and pushing and pushing, whereas these days everything’s more controlled, and you build up gradually.

If you get it right, for me, it’s the best formation in the game. I love playing it and I love watching the way the lads are enjoying playing under him. It looks like they’re playing with a real freedom

You play a lot of games in pre-season. I probably preferred my European trips during my career. When you go further, to your Americas and Australias and whatnot, you enjoy it, but you also have to concentrate on your recovery and training.

Getting underway Pre-season games are good, but it’s all really just about working towards that start of the season. Competitive football is what you want to be playing. The Premier League is where you want to be

playing. Pre-season games are literally just building up to it. As a fan, it’s great to have competitive football back and to watch Palace. I watched the lads beat West Ham a couple of weeks ago and I know it doesn’t really mean anything – but with that fixture coming up again, it’s a game you want to see when points matter.

Glasner’s impact Oliver Glasner has been unreal, hasn’t he? The change of formation has really suited the lads. I played the same shape under Roberto Martínez at Wigan. If you get it right, for me, it’s the best formation in the game. I love playing it and I love watching the way the lads are enjoying playing under him. It looks like they’re playing with a real freedom. I think that Palace will be really good this year. Obviously Michael Olise leaving is a big blow, but at the same time, it looks like the lads are playing in a system now that whoever steps in will be able to fill that void and we’ll be able to keep on winning.

Memories against the Hammers I’ve got some good memories against West Ham. At Wigan, we were quite good against them and at Palace, we went on a good run too. The lads have been brilliant recently and, Brentford aside, have been getting great results, but there’s no game against West Ham that’s easy.

there’s no game against West Ham that’s easy. There’s always lot of goals towards the end of these games that I can always remember: Wilfried Zaha late on in 2018/19; Jordan Ayew in 2019/20; Michael in 2022/23... They’re always tough games, but always enjoyable ones for the neutral.

There’s always lot of goals towards the end of these games that I can always remember: Wilf late on in 2018/19; Jordan Ayew in 2019/20; Michael in 2022/23... They’re always tough games, but always enjoyable ones for the neutral. I’m looking forward to watching it – and supporting Palace

captain

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INSIDE PALACE

inside palace

palace academy With so much talent coming through at Crystal Palace, it’s time to grill the next generation on the key questions past, present and future. This week, new defensive signing Kurai Musanhi takes on our quickfire questions.

FACT FILE

past childhood idol? Cristiano Ronaldo.

present strongest attribute? I take a lot of pride in my defending. It’s not easy for people to get past me.

i model my game on... Alphonso Davies: he’s a very modern day full-back, up and down but strong defensively.

favourite palace player? Tyrick Mitchell. I look at his game and think that’s what I need to become.

favourite tv show? Breaking Bad.

pre-match music? Gunna. It’s very chill, but gets you ready.

future in five years time... I want to be playing in the Champions League. Once you hear that music, it’s like: ‘I’ve done it’.

First team? Hadley Rangers in North London.

kurai MUSANHI age

nationality

first match? I supported Arsenal, but it was actually a Tottenham game!

first shirt? It was a Puma Arsenal shirt.

position

full-back

first boots? Sondicos. Don’t underrate the Sondicos.

champions league or world cup? Champions League, every day of the week. I’m in love with it, it’s a really prestigious tournament.

i want to improve... When attacking I want to be a bit more on the front foot, anticipating things more.

manager or pundit? I’d be a pundit, 100 percent. I would take Gary Lineker’s job!

inside palace

fixtures&results

pos Club

GD Pts

Home fixture Away fixture Cup fixture International Cup fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)

nor

ars

avl

eve

liv

rea

for

whu

sou

tot

u21s

u18s AUGUST

AUGUST

Sat 17

Tottenham Hotspur

Blackburn Rovers

Sat 24

Southampton

Leeds United

Wed 28 Birmingham City

Tue 20

Stevenage

Fri 23 Fri 30

0-1

4-6

SEPTEMBER

Sat 31

Tue 17

Real Sociedad

SEPTEMBER

Fri 20

Reading

Sat 14

Norwich City

lee

Tue 24

Gillingham

Sat 21

Fulham

new

Mon 30 Nottingham Forest

Sat 28

Aston Villa

stk

sun

OCTOBER

OCTOBER Sat 5

Brighton & Hove Albion

Fri 25

Southampton

NOVEMBER Fri 1

Tottenham Hotspur

Tue 5

Peterborough United

Fri 29

Newcastle United

december Tue 10

RSC Anderlecht

Mon 16 Liverpool JANUARY Fri 10

Leicester City

Fri 17

RB Leipzig

Mon 20 Wolves Mon 27 Norwich City FEBRUARY Sun 9

Reading

Stoke City

Sat 5

Liverpool

cry

Sat 26

Leicester City

ful

NOVEMBER

che

-1

Sat 2

Arsenal

lei

-1

Sat 9

West Bromwich Albion

mun

-2

Sat 23

Arsenal

bla

-2

Sat 30

Brighton & Hove Albion

der

-2

DECEMBER

mci

-2

Sat 14

mid

-2

bha

-2

Chelsea

JANUARY Sat 11

West Ham United

wol

-2

Sat 25

Tottenham Hotspur

wba

-5

FEBRUARY Sat 1

Southampton

Sat 8

Reading

pos Club

GD Pts

Sat 15

Norwich City

bha

Sat 22

Aston Villa

lei

tot

Mon 17 Aston Villa

MARCH

Mon 24 West Bromwich Albion

Sat 1

Fulham

ars

MARCH

Sat 8

West Ham United

sou

avl

nor

whu

ful

rea

cry

che

wba

Mon 3 Sun 16

Arsenal Manchester City

APRIL

Sat 15

Chelsea

APRIL Sat 12

Leicester City

Thu 17

Arsenal

Mon 14 Chelsea

Sat 26

West Bromwich Albion

TBC

MAY

Fri 4

TBC

West Ham United

Fulham

Sat 3

Brighton & Hove Albion

All statistics correct as of 17:00 Thursday, 22nd August.

inside palace

palace academy With yet another talented generation coming through ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, here are a few reasons why you should follow our Academy sides throughout the new season…

Goals Galore On a near-weekly basis, the Under-18s and Under-21s produced clinical composure or glorious chaos, facing both domestic and international opposition and scoring goals for fun. The two sides netted 170 (yes, 170) goals between them last season. Zach Marsh netted 24 of those goals, with six hat-tricks to his name, while the likes of Jesse Derry, Roshaun Mathurin and Franco Umeh all scored more than 10 goals apiece. The U18s typically play on a Saturday morning, prior to the lunchtime Premier League fixture, while the U21s feature throughout the week on any given weekday (typically Monday, Tuesday or Friday). Whenever Premier League regulations allow, the games are broadcast LIVE on Palace TV+.

The New Generation There’s never a more smug moment when you tell your friends in the pub about an up and coming Academy player, and a couple of years later they are ripping it up in the first-team. The ‘I told you so’ is oh so sweet.

Each and every year, Palace fans who watch the live Academy broadcasts on Palace TV+ are ahead of the curve on those players coming through the ranks in in South London. Selhurst Park sits in one of the most productive hotbeds of footballing talent around the world, and Palace’s new Academy facility is aiming to produce the next Wilfried Zaha, Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Tyrick Mitchell. During the 2020/21 season, we saw the likes of Tayo Adaramola, David Ozoh, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Kaden Rodney and Joe Whitworth starring in the U18s side which narrowly missed out on the U18 Premier League South title. Every single one has gone on to make his first-team debut. Also featuring were the likes of Danny Imray, Ademola OlaAdebomi and Owen Goodman coming through the ranks, all of whom are now on loan both domestically and internationally. Palace’s Academy recently welcomed 13 new scholars to the U18s ahead of the 2024/25 season, some of which were winners of the Under-15 National Floodlit Cup in 2022/23 – a final that was, incidentally, also broadcast LIVE on Palace TV+.

A chance of silverware European trophies being lifted at Selhurst Park? Yes please, sign me up. That’s exactly what we enjoyed last season as the Eagles lifted the Premier League International Cup to be crowned the best young side in Europe. Franco Umeh scored the only goal against Jong PSV, the academy side of PSV Eindhoven, as Palace got revenge for their defeat in the final the previous season. The atmosphere at Selhurst Park under the lights was something those players will never forget. The Under-18s were in hunt of silverware too, reaching further in the FA Youth Cup than they had in any season since Wilfried Zaha and Jonny Williams were in the side. They got to the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup, losing out to eventual winners Manchester United. There is plenty more silverware to be battled for in the coming campaign, meaning that every match is of the highest stakes – don’t miss a second!

inside palace

Exclusive highlights and content Last season Palace TV+ subscribers enjoyed over 50 live streams which featured action from the first-team, Palace Women, the Under-21s and the Under-18s. If watching the future stars in SE25 wasn’t enough, there’s plenty more for you to sink your teeth into with a Palace TV+ subscription. There is LIVE audio coverage of every first-team fixture across all competitions, as well as the full 90 minutes from every game too. Exclusive documentaries and an extensive back catalogue of iconic games are also available.

u21s Name

u18s apps goals

Asher AGBINONE

Name Kai-Reece ADAMS-COLLMAN

Victor AKINWALE

Dean BENAMAR

Cormac AUSTIN Benji CASEY Luke BROWNE Freddie COWIN

Rio CARDINES Jesse DERRY

Euan DANAHER

Justin DEVENNY

Matteo DASHI

Billy EASTWOOD

Jesse DERRY

Chima EZE

Zack HENRY

Craig FARQUHAR Marcus HILL

Chris FRANCIS Joe GIBBARD

Mofe JEMIDE

Jake GRANTE

Jasper JUDD

Sean GREHAN

Joe KHOSHABA

Jackson IZQUIERDO

George KING

Mofe JEMIDE Enrique LAMEIRAS

Caleb KPORHA

Jack MASON

Finley MARJORAM Zach MARSH

David MONTJEN

Roshaun MATHURIN

Joshua MUWANA

Kurai MUSANHI

Stuart ODURO

Hindolo MUSTAPHA Adler NASCIMENTO

Remember, you can enjoy all of the action this season if you’re a Season Ticket+ holder. Otherwise, you can upgrade or subscribe to Palace TV+ by heading to cpfc.co.uk. So what are you waiting for? Subscribe to Palace TV+ to enjoy all of the exclusive video content, live streams and more throughout the 2024/25 season!

Chuks OKOLI Jerome OSEI

David OBOU Killian PHILLIPS

Caleb REDHEAD

Jadan RAYMOND

Sean SOMADE

Dylan REID

Charlie WALKER-SMITH

Kaden RODNEY Harry WHITWORTH Joe SHERIDAN Tyler WHITE

Franco UMEH Jack WELLS-MORRISON

Seb WILLIAMS

All statistics correct as of 17:00 Thursday, 22nd August.

apps goals

inside palace

palace women Ahead of their inaugural campaign in the Women’s Super League (WSL), Crystal Palace Women wrote further club history last weekend, playing their first-ever game on foreign soil.

he culmination of a week’s worth of training at altitude in Salt Lake City prepared Laura Kaminski’s side for a historic premier match abroad. The opposition: Utah Royals, who were mid-season in the National Women’s Super League (NWSL). After anthems were belted out, and pennants and shirts exchanged, the two teams got underway in front of a vocal crowd at the America First Field. Palace were on top in the opening exchanges, enjoying more of the ball in the Royals’ half, but it was the Royals who had the first shot of the game. Ally Sentnor pounced on a loose ball near

the edge of the box, but skipper Aimee Everett recovered just in time to block her attempt on goal. Midway through the first-half, Palace goalkeeper Shae Yañez was called into action. The summer signing made a good save inside the six-yard box, forcing the ball back out off of Hannah Betfort. Yañez was called into action once again after a cutback from Sentnor found Betfort inside the box, though the flag was then raised. Palace responded with a succession of corners from Fliss Gibbons and Isabella Sibley near the half-hour mark which put pressure on the Royals’

that’s what we were looking for: a real challenge. These are very difficult conditions for the players to play in, and pushing them through it was difficult, but that’s what pre-season is for, so I think we’ve made the most of the opportunity

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fixtures&results Home fixture Away fixture Cup fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)

playerstats Name

apps goals

Chloe ARTHUR

SEPTEMBER Izzy ATKINSON Sun 22

Tottenham Hotspur

Fri 27

Chelsea

Annabel BLANCHARD Aimee EVERETT

october Sun 6

Leicester City

Jorja FOX

Sun 13

Brighton & Hove Albion

Mille GEJL

Sun 20

Liverpool

Fliss GIBBONS

november

goal, forcing Mandy Haught into a save beneath her crossbar. With just a few minutes until the break, Yañez made another strong stop to deny Amandine Henry’s effort on goal inside the box. The sun was starting to set and the air began to thin as the two sides emerged for the second-half. The Royals were quickest to adapt and managed to take the lead under fortunate circumstances with a cross that deflected in off a Palace shirt. They doubled their lead on 70 minutes, shortly after the hydration break, with Sentnor scoring from close range after being set up by Betfort inside the box. Palace pushed for a goal to halve the deficit as the game went on, but the Royals managed to add a third through a free-kick. Defender Kaleigh Riehl rose highest to divert a looping header in. Whilst victory evaded Palace in the end, Kaminski and her side took not only the fitness benefits but the lifelong memories of an educational, landmark first trip abroad – lessons they can apply ahead of their inaugural WSL campaign

Shanade HOPCROFT

Sun 3

Manchester City

Sun 10

Everton

Sun 17

Aston Villa

Elise HUGHES Abbie LARKIN Hayley NOLAN

december Sun 8

West Ham United

Sun 15

Manchester United

january

Indiah-Paige RILEY Molly SHARPE Isabella SIBLEY

Sun 19

Arsenal

Sun 26

Tottenham Hotspur

Katrine VEJE Ashleigh WEERDEN

february Annis-Clara WRIGHT Sun 2

Brighton & Hove Albion

Sun 16

Manchester United

Shae YAÑEZ

march Sun 2

Liverpool

GD Pts

Sun 16

Aston Villa

ars

Sat 22

Everton

avl

bha

che

cry

eve

lei

liv

mci

mun

tot

whu

Sun 30

pos Club

Arsenal

april Sun 20 Sun 27

Chelsea West Ham United

may Sun 4

Leicester City

Sun 27

Manchester City

inside palace

palace for life A new season means a new chance to introduce match-going fans to our community work across South London.

e are Palace for Life, the official charity of Crystal Palace, and we have been a core part of the South London community for nearly 30 years. Our aim is simple. We use the power of the most popular sport in the world, football – and the club we love, Crystal Palace – to help transform the lives of young south Londoners. Every year, our dedicated coaches and mentors work with over 16,000 young people to provide regular, free physical activity, help with education, training or employment needs, and support with mental health and crime reduction through one-to-one mentoring. Our place in the community is unique. We are the trusted partner of social services, police, and local councils, and provide the support and interventions they sometimes can’t. We are welcomed into communities that are closed to many other agencies. We have the infrastructure, skills and experience to deliver safe and impactful programmes. South London is a hotbed of talent, but growing up here can be tough. We’re all about giving young people in our community the right opportunities to help transform their

donate to palace for life below

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lives, in the way they want to, all using the unique power of Palace. Now for a few thank you’s. Special appreciation goes to those who participated in our seventh Marathon March and everyone who took on our 160-mile cycling challenge from Selhurst Park to Molineux in May – the two groups raised over £150,000 collectively. Huge gratitude also goes to our investors, long-standing and new recruits alike, who continue to bring in crucial funds to support our work in South London. We can’t wait to work together again this season. To all of our funders and sponsors, we couldn’t deliver our work without you. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to putting your funds to the best use possible. To everyone who has engaged with us or learned about us this season. By making any sized donation, talking to us on social media, or simply spreading the word with your friends and family – it’s this support that keeps our engine running.

South London is a hotbed of talent, but growing up here can be tough. We’re all about giving young people in our community the right opportunities to help transform their lives, in the way they want to, all using the unique power of Palace At Palace for Life, a big thank you goes to our incredible group of office staff, coaches and mentors who are out in the community day in, day out, making a tangible difference to the lives of young people. Of course, massive gratitude goes to our club, Crystal Palace, and we simply can’t thank them enough.

The support we get from using the club’s facilities, leaning on the staff’s expertise and funding, is absolutely central to our achievements. We’re looking forward to another record-breaking season and can’t wait to have more of you involved in our vital community work to support young people in our area. If you can’t wait to help, why not sign up for the Marathon March? It’s taking place on the 12th of October and we’re expecting over 200 Palace fans to come together and walk a Marathon in our home of South London, raise funds to help us deliver our work, and of course, meet new Palace fans along the way

Interested? Head to palaceforlife.org or scan the QR code for details on how to sign up.

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100 years of selhurst park

100 YEARS OF Selhurst Park

As Selhurst Park celebrates its 100 th year during the 2024/25 campaign, club historian Ian King is looking back at a century of history from 1924 to the current day…

s Crystal Palace moved into their home at The Nest in 1918, they were sure it was likely to be a short-term arrangement. The Glaziers had leased the ground from the London & Brighton South Coast Railway, but now that the First World War was drawing to a close, Chairman Sydney Bourne and secretary and manager Edmund Goodman had no doubt that peace time would mean

a continuation of the company’s ambitious electrification programme, and their stay would come to an end. Palace remained in situ, however. Nonetheless, the search for a new long-term home continued. In 1921, the club announced they had no intention of returning to The Crystal Palace, which meant looking for a new location. One immediately presented itself, and how different Palace’s history might have been?

Selhurst Park as building works begin, 1922. 60

The promoters of Wembley Stadium got in touch to ask if the club might take up residency, but this was rejected by the directors. The club began to seek the co-operation of Croydon Council in regard to a former brickfield and now partial landfill site, with the suggestion that if the council could purchase the site, a football club there might benefit the neighbourhood and provide employment.

100 years of selhurst park

Members of the Crystal Palace team inspecting their new pitch. Palace were now playing in Division Two of the Football League, and attracting large crowds – too large. Complaints began to arise over the cramped conditions at The Nest. Action had to be taken. In 1922, newspapers began to report the purchase of a nine-acre site by Clifton Road, Holmesdale Road, Park Road and Whitehorse Lane, for the sum of £2,750. In August, the club paid a deposit in the hope that the ground might be ready by Christmas, but legal difficulties prevented a grand opening, and the project was delayed. For Palace, a coup: renowned stadium architect Archibald Leitch had been engaged to design a ground with space for 4,600 seats and 6,200 standing in the main section, with 50,000 more across

In 1922, newspapers began to report the purchase of a nine-acre site by Clifton Road, Holmesdale Road, Park Road and Whitehorse Lane, for the sum of £2,750

the terraces, passing through 44 separate turnstiles. Leitch’s résumé was unrivalled, having played a part in the construction of Old Trafford, Anfield, Highbury, Celtic Park, Hampden Park and Villa Park, among many more. Construction was by Humphreys Ltd. at a cost of £30,000. The money would be raised by the directors together with 5% bonds purchased by supporters. Building work progressed, and Selhurst Park was chosen as the stadium’s name. In the week leading up to the opening, the press were invited to a luncheon in the Wilton Arms in the high street, with a viewing of the ground to follow. Sheffield Wednesday awaited on the opening day of the 1924/25 season, and all was set. What could go wrong now?

100 years of selhurst park

ian king’s Selhurst Squad

Almost a thousand players have graced the turf at Selhurst Park across a century of special memories, but who makes Ian King’s squad of the finest in each position?

n 2024, Premier League clubs spend millions on the very best Academy systems, from stateof-the-art facilities to top-level coaching to exhaustive scouting at every age group. More than half a century ago, the procedure was quite different. John Jackson came to Palace’s attention while scouting local school teams. He had already represented London and England grammar schools when he was spotted by manager Arthur Rowe and invited to trial at Selhurst Park. His debut for the reserves came in 1961 at the age of 18, when he signed amateur forms for just £15 per week. He was determined to continue his school studies and still harboured hopes of going to university, so he attended school while playing for Palace on a Saturday afternoon, and gained work experience helping out in the offices of Chairman Arthur Wait. His talent was undeniable, and so in 1962 he turned professional. By the 1963/64 campaign, he was the No. 1 in the second XI, and was soon handed his first-team debut, starting in 1964 against Swindon Town. When first-choice goalkeeper Bill Glazier left for Coventry City two months later, departing for a record fee for a

john

Jackson position

nationality

goalkeeper, the club purchased Tony Millington to replace him – but by the end of the season, Jackson was the undisputed first choice. From August 1967 to October 1972, Jackson strung together an unbroken sequence of 254 league and cup games, including 138 in the top-flight, a feat that is unlikely to be matched in the modern day. This included some of Palace’s finest hours, playing every minute of the 1968/69 promotion season. In the First Division, he earned the nickname ‘Stonewall’ for his outstanding performances. An era of outstanding England goalkeepers

– Gordon Banks, Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton – meant that international honours eluded Jackson, but he was selected for a Football League XI to take on the Scottish League in Glasgow in 1971. In October 1973, his Palace career ended, and he moved across town to Leyton Orient. In 1982, Bobby Robson signed Jackson for Ipswich Town, where – at the age of 40 – he demonstrated his longevity by impressing against Manchester United. It was the only appearance he would make at the club. Jackson remains a legendary figure at Selhurst Park. He sadly passed away in 2022, but leaves behind an unrivalled legacy and many special memories for those who were lucky enough to see him play.

100 years of selhurst park

honourable

Mentions VIC ROUSE AND BILL GLAZIER Jackson had two eminent predecessors in goal at Selhurst Park in Vic Rouse (1956-62) and Bill Glazier (1962-1964). At just 20-years-old, Rouse made his Palace debut in the same game as Johnny Byrne and went on to make 257 appearances – he was ever-present in the promotion to Division Three. Two years before, in 1959, he had been the first player to gain international recognition from the fourth tier, when he was selected to play for Wales. He is remembered for his accurate and powerful throw from the goalmouth, which was ideal for Palace’s style of football. The aptly-named Bill Glazier came to Palace from Torquay aged just 18 in 1961, and it was not long before he was challenging Rouse for the No. 1 spot. He eventually took over in the early stages of the 1962/63 campaign, and was part of the club’s recovery that season under Dick Graham. Following in Rouse’s footsteps, Glazier also played every minute in a promotion season, as the club returned to Division Two. In October 1964, he was transferred to Coventry City for a then record fee for a ‘keeper of £35,000.

BILLY CALLENDER Callender came from the North East as a 19-year-old in 1923, and

three years later became our regular ‘keeper. For the next six years he occupied the No. 1 spot as the club came close to returning to Division Two, making over 200 appearances in the earliest days of Selhurst Park. Tragically, his fiancée was stricken with polio and passed away two weeks after the end of the 1931/32 season. He was unable to overcome his grief, and took his life at the ground that July.

JOHN BURRIDGE The extrovert custodian signed from Aston Villa in March 1978 soon endeared himself to Palace fans with his pre-match rituals, which included somersaults and climbing on the crossbar. In the 1978/79 season, he was part of the team that won the Second Division title, keeping a club-record 21 clean sheets in the league.

GEORGE WOOD The former Scotland international arrived in the summer of 1983, when the club was at a low ebb. Both courageous and consistent, he was virtually ever-present for a five-year period. An example of his bravery came in November 1984, when he was carried from the pitch with a nasty leg injury only to return four days later with massive strapping and still in some discomfort. Wood would later return to Selhurst Park for a spell as goalkeeping coach. Next week, Ian King picks the second of his two goalkeepers for his ultimate Selhurst 100 squad…

selhurst

Squad JOHN GK JACKSON ?

..................... .....................

1964-1973

100 years of selhurst park

stories of Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park isn’t just a Premier League football ground, but the heart of a vibrant and diverse community, whose stories stretch back a century. Here, we take a look at a unique family for whom home has well and truly always been where the heart is…

hen thinking up a venue for a family reunion, a few ideas likely spring straight to mind: maybe a village hall, a park for a nice picnic, or even somebody’s back garden in which to fire up the barbecue and celebrate in the sunshine. Allow us to introduce you, however, to the Prockter family, some 34 of whom were in attendance when Crystal Palace took on Nantes in the final game of pre-season at Selhurst Park recently. With some four or five generations of their family journeying to South London from as far as the West Midlands, Somerset, Devon, Kent and Gloucestershire – among their number nurses, doctors, bankers and architects, to highlight but a few – theirs was part of an almighty noise emanating from the Holmesdale Road Stand. That 34 Prockters were in attendance was a feat worthy of celebrating itself – but the family’s connection to the club, impressively, runs even deeper. Some four generations ago, George Prockter Jnr. – born 1862 – moved from the family’s previous home in Brighton to South Norwood,

eventually settling on Holmesdale Road around the turn of the 20th century. With Selhurst Park yet to be built at that stage – the stadium officially opened in 1924 – there began a long association between the Prockters and the Palace. Among those in attendance at the recent match was retired actor and TV writer Colin Prockter, Croydon born and bred, whose credits include a stint as Eddie Maddocks in Coronation Street, as well as appearances in Doctors, Dr Who, Heartbeat and The Bill. Colin’s father, Charles – nicknamed ‘Pelly’ – was born on Holmesdale Road in 1905. A regular at The Nest, the club’s previous home, in his teenage years, Pelly grew up playing on the brickfield which would

We’re not regular attenders so much, as I say, because we don’t have many opportunities, but I’ve followed Palace all my life. We all follow avidly – and we rejoice, and we mourn! eventually be bought by Palace and developed into our home. From 30th August, 1924, Pelly merely had to cross the road to watch his team. His son, Colin, watched his first Palace match some time in the late 1950s. He spent much of his early life living on roads around the ground,

100 years of selhurst park

regularly attending Palace matches with his brothers, before his professional calling took him to Birmingham. But in 1969, Colin – newlywedded to Julie – returned, moving into a flat on the corner of Holmesdale and Park Road – the same building where graffiti artist Mr Cenz’s iconic, colourful mural now adorns the wall. Their kitchen window overlooked the pitch at that time but, unfortunately, it was a mere matter of months after the couple moved in that the construction of the Arthur Wait Stand obstructed their spectacular new view! As his family boomed, Colin moved to Pembroke Road – again, just around the corner from Selhurst – and Palace matches became a fixture of his family gatherings, before the wider Prockter family began to settle across the country. The recent reunion at Selhurst was therefore more than fitting. “We’ve probably only done it two or three times,” Colin explained. “It was my son, who ironically was born in Gloucestershire, but has been a Palace supporter all his life, who said we ought to get the family together at a match. The only way we could do it really was to go to a friendly, because we don’t have access to tickets that easily. “We’re not regular attenders so much, as I say, because we don’t have many opportunities, but I’ve followed Palace all my life. We all follow avidly – and we rejoice, and we mourn! “I suppose one of my favourite players was Don Rogers. I met him some years ago on the ‘rubber chicken circuit’, as we used to call it. I was an actor in my time, and at one time,

The Prockters’ flat on the corner of Holmesdale Road, 1969.

I was in Coronation Street for quite a long stretch, so I did these sort of strange celebrity dinner things. “I met Don at one of them and became a pal for a certain length of time. I haven’t seen him for years, but he was one of the players that I admired most, I think – and Johnny Byrne, right back at the beginning.” While Rogers was not present at the pre-season family reunion, the family were fittingly met at the Selhurst gates by a modern-day Palace hero in Cheick Doucouré, who welcomed the Prockters – young and old – into the ground, signed memorabilia, and posed for photographs with them. Reflecting on his family’s centurylong association with the club, Colin smiled: “If I were to do a really big spit over the road, that was where my father was born – but when he was born, this was all just a brickfield. “Selhurst Park was built here, and he could just step over the road. It’s fitting because, as a family, we’ve just been stepping over the road for 104 years. “We had a first-floor flat near here when we first got married, too. We’ve always been very close to this

It’s fitting because, as a family, we’ve just been stepping over the road for 104 years. We had a firstfloor flat near here when we first got married, too. We’ve always been very close to this ground and to this team ground and to this team. It’s part of our family, really. “We’re an enormous family, spread all around – but today has been absolutely marvellous. One hundred years of Prockters at the Palace – and counting!”

Got a Selhurst story to tell? Let us know by emailing selhurst100@cpfc.co.uk!

2004 from the 100 years of selhurst park