Crystal Palace v Arsenal programme by Crystal Palace F.C.

Crystal Palace v Arsenal Monday 4th April 2022 // 8:00pm

palace √ arsenal mon 4 apr | 20:00

08 captain 10 chairman 34 darren ambrose 40 over the road 47 voices of south london 51 non-league neighbours 61 cpfc 1861 64 palace women 66 from the terraces 70 stats & results

Directors Chairman Steve Parish, David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, John Textor Chief Executive Phil Alexander 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 U23 Development Mark Bright Commercial Director Barry Webber General Counsel David Nichol Director of Operations Sharon Lacey Head of Ticketing Paul McGowan Head of Retail Laura Holland Chief Marketing and Communications Officer James Woodroof Head of Safeguarding Cassi Wright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott Editor Ben Mountain Design Billy Cooke, Luke Thomas, Stu Ellmer Contributors Will Robinson, Ian King, Peter Manning, Darren Ambrose, Tash Stephens, Toby Jagmohan, Alexa Terry Photography Neil Everitt, Seb Frej, PPA, Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

With Palace being in south London and the facilities we have, hopefully we can get all the best players from south London and not let them go off to other academies

briefing palace √ arsenal mon 4 apr | 20:00

Four generations inspire Palace’s Everton win Four was the magic number when Crystal Palace hosted Everton in the FA Cup quarter-final, with Patrick Vieira’s men dispatching the Toffees through a quad of scorers and, in the Whitehorse Lane Executive Boxes, a fourgeneration family watching on. Main Stand Season Ticket holder Ian Wilkins got in touch to show us the above picture of his family, in which Ian, his 89-year-old mother Frieda, daughter Jade and granddaughters Lola (two) and

march/april

Ivy (then four weeks) watched Palace in action. Frieda last attended Selhurst Park in 1974, taking Ian one day when his father couldn’t make it. She listens to every Palace game live over the radio and didn’t think she’d see another match in person. Ian’s daughter Jade met her

Fan update -

James Tomkins born, 1989

Chelsea 1-2 Crystal Palace, 2017

Southampton 1-0 Crystal Palace, 1976 FA Cup semi-final

Nathaniel Clyne born, 1991

Barnsley wear Palace shirts in 0-0 draw, 2013

now-husband while supporting Palace at Loftus Road, and can now bring two soon-to-be Eagles with her. We’re delighted all four generations were able to enjoy such a convincing win, and wonder how many other families could span 89 years with their support…

Supporters can try our plant-based burger in the Lower Holmesdale, sausage rolls at Johnson’s Bar or the jerk chicken burger also available in the Fanzone. Vegan pies are available stadium-wide and Brooklyn Lager is now in the Arthur Wait near Entrance 4.

What’s inside Find out… why Nathaniel Clyne thinks the future’s bright for Palace (Page 12), how international football works at Academy level (Page 42) and which Formula One drivers bring a ball to the paddock (Page 47).

briefing

manager

Welcome to Selhurst Park to Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal directors, staff and players, and to everyone here supporting us. Welcome also to the visiting Arsenal fans.

ur last game against Everton was very good. The team performance was pleasing, particularly in the way we managed the first 15-20 minutes. This is something I’ve often spoken about. We stuck together through a difficult period and showed maturity and experience in our onfield decisions. The players played the ball a bit longer because the way Everton pressed stopped us building from the back the way we want to. So we went a bit longer to bypass their pressure and that decision showed good game management. That’s credit to the players. We talk about how we want to play and have a gameplan, but when that’s not possible because of the opposition’s approach you have to adapt. So we managed a difficult period well, had the right answers to the threat Everton posed and didn’t concede as a result. That, to me, shows improvement in how we play when the game isn’t going our way. Now we need to be consistent in that and sustain it throughout the final matches.

There was another element that helped us get through the first 20 minutes. You need the game management and right decisions, but, again, your enthusiasm and support was the final ingredient. We didn’t create much to start, then, with your backing, turned it

You need the game management and right decisions, but, again, your enthusiasm and support was the final ingredient around to win 4-0. So our maturity, decision making and supporters were the key for us. Now we’re into the FA Cup semi-final; that’s one more step forward. Before the competition started for us against Millwall we said we wanted to go as far as we can, and now there are two more steps to go. We’re excited and manager

pleased with our progress, but there is a semi-final to focus on. We do this job for these moments and the excitement they bring. This excitement is positive and I want the fans and players to enjoy the moment. But we want more. We will prepare for this game as well as we can to allow ourselves to reach the final. Finally, I was pleased to see so many players called-up to represent their countries. It was a positive break for the club with Jordan and Cheikhou qualifying for the World Cup, so a huge congratulations must go to them. Wilf joined Ivory Coast, Christian scored for Belgium, three players played with England, Michael competed with France Under-21s and Joachim joined Denmark. Each of those call-ups is good for the football club. I will end with a comment on our two new England players, as I know how much their debuts mean to this club. Marc looks as calm playing for England as he does playing for Crystal Palace: his composure is a real strength. And Tyrick showed his potential in an England shirt. Congratulations to both. Thank you for your support

captain

We are back at Selhurst Park again after our 4-0 win over Everton, with a good break and confident players from international duty and we are ready to continue our momentum with this match.

ur win over Everton made us six games unbeaten and there has been just one very close loss in our last 10 matches. We are in some good form, playing well and we have confidence for every game. The Everton win was a very good one and it has made sure the mood inside the squad has stayed high as we know there is a Wembley trip not far away. I said last time that your support could help us get through that round, and it did. The first maybe 15 minutes we did not play the same as we did for the rest of the game – your backing from the early kick-off meant we could get through this period well and then had the energy to beat Everton with a very convincing scoreline. That meant we came into the recent break with a lot of spirit and the boys who played for their countries did well. I would like to say congratulations to Marc and Tyrick – I know how much playing senior football for England means to them. All the boys came back from internationals knowing we have an exciting few weeks ahead of us. Of course, there is Wembley, but there

we know this evening will not be an easy one but also that we are a bit stronger now, so will give Arsenal even more of a challenge

captain

are also nine very important league games, all of which are chances to get three points, and some difficult teams left to play. That starts today against an Arsenal team that is enjoying good form. When we played at the Emirates I felt we should have won this match. We performed very well and came close to making sure it was a victory, but conceded late in the game. Since then I think we have become tighter throughout matches and are able to manage the 90 minutes better as a whole team. So we know this evening will not be an easy one but also that we are a bit stronger now, so will give Arsenal even more of a challenge. We want to ensure our momentum carries on and that we continue our strong league form as a priority. We are pleased with our position at the moment but there is a chance to push beyond the teams just above us with some positive results. Then our full attention turns to Wembley, which I know will be a proud day for this football club – and I look forward to seeing so many of you supporting us. Make some noise!

chairman

Welcome to the supporters, players, staff and directors of Arsenal to Selhurst Park for this eagerly awaited Premier League fixture, and of course, welcome to each and every Crystal Palace supporter here tonight to get behind Patrick’s team as we strive to finish as high as we can in the league.

t has been a very busy few weeks behind the scenes following our incredible and emphatic 4-0 win over Everton to reach the FA Cup semi-final. What a fantastic day that was at Selhurst Park – one of the very best, and I cannot wait to spend the day with tens of thousands of Palace fans at Wembley in under three weeks’ time. We will make sure Season Ticket holders and Members with a booking history who want a ticket gets one. Season Ticket holders and their children who are Junior Members can buy in phase one and sit together before giving our valued Members the chance to snap up their ticket. By the time you read this, tickets will be on sale. I would like to publicly congratulate Patrick for being inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame for his phenomenal record as a player, predominantly with tonight’s guests. I know that the league’s recognition means a lot, and I’m sure everyone reading this will agree it is richly deserved. I cannot recall an international break where we’ve had more call-

ups across the senior and younger age-level groups. Congratulations to them all, but a special mention must go to Marc and to Tyrick for their England debuts. To see three of our players, including Conor, play in an England shirt will have made us all

a special mention must go to Marc and to Tyrick for their England debuts. To see three of our players, including Conor, play in an England shirt will have made us all very proud very proud. I very much hope and expect them to add substantially to their cap collection. I’d also like to congratulate Cheikhou and Senegal for reaching the World Cup (what a few months it’s been!), and Jordan with Ghana too. chairman

Wilfried also played in a very competitive game against France but sadly missed the England game we were all looking forward to see him play through a slight injury – hopefully he is back on the pitch for us this evening. Joachim and Christian also enjoyed positive breaks, with Christian scoring for Belgium and Joachim keeping a clean sheet against Serbia. As for tonight, what a mouthwatering prospect it is. Arsenal have been playing some excellent football since we last met at the Emirates in October, where we were hugely unfortunate not to take all three points after an excellent 80 minutes or so, but were on the receiving end of a stoppage time sucker-punch from Alexandre Lacazette. A lot has happened since then for both sides, and we are very much intent on finishing the season with a flourish – a top 10 berth is very much in sight, and our FA Cup run is in full swing. Exciting times indeed. Enjoy the game and up the Palace

If there’s one man who knows Crystal Palace’s journey, it’s Nathaniel Clyne. Progressing as part of the youth-filled squad that prevented collapse in 2010 and returning to an established Premier League outfit with a worldbeating Academy, the full-back has seen both sides. Here, he tells Ben Mountain how the next generation can learn from his story.

main interview

here’s a unique parallel between Nathaniel Clyne and two of his younger peers today. Like Tyrick Mitchell and Tayo Adaramola, Clyne joined Crystal Palace a little later in his development. Mitchell moved at 16 when the Brentford Academy closed, Adaramola made the switch from playing in Ireland, and Clyne swapped lengthy commutes to Tottenham Hotspur for short bus trips to Beckenham. The three all changed or settled on positions while with Palace, developed through the Academy with no loan spells and went on to make their professional debuts in red and blue. Adaramola continues to split his time across the Under-23s and first-team, but when he crosses the road for training, the three full-backs hone their craft as ball-playing, high-pressing cogs in Patrick Vieira’s machine. You can add international acclaim to that list, too, with Clyne notching 14 senior England caps, Mitchell recently making his senior debut and Adaramola taking to the turf with the Republic of Ireland Under-19s. The difference between them? Where Clyne and Mitchell developed in portacabins across various sites, Adaramola has recently enjoyed one of the finest facilities in England. “It seems like a lot of full-backs have been breaking through the Palace Academy,” Clyne says one day after training, perched on a boot box in the kit room. “We’ve been making a lot of good full-backs.

“You can see over there in the Academy a lot of money has been spent and it’s taken the Academy to the next level. It’s very good for young players to develop and it’s great for the Academy. Hopefully we can get more and more talented young players coming through, and hopefully keeping them – not going to the let’s say ‘bigger’ clubs. Hopefully that will help. “I would have loved to have facilities like that. Credit to them and credit to Palace for building it.”

You can see over there in the Academy a lot of money has been spent and it’s taken the Academy to the next level. It’s very good for young players to develop and it’s great for the Academy. Hopefully we can get more and more talented young players coming through By virtue of growing up in south London, Clyne – much like Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi alike – is often asked why this half of the capital produces such a density of talent. Often, that talent, Jadon Sancho, Emile Smith Rowe and Tammy Abraham to name just three, moves to other, larger clubs. More recently, Zaha, Eze and Guéhi to name just three, they’ve opted for SE25. Clyne may have been asked why a lot, but his answer is no less considered: “South London is a big area and there are loads of young, quality players out there. I also think being streetwise helps. nathaniel clyne

There are loads of cages in south London and that’s tight spaces which helps people’s development. “With Palace being in south London and the facilities we have, hopefully we can get all the best players from south London and not let them go off to other academies. Showing we are bringing through players to the first-team will definitely have the youngsters in their mind that: ‘Okay, look, Palace are bringing through Academy players to the first-team, so if I go there I can get a chance.’ That’s a big thing. “When I was watching players that were similar to my age, they were getting in: John Bostock, Sean Scannell, Victor Moses. When you see players you’ve played with make it through to the first-team, that’s the biggest eye-opener you can get. They were once with you, but now they’re there. If they can be there, I can be there. That’s the way you see it.” Like Clyne followed Moses, Zaha followed him; Jonny Williams followed Zaha; Mitchell, Aaron WanBissaka; and, today, Adaramola could emulate Mitchell. The club’s pathway has long been evident, and today means youngsters making the step-up have three regular first-team players who’ve taken the exact same journey. Clyne is one of them, and while he says he prefers to set an example through his conduct rather than his words, the 30-year-old (31 tomorrow, Tuesday 5th) has plenty of experience to draw upon. So his assessment carries weight: “Tyrick Mitchell’s been doing magnificently well. He’s always

first on the teamsheet, and rightly so with his performances. He’s defending well, he’s getting forward also and is doing what you ask of a full-back. He’s fit, he’s played every single game and is improving and improving. “For Tayo coming through, what better than to have Tyrick right in front of him? Someone who’s young, and he could learn from him to see how he’s gone into the first-team and how he’s conducted himself playing with first-team players. It’s good for both of them to be battling for that position.”

For Tayo coming through, what better than to have Tyrick right in front of him? Someone who’s young, and he could learn from him to see how he’s gone into the first-team But it’s not just Mitchell and Palace’s Academy cohort who’ve developed this season, with Clyne’s attacking style more finely tuned than ever. He started as a forward and settled into defence due to his hunger for tackling. That hunger meant he was, initially, very much a defender’s defender. This season, you’ll find Clyne high up the wing, with the ball regularly against his feet. “Clyney likes to overlap, to go forward. This is his strength,” says manager Patrick Vieira. “Clyney is a bit more the profile of Tyrick. They both like to go forward.” Clyne agrees, saying the game’s changing demands have shaped nathaniel clyne

main interview

his approach: “When I first started playing in defence it was more about the full-back having to defend against your winger. It’s always about: don’t let the winger get the best of you. “As the years have gone on the game’s changed and it’s more demanding for the full-back to get forward and provide assists and be a threat going forward. Sometimes in teams there are a lot of wingers that come inside, play in the No.10 position and then it makes the full-back have to push up wider, like a winger themselves. That’s how the game has changed.

As the years have gone on the game’s changed and it’s more demanding for the full-back to get forward and provide assists and be a threat going forward

“I actually prefer it because I think it’s more entertaining. I think there are more goals, more attacks. Everyone’s attacking, so it’s definitely more enjoyable from a neutral point of view and for myself, because I like to attack and try to get forward to help out.” It’s not just wider football that’s evolved, although the constant analysis of wing-backs a few seasons ago would have you believe that. It’s changed at Palace, too, with Vieira encouraging his fullbacks to express themselves. “He just says to get forward whenever possible,” Clyne reveals. nathaniel clyne

main interview

“Obviously he gives us the licence to get forward. We do have a lot of possession as well, so it gives the full-back time to make the forward runs and get into attacking positions. That helps a lot. “I’d say it’s a bit different from last season, the style the new manager wants us to play. We see the ball more, it’s more about having possession and pressing higher up the pitch to try and win the ball back as quickly as possible. It’s more on the front-foot, which is my game. “I like to use my pace and I like to be in possession of the ball, try to create chances and do the best I can for the team.” There’s one more parallel to draw with Clyne and his current teammates, but it isn’t one you’d guess. In fact, when Marc Guéhi first captained Palace against Watford in February this year, few people across the fanbase could guess: the last captain younger than Guéhi? The answer: Nathaniel Clyne, against Leicester City in January 2012. He was 20 years, eight months and 28 days old. We ask: Do you remember being captain against – we falter – “Leicester,” Clyne interjects immediately. “I remember that. “I didn’t know I was the youngest but, yeah, looking back I must have been. It was only for one game, though. It was still a big thing; I didn’t know the procedures of being captain. I had to, at the start of the game – I don’t know if they’re still doing it now – go and see the referee, speak to the referee. The referee tells you

about the game and you meet the opposition captain. “Then you go to the middle of the pitch, walk your team out in front of the crowd and it gives you a buzz... You have to stand in the middle of the pitch, flip a coin and pick which side you want from kick-off. It was all new to me, but I enjoyed it. We did lose, unfortunately!” Clyne modestly knocks away any notion he was picked as captain for his leadership traits. (“Maybe I was at the club longest,” he says, and “the captain was probably injured and vice-captain injured or suspended.”)

it’s a bit different from last season, the style the new manager wants us to play. We see the ball more, it’s more about having possession and pressing higher up the pitch to try and win the ball back as quickly as possible But his wearing the armband draws that final parallel: Guéhi is another young south Londoner in the first years of his career entrusted by the club to lead it. The similarities with his earliest professional years aren’t lost on Clyne: “It helps having a manager that’s interested in bringing through players from the Academy. So it’s definitely good and definitely helps and it’s positive for Crystal Palace. The fans love seeing homegrown talent coming in and making their debut and pulling on the Palace shirt to run at Selhurst Park.” nathaniel clyne

Nathaniel Clyne is decorated in tattoos, from his thigh to his neck. He started with his left arm, which he covered in London landmarks, before commemorating his parents’ heritage with Grenadian imagery on the right. Here, he talks them through.

On his left arm Clyne has London landmarks Big Ben, the London Eye (01), a telephone box and Tower Bridge. He also has the Stockwell Station sign (04). “That’s where I grew up,” he says. That’s my childhood, that’s where I started playing football on the streets.

Also on this arm is a tattoo of Clyne as a baby holding a football (02). It was his first tattoo, done aged 18. The photo is on display in his mother’s home. The full-back says: “When I saw it I was like: ‘Ah, that’s good. Might get it tattooed.’… I always knew I was going to get a sleeve.” On his right arm Clyne nods back

the follow-up

to Grenada, where his family is from (05). He has the Grenadian flag, palm trees and a beach, but always had his international sights set on England. These were done in his early 20s after finishing the left arm. At the end of his left arm reads: ‘Football is not just a sport. It’s my life.’ (03) 03

Rebrewed from head to hop. Carlsberg Danish Pilsner. NEW Brew NEW Glass NEW Fount Still iconically Danish.

Proud to support

Crystal Palace Football Club

arsenal F.C. est. 1886

Inside On the up Hall of Fame Vieira plays host Ambrose calls it right

opposition

gunners arsenal

Arsenal are enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment, having lost just one of their last eight league games to sit fourth in the table.

match preview

Story so far

The Gunners have only fallen to second-placed Liverpool since January and are enjoying a starkly different half of the season compared with their opening games. Before the weekend’s matches got underway Arsenal had a three-point lead on north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a game in hand to make their fourth-place spot relatively secure. Patrick Vieira will face his former side after his recent induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame. He secured a 2-2 draw at the Emirates last October, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring in the 95th-minute.

Home

third

Last five Seasons

Position

4th

Points

Top scorer

away

Season

Position

Points

Top Scorer

20/21

8th

Lacazette (13)

19/20

8th

Aubameyang (22)

18/19

5th

Aubameyang (22)

17/18

6th

Lacazette (14)

16/17

5th

Sánchez (24)

Saka/Smith Rowe (9)

Most assists

Alexandre Lacazette (7)

Most passes

Gabriel/White (1,429)

opposition

Creator: Ødegaard

Ødegaard has made the third-most through-balls in the league this season, behind only Bruno Fernandes and Harry Kane.

Remember when?

Boot in both camps

Palace beat Arsenal 3-0 in April 2017, saving their season with that result and wins over Chelsea and Liverpool. Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milivojević combined that day to secure three hugely valuable points.

Mathieu Flamini

recent form

Recent clash Aston Villa 0 v Arsenal 1

Sat 19 Mar / Villa Park

Starting xi

subs

B. Leno

R. Holding

K. Tierney

N. Pépé

Gabriel

N. Tavares

B. White

A. Sambi Lokonga

Cédric

M. Elneny

G. Xhaka

E. Nketiah

T. Partey

A. Onkonkwo

E. Smith Rowe

Z. Swanson

M. Ødegaard

O. Hutchinson

B. Saka

A. Lacazette

First sub Second sub Third sub Yellow card Red card Goal Own goal

9 10

opposition

Flamini moved to Arsenal aged 20 and initially made 153 appearances across four years. He then spent five seasons with AC Milan before returning to north London to play another 93 games. He signed for Palace in 2016/17 and played 13 times.

32 04 06 NEW NO.1

99 apps 22 clean sheets

Aaron Ramsdale

Ben White

Gabriel

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: BRAZIL

Rob Holding

Cédric Soares

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: PORTUGAL

Ramsdale joined Arsenal this season to rival the solid Bernd Leno in goal. He missed the first two league games before keeping six clean sheets in eight top-flight outings, and has since established himself as the in-form first choice.

player profile

POS: GOALKEEPER

Age

Height

1.88m

Joined

20th August, 2021

Debut

25th August, 2021 v West Bromwich Albion

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Sheffield United & AFC Bournemouth. opposition

20 03

MODERN DEFENDER

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Nuno Tavares

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: JAPAN

NAT: PORTUGAL

64 apps 18 clean sheets

69 05 Thomas Partey

POS: DEFENDER

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: GHANA

NAT: SCOTLAND

player profile

Zak Swanson

Age

Height

1.78m

Joined

8th August, 2019

Debut

24th September, 2019 v Nottingham Forest

PREVIOUS CLUB: Celtic. opposition

Kieran Tierney

Though he has had spells of injuries since arriving at Arsenal in 2019, Tierney has been a powerful presence in the Gunners’ team when playing. The Scottish full-back is known for his pace and ability to drive down the flank. He holds 32 Scotland caps.

07 10 Bukayo Saka

Emile Smith Rowe

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: ENGLAND

TEEN SENSATION

40 apps 6 goals

23 25 Albert Sambi Lokonga

Mohamed Elneny

Martin Ødegaard

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: BELGIUM

NAT: EGYPT

NAT: NORWAY

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.78m

Joined

27th January, 2021 (loan)

Debut

30th January, 2021 v Manchester United

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Strømsgodset & Real Madrid. opposition

Ødegaard became a household name at the tender age of 15, making his full international debut and signing for Real Madrid shortly after. He initially joined the Gunners on loan in 2020/21 and has since made the move to north London permanent after revitalising their attack.

09 34 19 SHARP SHOOTER

151 apps 54 goals

Granit Xhaka

Nicolas Pépé

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: FORWARD

NAT: SWITZERLAND

NAT: IVORY COAST

30 35 Alexandre Lacazette

Eddie Nketiah

Gabriel Martinelli

POS: FORWARD

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: BRAZIL

Having long played as a two-pronged threat, Arsenal now rely on Lacazette as their main out-and-out forward following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure. The Frenchman arrived in north London as a three-time Ligue 1 Team of the Year inclusion and has bagged more than a goal every three games since.

player profile

POS: FORWARD

Age

Height

1.75m

Joined

5th July, 2017

Debut

6th August, 2017 v Chelsea

PREVIOUS CLUB: Lyon. opposition

NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY now available countrywide

for SPORT

The last Monday night game at Selhurst between these teams saw Palace run-out 3-0 victors in April 2017. Arsenal have won half their last 16 league visits to SE25.

Crystal Palace have held Arsenal to a draw in five of the sides' last seven meetings, but have won just once from the past nine.

50 01

03 40

Pass accuracy % 80%

83% shots

310

428 goals

44 goals conceded

31 clean sheets

Tyrick Mitchell

Kieran Tierney

Appearances

Passes per match

opposition

ambrose from the studio

In each programme, club legend Darren Ambrose provides his unique insight into the opposition – offering analysis and expert opinion as a player-turned-pundit.

Through gritted teeth I grew up supporting Spurs, so it’s not easy to praise Arsenal. But even I have to admit they deserve it: look at how they’ve improved this season. They started with three consecutive losses and immediately the grumbles about management and direction began. Now, Mikel Arteta is close to Manager of the Season, and deserves to be seriously considered if he secures a top four spot. He’s built a squad by removing any players causing issues and to stick to his guns despite the stick he was getting deserves massive credit. They have fantastic attacking players: Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka in particular. Saka is going to be an England stalwart and will play most games until he retires from international football. Aaron Ramsdale, for me, is one of the signings of the season. I heard a lot of supporters complain when he joined but he’s been fantastic and more than justified his move.

There’s a balance between youth and experience at Arsenal. Xhaka, Partey and Lacazette support talented young players. Ben White and Gabriel are getting better at the back and Gabriel Martinelli just needs to up his goals tally to be a really talented player.

Mikel Arteta is close to Manager of the Season, and deserves to be seriously considered if he secures a top four spot

Called it Turning my attention to Palace, this game is a chance to reverse what happened at the Emirates. That match stands alongside Leicester, Brighton and West Ham Darren ambrose

as a result we deserved more from. We could have earned all three points that day and Palace need to take confidence from that: if they play how they can it will be a great game with a positive result in their favour. Palace are flying high at the moment and need to keep doing what they’re doing to make this

season even better. Coming into the Stoke game I said if they can progress in the cup, beat Wolves and take something from Man City the whole season will be redefined. Now we’re going to Wembley and chasing the top 10: it could be one of the best seasons in recent history. That’s down to Patrick Vieira, and his gameplans have been spot on lately. We’ve seen out games against Stoke, Wolves and City and shown that we can manage the various periods well. Had we beaten City it would have been fully deserved, which is credit to Patrick and the players. Now, I make a lot of predictions in my line of work – and not all of them are right. But let’s dwell on this: I’ve had a few come off lately! I said before City that they’d press and Palace would counter with their talented attackers. I even thought we could nick it, which Conor Gallagher almost did at the end. Arsenal like to dominate games and this evening will be similar to the City match, but few teams can do it that well and we’re more likely to see Palace weather an early storm before utilising their offensive strengths. I’m not gloating here (much), but I called it against Everton too. On the mic in the hospitality lounges I said Palace could get four goals, and got shot down. They absolutely destroyed Everton after riding the early pressure. Lastly, I’d like to wish Andros all the best in his recovery. That injury looked like a nasty one and

he seemed to be in a lot of pain. Andros is a great guy, was a great servant to Palace and I hope he returns to full fitness soon.

Three returning Lions Okay, kay, one last correct prediction: Tyrick Mitchell in the England squad. I said that at the start of 2020/21 and got shot down a bit by my colleagues on talkSPORT. I was disappointed when Tyrick didn’t get the initial call-up after keeping Riyad Mahrez quiet for 90 minutes. I spoke to him about it and he was very down to earth, and I was delighted when he then got the call.

It shows that if you’re doing the right things you’ll get the accolades. now I’d like to see him play with the confidence that will come after earning a few more caps He’s going to be on cloud nine coming into this game. It was his first international call-up at any level; he did it the hard way. It shows that if you’re doing the right things in the Premier League you’ll get the darren ambrose

accolades. Now I’d like to see him play with the confidence that will come after earning a few more caps: he’ll start to drive up the wing a bit more and show his assurance. Marc also deserved his call-up. Gareth Southgate was at the Wolves v Palace game and would have been impressed by that performance. We now see clubs like Palace and Southampton proving they can get players into the national side, and it was magnificent to see three Palace players pull the England shirt on. Next is for us to see Palace players represent England at the World Cup. That would be incredible and, if any players can do it, these boys can

writers Alexa Terry

After widespread job cuts caused by the pandemic, it’s harder than ever for journalists to find work. This page offers three aspiring writers space to display their views and skill. Today, we hear from Alexa Terry.

There are only 13 short days until we find out if Crystal Palace have made the FA cup final for the first time since 2016. In less than two weeks, the Eagles will take on Chelsea at Wembley stadium for a chance to fight for the trophy. Palace have a lengthy history of competing to win the trophy since they first appeared in the FA cup in 1871/72, the inaugural tournament. However, it was Palace’s FA Cup run in 1907 where they made their name and reaching the quarter-final against sizeable opposition. Hope was dashed as Palace lost 4-0 to Everton in a replay, but reaching that stage was success in itself. However 115 years later the Eagles turned history on its head with a whopping 4-0 win against Everton at Selhurst. Anticipation is growing as Palace aim to remake history with their longest FA cup run since 2016, and they’re not finished yet. Hopes were high and dreams almost came true six years ago when Palace faced Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley, and not for the first

time. Palace supporters all over will remember the wondrous moment when Jason Puncheon gave Palace the lead after a thrilling 77 minutes. Just three minutes later came United’s equaliser as Juan Mata scored.

Patrick Vieira could be the first Palace manager to lead the Eagles to lift their first trophy

Dreams of the cup coming to Selhurst went as Palace narrowly missed out on bringing the trophy home when United made it 2-1 in the 110th-minute. However, this wasn’t the first time the Eagles battled the Red Devils at a Wembley final. Managed by Steve Coppell in aspiring writers

1990 Palace secured their place in the final for the very first time after beating Liverpool 4-3. They drew 3-3 in the final with goals from Gary O'Reilly and two from Ian Wright, playing for the first time since returning from a leg injury. Palace took United to a replay where Lee Martin scored to take the cup from the Eagles. Since then Palace made headway in 2019 where they reached the FA Cup quarter-final against Watford, however the Hornets progressed with a 2-1 win and went on to face Manchester City in the final. They lost 6-0. After soaring through four knockout rounds, Patrick Vieira could be the first Palace manager to lead the Eagles to lift the FA Cup. Palace are stepping in to the 141st edition, hoping it could be their year.

Impressed by what you’ve read, and need work from a media professional? You can discuss work opportunities with Alexa and our other aspiring writers by emailing programme@cpfc.co.uk.

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inside the academy copers cope road

Inside Tyrick Mitchell’s journey to the national team Inside international youth call-ups Why Kenny Sansom sets a high bar

inside the academy

over the road The Palace Academy has produced its fair share of internationals, several of which went on to play for England. But few had a rise as rapid as Tyrick Mitchell’s. Here, we look at how he got the England nod at 22.

Tyrick Mitchell age: 22 / Left-back / joined: July 2016

highlights so far Mitchell’s rise has been swift, making his senior Palace debut in July 2020 and his first England call-up just 20 months later.

Take note of Mitchell’s modesty and hardworking nature mean he has been able to adapt his game within months to suit Patrick Vieira’s more attacking, ball-playing style. Gareth Southgate praised his speed in closing the opposition down and his ability to cope with the biggest teams in the league. inside the academy

Tyrick Mitchell: England player -

I’m really pleased with his physical condition, the way he can play game after game and train every day and be on the field… He’s doing really well, improving a lot. Patrick Vieira First-team manager

Tyrick Mitchell said he waited for his first England call-up to be formally announced before telling his mother, whose dream is to see her son play at Wembley stadium. The Crystal Palace Academy graduate has three – maybe four – chances to do so this season, having been named in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for games with Switzerland and the Ivory Coast the day before Palace reached the FA Cup semi-final. Mitchell became the third Palace player in the national team as he followed teammates Conor Gallagher and Marc Guéhi in receiving the nod. Speaking with Palace TV the day after hearing the news, he said: “It’s a dream come true. I never, ever thought it would happen so quick, so I’m literally over the moon. “I found out [Saturday]. I got the text and couldn’t believe it and was lost for words.” Mitchell may have spoken with Palace TV, but he kept the news from his mother until the right moment. “I didn’t even tell her,” the left-back says half sheepishly. “I was waiting for it to get announced. “[Will she be excited?] Definitely. That’s one of her dreams, to see me play at Wembley… Wembley is so close to home so to be called-up for England and be around it and be in Wembley stadium is literally a dream come true.” The full-back’s journey has been quite something. He joined Palace Inside the academy

when the Brentford Academy closed in 2016 and quietly impressed with the Under-23s. His jump into the firstteam came at the second attempt after sustaining an injury while on the senior pre-season tour of 2019. But when it came, it lasted, with Mitchell playing every game for Patrick Vieira’s side in just his second full season. Mitchell was asked what he thinks has propelled him this season, with the Academy graduate having played 33 games, earned

It’s a dream come true. I never, ever thought it would happen so quick, so I’m literally over the moon. I got the text and couldn’t believe it and was lost for words a Player of the Month award and become one of the most important figures in Vieira’s squad. He said: “I think my teammates, the manager, everything about Palace has pushed me to understand that last year I did well, but this year I know what I’m capable of and I’m just trying to show it. “This season has been amazing. There are hopefully many more successes until the end of the season; it’s been amazing.”

inside the academy

Gary Issott We had a lot of lads called-up for international duty last month, which is fantastic for their development. It’s something we’ve seen a lot more of recently.

layers get called-up after international scouts watch them play for us and we then get a request for them to become available. We first check that the player’s fit and well enough to go, then we let the international manager break the news. Once the player’s found out, we start to support them in getting ready to represent their country. There used to be a bit of a club v country battle because the domestic leagues clashed with international breaks. That changed recently so that the domestic programme collapses when internationals take place; that removes clubs’ self-interest and means there’s no fear of players losing their domestic club place due to their international commitments. Previously a player might miss a league game to play internationally and, when they return, find they can’t get back into the team. So they’ve been penalised for representing their country, which could be very disruptive to their development. Today however they can receive the education of different styles, systems, coaches,

teammates, staying away and playing back-to-back with no fear about their clubs. Internationals are really valuable experiences. Another step forward is we can access footage from the players’ games, and some countries even feed back data and updates on

We want the boys to benefit from international football, so we fully encourage them on the journey

how they fared. We’re updated holistically: how they were on the trip, the pitch and in training. We’ve even had discussions about a player not speaking up enough in team meetings, so when he returned, we worked on that before his next trip. We want the boys to benefit from international football, so we

Inside the academy

fully encourage them on the journey. The majority of players want to play for their countries, and any of them will tell you there’s no greater pride than doing so – at any level. We have a lot of dual nationality players at Palace who might need support in deciding their allegiance. We help those players navigate that by mentoring them rather than managing them. We listen and prompt them until they reach the right answer for them. It can be a difficult time of tossing and turning under pressure from peer groups, family and the outside, so we encourage them to play where their heart is, which is where they’ll reach their best. We saw Kwesi Appiah play in the Africa Cup of Nations final and Jonny Williams compete with Wales from Under-17 to the European Championships. But it’s recently that we’ve seen most call-ups, which is credit to the recruitment team, coaches and our Category 1 status. The board giving us that through our facilities today has without doubt enabled these young players to earn more international experience

made in south london After a landmark season Club Historian Ian King looks back at Palace’s Academy history, recalling some of our proudest former graduates from the huge number to have made their name in SE25.

England icon -

kenny sansom Born First-team debut Appearances Goals

26th September, 1958 7th May, 1975 197 4

inside the academy

Born in Camberwell, Kenny Sansom grew up in south London and began playing with Spring Park Wolves, initially considering himself a goalkeeper but soon having to play at leftback. It was then he came to the notice of Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur, but Palace secured his signature in 1974 as part of the revamped youth system introduced by Malcolm Allison. It was immediately obvious the club had discovered a quick, confident and strong player as Sansom played in the South East Counties League and in December 1974 made his first appearance in the FA Youth Cup. In February 1975 Sansom made his bow for the Reserve XI, and two months later established himself there while being capped for England Schoolboys. Sansom made his debut in the final game of 1974/75 against Tranmere Rovers, aged just 16 years and 223 days – then our second-youngest

debutant. He returned to the Reserve team for the following season, where he continued to hone his skills, signing a professional contract in December 1975 and reaching the Youth Cup semi-finals. Another season ended in failure to gain promotion to Division Two as Sansom played the last five games. Then, under new manager Terry Venables, the left-back appeared in the first match of 1976/77, missing only one fixture of 177 in the following four seasons, ending with injury in December 1979. Sansom was also the club’s Player of the Season in 1976/77 and 1978/79. As testament to his fitness Sansom also squeezed in Youth Cup games as he captained the victorious 1976/77 squad and England Youth, gaining eight England Under-21 caps. Promotion to the England B team soon followed before nine of his 86 senior caps came while with the Eagles. Sansom was ideally built for a full-back as a gifted and talented player who was precise in the tackle and possessed a turn of speed to maraud down the left. This was epitomised against Millwall when he claimed an assist by winning the ball from a Lions’ corner and carried it forward. Then against Middlesbrough in January 1979 Sansom scored one of Inside the academy

his four goals by accepting a pass from Vince Hilaire, running for the return ball and volleying over the Boro ‘keeper with side of his left foot for the only goal of the game. In August 1980 Palace fans were stunned to learn Sansom had joined Arsenal in

against Middlesbrough in January 1979 Sansom scored one of his four goals by accepting a pass from Vince Hilaire, running for the return ball and volleying over the Boro ‘keeper with side of his left foot

an exchange deal with Clive Allen valued at £1 million. In my eyes, he is the finest player the club has had in his position

South London is a unique place to live, work and experience. In each programme, we shed light on a few of the names or events that have shaped and continue to shape our half of the city. In this edition, ex-Formula One driver Jolyon Palmer discusses his love for Palace and life in the fast lane.

Voices of South London

hen Jolyon Palmer describes Selhurst Park’s atmosphere as exciting, it is no small compliment – after all, this is a man whose day job was racing at speeds of almost 190mph. After three years driving in one of the toughest and most perilous sports around, Palmer retired from Formula One to take up a commentary role with the BBC. With the F1 season kicking-off again, Palmer will never be busier. But you can be sure that wherever he finds himself around the world, one eye will always be cast back to south London. “It’s great – that’s why I love Palace,” he says, “The atmosphere is great. It’s not got that big club thing where sometimes you go to Stamford Bridge or somewhere and the atmosphere’s a little bit stale; everyone’s removed from it and the atmosphere is not quite there. But when Palace are on a run or they’re winning a big game, the stadium’s rocking. It’s part of the fun.” Raucous crowds are something Palmer knows a great deal about. Few athletes cover as much ground as F1 drivers do in a single season. “Big time,” he says, when we ask if different races have distinct atmospheres. “Monza [the Italian Grand Prix circuit] is the big one, where it’s like the home ground for Ferrari. They

all love Formula One, but they’re all in red and it’s just like a big away day… They’re the most passionate in terms of tribalism; they love to see a Ferrari win.” While fellow-Brit and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton may be an Arsenal fan, there is no shortage of wider football talk in paddocks across the globe. “Charles Leclerc is always kicking a ball around the paddock with Sebastian Vettel,” he laughs. “They’re both big football fans. Carlos Sainz is a big Real Madrid fan… When the World Cup or the Euros is on, there’s always big screens in the paddock. When the World Cup was on in 2018, it was a really good atmosphere by the track.” Voices of South London

It’s not got that big club thing where sometimes you go to Stamford Bridge or somewhere and the atmosphere’s a little bit stale

While most drivers head to Monte Carlo for the ‘easy life’, Palmer was at his most content somewhere else: south London. “I just quite like the normalities of life,” he explains, “so going to the pub on a weekend off was quite appealing. “My friends and my family [were in London]. The team were based in Oxfordshire so it was easier for them. If you’re earning world champion money it might be more tempting to flee the nest a little bit more, but for me it was a good balance.”

Unlike many at Selhurst, Palmer was neither born Palace nor had Palace thrust upon him. His route was a strange one. “I followed Ipswich when I was young,” he says. “I’ve got no family ties to football at all – my parents aren’t interested in it. But I’ve always loved it. “Ipswich got promoted and I remember watching the Division One play-off final and thinking: ‘That’s a cool team, I’m going to support them.’ Then by pure chance they had the most ridiculous season the year after and got into the UEFA Cup and everything. “But at the same time, my best mate supported Crystal Palace, and because he did have family who supported Palace and used to live in Croydon, they used to go to the games. I would get taken along with them and it was great fun, so I went to a lot of games.” Much like in his chosen career, Palmer came to realise that following his chosen football team came with its fair share of twists and turns. “I remember my first game – it must have been Division One,” he says. “It was Crystal Palace 3-3 Stockport County. I can’t imagine Stockport County being in Division One now, but they were… Mikael Forssell got a couple of goals – it was a great day out.” It was perhaps a fitting introduction to the highs and lows of following the Eagles.

On that day in 2000, Palace were 3-0 up inside half an hour, before Stockport fought back late on. But Palmer was unperturbed and a loyalty was formed. He now looks to return to Selhurst when he can between races.

I remember my first game – it must have been Division One, It was Crystal Palace 3-3 Stockport County. I can’t imagine Stockport County being in Division One now, but they were

“In recent years I get to a handful of games per season,” he explains, “because with the F1 calendar my weekends are reasonably taken up. I saw so many defeats – seriously, I thought I was a bad omen! “And then I went to the Watford game a few years ago. We were 1-0 down after three minutes, and sitting next to the Watford fans as well. It was a pretty tortuous 87 minutes. Then Palace turned it around Voices of South London

in the last few minutes and won it 2-1. That was good fun – the stadium was bouncing.” With the hectic racing calendar returning, Palmer is back among the glamour of Monaco, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. But when the chequered flag is waved and fans have returned, you can be sure a trip to SE25 will be high on his agenda

21 years of Together for football Unlocking the power of pitches Transforming lives Strengthening communities Tackling inequalities Improving accessibility Football Foundation The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation has been investing into communities like yours for the last 21 years. Building football facilities and using the power of pitches to transform lives.

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non-league neighbours bromley f.c. Surrounding south London’s only Premier League club is a range of non-league sides. In each programme, we catch up with four – Beckenham Town, Bromley, Corinthian-Casuals, and Holmesdale F.C. – to cover the people who sustain south London’s rich non-league scene.

Non-League neighbours

bromley f.c. In this edition, we hear from Bromley captain Byron Webster, who rose through the divisions and has returned to non-league.

league table pos CLUB

recent results P

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football,” he laughs. “Back then it was more kicking lumps out of each other and having a bit of a scrap! It was a learning curve.” There’s that word again. Webster fell out with his

Back then it was more kicking lumps out of each other and having a bit of a scrap! It was a learning curve new manager at York City, and almost gave up on the sport – until a new experience presented itself. “The new manager was old school,” he Non-League neighbours

bromley

0-0 bromley

here is something remarkably cyclical about Byron Webster’s career: coming through the ranks to make his debut in the Conference, progressing through the divisions and finally returning to non-league to offer the next generation of youngsters the benefit of his experience. Don’t be fooled: cyclical does not mean predictable. Webster took risks, moved countries and overcame adversity to make it as a professional, learning all the while. Coming through the highlyregarded York City academy, he made his debut at just 17-yearsold. “Now the Conference is actual teams trying to play

bromley

wrexham

remembers. “Looking back now, he knocked my confidence. I asked for my contract to be terminated and went on holiday; when I came back a scout had been in contact about going to the Czech Republic.” As is his nature, Webster leapt at the opportunity without fear of failure. “I really enjoyed it – I fell back in love with the game,” he says. “We were playing big clubs like Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague who were playing in the Champions League. “It was a growing up stage. I was playing football and living by myself. Silly things like learning to cook, doing the washing, doing the ironing – I

know it sounds minor but as a 19-year-old going over there it was things I had to learn. “The atmospheres were intimidating. It was proper – the chants were aggressive. It’s like the Palace bit, the ‘ultras’ – it’s a hell of an atmosphere. But this is the whole stadium.” It wasn’t just off the pitch that Webster was learning, and his experience stood him in good stead for a return to English football and a rise to the Championship. “We learned more about handling the ball,” he says.

“Sometimes in English football it’s just: get it forward, boot it. Abroad it is about retaining the ball, and that helped me.” But the school of hard knocks Webster went through at York City was still an important grounding, and something he believes more youngsters could benefit from within the game. “Playing against older players at a younger age helped me physically, not worrying about being kicked,” he explains. “As my dad says: it hurts for a few seconds and then it’s gone. Get up, get on with it. “A lot of that would help the first-year pros. Getting to know what the game is like – the nasty side of the game instead of playing Under-23s football. I always look at Jack Grealish, who went to Notts County and learned there. “You see him now in the Premier League and he gets seven bells kicked out of him, but he never seems to react, he just gets on with it. I do think it would have helped that he got kicked when he was at Notts County as well.” This comes back to Webster’s core belief in a footballing education, one that may seem tough at the time but will protect youngsters once they reach the biggest of stages. “I do think we mollycoddle the youngsters,” he says. “We don’t give them enough honesty. Non-League neighbours

“You play in front of 30,000 fans and you don’t know what they will be shouting at you. They could be shouting some horrible names at you. We don’t set young lads up to experience that, we just throw them in at the deep end.” One player benefitting from such an education is Palace’s own Luke Dreher, on loan at Bromley and impressing Webster with his attitude. “Fair play to him,” the latter says. “At Premier League teams they have everything for them. “When they come to Bromley and they don’t have everything for them, fair credit to him: he hasn’t thrown his dummy out of the pram or shown any disappointment, he just got on with it… That’s a massive tick next to their name from my point of view.” Back in non-league football 15 years after starting his journey, Webster can look back on a long and successful career, but what he seems most proud of is his ability to adapt in adversity. “Throughout my career I’ve gone through hard times and good times,” he says. “When the hard times come, I look at it and think: ‘I can get through this. I’ve been through this.’” It’s an attitude that has served him well, and it’s one borne out of a non-league footballing education. Now his aim is to pass it on to the next generation

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The first meeting between the million-pound swap men. In a unique deal just before the 1980/81 season, Palace favourite Kenny Sansom transferred to Arsenal in an exchange deal with Clive Allen. The two found themselves on opposing sides in this first meeting on Boxing Day 1980.

First Division 26/12/1980

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

moment in time

Stephen Browett From its founding to the current day, Crystal Palace’s history is rich in stories and characters. Today, in an abridged version of an article written for the club, Stephen Browett explains how he and the CPFC 2010 consortium took charge.

’ve been a Palace fan since I was a child, when the club was promoted to the First Division for the first time in history in 1969 and my nine-year-old self was hooked by Selhurst Park’s noise and lights, sounds and smells. Naturally, then, on January 27th, 2010, I – like most Palace fans – was checking the BBS to find out the team news for our trip to Newcastle that Wednesday night. I’d logged on hoping to find out if Victor Moses was starting and instead, bloody hell, there it was: the club’s gone into administration. Suddenly the team went from play-off hopefuls to being in a relegation scrap, and it fairly quickly dawned on the fanbase that, not only was it going to be a difficult league season, but that we might not find a buyer, either. As the weeks went on it became apparent there weren’t any serious buyers around. I then started hearing stories about this guy called Steve Parish, who was supposedly trying to get a consortium together. I called From the Archive

him, thinking this consortium might be fan-owned with loads of people contributing financially. After I introduced myself to Steve over the phone, he got in his car and was sitting in my office within half an hour. Once I was committed, we required one more partner to complete the consortium. Various people contacted the club and turned out to be tyre-kickers, but one man, Jeremy Hosking, stood out: he was very serious. The four of us trusted one another and agreed to invest an equal stake in the club, but of course Steve did all the work – dealing with both the administrators for Palace and Selhurst Park, as well as the hedge fund who’d lent the club money. Throughout that spring, none of us signed a contract stating our commitment to the consortium; it was all done on a handshake and the trust we shared. It wasn’t until summer that we put pen to paper and our decisions became reality.

On one hand, it was: ‘Oh, my God. What have we done?’ But on the other, it was saving the club we all supported, and each of us were – and still are – immensely proud of doing that

But there was a problem: the bank had inherited Selhurst Park as bad debt some years before, and could generate a lot of money by selling it for housing or commercial development. Steve had to convince them to sell it for less than their book cost, and thankfully he had support on the ground from you, the fans, and the never-say-die protest outside Lloyds Bank’s headquarters. Consequently, the bank saw that it was in their hands whether to ruin a football club that had existed for more than 100 years or not, and that made them understand they would have to complete the deal or risk a lot of embarrassment and contempt from Crystal Palace fans. And so, over 10 years ago, the deal was reached in principle. On one hand, it was: ‘Oh, my God. What have we done?’ But on the other, it was saving the club we all supported, and each of us were – and still are – immensely proud of doing that

From the Archive

palace for life New Centre Forward Fund provides financial support for Foundation stars During the last six months, Crystal Palace’s Vice Presidents’ Club has provided funding to kick-start Palace for Life’s latest initiative, The Centre Forward Fund.

he Centre Forward Fund has been introduced to financially support young people’s development and aspirations, rewarding those who are progressing particularly well at home, school and play. The funding, which is given directly to an individual or group each month, can go towards activities or equipment that help support the development of resilience and employability, such as: backing a business idea, training courses, equipment, or interview clothing.

Since October last year, the Centre Forward Fund has awarded a total of £10,000 in grants to over 30 young south Londoners, some of which has gone towards sports coaching qualifications, laptops, specialist computer software for children with learning needs, football boots and even violin lessons. Palace for Life Head of Pathways & Learning, Susan Patterson-Smith, leads the project. She said: “The Centre Forward Fund has come at such a critical time as we have found many families we are working with are struggling palace for life

due the effects of the pandemic and increasing living costs. We are proud that this project allows financial support to be provided directly to our participants as they transition towards the next steps in their development. “Many of our Foundation programmes ignite the process but having extra support from the Vice Presidents’ Club enables our participants to complete goals and fulfil their true potential.” Palace for Life Senior Community Development Officer, Rashan McDonald, said: “I am proud to have the opportunity

to provide an amazing service for these young people because of this fund; the kind offer has provided young people with access to funds to better their future. I applied for this fund on behalf of one of my participants, and it has allowed them to obtain a laptop to further develop their sports and music studies, which they are going to take to university.

SUPER DRAW “I am excited to see how this fund can provide some amazing opportunities for our participants to develop, and prevent socio-economic factors from stunting the improvements of the young people in our area.” The Foundation are incredibly grateful to the Vice Presidents’ Club, who have donated financially and provided two highly valued members to help Foundation staff judge the fund recipients at monthly panel meetings. To find out more about the Foundation’s work, you can sign up to receive our monthly newsletter by visiting palaceforlife.org and searching: ‘contact preferences’

Play the Super Draw for the chance to win up to £1,400 at every Palace home game. Plus, proceeds support Palace for Life’s work in the local community.

visit palacesuperdraw.org to win!

palace for life

feel it all

It’s a bold statement, but Crystal Palace Football Club has a legitimate claim to being the oldest league side in existence still playing professional football. Throughout the club’s 160th anniversary season, author and supporter Peter Manning explains the fascinating tale of Palace’s history from 1861 to 1915, a history acknowledged in their 1906 handbook, laying out in each edition why the club’s heritage stretches further back than ever thought.

cpfc 1861

n the last programme we saw how the Crystal Palace Company expanded its sporting interests and why Henry Gillman, by now the company’s General Manager, spoke to the Football Association about turning the Crystal Palace Football Club into a professional outfit. In this edition we’ll see where those talks led and how Crystal Palace went from being an amateur to a professional football club.

The Crystal Palace Company continued its emphasis on its sports arena to try and attract thousands of new visitors to bolster its ailing finances, sometimes coming up with novel ideas which proved truly groundbreaking. It staged England’s first motorcycle race on its banked cycle track in 1899 and went one further in April 1901, hosting a one-mile car race, the first motor race on a circuit in England. While all this took place, Gillman worked on turning the Crystal Palace’s football team into a professional club. He decided to speak to the FA.

Q: How did the FA react to Gillman’s approach? A: The association weren’t overly enthusiastic, because another club linked to a pleasure park, Merseyside’s New Brighton Tower F.C, joined the Football League but folded in 1901, just

C.B. Fry and W.G. Grace, two sportsmen that helped turn the club professional in 1905. three years after acceptance. With Palace so reliant on the Crystal Palace, the world’s first theme park, the FA did not want to risk that happening again, so declined to approve the proposal.

they cast envious eyes over then-south London rivals, Woolwich Arsenal, the only League club south of Birmingham to average crowds of 25,000 The inspirational Gillman was undeterred, but the company soon suffered a tragic setback when he died following a sudden illness at the end of 1902. cpfc 1861

His colleague, Crystal Palace’s Chief Accountant Jesse Cozens, took over the role as General Manager and was equally enthusiastic about the project. Moreover, the Crystal Palace Company already had a seasoned football professional on its staff, Edmund Goodman, to help the cause. Goodman was a young footballer with Aston Villa but sustained a serious knee injury aged 19. The injury turned gangrenous, and he had to have his right leg amputated, spending the rest of his life on crutches. He moved to the Villa back room and took up the position of Assistant Secretary for the next five years. When Aston Villa Chairman William McGregor, founder of the Football League, recommended him to the Crystal Palace Company, Goodman headed south. The Palace’s Sporting Director W.G. Grace and legendary cricketer and footballer C.B. Fry

joined Cozens and Goodman to pick up the project’s reins, and soon rumours of Crystal Palace turning into a professional club appeared in the press in late 1904. The Crystal Palace Company remained fully behind the project as they cast envious eyes over then-south London rivals, Woolwich Arsenal, the only Football League club south of Birmingham to average crowds of 25,000. The company hoped professional football would bring these sort of numbers to Sydenham. Crystal Palace intended to join the Southern League as one of two London clubs who wanted to apply. The other was a new London rival called Chelsea, based at Stamford Bridge. Stamford Bridge was home to the London Athletics Club from 1877, but Gus and Joe Mears acquired its lease in 1904 to set up their own professional club in a stadium which held 100,000 spectators.

Certificate confirming Crystal Palace under the Companies’ Act.

Q: Did Palace have any problems joining the Southern League? A: Yes. The idea of two new London clubs caused concern among the existing London clubs in the Southern League. Queens Park Rangers, Fulham and Brentford were particularly concerned at the thought of the very wealthy Chelsea suddenly appearing on their doorstep in west London. They were equally concerned about the less wealthy Crystal Palace bringing their massive football stadium with them, which might attract some of their own fans. The London clubs held a private meeting in May 1905, and agreed they would all vote against any more sides joining from the capital. The provincial clubs then called a separate meeting because they wanted the new London clubs to join, bringing with them their supporters and money. Ultimately Chelsea decided to join the Football League, but Palace continued with their application to join the Southern League. There were three new applicants – Luton, Norwich City and Palace, and Palace came third in the poll, meaning the first two clubs went straight into the First Division and Palace would have to be content with a place in the tier below. This was not what the Crystal Palace Company wanted as Palace would not play any of the top teams and the club stood no cpfc 1861

chance of attracting thousands of new fans as hoped. But there was no going back: the new company to own Crystal Palace Football Club had been formed,

the new company to own Crystal Palace Football Club had been formed, with the Crystal Palace Company owning the majority of the shares with the Crystal Palace Company owning the majority of the shares. New kit colours of cardinal red and blue were chosen and, in its first annual handbook in 1906, the football club recognised its great amateur history by listing some of its former England professionals. Professional club football had arrived!

NEXT TIME In the next edition we’ll cover Palace’s last 10 years at Sydenham before being forced to move by the First World War. Peter Manning’s book, Palace at the Palace, is available online through the Club Shop.

Kirsty Barton As a team we had a solid start to the season and were on a real high before Christmas with a seven-game unbeaten league run. We need to get back to that level, and to winning ways.

e knew collectively that run would end at some point, so now we need to pick ourselves back up to end the season strongly. The way to do that is through maintaining good performances and doing the best we can as a team. That’s always the most important focus because with that comes other achievements, like higher league positions.

My aims are to get back my earlier form, when I was really happy with my performances Individually I think my campaign mirrors the team’s. Building up to Christmas I felt I had my confidence back and was playing how I know I can, but since then I think my performances could be better for the team. My aims are to get back my earlier palace women

form, when I was really happy with my performances, and to score between eight and 10 goals. Away from Palace I’m a full-time teacher in Lambeth. It’s tough work and a lot of hours but it’s very much worthwhile. Playing football part-time means I feel like I have two jobs, though! When I was younger and at university that was quite difficult because my course was very practical, but I was always focused on football. Looking back, that may have annoyed a few lecturers… On top of work and football my fiancée and I run a coaching business that we started during lockdown. As a female footballer you’re a role model to lots of young girls, and no matter what their ability I want to be able to help them. So we run a Monday night girls’ development centre where all abilities are welcome and can feel confident, because they might not at school where they’re playing amongst boys. Balancing those responsibilities is quite difficult

mentally and physically, but it’s something I’ll always do because I love football. I couldn’t earn a living playing part-time in the women’s game, so it’s about managing that while doing what you love. That’s made easier at Palace, where the girls couldn’t have made me feel more welcome or comfortable when I signed in January 2021. They’re a really, really great bunch and I can honestly say I haven’t been within such a good team environment in a long time.

As a female footballer you’re a role model to lots of young girls, and no matter what their ability I want to be able to help them What makes it that bit better is that I’m a Palace fan and have been my whole life. I’m passionate about football and to play and score in a Palace shirt means so much. Captaining the side this season was a privilege, too, and I’m honoured that Dean made me vice-captain. Now we have a few weeks left to get back to our best, and I’m fully confident we’ll do it. It would be a joy to see us pushing up that league table again

palace women

The page for Palace supporters: taking your comments from the terraces into the programme. Make sure to get in touch with the details on Page 67 to share your own message.

To a very special Husband/Dad/ Pops we wish you a very belated Happy 70th Birthday. We hope you enjoy your special day at Palace, love all your family xx

Happy 11th birthday Thomas, hope you have a great day. Love Mum, Dad, Freddie, Maryann and Ivy xxx

Happy 14th Birthday to our Ben. We hope your day is as special as you are. All our love, Mum, Dad & Zac xxx

Happy 60th Birthday Mark. We’ve got Super Pat Vieira, He knows exactly what we need, Mitchell at the back, Olise in attack, Palace on the way to Wembley! Love from Bev xx

Happy 3rd birthday Logan, we hope you have the best day. Love you lots, from all your family and friends at Palace xxx

Happy Birthday to a loving Daughter, Aunty and Sister. Hope you have a fantastic day. Lots of love, Dad, Mum, Gemma and Oliver xx

from the terraces

1st Palace game v Burnley for our 5 year old grandson Connor, with 6 year old cousin Leo. Eagles! X Grandad Stevo, Nanna Penny, Paul, Samantha, Chad, Cherry

Happy 12th birthday Lia. Come on the Palace.

Big welcome to the best football coach in Croydon, Curtis. Here to watch his first Palace game. Hope you’ve got lucky squirrel with you! From the SSS squad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE FIRTH!! For the 9th April. Hope you enjoy the game today. Lots of love from Tania xx

Happy 9th Birthday, Frankie. Wishing you a fantastic day. Lots of love from Mum, Dad and Alfie. Come on Palace! xxx

A huge happy 41st birthday to Crystal Palace’s biggest fan Dan Shoubridge. Lots of love, Lara and his 4 mini Palace fans Oliver, Dylan, Harry and Isla

Happy 40th Anniversary Mum & Dad. Love from the kids xx

John Nightingale. Massive PALACE fan for 70 years, always let people know about our great club - even the Captain of the QE2 got to know about The PALACE. RIP great man. 02/06/1929-20/02/2022.

from the terraces

Ray Watson – 1954-2022. Lifelong Season Ticket holder at the Holmesdale. Your humour and wit will be missed dear friend. From your Sydenham pub mates.

Happy 19th birthday Matthew Fowler. Lots love Caroline Fowler Tyler Lauren Norman Shadow and Cookie

John McGee has been going to Palace games since the mid1950s and has been an avid supporter since. He doesn’t get to as many games these days but follows every match with the same enthusiasm. Happy 75th Birthday, John! Love, your family.

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

quiz, games, brighty & more!

Put your Palace, opposition and Premier League knowledge to the test in our various challenges below. The perfect way to pass time pre-match - let us know how you fare via social media!

Guess who

Spot the image

Can you guess the ex-Eagle above just from their picture?

The above cut-out is taken from an image in this programme. Can you find what page it’s on?

matchday quiz 1

Who joined Palace in exchange for Kenny Sansom in 1980?

At which team did George Graham retire?

Where did Patrick Vieira end his career, and first move into coaching?

How many World Cup final matches did Vieira play in?

Tommy Black was loaned out to three clubs while at Palace. Name two.

GAmes

FAMOUS FAN

guess the ground

Can you work out which Football League club’s stadium this is?

This actor became a household name when he starred in the BBC’s Line of Duty. A Northern Irishman, he was drawn to Arsenal for their Irish stars of the late 70s, and that most people he knew supported Manchester United or Liverpool. “I like to be a bit different,” he said. Do you recognise this famous Arsenal supporter?

BEAT BRIGHTY In each edition, club icon Mark Bright calls it how he sees it and predicts scores from the day’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

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

ANSWERS Guess who: Paul Mortimer Spot the image: Page 57 Quiz: 1) Clive Allen 2) California Surf 3) Manchester City 4) Two 5) Sheffield United, Gillingham, Bradford City Famous Fan: Adrian Dunbar Guess the Ground: Kenilworth Road - Luton Town

games

team stats: women / U23S / U18S Coral-Jade Haines Haines scored a sensational goal to beat Charlton 1-0 and move Palace five points off second with three games left.

Luke Dreher On-loan Dreher has been praised by Bromley captain Byron Webster, who said: “Fair credit to him... he just got on with it.”

Victor Akinwale With seven games remaining, Akinwale moved closer to a goal a game with a brace against West Brom.

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

AUGUST Sun 29 Bristol City SEPTEMBER Sun 5 London City Lionesses Sun 12 Sunderland Sun 26 Liverpool OCTOBER Sun 3 Sheffield United Sun 10 Coventry United Wed 13 Lewes Sun 31 Watford NOVEMBER Sun 7 Durham Sun 14 Charlton Athletic Wed 17 Reading Sun 21 Blackburn Rovers DECEMBER Sun 12 Bridgwater United Wed 15 Bristol City JANUARY Sun 16 Durham Sun 23 Liverpool Sun 30 Lewes FEBRUARY Sun 6 Bristol City Sun 13 London City Lionesses Sun 27 Sunderland MARCH Sun 6 Coventry United Sun 13 Lewes Sun 27 Charlton Athletic APRIL Sun 3 Blackburn Rovers Sun 24 Watford MAY Sun 1 Sheffield United

W 4-3 L 1-2 D 1-1 L 1-2

AUGUST Mon 16 Leeds United

L 1-3

Fri 20

Arsenal

L 2-4

Fri 27

Everton

W 3-1

SEPTEMBER Mon 13 Leicester City

W 6-1

Sat 18

Manchester City

L 2-4

D 0-0 W 3-2 W 1-1 (4-3)

Fri 24

West Ham United

L 0-1

D 2-2

Sat 16

Brighton & Hove Albion

L 1-2

Fri 22

Derby County

W 3-2

OCTOBER Fri 1 Tottenham Hotpsur

W 4-3

NOVEMBER Mon 1 Blackburn Rovers

L 1-2

Sat 6

Chelsea

W 2-1

Sat 20

Liverpool

W 3-0

Sat 27

Manchester United

W 2-1

L 0-1 L 0-0 (4-5)

DECEMBER Mon 6 West Ham United

L 2-4

W 3-2 L 0-4 W 3-1

JANUARY Mon 10 Everton

D 2-2

Mon 17 Chelsea

W 3-2

Mon 24 Liverpool

L 0-2

FEBRUARY Mon 7 Tottenham Hotspur

W 4-1

Sun 20

D 2-2

W W L W

3-1 3-2 1-3 2-1

L 0-4 L 1-5 W 1-0 L 0-1 L 0-2 W 1-0

Manchester United

Mon 28 Brighton & Hove Albion W 2-0 MARCH Sat 12

Manchester City

L 1-2

Sat 19

Arsenal

D 1-1

APRIL Mon 4

Leeds United

Mon 18 Derby County Mon 25 Blackburn Rovers MAY Mon 2

Leicester City

women/u23S/u18S

AUGUST Sat 14 Leicester City Sat 21 West Ham United Sat 28 West Bromwich Albion SEPTEMBER Sat 11 Aston Villa Sat 18 Liverpool Sat 25 Southampton OCTOBER Sat 2 Reading Sat 16 Manchester City Sat 23 Birmingham City Sat 30 Arsenal NOVEMBER Sat 6 Chelsea Sat 20 Fulham Sat 27 Aston Villa DECEMBER Sat 4 Tottenham Hotpsur Wed 8 Barnsley JANUARY Sat 8 Norwich City Sat 15 Wolves Sat 22 Birmingham City FEBRUARY Sat 5 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 19 Arsenal Sat 26 Norwich City MARCH Sat 5 Leicester City Fri 11 West Ham United Sat 19 West Bromwich Albion APRIL Sat 2 Aston Villa Sat 9 Southampton Tue 12 Brighton & Hove Albion Tue 19 Fulham Sat 23 Reading Sat 30 Chelsea MAY Sat 7 Brighton & Hove Albion

W 3-1 W 2-1 W 3-2 D 2-2 L 2-3 W 1-0 D D L W

3-3 2-2 1-2 3-2

L 3-4 D 1-1 W 3-1 W 3-0 W 2-1 D 0-0 L 1-1 (5-6) W 4-0 W 4-2 W 5-0 W 1-0 W 2-1 L 1-2 W 3-0

Name

Apps

Skye Bacon

Bianca Baptiste

Kirsty Barton

Hannah Churchill

Charley Clifford

Grace Coombs

Goals

Tayo Adaramola 3 4

Leanne Cowan

Aimee Everett

Millie Farrow

Coral-Jade Haines

Alex Hennessy

Annabel Johnson

Sophie McLean

Chloe Morgan (GK)

Leigh Nicol

Name

Apps

Goals

Apps

Joshua Addae Tayo Adaramola

Victor Akinwale

Scott Banks

David Boateng

Ryan Bartley

Malachi Boateng

Kalani Barton

Harry Freedman

Freddie Bell

Owen Goodman (GK)

Maliq Cadogan

John-Kymani Gordon

Junior Dixon

Owen Goodman (GK)

Reece Hannam

Danny Imray

Nya Kirby

Jake O'Brien

David Omilabu

Killian Phillips

Dan Quick

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Sean Robertson

Kaden Rodney

Cardo Siddik

Jackson Izquierdo (GK)

Kanye Jobson

James Leonard

Cameron Lewis-Brown

Joe Ling

Adler Nascimento

Fionn Mooney

David Obou

Ademola Ola-Adebomi

David Ozoh

Jadan Raymond

Kaden Rodney

Joe Sheridan

Emily Orman (GK)

Aidan Steele

Gracie Pearse

Rob Street

Molly-Mae Sharpe

James Taylor

Basilio Socoliche

Isabella Sibley

Dylan Thiselton

Matthew Vigor

Noah Watson

Jack Wells-Morrison

Joe Whitworth (GK)

Vonnte Williams

Lizzie Waldie

Siobhan Wilson

pos CLUB P W D

A GD Pts

liv

19 14 4

1 38 6 32 46

bri

18 11

5 37 18 19 35

dur

19 9

7 23 23 0 30

cry

19 9

7 29 35 -6 30

Goals

Victor Akinwale

Name

pos CLUB P W D 1

mci

23 14 5

A GD Pts

4 52 28 24 47

pos CLUB P W D 1

whu

21 14 4

A GD Pts

3 55 20 35 46

whu

21 12 3

6 47 30 17 39

sou

19 14 2

3 58 25 33 44

ars

23 10 8

5 51 43 8 38

cry

19 12 4

3 45 23 22 40

mun 22 10 5

7 41 36 5 35

che

19 12 3

4 55 30 25 39

cry

9 47 41 6 33

lei

20 11

4 40 22 18 38

22 10 3

she

19 8

6 29 23 6 29

tot

22 9

7 46 40 6 33

ful

20 11

5 42 23 19 37

lon

18 9

7 26 20 6 29

liv

22 8

8 35 34 1 30

ars

21 10 5

6 44 39 5 35

cha

19 8

7 22 15 7 28

lei

21 7

7 27 42 -15 28

bha

19 7

2 10 43 45 -2 23

lew

18 8

8 21 19 2 26

bha

22 7

9 34 38 -4 27

rdg

20 6

11 32 44 -12 21

10 eve

22 7

5 10 28 41 -13 26

10 avl

20 5

11 39 53 -14 19

sun

19 6

10 BLA

19 5

2 12 15 33 -18 17

19 2

12 cov* 18 3

wat

9 21 27 -6 22

lee

22 6

11 38 44 -6 23

12 bla

21 5

8 39 48 -9 23

12 wba

4 13 14 40 -26 10

13 che

20 5

9 30 36 -6 21

5 10 15 31 -16 4

14 der

21 4

3 14 28 42 -14 15

* 10 point deduction

women/u23S/u18S

tot

18 6

0 12 34 46 -12 18

19 5

2 12 25 53 -28 17

13 bir

21 3

3 15 24 61 -37 12

14 nor

20 1

18 12 64 -52 4

MAY

APRIL

March

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST TBC

Chelsea

KICK-OFF 15:00

Result 0-3

Sat 21

Brentford