Crystal Palace v Brentford matchday programme 2324 by Crystal Palace F.C.

Crystal Palace √ brentford

sat 30 dec 2023 15:00 kick-off

palace √ brentford sat 30 dec | 15:00

06 08 captain 10 chairman 36 eagle eye 44 academy 52 History makers 54 FROM THE ARCHIVE 56 RETRO PALACE 62 PALACE FOR LIFE 69 BEAT BRIGHTY 70 stats & results

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. Zaf Iqbal 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 Chief Marketing and Communications Officer James Woodroof Head of Safeguarding Cassi Wright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott

12 For me, this season’s been up and down so far. I’ve had some good games, and some games where I could have done better, but it hasn’t been too negative or too positive overall

Editor Will Robinson Design Billy Cooke, Stu Ellmer, Lucas Gough

Contributors Ian King, Robin Johnson, Toby Jagmohan, Tommy Macarthur, Doc Brown, Seán Grehan Photography Neil Everitt, Sebastian Frej, Pinnacle Photo Agency, Toby Jagmohan, Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

palace √ brentford sat 30 dec | 15:00

WELCOME BACK PETER BURRIDGE Former Palace forward Peter Burridge (centre) is at Selhurst Park this afternoon to celebrate his 90th birthday with his family, and everyone at Crystal Palace would like to wish him a warm welcome back to the club. Peter joined Palace in 1962 after a spell with Millwall, helping the club to promotion to the Second Division in 1963/64 – no player scored more than his 20 goals that season. He was also the last man to score a winning goal in a league

tie between Crystal Palace and Brentford, netting the only goal in a narrow victory at Selhurst Park in January 1964. Peter left south London in 1965 having scored 49 goals in

124 appearances for Crystal Palace. The club would like to wish him the very best for his 90th birthday, and for a wonderful afternoon celebrating at Selhurst Park.

On this day 30 Dec 1990 Mark Bright scored the only goal as Palace rounded off 1990 in style by beating Liverpool – Ian Rush, John Barnes and co. – at Selhurst Park. “It may be pantomime season,” wrote the Daily Express, “but Liverpool have found the streets of London this Christmas are paved with anything but gold.”

Scan this QR code to quickly, safely and easily report worries, concerns or abuse. You can even do so anonymously.

briefing

A very warm welcome to Selhurst Park to Thomas Frank, his Brentford team and staff, and welcome back to every Crystal Palace supporter for what is sure to be a tightly matched London derby this afternoon.

would like to begin by saying that I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, be it with family or friends, and to wish you a very happy New Year in the coming days. While I am writing these notes before our home game against Brighton, and away at Chelsea, this final match of the calendar year gives me a chance to reflect on the last 12 months at the club and my pleasure in being able to work with this fantastic group of players once again. When I came back to the club back in March I was delighted to see several familiar faces, as well as to meet so many new ones. It was clear that Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman had worked hard to refresh the squad, and I met a talented, young collection of players determined to perform on the pitch each week. It was a real pleasure to take charge of those last 10 games of the season after which I was honoured to be asked by the Chairman to return for another season. During the summer we were sorry to say goodbye to dedicated club servants in Wilfried

It was a real pleasure to take charge of those last 10 games of the season after which I was honoured to be asked by the Chairman to return for another season

manager

Zaha, James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic, who all represented Palace with such distinction. In their place I was delighted to welcome our new additions this summer: Jefferson Lerma, Matheus França, Dean Henderson and Rob Holding. Unfortunately, when talking about this current season, I have to express my disappointment and frustration at the extent of the injuries we have been unfortunate enough to encounter. These have stretched right across the squad, and include both Ebere Eze and Michael Olise, who have missed such a great deal of football with long-term injuries, and we now also face the prospect of a prolonged period without Cheick Doucouré. It would be difficult for any team in the Premier League to function without key players who tend to start the vast majority of games when they are fit, and we have been forced to adapt along the way. Our injury list has meant that my coaching staff and I are yet to have the opportunity to work with the full squad at any time this season, and I look forward to the day when I can call upon each and every one of my players in the way that we envisaged at the beginning of the campaign. Nonetheless, I want to express how pleased I am with the way every member of the squad has stepped up and performed when we have needed them. We head into the New Year in the hope of adding some reinforcements to the squad, and I know that Dougie is always working

I want to thank you for your wonderful support. I really do mean it when I say that, in all my years of working in football all over the world, one so rarely finds such loyal and unerring support as I have had in my time here

manager

hard to find the right players to take us forward. It is also worth reiterating that our young players are getting better all the time, be they the Academy players who come to train with the senior side – with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and David Ozoh getting their chances in the Premier League and acquitting themselves well – or those like Matheus França and Naouirou Ahamada who have had to adapt to a new country and a new language but are looking more and more settled by the day. Finally, I want to thank you for your wonderful support. I really do mean it when I say that, in all my years of working in football all over the world, one so rarely finds such loyal and unerring support as I have had in my time here. Be it two trips to Old Trafford in four days at the start of this season, or difficult kick-off times, or train strikes, we have heard you loud and clear up and down the country; at Selhurst Park, you consistently create an atmosphere that I believe rivals any in the Premier League. I also place huge value on the sense of community that surrounds this club, be it in your generosity towards the Palace for Life Foundation, who make a huge difference to so many lives in south London, or your support of one another through tragedy and triumph. From my coaching staff and I, we wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year and look forward to seeing you again in 2024

Welcome back to Selhurst Park for a final time in 2023 – I hope we can see in the New Year with a win today against what we know is a well-organised Brentford side.

am writing these notes before our trip to Chelsea, but I know that there will have been a loud and vocal away section – as we have been lucky enough to come to expect at every one of our away games this season. Thank you for all your support throughout this calendar year, and in advance for your backing for the rest of the season. Christmas is a strange time as a footballer: there are no huge turkey dinners and several glasses of mulled wine when you have training and a busy Premier League schedule coming up! Nonetheless, I hope each and every one of you had a restful and joyful Christmas day with friends or family. Having led until late on against Brighton, we were disappointed not to come away with the three points but I thought the boys worked to the absolute maximum from the first minute to the last, and we more than deserved our share of the spoils. We expected a fantastic atmosphere for what is always one of the biggest games of the season, and we were not

Christmas is a strange time as a footballer: there are no huge Turkey dinners and several glasses of mulled wine when you have training and a busy Premier League schedule coming up

captain

disappointed: what a noise you generated inside Selhurst Park. I know how much that will have spurred the players on from the first minute to the final whistle. From a personal point of view, I was frustrated to miss the game through injury – especially a game as big as facing Brighton. I can only thank the medical staff at the club who are working hard to help me get back fit again as soon as possible, and in the meantime I will be with the boys all the way as we look to kick on in the New Year. We have seen how well Brentford have acquitted themselves in the Premier League since their promotion, and almost

we are in no doubt that we have to be at our very best in order to get three points today, and I know that the players will be giving everything to put a smile on everybody’s faces

captain

every game we have played against them has been a particularly close affair. It means we are in no doubt that we have to be at our very best in order to get three points today, and I know that the players will be giving everything to put a smile on everybody’s faces. For the final time at Selhurst Park this year, throw everything behind the team and give it your all. I hope we can produce a performance that will make you proud, and I look forward to hearing the atmosphere that you are set to create. God Bless. JW

Welcome to supporters, players, staff and directors of Brentford to Selhurst Park for today’s match. Welcome as always to each and every Crystal Palace supporter here to get behind Roy’s team for this important game, our final outing of 2023.

efore kick-off today, and in what is becoming an important and touching tradition at this time of the year, we will remember and celebrate the lives of all members of the Crystal Palace family who have passed away this year. May they rest in peace. As I reflect on the year, there have been many highlights. Several memorable wins spring to mind when Roy returned to the club in March (Leicester City, Leeds United, West Ham in particular) amassing 18 points in 10 matches, and more recently the win at Manchester United. Even the draw at the champions Manchester City provided another example of that never-say-die Palace spirit we all know and love. Our players continued to rack up international call-ups which demonstrates the quality we have in our squad, with Marc, Sam, Eberechi and Joachim all qualifying for the Euros, Jordan and Cheick for AFCON, and Chris making the Nations League semi-finals for USA. Our Academy has continued to progress, with the most notable achievement being our U21s reaching

Yet again, several players have made the jump to the first-team squad, with debuts for Joe Whitworth, who became the club’s youngest Premier League goalkeeper aged 19, and David Ozoh who became our youngest Premier League player at just 17

chairman

the Premier League International Cup final, a remarkable run that ended with runners-up medals. Everyone at the club is immensely proud of the players and staff involved. The team finished fourth in PL2, with our U18s securing third. Yet again, several players have made the jump to the first-team squad, with debuts for Joe Whitworth, who became the club’s youngest Premier League goalkeeper aged 19, and David Ozoh who became our youngest Premier League player at just 17. Both have been with the club from a very young age (13 and eight respectively), which makes these achievements all the more special for us and the players. Our women’s team have an excellent chance of promotion to the Women’s Super League, which would be a game-changer for the club. We

I would like to thank all supporters for your loyalty and dedication this year – up and down the country, singing your hearts out, and my thanks also goes to my colleagues who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help the club improve each and every day

chairman

have invested enormously in the staff – welcoming Grace as our Head of Women’s Football and Laura as head coach – the playing squad and infrastructure, including a new home in Sutton, and will continue to do so. Elsewhere, the Palace for Life Foundation have improved the prospects and well-being of even more young south Londoners – and their work is a source of enormous pride for us all. I would like to thank all supporters for your loyalty and dedication this year – up and down the country, singing your hearts out – and my thanks also go to my colleagues who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help the club improve each and every day. Happy New Year to you all. As always, I urge you to throw everything you have behind Roy’s team. Up the Palace

Despite having become Crystal Palace’s youngest-ever player to play 100 Premier League games for the club, Tyrick Mitchell – formerly of Brentford’s academy – remains determined to continually elevate his game, as the full-back tells Robin Johnson…

t may well be the festive season, but spirits are always high around the Crystal Palace training ground – which made Tyrick Mitchell’s latest choice all the more courageous. In the build-up to Christmas and New Year, players’ off-the-field commitments are at their most frequent. The combination of a busy calendar of player appearances, broadcaster requirements, interviews and pre-match meetings, on this particular occasion, leaves us temporarily short of a room in which to conduct this interview. We put the choice to Mitchell as he trails off the training pitch: do we try for one of the smaller offices, or brave the player and staff canteen? He boldly opts for the latter; we brace ourselves. The signs are already there that hijinks are on the horizon from the moment a number of Mitchell’s teammates – including an experienced, tough-tackling midfielder, who shall otherwise remain nameless – take a seat at the table directly adjacent to ours. To warm things up, our chat opens with an innocuous – somewhat cliché, even, we’ll admit – question about putting points on the board over the Christmas period. The riposte from next door – before Mitchell can even begin his answer – is swift. “Well, yeah! That’s the whole point of football, isn’t it? I don’t remember the last time I tried to get fewer points on the board…” Lesson learned, it’s safe to say – the festive spirit remains as high as ever in Copers Cope.

I feel like the main aim for us, as a team, is not just to get as many points as possible, but to know that we put everything into getting those points. Sometimes you win games, sometimes you lose them, but the main aim is to stick together when it’s difficult

tyrick mitchell

In many ways, it’s a microcosm of this Palace squad. It would be easy, amidst a dense period of challenging fixtures, for the jokes to dry up and heads to go down. But this is a close-knit, grounded and spirited team – and one in which Mitchell’s popularity is reflected in the number of visitors, both those with mischievous and well-meaning intent, to our table. “I feel like the main aim for us, as a team, is not just to get as many points as possible, but to know that we put everything into getting those points,” arrives Mitchell’s thoughtful reply, postinterruptions. “Sometimes you win games, sometimes you lose them, but the main aim is to stick together when it’s difficult. “When results are good, that’s easy – but the main thing that can change any season is getting as many points as possible by

When results are good, that’s easy tyrick mitchell

staying level is the main thing tyrick mitchell

sticking together.” It’s a better reply than perhaps the initial question warranted – but that will come as no surprise to those who know the 24-year-old; a studious, hardworking character in all aspects. When we spoke to Mitchell in one of the first matchday programmes of 2023, the full-back targeted a calendar year of further improvement. With the year now in its final knockings, has he achieved that goal? “Yeah, I think so. Every season you always try to see something that you’ve improved upon. “Sometimes in moments you can lose a little bit of confidence, or match fitness, but you also always try to see something that you know you’ve improved upon or got more comfortable with. I definitely feel like, every year that’s gone by, there’s been a part of my game I can look at and say: ‘yeah, even if it’s 1% or 50%, that’s been a building block.’ “For me, this season’s been up and down so far. I’ve had some good games, and some games where I could have done better, but it hasn’t been too negative or too positive overall. That’s something that I can build on between now and the rest of the season; staying level is the main thing. “I think my decision-making’s improved. I’m keeping the ball a lot better, and I’m making more progressive passes. When I pass it forward, I do it thinking of a lot more detail than I have in the past. I’ve played with that detail in my game, and it’s allowed me to get forwards a little bit quicker

I think my decisionmaking’s improved. I’m keeping the ball a lot better, and I’m making more progressive passes. When I pass it forward, I do it thinking of a lot more detail than I have in the past. I’ve played with that detail in my game, and it’s allowed me to get forwards

tyrick mitchell

and start attacks. That’s been big for me.” That bigger picture has yielded not only Mitchell’s first assist of the season, for Odsonne Edouard’s opening goal in the 3-2 win over Wolves in September, but also the cinch Player of the Month award – voted for by supporters – for the month of November. And then, of course, there was his first professional goal in some two-and-a-half years, when he raced forward in injury-time to clinch victory at Burnley last month. “A lot of football is about confidence. Believing you can do it is just the first block to get over. “Then, after that, I like to watch other players in my position who might be considered more attacking. I like to see what positions they put themselves in when the ball’s on their side, and when it’s not. How do these guys

get in enough positions to be considered ‘attacking’ – those positions to get assists, goals or crosses into the box? “I feel like that’s the main part: understanding where you might need to be when the ball’s in every part of the pitch.” For Mitchell during November’s win at Turf Moor, that apparently meant the opposition penalty box. As the left-back’s own goalkeeper that day, Sam Johnstone, joked: “I don’t know what he was doing on the edge of that box!” Mitchell smiles – he knew. “We were playing with five at the back at that point, so part of me was thinking that we had a lot more security than we did with four. I could see it was a break and I just thought… well, I don’t really know what I thought – it was just instinct! “As soon as I got up there and Ebs passed it to me, I just hoped Ama [Naouirou Ahamada] would leave it. He understands football, we all understand football, so he allowed me to take it – and then, I knew I was going to score.” The opportunity to espy such a chance perhaps best encapsulates the detail which Mitchell is working hard to fold into his game this season. “You can look at how past players have done it, but the game’s changed a lot,” he explains. “Every team is different and every player is different. You just have to adjust to whatever system your gaffer wants to play.

We were playing with five at the back at that point, so part of me was thinking that we had a lot more security than we did with four. I could see it was a break and I just thought… well, I don’t really know what I thought – it was just instinct

tyrick mitchell

“A lot of players in the Prem have a good enough football understanding to be able to perform certain roles. In the beginning, that might take a bit of adjusting, but everyone in this team is good enough to do it. “For me, I try to look at players that are playing right now in the Premier League and the other top leagues. Andy Robertson at Liverpool, for example, is one of the most elite ones in my position, but there are a few others as well. “I wouldn’t say I try to copy them, but I try to understand their game, and my role as a full-back, a bit more. I want to become as close to elite as I can be.” It is a timely reminder, given Mitchell’s consistent presence in Palace’s back line for five seasons now, that he remains a young player striving to develop all areas of his game.

I knew I was going to score tyrick mitchell

I feel like I understand ‘South London and Proud’ tyrick mitchell

Earlier this season, such continuity led to him becoming Palace’s youngest-ever player to make 100 Premier League appearances for the club, a feat achieved when he lined up against Aston Villa in September. At just 24 years and 17 daysold at the time, Mitchell surpassed the record of Wilfried Zaha, who was 24 years and six months-old when he reached a century of Premier League appearances for Palace in 2017. “I didn’t know I was going to be the youngest,” Mitchell admits. “I knew that I was on course to make 100 Premier League appearances this season, because 100 Premier League games is a milestone I’ve always looked at. It’s something you only dream of achieving when you make your first appearance.” Yet where most Academy graduates drift in and out of firstteam involvement following their debut, Mitchell would feature in 81 of Palace’s subsequent 87 Premier League games after his bow against Leicester City in July 2020. “I feel like I came in the team with my defending being at a good enough level that I could keep that trust. “It’s obviously sometimes been better than others, but I felt like that was the main part of me staying in the team: being someone the gaffer and my teammates could trust, especially as a young player coming in. I enjoy working for my team and helping my teammates.

“Now, for me, it’s about playing 200 games in the Premier League, then playing 300 games, then 400 games, playing as many games as I can and progressing in each of them. “I want each hundred to be a different story.” This Saturday sees Mitchell reunited with a club where that journey might have taken another direction: Brentford, with whose academy he was offered a scholarship seven years ago, prior to its closure. Brent-born, Harrow-raised, does this particular fixture carry any added emotion for him? “At the time Brentford was everything I knew, so I couldn’t really match it to anything. I can see how, as a child, it had a positive effect on me. tyrick mitchell

Being from that area, playing for them was a prideful thing. “There are still a few people I know at Brentford who I see when we play against them, and there are players from Brentford at other teams that I haven’t come across in football yet. But now they’re in the Premier League at a new stadium, with a completely new first-team, so it’s different for me – it’s not really emotional. “Now, though, I match that energy to being at Palace. I feel like I understand ‘South London and Proud.’” A spirit well embodied by both the player, and his teammates on the tables around him. Mitchell is south London’s. His journey? The type of which we can, truly, be proud

the follow -up

This season, we’re putting your questions to members of the Palace squad. To have a chance of seeing your question answered by a first-team star, just head to cpfc.co.uk and submit your burning enquiries…

tyrick mitchell

What’s your routine for fully focusing on a match? Peter Wix I keep myself to myself, listen to music, and just do the same thing I do in every game, trying to set myself a little structure. Most of the time that’s just listening to music and trying to be as relaxed as possible.

Who would win in a fight between a bear and a lion? James Perkins That’s a good question! I think a lion – he’s the king of the jungle, man! You don’t get that name for no reason. But that’s a hard one!

With lots of players signing new contracts, is this an exciting time to be at Palace?

What’s your favourite holiday destination? Sarah Robinson America – anywhere in America. I just love it as a whole! New York, L.A., Atlanta… America is my favourite place. I’ve done a few east coast places, but the summer was my first time in Chicago and Detroit – it was good to tick them off.

Out of everyone at the club, who’s the best at EA FC? Rory Veal It’s out of me and Michael. We don’t play that much here at the training ground, but I play it online a lot… I think I’m the best, but I’d put Michael up there, to be fair! the follow-up

Anthony Keates Yeah, we’ve got a lot of young talent. It’s good that they’re committed to the club and I get to train and play alongside them. It’s always good to be part of a team that’s looking to build on something.

Got a question? Scan Here

SHARE GOOD TIMES WITH

GREAT PILSNER GRAB A BEER THAT’S CRISP, BRIGHT AND REFRESHING

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE SUPPORTING CRYSTAL PALACE F.C. AS OFFICIAL ENERGY DRINK PROVIDER. SWITCH TO GRILLA TODAY FOR 1728976 Brooklyn Pilsner_Crystal Palace FC_Awareness Adver_Sept 2023_A6L_V1.indd YOUR CHANCE TO BE PART OF THE TEAM.

MAKE GRILLA

YOUR NEXT SIGNING OFFICIAL ENERGY DRINK PROVIDER

VISIT DRINKGRILLA.COM TODAY AND DISCOVER THE BEST TASTING ENERGY DRINK AROUND

01/09/2023 12:42

brentford

brentford Opposition preview It seems remarkable to think that Brentford waited 74 years for their return to the Premier League in 2021, given the relative ease with which they have adapted to the rigours of the top-flight. Thomas Frank has kept his side moving forwards, after survival in their first season and a ninth-placed finish last season – but the new campaign has brought its own set of unique challenges. The long-term suspension of Ivan Toney has been compounded by the injury to Bryan Mbeumo, who is set for a lengthy period on the sidelines after stepping up to become the club’s top scorer in Toney’s absence in 2023/24. How Frank and co. adapt to this latest setback may determine

this season pos

pts

Top Scorer Bryan Mbeumo (7) Most assists Bryan Mbeumo {3}

brentford

whether they once again push towards the top-half and threaten to crash the fight for European places, or whether they are dragged back to reality with a scrap to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle. Five defeats in six games before Christmas have blighted early momentum, and after a long gap between fixtures – their meeting with Manchester City was postponed thanks to the Club World Cup – they will want to improve their fortunes heading into the new year. There has been nothing to separate the two sides since Brentford’s promotion, with all five meetings in the Premier League ending in a draw – can either side this afternoon earn a league victory in this fixture for the first time since January 1964?

Manager Thomas Frank -

Hired by Brentford from Brøndby in his native Denmark in 2018, Frank has overseen a marked rise in Brentford’s fortunes after his promotion from assistant manager under Dean Smith. He earned promotion in 2020, and secured Brentford a first Premier League top-half finish by finishing ninth last season.

brentford

Starting xi

1-2 brentford √ aston villa sun 17 DEC / gtech community stadium

subs

M. Flekken

T. Strakosha

M. Jorgensen

C. Goode

E. Pinnock

N. Maupay

B. Mee

F. Onyeka

M. Roerslev

N. Collins

M. Damsgaard

M. Peart-Harris

C. Nørgaard

S. Baptiste

V. Janelt

Y. Yarmolyuk

S. Ghoddos

M. Olakigbe

K. Lewis-Potter

Y. Wissa

goal cards

subs

pos res

oppo

Recent matches

3-1

2-1

1-0

1-2

tbc

Recent meetings

BOOT IN BOTH CAMPS Jeff Schlupp Schlupp joined Brentford on a one-month loan deal from Leicester in 2011, scoring six goals in nine league appearances before returning to break into the title-winning side.

21 august 2021 selhurst park

12 february 2022 gtech community stadium

30 august 2022 selhurst park

18 february 2023 gtech community stadium

26 august 2023 gtech community stadium

brentford

briefing What’s the story? Founded at the Oxford & Cambridge pub near Kew Bridge, Brentford were formed in 1889 from a rowing and cricket club looking for a winter sport for their recreation ground. Their nickname, ‘The Bees’, may have no obvious connection, but it is thought to have come near the start of their history as a group of students from the nearby Borough Road College arrived to watch their friend, Joe Gettins, play. When they chanted the college’s mantra ‘Buck up, B’s’, (thought to be short for ‘Borough’), local journalists mistook the word for ‘Bees’, and the name has stuck since, with the club adding a bee to their crest in 1972. They were elected into the Football League in 1920, and soon embarked on a golden pre-war period under legendary manager Harry Curtis (more on that later)

before the outbreak of World War II put a stop to domestic football. Decline followed in the postwar years, with financial difficulties limiting progress and stymying success. In 1967, Queens Park Rangers reached a deal to move into Griffin Park, with Loftus Road to be redeveloped as housing and Brentford to cease to exist. When the news leaked out, fans protested and raised funds, securing their financial future and keeping them in situ where they belonged. The club moved out of Griffin Park and into the Brentford Community Stadium in 2020, by which point they had become an established Championship side under Dean Smith and were looking for promotion under Thomas Frank. Their first play-off final ended in defeat to Fulham, but a year later they beat Swansea City to seal a long-awaited return to the top-flight. Season

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

premier leaGue

2012/13

league one

championship

brentford

2021/22

2022/23

the greatest manager Harry Curtis Curtis’ 23 years in charge at Griffin Park mark him out as Brentford’s greatest. It was a serendipitous appointment, facilitated by a chance meeting with a Brentford director in 1926. Two promotions in three seasons followed, and a first taste of top-flight football. The Bees finished fifth, sixth and sixth again in this first three seasons, drawing huge crowds and threatening to bring in a new golden era, before the outbreak of the Second World War brought everything grinding to a halt.

2-0 brentford √ arsenal premier league 13 august 2021 / gtech community stadium

There is a strong argument to say that Brentford’s 4-0 victory over Manchester United should take top spot, but for pure sense of occasion this match takes the prize. As ways to end a 74-year wait for top-flight football go, this was pretty perfect, as they welcomed cross-city rivals Arsenal to their glistening new ground and put them away with consummate professionalism. Start as you mean to go on.

brentford

Ken Coote Coote joined Brentford from non-league Wembley in 1949 and remained an integral member of the side for 14 years, usually in his preferred role of full-back. He tops the club’s list of all-time appearance makers to this day, playing 559 times for the club and scoring 15 goals, as well as featuring for the London XI in an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup tie with Barcelona. A former captain, he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

01 02 03 Aaron Hickey

Rico Henry

pos

defender

pos

defender

nat

scotland

nat

england

age

pos

defender

pos

defender

nat

england

nat

denmark

age

04 13

Mark Flekken

Charlie Goode

goalkeeper netherlands age

height

6ft 4in

joined

2023

from

Zanka

Six-cap Netherlands international Flekken arrived at Brentford over summer, and has settled into the side in place of Arsenal-bound David Raya. His younger brother is also a 'keeper in his native country.

Ethan Pinnock pos

defender

nat

jamaica

age

Beginning his career in nonleague football with Dulwich Hamlet, Pinnock made his first Premier League appearance at the age of 28 and has been virtually ever-present since. He has eight international caps.

brentford

16 06

Christian Nørgaard pos

midfielder

nat

denmark

age

Now club captain after the departure of Pontus Jansson, Nørgaard has recovered from injury to lead Brentford from midfield under Thomas Frank. He represented Denmark at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

20 22

Ben Mee

Kristoffer Ajer

DEFENDER england age

height

5ft 11in

joined

2022

from A legend at Burnley after making 376 appearances across a decade at the club, Mee moved to London in 2022 and continued his Premier League consistency, winning the Supporters’ Player of the Year.

Nathan Collins

pos

defender

pos

defender

nat age

norway

nat

ireland

age

pos

defender

pos

midfielder

nat

denmark

nat

denmark

age

30 08 Mads Roerslev

brentford

Mathias Jensen

Yehor Yarmolyuk pos

midfielder

nat

ukraine

age

At just 19-years-old, Yarmolyuk has been getting regular minutes this season, in no small part due to his versatility: defensively and offensively confident, he can operate anywhere in midfield.

10 14 Josh Dasilva

Vitaly Janelt

Saman Ghoddos

pos

MIDFIELDER

nat age

MIDFIELDER

pos

midfielder

england

nat

iran

age

15 24 Frank Onyeka

Mikkel Damsgaard

pos

MIDFIELDER

pos

midfielder

nat

nigeria

nat

denmark

age

brentford

germany age

height

6ft 0in

joined

2020

from Moving to Brentford for a relatively modest fee, Janelt has since become an important first-team player, breaking through in the Championship and retaining his place after promotion.

07 09 11 Neal Maupay

Kevin Schade

pos

forward

pos

FORWARD

nat

france

nat

germany

age

17 19 Ivan Toney

Yoane Wissa

Bryan Mbeumo

pos

forward

nat age

FORWARD

pos

FORWARD

england

nat

cameroon

age

Keane Lewis-Potter pos

FORWARD

nat

england

age

After coming through the youth system at Hull City, LewisPotter moved south in 2022 and is beginning to make a firstteam spot his own. He scored his first Premier League goal this month against Aston Villa.

brentford

Dr Congo age

height

5ft 9in

joined

2021

from Able to play with the ball to feet or running in behind, Wissa is Brentford’s main man in attack after the injury to Bryan Mbeumo and the long-term absence of Ivan Toney. He has 15 international caps.

arsenal

Delivered by:

Stat zone

Palace and Brentford have drawn each of their five meetings in the Premier League, with their previous league meeting coming in 1964.

01 40

Apps

clean sheets

conceded

tackles

tackle success

61%

interceptions

clearances

130

recoveries

410

duels won

294

forward

neal maupay

assists

Apps

143

goals

shots

286

shots on target

107

shooting accuracy

37%

big chances missed

assists

passes

2351

passes per match

16.44

28.32

cross accuracy

26%

played 5 0

5 3

goals

penalties won

penalties scored

clean sheets

yellow cards

red cards

passes per match

23/24 season goals 18 24

conceded 26

average possesion 43% 47.4%

pass accuracy 77.6% 76.7%

crosses

yellow cards

clean sheets 5 3

red cards

tackles 364 306

brentford

defender

Rico Henry

Eagle Eye Zach Barker is the Brentford and Queens Park Rangers reporter for London Football Scene.

How high were expectations following a top-half finish?

What, if anything, do Brentford need to do in the January transfer window?

I think there were plenty of people who thought Europe was a genuine possibility given it came down to the last day to determine who’d get that Conference League spot. Many, though, would have been thrilled with another top-half finish after losing David Raya to Arsenal and Ivan Toney for half the season, two massively important pieces that are difficult to replace.

Brentford don’t often do lots of business in January, but full-back help is desperately needed. With Rico Henry out for the season and Aaron Hickey also spending time on the sidelines, Thomas Frank is being forced to field a makeshift back-line at times with Kris Ajer and Vitaly Janelt forced to fill in. Another striker, perhaps on loan, would also be welcome given the injury to Bryan Mbeumo to help make up for his three-month absence.

Who is Brentford’s most important player? Bryan Mbeumo has been immense. He has filled the Ivan Toneyshaped hole brilliantly through the middle and out wide, scoring plenty of goals and linking up well with Yoane Wissa in particular.

Whose contribution flies under the radar? As for under the radar, ‘The Mountain’ Ethan Pinnock will always be my pick. He is one of the best defenders in the league and deserves to be recognised as such. He was even named in the WhoScored Team of the Season last year for his consistent performances at the back.

What constitutes a successful season?

Who is a name for the future to keep an eye on? Many would probably lean towards Keane Lewis-Potter here, but I’m going to say Yehor Yarmolyuk. He’s a 19-year-old Ukrainian who made his first Premier League start against Arsenal and looked more than comfortable. Calm and composed on the ball, he’s been excellent in some cameo appearances and looks to be another product of Brentford’s fantastic development team. brentford

At one time, many would consider survival a massively successful season. After all, being in the Premier League was a dream-like scenario not too long ago. Now, expectations are higher, but staying in the Premier League is still the ultimate goal, especially considering all the lengthy injuries to key players this season. Frank will always aim higher than just that, though, as he will aim for continued improvement over the years.

We meet again From memorable meetings to tense transfers to shared stories, Palace have their own personal tale to tell for each of our Premier League opposition this season. Here, a festive double-header delivers in style…

CHRISTMAS ‘CRACKERS’ Fans of Palace and Brentford were treated to a Christmas goal-fest over two action-packed days in 1930, sharing 16 goals between them. On Christmas morning, Palace fans made their way to Griffin Park for the morning kick-off (in those days there was reliable public transport!) hopeful of victory thanks to their free-scoring forwards, including current record-holder Peter Simpson. The Glaziers were striving for promotion from Division Three South – but they were in for a shock. Equalising after falling behind early on, they may have felt as though they had weathered the storm, but suddenly things fell apart: a flurry of goals before half-time saw them 5-1 down at the break. In the second-half, despite Palace getting a fair number of shots away, there was little way through and at the other end everything Brentford tried seemed to be coming off. Three more goals followed, with just one in reply from George Clarke. It finished

from kick-off without a Brentford player touching the ball, as a cross from Albert Harry was met by Hubert Butler, setting up Clarke to score after only 30 seconds. From the restart, the ball was slipped through to Simpson whose rasping strike – albeit with a slight deflection – whizzed past Freddie Fox in the Brentford goal. Two in 90 seconds. Some start. More opportunities followed, and a third came from Jimmy Wilde’s direct free-kick, before Brentford got one back before half-time. As the pitch became slippier underfoot, Palace continued to dominate, adding a fourth and a fifth in the secondhalf to get revenge in some style. 8-2, with both of Brentford’s Lanes netting a hat-trick. For the return game at Selhurst Park on Boxing Day – just 24 hours later – Palace reintroduced captain Stan Charlton, who was returning from injury, while Billy Turner also started. For Brentford, Cecil Blakemore and Harry Salt faced their former club once again. Palace refused to let the result of the previous day affect them, and scored virtually straight brentford

Palace: Callender, Crilly, Charlton, Rivers, Wilde, Greener, Harry, Turner, Simpson, Butler, Clarke.

Brentford: Fox, Stevenson, Adamson, Lawson, Bain, Salt, Foster, J. Lane, W. Lane, Blakemore, Berry.

‘It’ is discrimination, in all its forms. Racism. Homophobia, Misogyny. Disablism. If you have seen it or heard it, follow the QR code to report it to Kick It Out. Together, we can put an end to it.

Take action today at kickitout.org arsenal

THROUGH THE LENS

JEFFERSON LERMA V BRIGHTON

through the lens

WELCOME TO THE CLUB Play Now

arsenal

ben bailey-smith

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...

2023: A RETROSPECTIVE -

one of the many February draws is against Brentford – pretty sure that’s a legal requirement. My Fab-Feb highlight? Spotting myself in the away end of the Gtech on Match of the Day. It’s the little things sometimes.

And just like that, 2023 becomes a memory. Safe in the knowledge that we always draw against Brentford, it feels apt to focus less on today’s game and more on some of the standout moments of a calendar year spent with my true love – after my family I guess, sure – Crystal Palace Football Club.

march A stinkier stinker than the first stinker which as we’ve established was pretty darn stinky. No wins, no draws, four straight losses. Go home March, you’ve embarrassed yourself.

january A stinker. No wins, hammered by Spurs and knocked out of the FA Cup at the first attempt by a team that isn’t even in the Premier League anymore. A 1-1 draw with Man United is genuinely the highlight. But January isn’t supposed to be fun – it’s the Monday of all months.

APRIL Is this to be an Annus Horribilis? No! Spring has sprung! And what does spring bring? New beginnings, new hope and spring chicken Roy Hodgson, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and back to save 2023. WHAM! Take that West Ham – 4-3 thriller! BOSH! Have that Saints! WALLOP! My moment of the year: that 94th minute Mateta winner against Leicester. Absolute scenes. Oh, and Leeds? How about a 5-1 drubbing? You’re welcome! It took Roy just over two weeks to turn our entire

february A slightly less stinky stinker. No wins, but a lot of draws. Inexplicably we play Man United again in what feels like a few days after the last fixture – weird. What certainly isn’t weird is that ben bailey-smith

season around and suddenly all is right and well in the world again.

MAY It’s a procession now. Let’s just focus on pinning down Wilf for August, eh?

JUNE We haven’t pinned down Wilf. We also haven’t experienced summer yet. It’s bloody freezing.

JULY I AM STILL WEARING MY WINTER COAT – SORT IT OUT BRITAIN. I head off on my summer holidays, praying to God that when I return there had better be A) sunshine and B) a contract extension for Zaha.

AUGUST It rains every day of my summer holiday and Zaha leaves. I become an atheist.

SEPTEMBER

shrug off pretty easily – it’s not like January when they gave us a hammering. To be fair we very rarely get hammered. In fact, that was our only 2023 hammering. Up to St James’ Park with renewed optimism then for a clash with the newest of big boys: Newcastle United. We get hammered.

NOVEMBER The oddest month of the year in footballing terms for me. We’re fully in every game in November – Luton, Everton and Burnley – but we only beat Burnley. And let’s be honest, beating Burnley is the only thing that all teams in the Premier League seem to benefit from equally. Except Burnley of course. But that’s NMP – Not My Problem. Soz.

DECEMBER A mixed festive bag. I feel we should beat West Ham but am more than happy with a point. The

A new dawn then. Roy is here to stay, life after Zaha begins in earnest and we suddenly have two brilliant goalkeepers instead of one. I celebrate my birthday with a famous win at Old Trafford – I rediscover my faith! Maybe life really does begin in your forties. NOTE TO CASTING: both my playing age and public age is 27.

OCTOBER All of a sudden, the days shorten and the nights are closing in. It’s the cycle of life my friends, as unwavering and inevitable as losing to Spurs. It’s a result I ben bailey-smith

honours are again shared against Brighton – except this time I get to experience the best atmosphere of the year in the stands – glorious stuff. My lowest lowlight of the year is also this month: THAT Bournemouth loss. Yuck. And then – just when it felt like all potential Christmas cheer was was being Scrooged away from us – we only go and stage the unlikeliest comeback of any team in the Prem this calendar year and snatch victory away from the mighty Man City and Matheus França is suddenly better than Kyle Walker. Mad, mind-blowing and so very, very Palace. And there you have it. What a year it’s been! Heartbreak, salvation, surprises, thrills, spills and draws, draws, draws! Let’s raise a glass to more wins in 2024, eh? New Year, New Palace! Okay, maybe after this 1-1 with Brentford. Happy New Year, all

It’s an exciting time to be coming through the Academy at Crystal Palace – each week, hear from one of the next generation on their journey so far…

i Seán Grehan Age

Joined

Summer 2022

Position

Centre-back Career highlight so far

Representing the Republic of Ireland at youth level, from Under-16s through to Under-21s. Take note of Grehan is a modern-day centre-back who is confident in his ability to defend and to pick a pass from the back.

Seán Grehan

’m delighted to have signed a new contract – I’m over the moon. I love it here. Ever since I came over from Ireland last season I've been really enjoying my football, and I'm happy to be here for the next three years. I was playing with St. Kevin's Boys Football Club back in Ireland near enough my entire way up and then I signed for Bohemians in 2021, which is a professional club. I was in and around the first-team there, but then last summer I came to Palace. Settling in has been great. Palace has a strong Irish contingent, with people like Killian Phillips and Paddy McCarthy who was the manager of the Under-21s at the time, so it was great for me. We also have the likes of Franco Umeh coming over now and even Tayo Adaramola. I have Tayo alongside me in the U21s, so settling in was made easier by having a lot of Irish lads around. It was tough at the start to adapt. You need to get the grips with it at the start. It's much higher intensity than what I was used to back at home. Once you

kind of get around it and get a run of games under your belt, you're flying. I’ve been really enjoying my football here.

Seán made a strong impression during his first season at the club and his continued hard work and determination has been rewarded with a new contract. He has not only slotted in well on the pitch, but also to life in south London, and I am sure he will continue to press on in the latter half of this season as he furthers his development. gary issott academy director

From a personal point of view, I'm focusing on the U21s and I want to pick up as many wins as I can with them. I hope that I can keep pushing and training with the first-team as much as I can I try to be a bit of a ball playing centre-half, but obviously my main job is to defend. I like to hit a few ‘diags’ and pick a pass wherever possible. We were a bit slow to start this season. We’ve had a lot of injuries, myself included. We didn't start the season the way we wanted to, but I think we've started to get going now and are picking up a few good results. We are playing some good football now. The team is settling into the constant flow of games and hopefully we can just go on a bit of a run after the break and start getting more wins. I just want to keep pushing on. From a personal point of view, I'm focusing on the U21s and I want to pick up as many wins as Seán Grehan

I can with them. I hope that I can keep pushing and training with the first-team as much as I can. Recently I've been over the road a bit with the first-team and I’m really enjoying it. It's a big step up compared to training with the U21s – a much higher intensity – but it’s great to be around. Hopefully I can get more experience with them and come back a more mature player, and then I might even have to go out and get some experience out on loan. That’s the plan.

With 2023 drawing to a close, take a look back at some of the very best moments in a standout year for the Crystal Palace Academy both on and off the pitch.

Exceptional results With the goals flying in across a multitude of fixtures, Palace’s Under-18s and Under-21s have had some exceptional results in the calendar year. During the run-in of the 2022/23 campaign, the Under-18s faced a tough test at reigning champions Southampton. After taking an early lead, they never looked back. The goals kept on coming as Palace utterly dominated the Saints on their own turf. Hindolo Mustapha, Asher Agbinone, David Obou, Franco Umeh and a hat-trick from Zach Marsh saw them hit seven past them in an emphatic victory. Now halfway through the 2023/24 campaign, Rob Quinn’s side have had some incredible results – most notably the 5-4 win against Fulham in the Premier League Cup. Needing a win to guarantee qualification for the knockout stage, they found themselves 4-2 down having led by two goals, but Marsh completed his hat-trick to draw level before a 94th minute George

King winner sent them through to the quarter-finals. The U21s’ dominant display at reigning champions Manchester City was a highlight, with goals from Roshaun Mathurin, Danny Imray and Umeh; Jack WellsMorrison’s last-gasp winner in the Premier League International Cup against Sporting Clube de Braga was surely a contender for wildest celebration of the season.

european nights That dramatic stoppage-time winner saw Palace advance to the knockout rounds in Europe, having beaten Hertha Berlin by a single goal and smashed seven past Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. Academy

A penalty shoot-out triumph against Valencia saw the Eagles progress to the final at Selhurst Park, taking on Jong PSV in front of a sizeable crowd. Ultimately, it wasn’t to be. While a stunning strike from Scott Banks lit up south London early on – curling the ball into the top corner from 25-yards on his return from a successful loan at Bradford City – the match went into extra-time, and the Dutch outfit emerged victorious. Nevertheless, the club’s run in the tournament – after competing in it for the first time in their history – will always be remembered by all the players and staff involved.

Milestones Not a moment as such, but 2023 has seen over 30 different contracts, extensions and scholarships earned by various players across the age groups at the Academy. Each and every player has worked hard to earn their respective contract or scholarship, both on the pitch and off the pitch. The new scholars form the basis of the U18s side. Among them are the in-form Jesse Derry, who has nine goals and five assists in 11 games this season and George King, a centre-back with an eye for goal having scored five goals in 12 games so far. Players that have earned their first professional contracts in 2023 include defenders Mofe Jemide and Caleb Kporha – both of whom have featured for the Under-21s in pre-season. Among those who earned extensions include loanees Killian Phillips and Scott Banks, as well as the in-form Zach Marsh and Joe Whitworth, who went on to make his Premier League debut.

four minutes of Palace's 0-0 draw against Newcastle United, becoming the club's youngest-ever Premier League player at the age of 17 years, eight months and 15 days. Ozoh has continued his integration into the first-team this season, playing an hour against Manchester City as the Eagles came back from two goals down at the Etihad.

Continued progress This calendar year saw the club conclude a third season as a Category 1 Academy. The U21s recorded a fourth place finish in the league, along with the

Debutants Indeed, Whitworth’s Premier League debut came a month after signing a contract extension and it was against none other than fierce rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, before featuring at the Emirates Stadium a week later against Arsenal. Whitworth was one of two debutants in 2023 for Palace, with midfielder David Ozoh making history when, on 21st January 2023, he appeared for the final academy

aforementioned Premier League International Cup run, to round off an incredible 42-game season. Palace’s U18s also recorded a third successive top-three finish in the U18 Premier League South, with first-year scholars earning a significant amount of game time and others playing above their age group with the U21s. Both sides have gone on to progress strongly in 23/24, and with developments off the pitch including the completion of the final wing of the complex. One thing is abundantly clear: at the Crystal Palace Academy, the future is bright

At the midway point of the campaign, Crystal Palace Women have not only advanced from both Cup competitions, but also sit just two points off the top of the Women’s Championship table with a game in hand. At the turn of the year, read on for their 2023 highlights…

A Women’s Football Weekend to remember Off the back of a record-breaking campaign, the Eagles concluded the 2022/23 season by recording a second consecutive top-five finish. And while results were mixed in the first half of 2023, one particular highlight in March saw Palace’s then-third highest attendance – and biggest in Bromley, over 1,700 fans – turn out in support over Women’s Football Weekend, as Molly Sharpe’s sweet finish sealed a 1-0 win over Blackburn. Special guests, free match programmes and posters, a family-friendly feel and plenty of optimism surrounded the occasion – and not for the first time in south London in 2023…

Palace’s new era The summer rang in an offseason of vast change in south London, with a move to a new ground, Sutton’s VBS Community Stadium, ahead of 2023/24. Also celebrated by Palace fans

were the appointments of Grace Williams as the club’s new Head of Women’s Football; Laura Kaminski as the new head coach; Adam Jeffrey as the new assistant coach; and eight new players donning the red and blue for the very first time. A chapter of change – but one with results both immediate, and spectacular…

History-making results This season in the Championship, the Eagles have scored a divisionhigh 35 goals in just 11 league matches, averaging well over three goals-per-game across all competitions. They have scored six goals or more on three occasions, and three goals or more an incredible eight times out of 14 matches thus far. That goalscoring run was kickstarted by a club-record 9-1 over Durham Women in September – a performance later named the Utilita Performance of the Week, a national award by the League women

Managers Association, with judges including Sir Alex Ferguson, Rachel Yankey and Clare Tomlinson. Which brings us nicely onto…

Awards galore Take your pick: Palace have not only won Championship Goal of the Month for every month so far this season (Annabel Blanchard for September, Araya Dennis for October and Shauna Guyatt for November), but Blanchard also scooped the Player of the Month trophy for September and Kaminski the October prize for Manager of the Month.

At this rate, they’ll need a bigger trophy cabinet – but there’s one at…

Selhurst sets more records Back in November, Palace and Southampton played out a thrilling game at Selhurst Park after a clubrecord 4,442 ticket sales! And although the match – which ended 4-3 to the Saints – did not go Palace's way, the family day out at Selhurst also saw plenty of games, giveaways and other entertainment in and around SE25 to mark the brilliant occasion. With Palace Women’s next date at Selhurst recentlyannounced – Sunday, 24th March 2024 – we have our target to beat! What’s more, fans booking before 23rd February 2024 can enjoy a 50% off ‘early bird’ discount – just head on over to cpfc.co.uk to grab your tickets now.

Top of the charts Not only do Palace boast the competition’s top scorer (Elise Hughes, with a stunning 12 goals in 11 games) and joint-second top scorer (Blanchard, with seven in eight)… they also feature the Championship’s chief creator in Fliss Gibbons, with seven assists in eight games!

International acclaim For Hughes, that goalscoring feeling has translated to the international stage, with the forward scoring her first-ever senior goal for Wales,

against Iceland earlier this month. The likes of Alexia Potter, Guyatt and Araya Dennis have also hit the front foot for England’s youth sides, whilst Anna Filbey, Hayley Nolan and Chloe Arthur have been recognised with selection for Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland respectively this year. Paige Bailey-Gayle, meanwhile, became Palace’s first-ever female player to earn a call-up to an international tournament finals, when she was part of Jamaica’s history-making squad at the 2023 World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.

Kaminski’s verdict As new head coach Kaminski said herself: “This season has gone really quickly, but what a fantastic start we’ve had. It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through! “I think the group have done fantastically well, and we’ve worked really hard to get into the position women

we’re in. We’ve still got a long way to go this season, so we have to stay focused and really concentrate on the task ahead of us. “For me, I’ve always known what every single player here brings to the table, and I’ve always known as a group what they’re capable of achieving. “This group play some fantastic football, so we’ll look to really progress, hold on to that and crack on in the next half of the season. “There’ll be some hard work going in over Christmas so that we come back in 2024 nice and fresh. We don’t want to come in dusting off the cobwebs – I want to come in ready to go.” Palace Women kickstart their 2024 at home to Blackburn Rovers in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, 14th January – get your tickets via cpfc.co.uk now!

For more than 150 years, Palace have paved a way into the history books, navigating wild misadventures, cult heroes, political and social changes and all the ups and downs that come with them. Step back into another world…

retro palace

History Makers Palace players past and tantalising titbits from eras gone by: club historian Ian King takes us through the wacky, weird and wonderful history of Crystal Palace one new tale at a time.

MARK LAZARUS

ark Lazarus was a fearless right-winger – and it was no wonder. He came from a well-known East End boxing family, and took up the sport as an amateur before deciding to pursue a professional career in football with Leyton Orient. After joining Queens Park Rangers – with whom he had three spells as a player – he moved to Brentford in 1964, for the hefty fee of £8,000. The Bees were pushing for promotion from Division Three, but by the next season they were struggling and Lazarus left Griffin Park, following a dispute with manager Tommy Cavanagh. His record was strong – 20 goals in 62 games was good going for a winger – and he returned to Loftus Road to score the winning goal in the 1967 League

Cup final. That December, he made the move across to south London, and joined Bert Head’s burgeoning promotion-contenders. Lazarus soon made himself popular among the Selhurst faithful with his goal celebration of a ‘lap of honour’, along with slapping the hand of those by the touchlines. He would also stand for no nonsense if opposition players made anti-Semitic remarks. Once in possession, he was difficult to stop. His debut came in a home game against Rotherham United, in which he helped his teammates to their first victory in seven games; his first goal came at home to Carlisle United the following March as the club ended their Second Division campaign in mid-table. The following season, Lazarus was virtually ever-present, missing history makers

only five league and cup games and scoring 11 goals, Palace’s secondhighest scorer. They were important goals, too, earning victories over Huddersfield Town, Norwich City, Millwall and Carlisle, while his strike against Fulham at Selhurst Park on 19th April 1969 started the now-legendary second-half comeback from two goals down, a victory that would confirm the club’s promotion to the top-flight. After promotion, Head’s more pragmatic approach restricted Lazarus to six appearances, before he left to go back to Leyton Orient that October with a Palace record of 17 goals in 70 games. This December, he celebrated his 85th birthday, and he has been back to Selhurst Park on many occasions since.

debuts and curtain calls The opening game of the 1909/10 season in the Southern League came against the Bees, and witnessed a number of debutants that included Joe Bulcock, Harry Hanger, Bob Spottiswood, and John ‘Ginger’ Williams, two of whom would lose their lives during the First World War. Three years later George ‘Lady’ Woodger played in his last game for Palace. In September 1963, Palace manager Dick Graham brought Bobby Kellard in from Southend, who made his first appearance at Griffin Park later that month. Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher began his season-long loan in the goalless draw between the two at Selhurst Park on 21st August 2021.

weird and wonderful Until December 1957, it was the custom to have a full league programme on Christmas Day morning, except if it fell on a Sunday, and with far less car ownership there would be suitable public transport available for fans to attend. For many seasons Palace would face the same

Brief encounters barrow Founded in 1901 and moving to their current Holker Street ground in 1909, Barrow were, along with Crystal Palace, founder members of Division Four in 1958. For a single day in 1968, they reached their highest position in the Football League when they topped Division Three. In the three league seasons that the clubs faced one another, Palace recorded their history makers

opponents home and away on this day and Boxing Day, but it would not necessarily be a game against a club within a reasonable distance: Palace have been paired with Derby County, Walsall, and Torquay United amongst others. The final Christmas Day game was against Brentford. Palace won 3-0 at Griffin Park, completing a ‘double’ the following day at Selhurst Park.

biggest-ever victory, winning 9-0 at Selhurst Park in October 1959. However, the Bluebirds dumped Palace out of the League Cup less than a decade later in 1967, to equal their only league victory. In 1972 Barrow failed to gain re-election to Division Four, being replaced by Hereford United, and for the next 28 years flitted between the Conference and Northern Premier Leagues. In 2020 the club returned to the Football League by means of the points-per-game system introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Times have changed over Crystal Palace’s rich and storied history. In each edition, we dust off the archive and reprint a story from one of the club’s historical programmes. This week, we meet Palace fan and half-deaf singer James Vickery, who explains why he donned the ‘97 kit in his most popular video yet. Readers should be aware of mildly distressing medical descriptions and one instance of offensive language in the below piece.

Crystal Palace √ brentford – 30 august 2022

ou’re always the underdog,” says James Vickery of a childhood surrounded by United, Chelsea and Liverpool fans. “I feel like I’ve carried that in life, rooting for the underdog.” It’s not a bad trait to have for a singer who’s half-deaf. As a Crystal Palace fan from Sutton growing up in the 90s and early 00s, life was always going to be tough. But it became all the more difficult when Vickery developed a cholesteatoma benign tumour, or, in his words, “a flesh-eating virus heading towards my brain.” His family didn’t know it at the time, but while Vickery spent his first few years in and out of hospital to treat ear infections, the tumour was growing steadily closer to his brain. Once it was diagnosed, FROM THE ARCHIVE

he was rushed into surgery within days. Weeks or months later would have been too late. To remove his tumour surgeons had to cut inside Vickery’s ear and remove his drum, rendering him half-deaf. “I was a very shy kid,” the singer says over a video call, pointing at his AirPod and joking “I don’t even know why I’ve got this on. “I had to get vocal coaching lessons and vocal therapy lessons because I couldn’t sense how loud I was speaking.” In therapy sessions Vickery discovered his ability to sing, and over time developed his skills and started to perform. He began in the Sutton Cricket Club – “where the whole crowd was my friends” – and made pocket money doing “restaurants in Walton-onThames and Tadworth, in Italian restaurants signing Frank Sinatra.” He launched his EP Sheet Music, and has had his songs streamed over 100,000,000 times. But there were other, easier paths to follow. Most half-deaf children would look past singing as a career, and having made it most would follow their labels’ instructions: chasing airtime and hits. Not the underdog. “It was very apparent early on they wanted to make me the next [pop singer] Sam Smith because I was a white, chubby, soulful guy,” Vickery says. “But that was the only comparison – our music is so different. “I want to create my own name – I don’t want to be

something else. Maybe that’s being a Palace fan; I’ve always liked being the underdog. I’ve always liked doing my own thing and I don’t get swept up.” Vickery doing his own thing brought his name to the fore with fellow Palace fans last year. When his then-record label told him they’d exhausted the music video budget, the singer took matters into his own hands, grabbing a friend and a camera – and a Palace shirt. In the subsequent video for You Comfort Me, Vickery manages a one-shot stroll through Primrose Hill – eye-catchingly donning the 1997 TDK kit. “It wasn’t pre-planned,” he explains. “I’d love to say it was a really good marketing scheme but, bro, I’m just a Palace fan. I’m proud to be a Palace fan, south London born and raised… all the Palace fans loved it. It’s the vintage kit that was re-released, so it looked f------ sick. “It’s very authentic to me, hence wearing a Palace shirt in the video. You Comfort Me is a feel-good song and I wrote that when it was lockdown one and it was grim… I was just trying to write something to make me feel good while I was going out in the sun alone.” Vickery’s father is a Welshman with a “proper south London accent,” raised three roads from Selhurst Park. His mother’s side of the family are West Ham fans from Essex. “I didn’t have any other Palace friends,” he remembers of his FROM THE ARCHIVE

childhood. “When it did come off – random wins, beating Man United in the cup, promotion, getting to the play-offs from nothing – it was so much more worthwhile. That’s why I’m a Palace fan.” So Vickery started attending games in 2001 (his first was a 0-2 loss to Wolves), walked out as a mascot with the late Andrejs Rubins, and swooned over customer James McArthur while working at a cinema in Epsom. But through his career he also sang at the club’s End of Season Awards and is listened to by thousands of his fellow fans.

“I feel like everybody’s dad wants their son to be a footballer,” he says. “I was never going to be a footballer, so my dad’s dream of me playing for Crystal Palace never prospered. But this is the closest we can do.” Not bad for an underdog

This article is reprinted verbatim.

1989

nineteen

eightynine

Football, fashion, music and more – step back in time to an era that had it all…

At the

The Eagles won none of their first six league games, drawing five and losing at home to Watford, but then things picked up. Coppell had assembled a formidable squad – Ian Wright and Mark Bright’s partnership was well established, Geoff Thomas had arrived from Crewe Alexandra – and it was only a matter of time before it clicked. Chelsea swept to the title with 99 points, 17 clear of Manchester City in second – with Palace just a further point back in third. The play-offs beckoned, and Palace beat Swindon Town in the semi-finals for a place in a two-legged final.

manager: steve coppell Back where we belong... As Division Two competition goes, finding yourself up against Leeds United, Chelsea and Manchester City isn’t ideal. That is the position Crystal Palace found themselves in when they began the 1988/89 season, and things didn’t get off to an ideal start. retro palace

At Ewood Park, disaster. Palace conceded twice in six first-half minutes and came away with a 3-1 defeat, the blow softened by Eddie McGoldrick’s late consolation. At Selhurst Park, jubilation. Ian Wright gave the Eagles a vital early goal, before David Madden added a second from the spot just after half-time. Neither side could find a winner until deep into extra-time with penalties beckoning, when Ian Wright stepped up to head home his 33rd goal of the season and send Palace back into the top-flight for the first time since 1981.

Music

top 5 singles 1

Ride on Time

Black Box

Swing the Mood

Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers

Eternal Flame

The Bangles

Too Many Broken Hearts

Jason Donovan

Back to Life

Soul II Soul ft. Caron Wheeler

Games

Films

Tetris still reigned supreme, with new versions released in 1989 topping the lists of both arcade and at-home games. Who would have thought that arranging differently shaped blocks into a big pile could be so, so addictive?! Elsewhere, Super Mario Land became the first Mario game for a handheld console.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Dead Poets Society

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

The Little Mermaid

When Harry Met Sally

13 march Tim BernersLee invents an informationsharing method for computers, titled the ‘World Wide Web’

15 april 97 people are killed at Hillsborough during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest

04 november Wallace and Gromit are introduced to the world with a showing of A Grand Day Out

09 november The Berlin Wall falls, marking the destruction of the ‘Iron Curtain’ across Europe

20 may Liverpool win the FA Cup, beating Everton thanks to an Ian Rush double

24 may AC Milan defeat Steaua Bucuresti in a one-sided European Cup final at the Camp Nou

26 may A last-second Michael Thomas goal sees Arsenal pip Liverpool to the league title at Anfield

23 november Nigel Martyn becomes Britain’s first £1m goalkeeper, joining Palace from Bristol Rovers

retro palace

Un-brr-lieveable! 58

Warm up with a Palace fan EXCLUSIVE DEAL this winter!

SCAN ME

Unlocking the power of pitches The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s charity. We award grants and work with partners to deliver outstanding grassroots football facilities across England.

Search Football Foundation to find out more

reminds me of jordan ayew

inside palace

PALACE LAUNCH LIMITED EDITION FOURTH SHIRT FOR SOUTH LONDON

rystal Palace unveiled a limited edition fourth shirt this month, with all profits going towards our Palace for Life Foundation work to help improve the lives of south Londoners. Crystal Palace Women donned the brand-new shirt in a comfortable 6-0 Adobe FA Cup victory v Chatham Town on 10th December, and the men’s team will be wearing it in their Emirates FA Cup third-round clash against Everton in the new year. The fourth shirt is a first for Palace for Life, so we would like to thank the club and technical supplier

Macron for making it a reality, and fans for getting behind it and buying it.

All profits go straight towards our work in three key areas, which are: • Delivering free sports sessions to help divert young people away from crime and violence; • Providing 1:1 mentoring to those struggling with mental wellbeing and those who have been caught up or are likely to be caught up in criminal behaviour; • Providing young people with opportunities to get into further education, careers and employment.

foundation

Support Palace for Life in our mission to raise £1 million to help us transform thousands of more young south Londoners’ lives.

Eagle-eyed fans may have recognised the design from this year’s Marathon March shirt, which was inspired by the traditional Palace blue body, a white and red sash, and a vintage red collar and trim design of this limited-edition shirt. For the launch photography, in the week after notching his 200th appearance for the Eagles, Nathaniel Clyne visited Allen Edwards Primary School in Stockwell, south London, where he was once a pupil, and was warmly greeted by several hundred children. Meanwhile, Shauna Guyatt, Aimee Everett and Polly Doran from the women’s team attended Heathfield Academy as part of our community engagement for the Rainbow Laces campaign. For more information on where fourth shirt profits go, visit palaceforlife.org.

donate a pint from your pre-match routine below

foundation

Every day is a busy one at the Palace, from matchdays – men’s, women’s and Academy – to anniversaries, birthdays to events. Keep track of everything happening at the club right here…

30 dec

01 jan

2013 palace √ brentford | 15:00

Andre Moritz scores two free-kicks against Wolves at Selhurst Park.

LIVE audio commentary on

03 jan

02 jan

2018 Luka Milivojevic scores a screamer as Palace beat Southampton.

04 jan

2015 Alan Pardew joins Palace from Newcastle.

what’s on?

palace √ everton | 20:00 LIVE on

06 jan

Rest in Peace Attilio Lombardo turns 58 today.

13 jan

The late Terry Venables was born on this day in 1943.

08 jan

2022

Jeff Schlupp joins Palace from Leicester.

Palace come from behind to beat Millwall at The Den.

Cheick Doucouré turns 24 today.

16 jan

14 jan

palace women √ blackburn | 13:00

LIVE on

08 jan

2017

14 jan

west ham √ palace u18S | 11:00

blackburn √ palace u21S | 11:00

Odsonne Edouard turns 26 today.

All times GMT. Head to cpfc.co.uk for more details and ticketing information.

what’s on?

The page for supporters: taking your comments from the terraces into the programme. Want to get in touch? Use the details below.

Crystal Palace Independent Supporters Association (CPISA) We are a new, supporter organisation run by Palace fans for Palace fans to provide an independent fan voice. CPISA welcomes all Palace fans from the UK and abroad, whether you belong to other fan groups or not. We consult members and other fans via surveys, fan forums, social media and talking with other fans at home and away matches. We’ll also have member meetings next year. We are represented on the Palace FAB as well as other engagement with the club and, as the issues we face are similar to fans everywhere, we are also committed to participating in the growing network of national and international supporter groups.

from the terraces

Join us and be part of something bigger, it’s free – simply subscribe to our mailing list by scanning the QR code below or visit our website cpisa.co.uk and follow the link on our home page.

Happy 15th Birthday Tia! Lots of Love from Mum & Dad, Grandma & Grandad, Perry, Jake, Chloe, Harry & all your nieces & nephews. Tia’s favourite players are Eze & Sam Johnstone.

Happy 40th Birthday to Sarah Easton from Craig, Ruby and family.

Happy 30th Birthday to my son Dale Smith, love you lots Mum xxx

(Maurice) John Notridge, a resident from the UK a dedicated Palace supporter, suddenly passed away on 28/11/2023 on a visit to Australia to be with his twin sister Margaret for support after the tragic passing of her husband Leo.

Milestone today 2000th Crystal Palace game attended since 1965 .Daughter Rebecca returning to work after the birth of Grandaughter Iris. Happy New Year to all CP Supporters.

Congratulations to Abbie and Thomas Bartholomew on the birth of their son Charlie. New addition to the Palace family.

70 years ago, my Dad took me to my first Palace game. Today, I’m delighted to be celebrating my 75th birthday with two more generations of my Palace-supporting family.

We can’t quite believe it’s been nearly a year without you. Miss you every hour of every day. Dena, we will love you always and forever.

Rest In Eternal Peace, ‘Big Mick’ Weeks who sadly passed away on 8th December, aged 77. A lifelong Palace fan, loving family man, friend and gentleman. Dearly missed by so many.

from the terraces

Email programme@cpfc.co.uk with a message of 30 words or fewer and an image to feature on our messageboard.

Meet today’s mascots, get yourselves up for the cup, relive a perfect quarter-final and pit your wits against Brighty below.

Ollie Poge AGE:

SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

Darcie George AGE:

Harrison Grice

Harry George

AGE:

SCORE PREDICTION:

1-0

Holly D’Arcy SCORE PREDICTION:

1-0

AGE:

SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

Teddy Buckle SCORE PREDICTION:

1-1

AGE:

Want to feature as a mascot? Email: liam.connery@cpfc.co.uk

round-up

SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

next up: everton

Best memory: Everton in the FA Cup, you say? Our niche answer is a 6-0 triumph at Goodison Park in 1922, but if we’re honest nobody alive today remembers that, so we’ll go with Palace’s four-goal thrashing of the Toffees in the quarter-final in 2022, as the Eagles secured their spot in the semi-finals at Wembley.

Palace host Everton in the FA Cup third round at Selhurst Park on Thursday, 4th January (20:00 GMT). Details: Remember, you can get tickets for the match for as little as £5 by heading to cpfc.co.uk – get down to support Roy and the boys as they look to take the first step towards Wembley this year. If you cannot make it to Selhurst Park, the match will be broadcast on ITV4 and ITVX in the United Kingdom.

BEAT BRIGHTY In each edition, club icon Mark Bright calls it how he sees it and predicts events from the weekend’s football. See how you fare and try to Beat Brighty! Scoring: One point for every correct result, three for a correct scoreline.

Brighty

You

2-1 2-0 1-1 0-1 total Manage to Beat Brighty? Keep track of your score above.

round-up

team stats: women/U21S/U18S Annabel Blanchard finishes 2023 with eight goals in 10 games this season.

George King made it five goals this season from centre-back with his FA Youth Cup double against Plymouth Argyle.

Tayo Adaramola was among the substitutes as Palace drew at the Etihad before Christmas.

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

AUGUST Sun 27

Reading

D 1-1

SEPTEMBER Sun 3

Birmingham City

W 2-1

Sun 10

Durham

W 9-1

Sun 17

Sunderland

D 1-1

Blackburn Rovers

W 4-0

OCTOBER Sun 8

Wed 11 Lewes

D 1-1

Sun 15

London City Lionesses

W 6-1

Sun 22

Charlton Athletic

L 2-3

NOVEMBER Sun 5

Watford

W 3-0

Sun 12

Lewes

W 3-2

Sun 19

Southampton

Wed 22 Watford

L 3-4 W 3-0

DECEMBER Sun 10

Chatham Town

W 6-0

Sun 17

Reading

D 1-1

JANUARY Sun 21

London City Lionesses

Wed 24 London City Lionesses Sun 28

Charlton Athletic

FEBRUARY Sun 4

Southampton

Sun 18

Blackburn Rovers

MARCH Sun 3

Birmingham City

Sun 17

Sheffield United

Sun 24

Watford

Sun 31

Durham

APRIL Sun 21

Lewes

Sun 28

Sunderland

TBC TBC

Sheffield United

AUGUST Mon 14 Manchester United W Sun 20 Reading L Mon 28 Fulham L SEPTEMBER Fri 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers L Fri 15 Middlesbrough W Tue 19 Wycombe Wanderers L Sat 23 Nottingham Forest L OCTOBER Sun 1 Liverpool L Mon 30 West Bromwich Albion W NOVEMBER Fri 3 Leeds United W Tue 7 AFC Wimbledon L Fri 10 Ipswich Town L Tue 14 Stevenage L Fri 24 Birmingham City W december Sat 2 Manchester City W Mon 11 Middlesbrough L Mon 18 West Ham United L JANUARY Sun 14 Blackburn Rovers Mon 22 Birmingham City Mon 29 Brighton & Hove Albion FEBRUARY Mon 5 Ipswich Town Fri 9 Tottenham Hotspur Mon 19 Leicester City MARCH Mon 4 Stoke City Mon 11 Aston Villa Fri 15 Southampton APRIL Mon 8 Everton Fri 12 Chelsea Sun 28 Middlesbrough

women/u21S/u18S

3-2 0-2 2-5 2-3 6-2 0-1 3-4 2-4 3-0 7-1 0-2 2-4 2-5 4-1 3-0 0-4 1-5

september Wed 27 Athletic Bilbao october Tue 24 Monaco december Wed 6 Benfica january Wed 17 Feyenoord

AUGUST Sat 12 Southampton Sat 19 Chelsea Sat 26 Reading SEPTEMBER Sat 2 Liverpool Sat 16 Leicester City Sat 23 Fulham Sat 30 Brighton & Hove Albion OCTOBER Sat 28 Arsenal NOVEMBER Sat 4 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 11 West Bromwich Albion Thu 16 Newcastle United Sat 25 Fulham DECEMBER Thu 7 Plymouth Argyle Sat 16 Aston Villa January Sat 6 West Ham United Sat 13 Leicester City Sat 27 Fulham FEBRUARY Sat 10 West Bromwich Albion Sat 17 Brighton & Hove Albion MARCH Sat 9 Chelsea Sat 16 Arsenal APRIL Sat 6 Norwich City Sat 13 Southampton Sat 20 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 27 Aston Villa may Sat 4 West Ham United Sat 11 Reading tbc TBC Norwich City

D 1-1 W 3-1 W 2-1

W 5-0 L 1-2 W 2-1 W D L D

6-1 1-1 3-4 3-3

D 3-3 W W L W

5-2 2-1 1-4 5-4

W 2-1 W 3-2

women Name

u21s

Apps

Chloe ARTHUR Paige BAILEY-GAYLE

Goals

Name

u18s Apps

Goals

Name

Apps 14

Tayo ADARAMOLA

Kai-Reece ADAMS-COLLMAN

Victor AKINWALE

Asher AGBINONE

Cormac AUSTIN

Justin DEVENNY

Rio CARDINES

Keira BARRY

Annabel BLANCHARD

Lia CATALDO

Araya DENNIS

Polly DORAN

Aimee EVERETT Anna FILBEY

Goals

Chima EZE

Freddie COWIN

Chris FRANCIS

Matteo DASHI

Sean GREHAN

Jesse DERRY

Danny IMRAY

Billy EASTWOOD (GK)

Jackson IZQUIERDO (GK)

Leon ELLIOTT

Caleb KPORHA

Joe GIBBARD

Zach MARSH

Jake GRANTE

Roshaun MATHURIN

Zack HENRY

Hindolo MUSTAPHA

Marcus HILL (GK)

Felicity GIBBONS

Shauna GUYATT

Shanade HOPCROFT

Elise HUGHES

Annabel JOHNSON

Frances KITCHING (GK)

Demi LAMBOURNE (GK)

Jadan RAYMOND

Natalia NEGRI (GK)

Dylan REID

Finley MARJORAM

Kaden RODNEY

Zach MARSH

Joe SHERIDAN

Hindolo MUSTAPHA

Franco UMEH

David OBOU

Noah WATSON

Olaoluwa OMOBOLAJI

Jack WELLS-MORRISON

Caleb REDHEAD

Joe WHITWORTH (GK)

Charlie WALKER-SMITH

Tyler WHYTE

Sebastian WILLIAMS

A GD Pts

Ellie NOBLE Hayley NOLAN

Adler NASCIMENTO

Ademola OLA-ADEBOMI

David OZOH

George KING

Jesurun RAK-SAKYI

Caleb KPORHA

Enrique LAMEIRAS

Alexia POTTER

Kirsten REILLY

Molly-Mae SHARPE

Isabella SIBLEY

Tyler WHYTE

Lucy WATSON

Vonnte WILLIAMS

Mofe JEMIDE

Joseph KHOSHABA 5

All statistics correct as of 17:00 Wednesday, 27 December – see full tables at cpfc.co.uk. th

pos CLUB P W D

3 23 10 +13 23

bir

12 7

A GD Pts

cha

12 6

sun

12 6

2 13 9 +4 22

17 10 +7 23

pos CLUB P W D

10 mun

3 32 21 +11 14

sun

A GD Pts

pos CLUB P W D

3 35 25 +10 24

tot

2 17 15 +2 14

whu

10 7

2 29 12 +17 22

12 wol

10 4

5 18 18 0 13

che

2 34 17 +17 21

cry

2 35 15 +20 21

13 cry

10 4

6 26 26 0 12

cry

10 5

2 28 19 +9 18

sou

12 7

5 21 15 +6 21

14 che

4 21 17 +4 11

ful

10 6

4 29 23 +6 18

dur

12 5

5 12 20 -8 17

15 nfo

3 15 17 -2 10

avl

10 5

4 33 25 +8 16

bla

10 5

16 sou

10 3

6 21 28 -7 10

ars

2 22 17 +5 15

8 13 -5 15

women/u21S/u18S

palace Career Appearances

351

palace Career goals

AUGust september october nov december january february march april may ALL-TIME

attendance/ KICK-OFF

Date

Opposition

Sat 12

Sheffield United

31,194

1-0

5th

Mon 21

Arsenal

24,189

0-1

11th

Sat 26

Brentford

16,997

1-1

11th

Tue 29

Plymouth Argyle

15,826

4-2

Second round

Sun 3

Wolverhampton Wanderers

24,741

3-2

7th

Sat 16

Aston Villa

40,809

1-3

9th

Sat 23

Fulham

25,072

0-0

10th

Tue 26

Manchester United

72,842

0-3

Third round

Sat 30

Manchester United

73,428

1-0

9th

Sat 7

Nottingham Forest

25,125

0-0

9th

Sat 21

Newcastle United

52,189

0-4

11th

Fri 27

Tottenham Hotspur

25,074

1-2

13th

Sat 4

Burnley

21,578

2-0

11th

Sat 11

Everton

25,103

2-3

13th

Sat 25

Luton Town

11,029

1-2

13th

Sun 3

West Ham United

62,459

1-1

12th

Wed 6

Bournemouth

24,104

0-2

14th

Sat 9

Liverpool

25,103

1-2

15th

Sat 16

Manchester City

53,384

2-2

15th

Thu 21

Brighton & Hove Albion

24,171

1-1

15th

Wed 27

Chelsea