Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur Sunday 13th December 2020 // 2:15pm
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Directors Steve Parish, Chairman David Blitzer Joshua Harris Chief Executive Phil Alexander Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin
palace √ tottenham hotspur
Sporting Director
13.12.20
Dougie Freedman Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell
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Head of Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning
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luka milivojevic
Scott Guyett
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steve parish
Head of Medical Dr. Zaf Iqbal
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darren ambrose
Academy Director
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junior eagles
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Daniel storey
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Sion Spence
Gary Issott Director of U23 Development Mark Bright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott
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Commercial Director Barry Webber Operations Director Sharon Lacey Head of Consumer Sales Mike Pink Head of Ticketing Dan Clarke Head of Legal David Nichol Head of Content & Production
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James Woodroof Head of CRM & Campaigns Tom McGuiness Editor Dan Blazer Design Billy Cooke, Luke Thomas Contributors Ben Mountain, Ian King, Daniel Storey, Darren Ambrose, Grace Cullen Photography Neil Everitt, Seb Frej, Reuters, Pinnacle, Rex Features Printer Bishops Printers
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palace for life
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1994/95 season
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paddy m©carthy
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Coral-Jade Haines
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fixtures & results
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premier league
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official matchday programme
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nothing can replace the feeling of being back in the stands, watching a game unfold
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elcome to José, his staff and
– they are consistently a difficult team with a
players and hello to each of you
competent squad and a high calibre manager. I
reading this. I am delighted to
have great respect and mutual affection for José
finally be able to say ‘welcome back’ to the few
and enjoy competing with him – something that
joining us at Selhurst today.
has become more frequent since I joined Palace
The highly anticipated return of supporters has been long awaited and I will look out at the
three years ago. Our last game at home to Spurs
2,000 spectators in the stands this afternoon
foreshadowed the task we face today; we did well
with great pleasure. We are well aware that
to secure a point from that clash and I hope to see
less than 10% of a relatively low capacity
something similar this afternoon.
stadium is unlikely to have a major impact on the
We are, of course, responding to frustrating
atmosphere or playing conditions, but then our
recent matches, with our games against Burnley
satisfaction with your return does not relate to
and Newcastle United ending in harsh scorelines.
enhancing our on-field fortunes.
I completed my notes for this page before we
Instead, it is due to the pleasure that watching football in person can deliver to a longexcluded fan. Football has certainly provided
faced West Bromwich Albion, so can only have hoped for a better outcome in that match. Finally, the club are supporting the Rainbow
relief and a focus for many of us during these
Laces campaign in this fixture. We are committed
difficult recent months, but nothing can replace
to equality in our game and for all football
the feeling of being back in the stands, watching
followers to feel welcome in the community.
a game unfold directly in front of you and, with
Football is a great uniting force and the only
luck, enjoying a well earned result. The feeling
barrier to enjoying it ought to be one’s inclination
of actual participation on an event can only be
for the sport. So I am proud we are again
experienced when you are physically present.
supporting such a significant campaign.
However ensuring those here today and
Today, I hope for and expect a performance
those of you following from home witness any
that will reward your continued support. For
tangible success will not be an easy task as we
those of you here in person, welcome back. For
host a talented, in-form Tottenham Hotspur.
those of you waiting to return, I very much look
That Tottenham are currently challenging for the league’s top places is no surprise to me
forward to seeing you again. Enjoy the game.
The manager
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To put five goals past any opposition in this great league is a big challenge for any side
I
was delighted to return to my team and to
These attacking ways of playing are
the pitch for Crystal Palace last week and
things that we work on when together on the
it was the perfect result to come back to.
training pitches with the manager.
Isolating was very frustrating for me as I
After defeat, the soonest you can get
prefer to be active and, more importantly, to be
back to winning ways is so important. We
playing with the lads. However I was fortunate
were frustrated by the Burnley and Newcastle
that I was asymptomatic and that I have now
results and our reaction against West Brom
recovered fully. My thoughts are with those
could not have been better.
worse affected by the virus. The West Brom performance highlighted
Turning attention to today’s clash, we face big and in-form opposition in Tottenham
our strength, even if it was against 10-men. We
Hotspur. They are getting the results that make
were enjoying a close and competitive game
them deserve to sit first and I was impressed
in the first-half and, yes, their red card could
by their recent performances against Arsenal
be seen as harsh, but this is football and in
and Manchester City in particular.
football moments like that balance out. In the second-half in particular, we
As with every game, the lads understand today will be a challenge and are prepared
showed just how good we are going forward,
for it. We respect the opposition but not
with Ebs, Jeff, Wilf and Christian looking very,
so much that we will give them space or
very sharp. They were supported well by all
respect on the pitch.
the lads behind them and each of them were hungry to score. That’s exactly what we did. To put five goals past any opposition in
Finally, the best news. You are finally returning to Selhurst Park and I cannot wait to look out and see you supporting us again in
this great league is a big challenge for any
person. It may only be 2,000 of you, but soon
side. Whether they are at full strength or with
we will see more. I am excited for that day.
10-men, every team in this competition are tough to break down, so I was very pleased to be part of such a good victory.
Whether you’re here in person or still supporting from home, remember… Make some noise!
The captain
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It will be truly fantastic to see 2,000 of you today – and I know you’ll do everything you can to make your presence known
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elcome back, finally, to each and every one of you here with us at Selhurst Park today. I’d like to
win was very satisfying for everyone. I was absolutely delighted to see Christian back amongst the goals. He’d been knocking
thank you for your patience and especially
on the door before that match, almost securing
your commitment to the club during these
the equaliser at Burnley, as well as bringing
unprecedented recent months.
out an excellent save from the ‘keeper in the
Today is a big day for everyone associated with the club, as we are reunited with 2,000 supporters – playing in front of our fans for the
Newcastle game; I’m sure it will be the first two of many this season. I was also heartened to see Joel go and
first time since March. Of course it’s nowhere
visit the club chefs in the Palace Kitchen at
near the scale we want to be at, but it’s a start
Selhurst Park, as they are creating 350 meals
– and it is a situation I hope will accelerate
a day in order to feed 5,000 before Christmas.
in the new year as the vaccine is rolled out
As our longest standing player, Joel knows
and we hopefully return to a more normal
how seriously we take our commitment to our
existence. The people here today are some
local community and he spoke effusively of
of our longest standing supporters who also
the entire club galvanising behind such a good
bought a Season Ticket into the unknown. I
cause of feeding people who need help.
hope you enjoy this really unique experience.
Today, we are proud to shine a light on
Our visitors today are top of the table
the Rainbow Laces campaign which promotes
Spurs, but Roy and the team are in high spirits
inclusivity in football, and further embraces the
after the magnificent win at West Brom last
LGBT community. This is everyone's game, and
Sunday. It was an important performance after
everyone is welcome here at Palace.
a tough few weeks, but it was a result richly
It will be truly fantastic to see 2,000 of you
deserved. Once again VAR played a part with
today – and I know you’ll do everything you can
the red card in a very similar incident to Luka’s
to make your presence known in support of
sending off last season – going down to 10-
Roy and the players.
men doesn’t always mean an easy win for the opposition side and the manner we went on to
Up the Palace.
The chairman
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official matchday programme
11 What do you ask a Premier League, FA Cup, Europa and Champions League winner? Yes, exactly: what are your recollections of the six games you played with Gábor Király at Aston Villa. Here, Daniel Blazer finds out about Gary Cahill’s opinion on trouser-wearing goalkeepers, what it’s like to play against Zlatan Ibrahimović and plenty more.
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O
nce we found out that former Eagle, Ashley Cole, features in Gary Cahill’s
most played-with career XI to date, it seemed like a befitting place to start our chat. “Ashleyyyy!” Cahill exclaims, with the added ‘ys’ giving away a hint at plenty of untold on-pitch stories. But for now at least, they shall remain that way: untold. “In terms of success, Ashley’s career had it all – the caps he got for England were unbelievable,” Cahill says with such astonishment you’d be forgiven for forgetting Palace’s centre-back himself has 61 caps. “You have got to play 10 years solid to reach that level of caps, and that is not easy to do. I played for England, finished with 61 caps and played quite regularly in the years I did and I’m still miles away from him,” the astonishment is not subsiding in Cahill’s voice. But, all that said, it is no surprise to Cahill that Cole retired with 107 Three Lions appearances in his extensive honours collection: “What stood out for me with Ash was the amount of work he put in. I always say to youngsters coming through that's no fluke players like Ash have the success they do. “Maybe they have that perception of him or they don’t but the first time I saw him working in training and working outside
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In terms of success, Ashley’s career had it all – the caps he got for England were unbelievable
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of training, wanting to win all the time, and that kind of mentality rubs off on players.” Talk of Cole leads naturally to talk of another Palace fan favourite who, at Chelsea, became something of a defensive partner to Cahill: Academy graduate Victor Moses. “Oh, Victor! Victor is a class guy and a good friend,” Cahill again says in the manner that suggests for a second he is reliving a few memories in his head. “I actually sat next to him in the changing room for a couple of seasons. A wicked guy, such a laidback fella. Takes everything in his stride, nothing seems to bother him.” Cahill begins laughing before continuing: “He has that mentality where he seems half asleep but then when he goes out on the training pitch, he produces for you. “Nothing but great memories of Victor. He was a massive part of the season when we won the league at Chelsea.” For Palace fans, though, seeing Moses making up part of a back five would’ve been an unfamiliar sight from his time tormenting defences in the final third at Selhurst Park. However, for Cahill, “it was just a befitting role for him; it fit his game perfectly. “He was a very fit lad and had the stamina to get up and down. I was on the left-hand side of the
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three, and he would’ve had Azpi [César Azpilicueta] behind him – a great player to have behind you, dictating to you. “His game didn’t change much really. Defensively he could do a job but his attribute was carrying the ball forward. It was just the perfect role for him and he took to it very, very well.” The third and final full-back we discuss is now a current teammate, but Nathaniel Clyne and Cahill’s partnership actually started at international level.
It’s great to see Nathaniel back at the club, His pedigree is always there throughout his career, getting in the England squads and moving to Liverpool
“It’s great to see Nathaniel back at the club,” Cahill echoes the sentiments of everyone involved. “His pedigree is always
with Palace and with Cahill may well have been
there throughout his career,
brief, but it was certainly impactful.
getting in the England squads and moving to Liverpool. “But it is how you react off the back of a bad injury. And I know
“Straight away, as soon as you mentioned him, I remember just thinking: ‘Wow’ watching him after training. “His finishing was unbelievable. I used to
that it was difficult because when
hang about after training just to watch him work
he came back from his injury it
on finishing practice on his left and right foot.”
was almost lockdown immediately,
Phillips’ time with Aston Villa almost
right at the key time when you are
coincided with Király’s brief loan spell there.
looking to get your fitness back
And as any mention of our former ‘keeper does,
and get game time again.
Cahill chimes in: “With the trousers?!
“Through what he has been
“The strangest thing was the trousers.
telling me, it delayed him so much.
Not sure if it was a superstition or he just
To see him now back in the game
felt comfortable [we don’t bother interjecting
and performing well… it is always
but, Gábor previously told the club, it was
nice to see people come back
superstition after a mistake in shorts]. It was
from such a bad injury in the way
certainly unique; his kind of trademark.
in which he has, and I hope he stays fit and carries on.” Talking of footballers who carried on, Kevin Phillips’ spell
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“He was a bit of a character like most ‘keepers are! Goalkeepers are mad; they are a different breed.” Talk of different footballing breeds turns
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attention away from former teammates and on to opponents. The player which Cahill has, so far, faced the most in his career is a former servant of today’s opponents: Peter Crouch. “I’ve had so many battles with him, even with England when training with each other,” Cahill says. “I know it gets said about him, so didn’t go unnoticed, but for someone so big and awkward to play against his feet were so great. “Naturally, being the size he is, he was a massive threat. I had loads of tussles against him – I’m
I disliked him and he disliked me in games, I’m sure, because of that physical battle, because of the competitiveness of both teams and the stakes in the game
not sure if he liked to play against me because of the physical battle we always had. I always felt he was dangerous when, as soon as the ball went wide, he would pull on to the back post, and I hated it.” But for Cahill, he’d rather the big centre-forwards any day of the week: “Any tall, big centreback will tell you that playing against someone who is really sharp and nippy – someone like a Raheem Sterling, for example, who manipulates the ball very quickly and you have to move your feet really quickly - is really difficult for the big guys who are centre-backs. “Every striker poses different threats, though, don’t they?” That they do. And none more so than Zlatan Ibrahimović. Despite, ultimately, hating every minute played against the current AC Milan striker, Cahill would have
liked nothing more than to line-up on the same team as the Swede. “I played against Ibrahimović a few times. One of those being for England when he scored a hat-trick and destroyed us in that game. I played against him when he was at PSG a couple of times, and those encounters were…” Cahill pauses before laughing and diplomatically saying: “not very nice.” “Hate is a strong word… I disliked him and he disliked me in games, I’m sure, because of that physical battle, because of the competitiveness of both teams and the stakes in the game. I’m sure he didn’t like me nibbling his ankles and tackling him as hard as I did every time we played. “I disliked him in the games but outside I always used to think to myself: ‘I bet he’d be unbelievable to play with.’ “I’ve never said that and I’m sure he is not even interested! ”Well, Ibra, if you are, you know where to find us. Just don’t expect Gary to go easy on you in training.
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Eberechi Eze
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Copers cope
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NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY official matchday programme now available countrywide
for SPORT
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Club legend Darren Ambrose has gone from the squad list on the back page to guest columnist. The Eagles icon will be bringing you his opinions, insight and untold stories throughout the 2020/21 season.
darren ambrose
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Fans back at Selhurst
I was in talks to sign with Ipswich permanently but the manager, Jim
The Sheffield Wednesday game was the first
Magilton, was sacked and I ended up
thought that entered my head when I read that
going back to Charlton and to the most
fans would, finally, be returning to stadiums.
negative experience I’ve ever had with
En route home from that crazy game at Hillsborough in 2010, we stopped off at a service station halfway, and it was filled with Palace fans. It was fantastic and surreal at the same
fans – well, in truth, a whole stadium. I was on the bench in the league after my return and Phil Parkinson brought me on with about 20 minutes to
time. You are standing at the urinal trying to go
go. As soon as my number was shown
but the toilets are just filled with Palace fans
on the fourth official’s board, the whole
singing your name.
Valley booed me. I didn’t expect that. Especially as I had scored the winner away at Norwich City in the FA Cup in my first game back after my loan spell. That reaction caught me off guard so much that when I received the ball for my first touch, I ended up rushing the pass and somehow put the opposition through for a one-on-one. They hit the post. Imagine if they had scored…
FA Cup It’s hard not to retell stories from the day Danny Butterfield got a hat-trick now that we have drawn Wolves in the Third Round. Ahead of the replay, Neil Warnock On the flipside, though, it hasn’t always been
came into the dressing room and said:
fans chanting with you in service station toilets!
‘Right, guys, big game today. Now, my
I remember when I was at Charlton Athletic and
wife had a dream last night, and her
I had gone on loan to Ipswich Town.
dream was that my right-back is going
Whilst back at Ipswich, I was interviewed and I wasn’t massively complimentary about Charlton – I felt that in my last year with them I wasn’t treated particularly well.
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to score the winning goal today. So, Danny you are playing upfront.’ We all were laughing, as Neil regularly came up with entertaining
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team talks and Butts thought he was having him on, laughing away. Butts and I still couldn’t believe this was happening when we were both lining up to kick-off at the start of the game. We kept looking over to gaffer and basically our faces were saying: ‘Is this really happening?!’ You know the rest.
Rest in peace, Papa Bouba Diop I was just going on air for talkSPORT when I found out the news, and as a former teammate of his, it did get to me. I was at Birmingham for a few months with Papa, as the club knew we needed a bit of bite in midfield. With a nickname like ‘The Wardrobe’, plus the lads’ recollections of the physical battles we’d had against him, he was perfect. Papa ended up grabbing the locker next to mine in the dressing room, so we became good friends. The term does get thrown around, but just because something is a cliché doesn’t mean it isn’t true: he was a gentle giant. Talking to people at Birmingham, a club he was only with for roughly 10 weeks, makes you realise what a lovely bloke he was due to the high regard in which he is held there. In fact, his best game for Birmingham came against Palace. He got the equaliser to secure the comeback from 2-0 down. All my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
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© 2020 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, and the EA SPORTS logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Official FIFA licensed product. © FIFA and FIFA’s Official Licensed Product Logo are copyrights and/or trademarks of FIFA. All rights reserved. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE www.ea.com/games/fifa/fifa-21/game-and-offer-disclaimers FOR DETAILS.
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Quizzes, Games & MORE! Junior EAgles
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Schools In Focus The Foundation have been working with Raglan Primary in Bromley for several years now, and full-time coach Alhaji Alghali has been teaching PE at the school for over two years. Alhaji supported the school throughout lockdown and the children’s remote learning by filming weekly PE lessons for both KS1 and KS2, which were uploaded to the school’s YouTube channel. Since classes have resumed for all pupils, Alhaji has been supporting the school in a variety of ways on top of his PE lessons by teaching phonics and supporting individual children with their learning in different subjects.
Guess who
Badge jumble
Can you guess the four players from today’s
Can you work out the four clubs that Nathaniel
opponents in the below face mash-up?
Clyne has played for from the mixed up badges?
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29 Check out the answers at the bottom of this page!
wordsearch
spot the difference
Can you find the six hidden football-themed
Can you find the five differences in these
words below?
two Jeffrey Schlupp pictures?
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Six words to find:
Mourinho, Lilywhites, Spurs, Adebayor, Davids & Townsend. Now make a sentence that includes all of the words you’ve found!
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sleeve sponsor missing 5 Number 2 on shorts changed colour. changed colour to orange 3 W88 logo missing a number 4 Newcastle Bournemouth Spot The Difference: 1 PUMA logo missing 2 Football Moura. Badge Jumble: 1 Palace 2 Southampton 3 Liverpool 4 AFC
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Guess Who: 1 Gareth Bale 2 Tanguy Ndombele 3 Harry Kane 4 Lucas
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Happy 10th Birthday, Ethan.
George Nash: husband, dad,
Enjoy the day. Love from
grandad, great grandad &
Happy 7th Birthday. Love
Grandma, Mummy, Auntie
friend to all. Fly high. “Even
Mum, Dad, Nan, Grandad
Munya and Mwaita, uncles,
when I die, I’m watching from
and Uncle Michael.
Nyasha, Pedzi, Tyson, Allan,
the sky.” 18/10/41-09/10/20.
Wishing Jordan Elsden a
Nhamo, Tondi and Paul
Wishing lifelong Palace fan,
Happy 50th Birthday, Uncle
Have a lovely birthday, darling.
Terry Penfold, a very Happy
Darren! Once an Eagle, always
All my love, Debs xx
80th Birthday on the 6th
an Eagle! Have a great day from
December. From all the family x
Tom and the Palace family.
Happy 70th Birthday to Steve
Wishing my Dad a very Happy
Hi to my Eagles-supporting friends
Gough, a lifelong Eagles fan.
49th Birthday. Looking forward
(Dan Eaton and Katie Russell).
Have a great day, love from all
to attending games again
Enjoy the game. May the best
of your family & friends xxx
soon. Love Alfie and the Zzzz
team win. FANS UNITED.
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Merry Xmas, Stewart, Nigel, Lee
Harvey, I cannot wait until
and family. See you soon and,
we can both come back to
for a big win, we are right
above all, keep safe, Mandy Ditto,
Selhurst Park - hopefully very
behind you. Colin & Chris.
in these strange times. Keith.
soon! Love you, mate. Dad.
Come on you Eagles, time
Happy 11th Birthday on the
Happy 30th Birthday to our
Happy 1st Birthday, George Foudy.
15th, Rafe. Let’s hope we
daughter, Nicky Fielding, a Crystal
Lots of love Nan and Grandad’s
can get to the match!
Palace fan. Love Mum and Dad.
Red and Blue Army xxx
Love from Mum and Dad xxx Come on you Eagles!
“When I was a young boy, my father said to me, listen here my son, you’re CPFC.” Ever since my father gave me my first shirt, that’s exactly what I have been. Thank you. Forever Red n Blue. RIP Ian Gent.
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Est.
1882 opposition
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tottenham match preview A goal from Jeffrey Schlupp on the final day of last season helped Crystal Palace end a
josé mourinho
frustrating run of league defeats to Tottenham. The 1-1 draw at Selhurst in July was the first time the points were shared between the sides in fiveand-a-half years, but Spurs haven’t had it all their way against Palace. Roy Hodgson was able to mastermind a 2-0 win over the north London club in the FA Cup during the 2018/19 campaign and that competition also saw Palace progress at Tottenham’s expense in 2016. While Spurs have held the advantage in recent league meetings, those wins have largely
When we needed to have the ball, we had it. When we needed to be aggressive in transitions, we were. When we needed two world-class strikers to score amazing goals, they did
been by the odd goal with Jose Mourinho’s predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, securing five consecutive 1-0 wins over Palace in his tenure.
last three
Despite a Harry Kane goal, Palace last tasted league success over the Lilywhites in 2015 and the England captain will be the danger again today. He has struck four times in these meetings
2-0
w {H) 06.12.20
3-3
d {A) 03.12.20
0-0
d {a) 29.11.20
- each one in SE25 - and already has double figures for Spurs this term. Goals have been hard to find for the Eagles against Spurs, but Jordan Ayew will hope to continue his fine form against London clubs. Since he moved to England five years ago, the Ghanaian has struck 10 times against teams from the capital and also scored four goals against Hertfordshire outfit Watford to show his talent inside the M25. By: George Sessions, reporter for PA Sport.
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the lilywhites
premier league wins
all-timers Hugo Lloris
158
Jan Vertonghen
129
Aaron Lennon
127
Jermain Defoe
125
150
Teddy Sheringham
97
Jermain Defoe
91
Robbie Keane
91
premier league goals
Harry Kane
last time out 1 24 4 15 3 17 5 23 18 7 10
Lloris Aurier Alderweireld Dier Reguilón Sissoko 5Højbjerg Bergwijn Lo Celso Son Heung-Min Kane
2-0 1 4
15 3
24 17
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18
7
10 opposition
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player profile
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Age
33
Height
1.88m
Joined
31st August, 2012
Debut
20th September, 2012 v Lazio (Europa League)
PREVIOUS CLUB: Nice & Lyon
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Hugo Lloris POSITION: GOALKEEPER NATIONALITY: FRANCE
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Les Blues’ No.1 continued his push to become France’s most-capped player of all-time in the recent international break, reaching 120 caps, leaving him three behind Thierry Henry and 23 off Lilian Thuram’s record of 143. At club level, should he pass
Matt Doherty
Sergio Reguilón
POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: REP OF IRELAND
POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: SPAIN
Ledley King and Jermain Defoe
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this season for Spurs Premier League appearances, he will leave just Darren Anderton’s 299 to hunt down next campaign.
271 apps 97 clean sheets official matchday programme
Davinson Sánchez
Eric Dier
POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: COLOMBIA
POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND
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24
05
Serge Aurier
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: IVORY COAST
POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: DENMARK
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182 apps 63 clean sheets
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17 Toby Alderweireld
Harry Winks
Moussa Sissoko
POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND
POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: FRANCE
POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: BELGIUM
player profile
A stalwart in the Spurs backline Age
31
Height
1.87m
Joined
8th July, 2015
Debut
8th August, 2015 v Manchester United
since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2015, Alderweireld has proven one of club and country’s most solid defenders. A Player of the Season award marked his success throughout his first campaign in London - 2015/16 - when he also made the PFA’s Team of the Year.
PREVIOUS CLUB: Ajax & Atlético Madrid
opposition
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18
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Giovani Lo Celso
Gedson Fernandes
POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: ARGENTINA
POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: PORTUGAL
07
31 apps 03 goals
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Harry Kane
Tanguy Ndombele
POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: SOUTH KOREA
POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: ENGLAND
POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: FRANCE
player profile
Son Heung-Min
This season it appears José
Age
23
Height
1.81m
by midfielder Tanguy Ndombele,
Joined
2nd July, 2019
start – and scoring - against
Debut
10th August, 2019 v Aston Villa
Mourinho has been won round and after being selected to Manchester United in Spurs’ fourth league game of the season, the France international has become a key player for the Lilywhites.
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Amiens & Lyon
official matchday programme
09
player profile
39
Age
31
Height
1.85m
Joined
25th May, 2007
Debut
26th August, 2007 v Manchester United
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur & Real Madrid
11
Gareth Bale POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: WALES
23
Gareth Bale’s first stint in north London got off to a slow start, however, after 42 goals in the topflight from 146 appearances, Real Madrid came knocking to make the Wales international the world’s then-most expensive player. After four Champions League
Erik Lamela
Steven Bergwijn
POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: ARGENTINA
POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: NETHERLANDS
final victories, two La Liga titles
27
and a Copa del Rey medal, Bale is now back at the Lilywhites, with all those associated with the club
45
hoping he can emulate the 21 league goals he scored in his final campaign before heading to Spain.
149 apps 43 goals
Lucas Moura
Carlos Vinícius
POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: BRAZIL
POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: BRAZIL
opposition
40
#22
#17
MŠCarthy
Sissoko
player comparison
Age 31
position Midfielder
nationality R.0.i
Age 31
position Midfielder
nationality fra
apps
Passes
yellow cards
apps
Passes
yellow cards
48
37
Interceptions
Clearances
goals
passes per match
Tackles
Interceptions
Clearances
8,740
Tackles
243
passes per match
10,920
goals
261
13
42
681
423
369
14
36
292
175
186
official matchday programme
Hit woodwork
Tackles
Big chances created
interceptions
Passes per match
Hit woodwork
Tackles
Big chances created
interceptions
Schlupp
#15
154 player comparison
Age 27 position Midfielder nationality gha Age 28 position Midfielder nationality arg
apps
goals
assists apps goals assists
11 8
159
16
21.25
0
284
11
182
25.67
9
251
29
106
opposition
Statistics shown are all-time Premier League - correct as of 08/12/20
Passes per match
41
#11
Lamela
23
42
LIGHT
SPEED
FINISHING
official matchday programme
43
Crystal Palace are looking to collect points from Spurs in consecutive fixtures for the first time since 2005, having drawn earlier this year.
16
Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in 12 of their last 22 Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (including eight in the last 10).
13 1
0
match facts
17
23
GOALS
112 125 SHOTS
12
16
16
9
EXPECTED GOALS
GOALS CONCEDED
40
15
49
AVERAGE POSSESSION %
15
12
EXPECTED GOALS AGAINST
18
0
SHOT CONVERSION RATE %
6
POINTS GAINED AFTER TRAILING
1
5
CLEAN SHEETS
2
4
POINTS DROPPED AFTER LEADING
goal times time
SCORED
CONCEDED
time
SCORED
CONCEDED
0-15
5
2
0-15
7
1
16-30
3
4
16-30
3
0
31-45
1
1
31-45
3
1
46-60
2
1
46-60
2
2
61-75
4
1
61-75
4
0
76-90
2
7
76-90
4
5
opposition
44
what’s the storey @danielstorey85
onus will be on Spurs to break them down. This is hardly alien to the Lilywhites, who had 59% possession or higher away at Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Burnley and won all three games. However it does give
Columnist, Daniel Storey, can be
Palace options on the counter.
heard on The Totally Football Show
With Zaha and Eze in tandem,
and seen in the Irish Examiner, the
opponents are unable to double-
i Paper and many more.
mark one player and shut down the threat on the break. That
Who gets to counter attack?
pair have played 400 minutes together this season and, in that
In their north London derby win over Arsenal, José Mourinho’s side had just 30% possession - lower than Palace’s home average - but effectively won the game with two first-half counters
time, Palace average a goal
This fixture pits together two
every 40 minutes. The Eagles
of the best counter-attacking
are reduced to a goal every 84
teams in the Premier League.
minutes when one or neither of
indeed dominate possession.
Palace have the lowest average
the frontmen are playing.
Ndombele has the ability to
home possession in the division,
beat his man in a one-on-one
an apparent handicap which,
situation (no Tottenham player
conversely, is particularly
completes more dribbles) but
and Wilfried Zaha stay high up
How do Spurs shift formation?
the pitch and spring into action
Mourinho prefers to use one of
against a deep-lying defence.
when the ball is turned over.
two starting formations: 4-2-3-1
The other way Tottenham shift
effective when Eberechi Eze
also to pass the ball quickly in tight spaces. Both will be key
or 4-3-3 but there is plenty of
shape in possession is by
same. In their north London
crossover between them.
switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a
derby win over Arsenal, José
Against Arsenal, Tottenham
3-4-3. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg or
Mourinho’s side had just
nominally started in a 4-2-3-1
Moussa Sissoko drop into the
30% possession - lower than
but Giovani Lo Celso repeatedly
middle of defence, with the
Palace’s home average - but
dropped deep into midfield to
two central defenders shifting
effectively won the game with
give them added steel as they
wider, and the advanced central
two first-half counters.
looked to soak up pressure.
midfielder drops a little deeper.
But Tottenham are the
The chances are that
One option at Selhurst Park
That cover allows the full-
Tottenham will need to play on
could be for Tanguy Ndombele
backs to push forward and
the front foot at Selhurst Park.
to return in the 4-2-3-1 shape,
create overlaps on the flanks
Palace will be happy to sacrifice
but for the Frenchman to stay
- Mourinho prefers Serge Aurier
the ball and, as favourites, the
higher up the pitch if Spurs do
in this role but Matt Doherty is
official matchday programme
45
Kane drifting away from goal either drags defenders up the pitch, creating space, or forces them to stay deep and thus creates an overload in midfield
equally capable. That in turn allows Son Heung-Min on the left and Steven Bergwijn or Gareth Bale on the right to drift in as inverted wingers. They both get close to Harry Kane - again key against a deep defence - with the full-backs looking to get close to the byline to cross the ball.
Watch out for the right-back runs Within this 3-4-3 shape in another trick to create space:
What to do about Kane dropping deep
overloading the left flank.
They are the form strike partnership in world football,
With Sergio Reguilón pushing
complementing each other’s attributes perfectly and enjoying
forward from left-back, Son
a telepathic understanding that allows them to create chances
also stays wide and Ndomble
almost at will. Stop Kane and Son and you might just stop
drifts left from his central
Tottenham, but it is easier said than done.
position. Having three players
The keys to this run of form are Son’s remarkable chance
in the same area of the pitch
conversion - he has had 21 shots in the league, including those
necessitates the opposition
blocked, and scored 10 goals - and Kane’s tendency to drop
drifting over to that side of the
deep to play as a creator rather than goalscorer (although it
pitch to cover.
has hardly hampered his strike rate).
And that’s when Tottenham
Kane drifting away from goal either drags defenders up
switch play. The right-back
the pitch, creating space for the two wide forwards in behind
charges down the right-wing,
them, or forces them to stay deep and thus creates an overload
often finding plenty of space
in midfield in which Kane can pick his pass.
on the far edge of the penalty
Palace have three options. Either they pick an additional
area. From that position he
defensive midfielder who is given man-marking duties and
can either cross the ball or
stays touch-tight with Kane at all times, or they work on a
play a pass into the right-sided
shared strategy where a central defender partially sticks with
forward, who then has options
Kane but then passes on duties as he drifts further from goal –
as those players on the left
something that takes great discipline and communication. The
dash into the penalty area to
rogue third option is to accept that Kane will create chances
create danger.
and plan for a high-scoring, end-to-end thriller.
daniel storey
Statistics scorrect as of 08/12/20
possession, Tottenham have
46
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47
Questions linking Palace and today’s opponents that will test even the biggest Eagles fan. Time to earn your ‘Palace Encyclopaedia’ nickname.
01
06 Neil Sullivan had a brief loan spell at Selhurst
Former Spurs and Palace player, Peter Taylor,
Park during his 12 years with Wimbledon. How
managed Kerala Blasters. But which other
many appearances did the ‘keeper make for
former Eagles manager has had a spell with
the Eagles?
the Indian Super League side?
07
02 Which Palace manager brought Dean Austin
Taylor briefly combined his managerial stint in
to Selhurst Park from White Hart Lane?
south London with which international job?
03
08 Gary O’Reilly opened the scoring in the famous
Andy Gray was with Palace for his solitary
3-3 FA Cup final v Manchester United. But in
international appearance for England in a Euro
which minute did the defender find the back of
’92 qualifier against which nation?
the net?
09
04 Anthony Gardner initially had a loan spell
Edgar Davids represented both of today’s
from which club before joining Palace on a
London teams but from this list, which side
permanent deal?
didn’t the footballing icon play for: Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Barnet and Real Madrid.
05 Gardner’s one appearance for England came
10
in 2004 as a half-time substitute for Jonathan
Chris Armstrong left Palace for Spurs but
Woodgate. Which manager handed the
which London club did the striker join the
defender his Three Lions bow?
Eagles from?
answers manager 8 Poland 9 Real Madrid 10 Millwall 1 One 2 Terry Venables 3 18th 4 Hull City 5 Sven-Göran Eriksson 6 Steve Coppell 7 England Under-21s opposition quiz
48
49
fantasy dinner party This week, Palace’s assistant manager Ray Lewington reveals he once played against England great, Sir Bobby Moore, and had regular calls with another Sir: Elton John. Not
Muhammad Ali “Greatest sportsman and character that has ever lived, for me. Just brilliant, in awe of the man and would love to meet him.”
Bobby Moore “I played against him, at the back end of his career, when has was at Fulham – I actually joined Fulham the year after he left. But from what everyone tells me he was a lovely, lovely man and obviously a top footballer.”
sure if Dusty Springfield would be more Fulham or Watford, though?
a lovely, lovely man and obviously a top footballer Elton John “When I was manager of Watford, he was in the background and he phoned me once a week and he knew everything that was going on even though he wasn’t officially attached to the club.”
Winston Churchill “You read about him, and he was an awkward character. But I like people like that, who call it like they see it, and accept
ay
the consequences. You listen to those wartime speeches and they still give me a tingle now.”
Dusty Springfield “One of my favourite singers – although I’m not sure she is a real personality. I thought she had the most incredible voice.”
fantasy dinner party
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51
Over the road at Copers Cope
Sion Spence Copers Cope Road is home to Palace’s firstteam Training Ground and, just a few steps down on the other side of the road, you’ll find the Eagles’ Category 1 Academy complex.
over the road at copers cope
52
B
randon Pierrick crosses the ball, Sion Spence meets it at the back post and the ball
ends up in the back of the net via a defensive mishap from Sunderland’s Bobby Beaumont. Own goal, then? Not a chance. “You have got to claim that, haven’t you? Got to claim them,” Spence laughs, before going on to admit that “some of them [teammates] are letting me have it but most are saying ‘no.’” However, being managed by Shaun Derry, who scored just three Palace, Spence was always going to get the backing of his manager: “But the coaches are letting me have it.” Spence’s ‘goal’ caps off a good few weeks for him, having returned from two excellent performances with Wales’ Under-21s over the international break. Only the final game resulted in a 2-1 defeat to Germany having overcome Moldova 3-0. Spence admits “we could’ve nicked a point” against Die Mannschaft. With international pedigree, it is no surprise Palace offered Spence – who says he likes to “nick a goal from midfield” – a contract after a postlockdown trial in the summer. But why did Spence opt to leave Cardiff City, a club he had been with since the age of seven, for the famous red and blue? “They [Palace] have a great track record with players, and moving up to Category 1 was a big factor. The staff
official matchday programme
ion randon ierrick pence
goals in 168 league appearances for
53
The setup so far has been brilliant. I’ve enjoyed going in to training every day and hopefully it will continue like that across the coaches, the analysts… they’ve all been really good right away, even from when I was just on trial. “The setup so far has been brilliant. I’ve enjoyed going in to training every day and hopefully it will continue like that.” Luckily for Spence, though, Palace didn’t hold any grudges for what happened earlier in the year: “My last game for Cardiff was actually against Palace before lockdown. We won 3-2 and I managed to score the winner last minute.” Thankfully, having former Eagle Jermaine Easter as your agent helps smooth over any potential tongue-incheek grudges. In fact, Easter’s stint between 2011 and 2013 was more than enough for him to know that Palace was the perfect place for his client. “Jermaine knew the club inside out and said it is a great place to develop your game and he was one of the main reasons I decided to come here.” Here’s hoping the Easter bunny continues to deliver in south London.
over the road at copers cope
su
tio n
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p
po
rt
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f alace for life
ou
nd
a
Palace Kitchen to feed thousands in need this winter Crystal Palace Football Club and Palace for Life Foundation have reopened The Palace Kitchen – the pioneering project that provides healthy and nutritious food to thousands of local people in need. Initially, club chefs will prepare around 350 meals a day, four days a week, throughout December with a commitment to create more than 5,000 meals before Christmas. The club will continue to work with Croydon Council to identify vulnerable individuals and families in the greatest need of support. This will include those in emergency housing, the elderly, families and homeless people.
Donate here: www.justgiving.com/palacekitchen
55
From current or past club employees to unsung heroes, people looking to make a difference to those who have found fame: south London is a special place to live, work and experience. This week, historian Peter Manning discusses his role in unearthing the club’s legitimate claim to having been formed in 1861 and therefore making Palace the world’s oldest professional football club.
Voices of south london
56
T
here has long been talk in Crystal Palace circles that the club is, in fact, one of the oldest in the world. It’s a story told hazily to
But the grandiose claim has humble origins in Manning’s passion for history. “I’ve always been interested in
fledgling fans and briefly frowned over in pre-match
history,” he says, “and interested in the
pub huddles.
history of Crystal Palace and the football
Until Peter Manning began researching it, it
club, because obviously it’s my local team
was a loose and general tale based on misquoted
and area. I remember visiting Crystal Palace
parents and hearsay. Today, it is a factually
and seeing the dinosaurs in the park when I
supported claim endorsed by Crystal Palace F.C:
was a young kid.
the oldest professional club in world football.
“I became particularly interested in
“I was born in Croydon, raised in South
trying to acquire memorabilia of Crystal
Norwood,” Manning says, explaining how his
Palace’s time at the Crystal Palace, which
connection with Palace began. “In my era, kids
was only 10 years… Very rarely something
supported the local team and all the kids from my local school, South Norwood Junior, were Palace fans. “I first got taken to a Palace match by a friend’s father; I don’t know which match it was but it would have been in the late ‘50s, in the old Fourth Division. So it goes way, way back and I gradually
I was always aware of the club ‘legend’ that there had been a team in 1861
became more and more of an ardent fan and have been ever since. “Players that really stood out for me were
comes up from the Crystal Palace that
Johnny Byrne and Peter Taylor, who both played
relates to the football club’s time there and
for England when Palace were in the Third Division.
five or six years ago, a tankard came up for
Kenny Sansom was the best left-back we and this
auction which was inscribed ‘Crystal Palace
country have ever had and I liked the mercurial Don
Football Club’ and dated 1873-1874.
Rogers, too.”
“I thought it was a little bit odd because
Manning’s name has been well-read by
the club technically didn’t exist at that time,
supporters in recent times, after he published the
or at least it was only amateur ground staff.
ground-breaking book, Palace at the Palace: A
“It made me want to inquire more
History of the Crystal Palace and its Football Club.
about it, and about that time the British
The book outlines Palace’s claim to being founded
Library, which holds the national collection
in 1861, before turning professional as the same
of historical newspapers, started digitising
side in 1905.
old papers and putting them online to enable
In April 2020, the club officially endorsed
people to search them… I started looking
this theory and publicised its newly documented
around in the digitised Victorian newspapers
heritage widely. Media across the continent
and a very different story emerged.
published the story and Eagles fans were provided with a new, exciting history for their club.
official matchday programme
“It was rather like an archaeological dig. You think you’ve found a Roman villa,
57
and you keep digging and keep digging and a Roman town and city emerges.” Manning’s pursuit of Palace’s true history allowed him to publish over 400 pages on both the Crystal Palace and the football club, and it didn’t take long until his team’s most senior figures began to take note. “I was so convinced we had a valid claim that I sent complimentary copies [of the book] to a few people to see what they thought. The man who really followed it up was [former co-Chairman] Stephen Browett, who very kindly got me a meeting with Steve Parish before the Fulham game in 2018. “He [Parish] was very enthusiastic. His bottom line was: ‘Okay, let’s make the claim.’ I then got introduced to [Palace TV presenter] Chris Grierson to talk about an interview with the club. I met him before a game and his view was that this would make a really good video and it grew from there. “[In April], the club’s media team then pushed the story out and it appeared in the national press, the Guardian ran a big story on it, the Evening Standard, and it even appeared in the press in parts of Europe: Gazzetta Dello Sport from Italy. “I was always aware of, if you like, the club ‘legend’ that there had been a team in 1861 but that it was not connected to today’s club. Now that we can show it was, by virtue of it always having been the team of the Crystal Palace and its owners, the Crystal Palace Company, from 1861 onwards, we can claim to be the oldest professional league club in the world.” With the claim spreading across football and even as high as the FA, Peter Manning has turned hazy stories to fledgling fans and pre-match pub huddles into a legitimate, history-changing theory. Peter’s book Palace at the Palace can be purchased via our online Club Shop and in-store at Bromley, Croydon and Selhurst.
voices of south london
58
palace for life The Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF) has been supporting the outreach work of community football organisations, like Palace for Life Foundation, for 10 years. As part of the recent PLCF 10-Year Anniversary Awards, we have been celebrating the achievements of people who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference to others in south London over the past decade. One of those individuals is Qudus Popoola, who was first involved with Palace for Life in 2006 when he attended our Premier League Kicks football sessions as a 15-year-old with aspirations of becoming a coach. After gaining experience on a voluntary basis and undertaking his FA coaching badges, Qudus went on to become one of our first participants to be offered a job at the Foundation.
official matchday programme
I want young people to be able to feel safe and to keep fit. I want them to understand that there’s more to football than the playing side
59
He is a very worthy winner of this award and I’m delighted his contributions have been recognised Fast forward 14 years and Qudus is now a University graduate and Head of Year at a local secondary school, but still finds time to work as a coach and mentor on our Premier League Kicks programme and is committed to inspiring the next generation. He said: “I want young people to be able to feel safe and to keep fit. I want them to understand that there’s more to football than the playing side. There’s the coaching side, there’s education, there are many branches to football and Kicks is the tree that pulls it together. It’s all about the engagement and being part of the community.”
dedicates his time to helping young people through
po
p
as a positive role model in Croydon. The fact he still
su
local participants and parents who look up to him
tio n
Palace for Life Community Sports Manager, Roxanne Bennett, added: “Qudus has an array of
rt
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alace for life
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Enter the Palace for Life Super Draw
Kicks alongside his successful teaching career
this month and support The Palace
speaks volumes about his character. He is a very
Kitchen. From just £5, you can win
worthy winner of this award and I’m delighted his
great Palace prizes or a cash jackpot
contributions have been recognised.” The other Palace for Life winners in the PLCF 10 Year Awards were James Jenden (Primary Stars), Lauren Campbell (Primary Stars), Elise Wilson (Kicks), Pat Gordon (Inspires) and Paul Funnell (PFA). Find out more at palaceforlife.org or
of £1,500, with proceeds helping us to produce thousands of nutritious meals for people in need this winter. Join today at palacesuperdraw.com
@palaceforlife
palace for life
GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk
61
game that changed my career 3-1
A footballer’s debut is, understandably, usually the game that means the most to them; hard work rewarded and a dream achieved. However, that
1st September, 2012 Championship
footballing bow doesn’t necessarily represent the 90 minutes that had the biggest impact on a player’s career. Throughout this season, we will be talking to
From a Palace point of view, I’d probably pick the
past and present Eagles to find out which match
Sheffield Wednesday game. Because I went from a
has had the biggest bearing on their career.
bad atmosphere, bad feelings and losing to all of a
This week it is Palace cult hero, Damien Delaney, who talks us through the Palace clash that
sudden being in a changing room where there was a good feeling and winning a game of football.
made him fall back in love with the beautiful game.
Ultimately that’s why everyone plays and winning a game of football on a Saturday is the best feeling you could ever get. That one win brought the love back. Maybe the love that I had lost for football or the real passion and desire that I had was kind of beaten out of me or lost. But that Sheffield Wednesday game, I came back in the dressing room afterwards, everyone
amo
was so happy. I think Palace were the same as me: there was
administration, there were troubles, it wasn’t a great start to the season – they weren’t winning games either and I wasn’t having a particularly good time. But then all of sudden, one win flips everything
on its head. I remember being in the changing room after that game and it was like we had won the Champions League. But I bought into that, even though I was only in the building for 24 hours, because I hadn’t won a game either myself in a long time and hadn’t felt good about a win in a long time.
game that changed my career
62 @pnm1979
official matchday programme
63
1994/95 The good, the bad and the ugly: Kit or Miss will review those desirable gems, those best-forgotten strips and do a bit of market research for those of you looking to snap up some of the Eagles’ iconic shirts. This week, Scott Dann models the away kit from the 1994/95 season.
kit or miss
64
1994 T he dawn of the club’s next-mostrecent crest, 1994/95 provided us with not only a fondly held,
memorable badge, but another yellow jewel in the club’s crown, too. The ‘94/95 away kit closely resembled its fine predecessor from ‘92/93, but took a slightly bolder step forward than that more understated marigold forerunner.
What we like: Finally, the collar’s fixed. Palace hit the nail on the head with their kits from the late ‘80s to the late ‘90s, but always seemed to struggle with a collar that fastened properly. A nice, chunky button sorted them out in ‘94/95, and made the hidden blue streaks inside the collar a rare, hard to spot detail.
Along with the new badge design, Palace adopted a mottled pattern subtly hidden away in their shirts, which with this away kit only came to the fore under certain light.
Even better if: The dark green collar was so dark it looked black in certain lights. Go up a shade.
Perhaps most gloriously, however, the club amended its choice of blue shorts from ‘92/93 by making the inside
Wore it best:
collar of the ‘94/95 shirt light blue, too.
Simon Rodger
They also printed a gold band across the shorts, and twinned the dark green of the collar with the sponsor’s colour, neatly tying the whole scheme together. Very satisfying.
official matchday programme
Story of the season After winning the First Division the season before, Palace came
1995
painfully close to consolidating their Premier League status in
The finest hour:
‘94/95, but sadly it wasn’t to be.
A pre-season friendly v Carshalton was,
With the top flight slimming down to 20 teams, a fourth club would be
poignantly, one of Ray Wilkins’ few appearances in a Crystal Palace shirt.
relegated at the end of the season and Palace were the unfortunate fall-guys for such a cut. In fact, they would slip to the second tier with the record points total for a relegated Premier League side and bounce straight back under Steve Coppell the following season. With five promotions or relegations in six campaigns, this would truly be the heart of Palace’s ‘yo-yo’ years. However, the Eagles did also reach the semi-finals of both the League and FA Cup in 1994/95, and overall this effort would be regarded as a season hit by misfortune rather than inability.
Where are they now? The iconic Palace crest revealed in ‘94/95 stayed with the club for almost 20 years, finally being replaced upon the club’s return to the Premier League in 2013. It was originally designed to adapt the crest of the 1980s to look more like an eagle, and less like a phoenix, as per Ron Noades’ request.
Buyers’ guide: This is not an easy shirt to buy online. After all, who would want to sell such a classy retro kit? But you’ll see them around on matchdays so, we don’t know, get friendly with the stylish bloke next to you?
kit or miss
65
66
We’ve made the beer better. Worth a try? Probably. Carlsberg Danish Pilsner. Rebrewed for a crisper taste.
67
Club Historian, Ian King, looks back at the 1990/91 campaign that saw a Wembley return and confirmed Palace, for one season at least, as the third-best club in the country.
1990/91 seaon
68
Cup tie. It was Orient’s second visit to Selhurst in a matter of weeks having overcome tenants Charlton Athletic in the previous round. The same team took to the pitch that had been involved in the sevengoal thriller with Wimbledon three days earlier.
t
For Palace, the most consecutive appearances record is held by former ‘keeper, John Jackson, with 254 in a row across league and cup. owards the end of October, 1990 it was revealed that manager Steve Coppell had been offered
a place in the England setup to take responsibility for the Under-21s.
Terry Long holds the club-record for an outfield player having amassed 234 league and cup appearances from 5th September, 1956 to 4th March, 1961.
However, he declined the opportunity. There was further acclaim for what the south Londoners were achieving,
And for John Humphrey it would
too, when Geoff Thomas was awarded
mark his 150th consecutive first-team
the Evening Standard Footballer of the
appearance, stretching back to 1987
Month award for October.
with Charlton Athletic. The game would end in a goalless draw, in large part thanks to Orient
“This award, I think, reflects the success of the team as a whole. It has been a real team effort.”
‘keeper Paul Heald who made a string of exceptional saves. In fact, it may well have been this performance that resulted in the Eagles
Geoff Thomas speaking upon collection of his Evening Standard Footballer of the Month award for October
signing Heald on loan for three months in 1992. The following day, Everton sacked manager Colin Harvey and the press speculated that Coppell was in-line for
The next team to visit Selhurst Park were Third Division Leyton Orient,
the vacant Toffees job. If the possibility of losing the
with the O’s making the short journey
manager was bad enough, Palace’s
to SE25 for a Third Round League
record-run of 13 unbeaten league and
official matchday programme
69
cup games from the start of the season came to a halt at Old Trafford – two goals in the first 20 minutes securing the 2-0 win for the Red Devils. Steve Coppell was philosophical after the defeat, saying: “We are still a bit naïve at times
Round tie against Southampton. After the game Coppell commented: “All credit to Orient. If they had beaten us it might have put doubts in some minds about the future. Some people say we are a flash in the pan.”
but we are making progress. Losing against United will be interesting because we will find
MARK BRIGHT
JOINED FROM: Leicester City, November, 1986 - £75,000 DEBUT: out the character of the side.” Next up was the League Cup replay and a trip to Brisbane Road, and another goalless 90 minutes seemed to be on the horizon. However, three minutes from the end, with extra time looming, Palace produced the only real moment of quality in the game with
15th November, 1986 v Ipswich Town (H) FINAL PALACE GAME: 5th September, 1992 v Aston Villa (A) LEFT FOR: Sheffield Wednesday, September, 1992 APPEARANCES:
Ian Wright cutting in from the right to release
286
the perfect pass for Mark Bright, who steered
GOALS:
the ball home to send the Eagles into a Fourth
113
1990/91 season
70
official matchday programme
71
it will be hugely beneficial to the squad if that Brighton game sees the return of their family and friends
T
ayo Adaramola has followed Fionn
weekend. Fixture runs like we are currently
Mooney and Jadan Raymond in
on continue to highlight the jump from
signing his first professional contract
Category 1, and our year closes out next
with the club, and it is another well-deserved achievement for a hard-working young man. As an Under-16, Tayo competed in our FA
weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion. I get asked whether the rivalry is there at this level and I respond the same way each
Youth Cup team, and regularly played up with
time: ‘Look, it is Crystal Palace v Brighton.’
the Under-18s. He was a sought-after talent,
The players understand the importance of
who comes with international experience, so
that fixture to everybody involved at the
for us to secure him on professional terms is
football club. I’m confident that the lads
hugely pleasing.
will approach that game in the way that is
Tayo is a really humble and down to earth kid, who finds comfort when he steps over
befitting of a derby clash. It is a big match on our fixture list, like it is for the first-team.
that white line to play football. He works his
With fans now slowly returning to
socks off every day in training and is always
stadiums, it will be hugely beneficial to the
looking to develop every aspect of his game.
squad if that Brighton game sees the return of
You are reading this two days after we faced Fleetwood Town in the FA Youth Cup. I’m
their family and friends to the stands. It has been really tough for the parents
under no illusions that, whatever the outcome
to continually miss out during the pandemic.
was from the 90 minutes yesterday, it will have
There has been a select couple of games that
been an extremely tough game for us.
one parent only has been allowed in under
I know their first-team manager, Joey Barton, and assistant manager, Clint Hill, well,
extremely strict protocols. The parents play a massive part in the
and I know they will have built an exceptional
players’ development, and the sacrifices they
philosophy throughout the club’s age groups.
make in terms of travelling around the country
Taking part in the competition comes
cannot be understated. I have continually
bang in the middle of a testing run for us. We
understood their disappointment and
faced top of the table Aston Villa a couple
frustrations during this time, so it will be great
of weeks back and Tottenham Hotspur last
to get them all back in on a regular basis.
paddy m©carthy
72
official matchday programme
73
Having my family and friends finally able to come and see me play in the red and blue will be a special moment
i
trained for quite a while with the club before
encouragement with is picking up the ball for set
signing a contract in the summer, which
pieces. It’s always nice to slot home a couple
allowed me to work out if Palace was the
of penalties but the free-kick I scored against
right fit for me and also for the club to work out if
London Bees in our 1-4 win in the league is
I was the right fit for them, too.
certainly a highlight from my time so far.
In the end, the welcome the coaches and
Again, though, I must mention the staff,
players gave me, the passion amongst the
and James Marrs in particular. Although I’ve
setup and the high level of coaching made it
never shied away from the responsibility of
an easy decision.
set pieces, Marrsy has worked with me on my
The confidence which Dean and the management team have instilled in me and the
technique and the best ways to strike a ball to improve accuracy.
plans they had for my position – developing
We played Liverpool last weekend, and
my impact in the final third from midfield –
although I feel many would’ve expected them to
excited me.
run away with the league after their relegation
There is now a real desire from Dean for
from the Women’s Super League, it showcases
me to showcase my attacking capabilities
the high quality in the Championship that prior to
and to be confident when in possession, and I
facing us they were in fourth place.
believe that this season my game has gone up another level in that regard. That being said, there have been occasions
The coming months will hopefully see me experience my first home game as a Palace player with fans back in the ground. Having
this season where I’ve been required to have a
my family and friends finally able to come
defence-minded role. Again, it’s not necessarily
and see me play in the red and blue will be a
a natural part of my game but the coaches at
special moment.
Palace arm with you the knowledge and skills
The girls have continually mentioned to
required to carry out any specialist roles across
me about how loyal and loud the Palace fans
a variety of formations.
are, and it is something I have been eagerly
One thing I’ve not needed too much
anticipating since I signed.
coral-jade haines
74
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Andros Townsend
Wilfried Zaha
Mamadou Sakho
Wayne Hennessey
Jeffrey Schlupp
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James McCarthy
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Gary Cahill
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official matchday programme
Sep
oct
nov
dec
jan
2-3
0-2 1-4 0-3 2-4 3-1
Blackburn Rovers
London Bees
Lewes
Durham
Leicester City
Sheffield United
Bristol City
Coventry United
London Bees
Liverpool
Lewes
Charlton Athletic
London City Lionesses
Durham
Leicester City
Blackburn Rovers
London Bees
Sun 27
Sun 4
Wed 7
Sun 11
Sun 18
Sun 1
Thu 5
Sun 8
Thu 19
Sun 6
Sun 13
Sun 20
Sun 10
Sun 17
Sun 24
Sun 7
Sun 14
Lewes
Coventry United
Sun 25
may Sun 2
Sheffield United
Sun 4
Liverpool
1-1
London City Lionesses
Sat 12
0-4
6-1
2-1
4-1
2-2
Charlton Athletic
Result
Opposition
Sun 6
mar Sun 7
feb
apr
Sep oct nov dec JAN FEB MAR
Burnley Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds United Reading Sunderland Stoke City
Mon 15 Sun 21 Mon 1 Fri 12 Mon 22 Mon 12
STATS
2-5
0-1
4-3
Home Fixture Away Fixture Cup Fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Aston Villa
Fri 5
Mon 26
Norwich City
Mon 1
Fulham
Mon 04
West Bromwich Albion
Stoke City
Mon 30
Mon 25
Sunderland
Mon 23
Fulham
6-0
Reading
Mon 9
Mon 18
1-4
Leeds United
Sun 1
Newcastle United
2-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mon 26
Middlesbrough
1-0
Burnley
Mon 19
Sun 10
0-1
Aston Villa
Fri 2
Mon 21
0-3
Norwich City
Fri 25
3-3
West Bromwich Albion
Mon 21
Result
Opposition
Date
may Mon 3
APR
Sep oct Nov dec Jan feb MAR APR may
Date
1-0 1-2 1-5
Norwich City Leicester City Reading West Ham United Aston Villa Tottenham Hotpsur Brighton & Hove Albion West Bromwich Albion Fulham Southampton Arsenal Fulham Chelsea Norwich City Leicester City Reading West Ham United Aston Villa
Sat 17 Sat 24 Sat 31 Sat 7 Sat 28 Sat 5 Sat 19 Sat 9 Sat 16 Sat 23 Sat 30 Sat 06 Sat 13 Sat 20 Sat 27 Sat 13 Sat 20 Sat 17
Sat 8
Sat 1
West Bromwich Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion
Tottenham Hotpsur
1-0
Chelsea
Fri 2
Sat 24
3-2
Arsenal
Sat 26
2-1
1-0
2-3
2-1
Southampton
Sat 19
Result
Opposition
Date
75
May
April
March
February
January
December
November
October
September
Date
Opposition
Result
Position
Sat 12
Southampton
1-0
7th
Tue 15
Bournemouth
0-0
Sat 19
Manchester United
3-1
Sat 26
Everton
1-2
6th
Sat 3
Chelsea
0-4
12th
Sat 17
Brighton & Hove Albion
1-1
14th
Sat 24
Fulham
2-1
8th
Sat 31
Wolverhampton Wanderers
0-2
13th
Sat 7
Leeds United
4-1
8th
Mon 23
Burnley
0-1
11th
Fri 27
Newcastle United
0-2
15th
Sat 5
West Bromwich Albion
1-5
11th
Sat 12
Tottenham Hotspur
Tue 15
West Ham United
Sat 19
Liverpool
Sat 26
Aston Villa
Mon 28
Leicester City
Sat 2
Sheffield United
Tue 12
Arsenal
Sat 16
Manchester City
Wed 27
West Ham United
Sat 30
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wed 3
Newcastle United
Sat 6
Leeds United
Sat 13
Burnley
Sat 20
Brighton & Hove Albion
Sat 27
Fulham
Sat 6
Tottenham Hotspur
Sat 13
West Bromwich Albion
Sat 20
Manchester United
Sat 3
Everton
Sat 10
Chelsea
Sat 17
Southampton
Sat 24
Leicester City
Sat 1
Manchester City
Sat 8
Sheffield United
Wed 12
Aston Villa
Sat 15
Arsenal
Sun 23
Liverpool
official matchday programme
(10-11)
R2 5th
Cheikhou KouyatĂŠ
Card Red Card
Max Meyer
Yellow
Scott Dann
Goal(s)
James Tomkins
Unused Sub
Luka Milivojevic
Used Sub
Patrick van Aanholt
Started
Joel Ward
Home Fixture Away Fixture Cup Fixture - Palace score shown first.
Jack Butland
76
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Jordan Ayew Andros Townsend Wilfried Zaha Mamadou Sakho Wayne Hennessey Jeffrey Schlupp Nathaniel Clyne James McArthur Stephen Henderson Christian Benteke James McCarthy Michy Batshuayi Gary Cahill Eberechi Eze Tyrick Mitchell Vicente Guaita Jaroslaw Jach Martin Kelly Sam Woods Nathan Ferguson Nya Kirby Brandon Pierrick JaĂŻro Riedewald
77
9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 27 31 33 34 35 36 37 40 44
Fixtures & results
78
Club
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD Pts
1
Tottenham Hotspur
11
7
3
1
23
9
14
24
2
Liverpool
11
7
3
1
26
17
9
24
3
Chelsea
11
6
4
1
25
11
14
22
4
Leicester City
11
7
0
4
21
15
6
21
5
Southampton
11
6
2
3
21
17
4
20
6
Manchester United
10
6
1
3
19
17
2
19
7
Manchester City
10
5
3
2
17
11
6
18
8
West Ham United
11
5
2
4
18
14
4
17
9
Everton
11
5
2
4
20
18
2
17
10
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
11
5
2
4
11
15
-4
17
11
Crystal Palace
11
5
1
5
17
16
1
16
12
Aston Villa
9
5
0
4
20
13
7
15
13
Newcastle United
10
4
2
4
12
15
-3
14
14
Leeds United
11
4
2
5
16
20
-4
14
15
Arsenal
11
4
1
6
10
14
-4
13
16
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
11
2
4
5
15
18
-3
10
17
Fulham
11
2
1
8
11
21
-10
7
18
Burnley
10
1
3
6
5
18
-13
6
19
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
11
1
3
7
8
23
-15
6
20
Sheffield United
11
0
1
10
5
18
-13
1
Gameweek 10
premier league
Statistics correct as of 5pm Tuesdsay 8th December
leeds √ west ham
southampton √ sheffield utd
11th December 20:00
13th December 12:00
wolves √ aston villa
crystal palace √ spurs
12th December 12:30
13th December 14:15
newcastle √ west brom
fulham √ liverpool
12th December 15:00
13th December 16:30
man utd √ man city
arsenal √ burnley
12th December 17:30
13th December 19:15
everton √ chelsea
leicester √ brighton
12th December 20:00
13th December 19:15
Crystal Palace and the rest of the Premier League will not tolerate racism, anywhere, and we are taking action to combat all forms of discrimination. But we can all do more. Challenge it, report it, change it, and together we can make a positive impact. Visit premierleague.com/noroomforracism to find out more. #NoRoomForRacism
Challenge it. Report it. Change it.
Crystal palace f.c. (GK) Jack BUTLAND Joel WARD Patrick VAN AANHOLT Luka MILIVOJEVIC James TOMKINS Scott DANN Max MEYER Cheikhou KOUYATÉ Jordan AYEW Andros TOWNSEND Wilfried ZAHA Mamadou SAKHO Jeffrey SCHLUPP Nathaniel CLYNE James McARTHUR (GK) Stephen HENDERSON Christian BENTEKE James McCARTHY Michy BATSHUAYI Gary CAHILL Eberechi EZE Tyrick MITCHELL (GK) Vicente GUAITA Martin KELLY Sam WOODS Nathan FERGUSON Jaïro RIEDEWALD
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 15 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 27 31 34 35 36 44
tottenham hotspur f.c. 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 14 15 17 18 20 22 23 24 25 27 28 30 33 40 41 45 47 49
Hugo LLORIS (GK) Matt DOHERTY Sergio REGUILÓN Toby ALDERWEIRELD Pierre-Emile HØJBJERG Davinson SANCHEZ Heung-Min SON Harry WINKS Gareth BALE Harry KANE Erik LAMELA Joe HART (GK) Joe RODON Eric DIER Moussa SISSOKO Giovani LO CELSO Dele ALLI Paulo GAZZANIGA (GK) Steven BERGWIJN Serge AURIER Japhet TANGANGA Lucas MOURA Tanguy NDOMBELE Gedson FERNANDES Ben DAVIES Brandon AUSTIN (GK) Alfie WHITEMAN (GK) Carlos VINICIUS Jack CLARKE Dennis CIRKIN