Crystal Palace v Aston Villa matchday programme by Crystal Palace F.C.

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Saturday 27th November 2021 // 3:00pm

palace √ aston villa sat 27 nov | 15:00

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, Dan Weir (PPA), Getty, @LondonFalcons Printer Bishops Printers

contents

Thinking about how you last played can sometimes affect how you play the next week. You put too much pressure on yourself. The Premier League is hard enough already

briefing palace √ aston villa sat 27 nov | 15:00

Club mourns loss of Bernie Coleman and john sewell Crystal Palace Football Club would like to express its condolences with the family and friends of Bernie Coleman OBE, who has passed away aged 97, and former captain John Sewell, who died aged 85. Bernie was a member of the board under Ron Noades following the takeover in 1981. He previously bought Wimbledon in 1972, wrote off their debts and stabilised the club. When he sold his stake in Palace, Bernie used the money

november/december

to create a charitable trust to support south London charities.

John joined Palace from Charlton Athletic in 1963 and soon established himself at right-back, a position he played in for the next eight years. He will always be remembered for captaining the team that reached the First Division for the first

Nigel Martyn joins for £1m, 1989

Johnny Byrne makes England debut, 1961

Crystal Palace 3-1 Liverpool, 2014

Manchester United 1-2 Crystal Palace, 2011 (League Cup)

John Burridge (1951) and Christian Benteke (1990) born

time in 1969. Making over 250 first-team appearances, John netted nine goals, including one that stunned Leeds United in the 1970/71 season.

Bernie and John will be remembered by all at the club for their service and impact on our history, and they will be sorely missed by those who knew them.

Fan update Does your programme include a card signed by today’s main interview, Tyrick Mitchell? We’ve hidden 10 amongst our various programme sellers and will do so for every interviewee in each edition.

What’s inside Find out… Mitchell’s surprising career approach (Page 12), the way Palace shaped Gareth Southgate’s path to England (Page 44) and how an LGBT+-inclusive team has thrived in south London (Page 47). briefing

manager

Welcome to Selhurst Park to Steven Gerrard, the Aston Villa directors, staff and players, and to everyone here supporting us.

t’s a pleasure to see Steven on the touchline. He had a wonderful career as a player and I’m sure his experience will help him to be the top manager I know he can be. We need to stick to what we’ve been doing and focus on the details about how we want to approach the game. We need to concentrate on ourselves to improve collectively. Our home record has been positive – the players really enjoy playing in front of the crowd with the support we receive. I’m really happy with the attitude, the competitiveness and the togetherness we showed in the last couple of games we’ve played. The Wolves performance was really positive. It was our second consecutive win and the display was pleasing in a lot of aspects: the way we defended, how composed we were from start to finish, our calmness and our organisation. These attributes show how the team is growing. Burnley was also a good game. We were disappointed to score three goals away from home and not win, but at the same time Vicente made a fantastic save to

deny their last chance and Burnley are direct and physical. I’d like to see us use the ball a bit better than we did in the second-half, but we can be pleased to take a point.

As a team we still have a long way to go to challenge ourselves to improve individually and to improve collectively game after game to allow ourselves to be competitive

As a team we still have a long way to go to challenge ourselves to improve individually and to improve collectively game after game to allow ourselves to be competitive in the Premier League. manager

Ebs was back in the squad for the Burnley game and I’m glad he’s recovered from a long-term injury. He is training really well and challenging for a spot in the team, which has strengthened the quality of the squad, but we have to be patient with him while he’s working hard to get back to his best. We will move step by step with Ebs. Nathan has started training and throughout the week took part in sessions with the team. On Friday he did the full session, which is good to see. Today we are supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign to promote LGBT+ inclusion in football. It’s important to remind ourselves that we can live together with our differences by respecting each other, and this is something I was reminded of when attending a Palace for Life Foundation event on Thursday. Supporting other people is part of this football club and part of who we are. As manager of Crystal Palace, I am pleased and proud to be part of that. Thank you for your support

captain

We are now seven games unbeaten before playing Villa at our home today, and I am confident in this team to go eight, nine and more.

hen you have good performances and a run of some good results behind you, you feel more ready when going on to the pitch: you can have some more belief that your shot or pass will be accurate, or that your tackles will be a success. It is a nice position to be playing football in, and it is not an easy one to get to in this league, where every single game is a battle against the best teams in the country. You only get there through consistent hard work across the team, which is something we have been doing all season. But I must also say I think we could have more wins in this run, and not just be unbeaten but see ourselves higher in the league. Achieving this needed a little more fortune and a little more focus maybe, and we know there is work still to do to reach our full ability and potential. Burnley was a very good game of football. We showed determination in what we knew would be a difficult match. It can be frustrating to score three goals away from home and not take all

Today is a chance to get back to victories like we had against City and Wolves. Aston Villa will be up for a big fight this afternoon

captain

three points, but we can be pleased with a solid draw against a wellorganised side. What was pleasing was how we kept fighting and responding: we played some very good football at times and kept our determination to win, which is not always easy when the opposition challenge you like Burnley did. I think this is another game where we will look back and think we deserved more, but football is not like this, especially in games as eventful as that one. The last thing I would like to say about that match is thank you to those fans who travelled. I know Burnley is not easy to get to and back from and it was not great conditions to watch football in, but the noise you made gave us spirit. It is always appreciated. Today is a chance to get back to victories like we had against City and Wolves. Aston Villa will be up for a big fight this afternoon with the arrival of their new manager Steven Gerrard, so we have to be up for it more. With a full Selhurst Park and motivation to get back some lost points, I have no doubt we will be. Make some noise!

chairman

Welcome to the supporters, players, staff and directors of Aston Villa to Selhurst Park, and of course, welcome to each and every Crystal Palace supporter here today to get behind Patrick’s team.

’d also like to welcome Richard Riakporhe as my guest to the Boardroom today. Many of you will have watched cruiserweight boxer Richard win his bout at Wembley Arena to set up a WBC world title fight. Richard is as Palace as they come; what a joy it was watching him enter the ring dressed in red and blue to Glad All Over, and then hearing him speak after his win, thanking Palace fans for their support, was absolutely brilliant. We could not wish for a better ambassador for the club. Richard, everyone here is behind you, and we’re delighted to call you one of our own! Since my last set of notes, Patrick’s side secured an impressive win over Wolves and followed up with a draw at Burnley... which I think we’ve just all about recovered from! An entertaining game for the neutral, no doubt. We could have won it but then we must also be thankful for Vicente’s marvellous save at the end! Congratulations to Christian for his brace, taking him to 86 Premier League goals, and to Marc for his maiden top-flight goal.

Earlier on Saturday, our Under-23s comprehensively beat Liverpool (0-3) away from home. That’s Chelsea and Liverpool beaten away in successive games

Since my last set of notes, Patrick’s side secured an impressive win over Wolves and followed up with a draw at Burnley... which I think we’ve just all about recovered from – pretty good in our first season in the top Category 1 league. Congrats to Paddy, Darren and all the players. Let’s not forget that our first season at Category 1 level saw the team’s promotion to the highest division, and we now stand at 18 points from 12 games in sixth in chairman

our first top-flight campaign. It is a remarkable amount of progress in such a short time. Elsewhere, our Women’s team are unbeaten in six in the Women’s Championship, and are third in the league. I’m pretty sure this is our highest position in this league, and with two home games (at Bromley) prior to Christmas, I’d urge you to get along to support the team. It’s been brilliant to see the squad training at the Academy, which I’m hopeful has played its part in the team’s progress this year. Finally, I’d like to personally thank Sean Webb from our media team who leaves us today after several years. Most of you will know of Sean from his outstanding work directing When Eagles Dare. Sean, you should be immensely proud of the series and your work with us – thank you, and we wish you well for the future where I’m sure you’ll go on to great things. As always, please throw your support behind Patrick and his team today – let’s make it one to remember! Up The Palace

After two life-changing years in the first-team, Tyrick Mitchell is now a regular Premier League starter. But, as he tells Will Robinson, that status – and the responsibilities that come with it – still take getting used to.

main interview

yrick Mitchell sits back in a big chair at Crystal Palace’s Training Ground. Scattered around him are mementos of great players and greater moments: signed balls and shirts, Premier League Man of the Match awards, and photos of successful Eagles gone by. Whether he can come to terms with it or not, Mitchell now sits where they did. He is no longer the young talent training with the first-team, nor is he straddling that precarious post-debut no man’s land, moved up from the Academy but not yet established at senior level. Mitchell won’t let it distract him. “It still hasn’t changed, because anything can happen,” he says. “I don’t want to tell myself I’m a Premier League player. I don’t want to do that to myself yet, until I’ve played half of the games that these guys in the changing room have played. I don’t want to see myself like that. “Literally, you could play 50 games and then never play in the Premier League again. I want to feel like I’m always working for the next 50, and then the next 50. I don’t want to ever say: ‘You know what, I’ve actually done it now.’ “I feel like that’s a mindset of relaxing. It is in my eyes anyway. Telling myself I’m there is not something I’ll ever do until I’m retired, and then I can look back on it and think: ‘I’ve done something good in my life.’” This is an answer that belies the fighting spirit that has taken Mitchell to this level. In the toughest league in the world, you have to see every contest as a battle that needs winning.

For Mitchell, defending is very much an art form; a thoughtful, tactical field of expertise that requires aggression and patience in equal measure. “I didn’t enjoy defending when I was young,” he admits. “In school I was just playing wherever. I enjoyed it more when I went into Academy football. “In a more professional environment, the art of defending was something big to me. Every area of the pitch has its own craft. Oneagainst-ones, tackling, interceptions.

I don’t want to tell myself I’m a Premier League player. I don’t want to do that to myself yet, until I’ve played half of the games that these guys in the changing room have played

“All of that is your craft. Wingers probably get a thrill out of beating a defender. Knowing someone wants to beat you and they can’t, that’s a good feeling. “Everyone wants to play against the best players – to compete and see where they’re at. Playing against them and doing well, it helps your confidence massively, and it makes you feel like you’re on the right track.” That confidence takes some time to build. Mitchell struggled in his first start against Wolves and Adama Traoré, and it took time for him to regain his belief. “I was like: wow. I’ve seen how he’s dribbled through teams, and that tyrick mitchell

was intimidating. I was gearing myself up the whole time. “It definitely surprised me: the pace, the strength of the players. Everything was 10 times faster and 10 times stronger. It was like a whirlwind. “It definitely knocked my confidence at the start. It showed me I might not be where I mentally thought I was. But because it was the end of the season, I could finish that season, dust off and come back with a different mindset: the same goals but everything different in the way I look at things. “[Roy Hodgson] gave me confidence. He told me I’d done well, so that helped a lot. He just said: ‘Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. These guys have played more than 100 games, and this is your first or second.’” Those early experiences changed the way Mitchell thought about his opposition: they weren’t stars, but competitors to be beaten. Today, he has changed already, from emerging Academy starlet to confident, eloquent professional. “Now it’s more that I’m focused on my own game,” he explains, “I’m not watching someone else as much. “I think that’s a big change. You can give too much respect to players. Afterwards, give them props for their careers, but during the game or before the game you can’t really give them too much respect. “During my debut [v Leicester City] I was looking over and thinking: ‘That’s [Jamie] Vardy, that’s [James] Maddison, that’s [Youri] Tielemans. These are big players.’ But after a while, not so much.”

Is it strange, then, that there may now be young players at Palace and elsewhere looking at him the same way? Mitchell smiles uncomfortably at the thought. “Definitely. I don’t really look at it like that, so if someone says it to me it will feel weird. “That’s the thing: maybe three or four years ago I wouldn’t have been recognised. People wouldn’t have said anything. Just like that, two seasons go by and now people are looking at you. Random people that you don’t know are looking at you like you’re someone.”

[Roy Hodgson] gave me confidence. He just said: ‘Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. These guys have played more than 100 games, and this is your first or second’

Fresh in his memory is the pressure that comes with stepping up to first-team training, and now Mitchell takes it upon himself to try and help youngsters making the same journey. “You always give them little things that will help them,” he says. “It can be facial expressions, body language. You can’t help them perform - that’s up to them. But things like: always smile, don’t look angry. “I would say to someone: ‘During the running, you don’t want to be the only person looking tired’. I’d tell them to stand up straight, little things tyrick mitchell

main interview

like that. I think on their first session you’ll leave them a bit, but if they’re there more and more you have to hold them to the same standards.” The unwaveringly high standards that come with first-team football bring plenty of attention, and switching off is nigh-on impossible. “It’s hard,” Mitchell admits. “When you don’t play well, you have to learn how to move on from it. Sometimes I find myself thinking about it [errors] a couple of days later. You’re sitting there and you find yourself drifting off and thinking: ‘I should have done this.’

Sometimes I find myself thinking about errors a couple of days later. You’re sitting there and you find yourself drifting off and thinking: ‘I should have done this’

“But really and truly, you can’t go back in time. On Wednesday you can’t still be thinking about [last] Sunday, because you might have to play someone like Liverpool having just played Manchester City. “Thinking about how you last played can sometimes affect how you play the next week. You put too much pressure on yourself. The Premier League is hard enough already, so you don’t need that extra pressure. That’s something I’m trying to work on.” When constant attention and criticism are swirling, friends and family can provide a huge relief. tyrick mitchell

main interview

“They just look at me the same,” says Mitchell. “When I’m chilling with them, I don’t really talk about football, so I’m more human. “When you’re at football, you focus on football, but outside you want it to be like how it was before. You want to talk about random things. You want to be a football fan, not a football player. So when we do talk about football, it’s not about me or Palace or anything like that. “Fantasy Football, FIFA, all that stuff. You’re a football fan again, and for me that’s a big part. Before I was a football player I was a football fan.” It is revealing that Mitchell lights up when he talks about fans. Breaking through behind-closeddoors, the sound of packed stadiums is still a novelty for the 22-year-old. As has become apparent, he is not one for trotting out tired clichés; instead, his face lights up as he recalls the feelings it inspires. “My first game with a full stadium was Chelsea. I felt like I was closed in. It showed me: ‘These stadiums are big, and 90% of the fans are getting on you. It was a big learning curve for me to realise that this is the real Premier League. “The flipside is at home. The confidence it gives you at Selhurst is amazing. That extra fire in your belly, that extra stomp in your step is crazy. “You hear it constantly: you block a cross and they’re cheering or shouting your name. It gives you that massive boost. Honestly, it’s one of the best fanbases – if not the best – in the league. You can go to any stadium and you can hear them supporting no matter if we win or lose.

“It’s a positive, humbling, beautiful scenario to be on the pitch while they’re all there.” We ask if Mitchell has his own chant yet. “Nah – you know what? You’ve got to tell them!” Most humbling for Mitchell, though, is the freedom his success has given him to repay the generosity those around him displayed when growing up. “Everyone wants to look after their family and friends. Everyone wants to give those around them the best life. It fills me with joy knowing

you block a cross and they’re cheering or shouting your name. It gives you that massive boost. Honestly, it’s one of the best fanbases – if not the best – in the league. You can go to any stadium and you can hear them supporting no matter if we win or lose that I can give my mum something, my friends if they want it. People around me can enjoy my success.” In a competitive industry like football, it can be tempting for the select few who make it to pull up the drawbridge. Mitchell’s journey is only just beginning but still he does the opposite, extending a helping hand while reaching for the stars. In the first-team dressing room, he sits where great players once sat. When he retires, he hopes his career will stand among theirs too. But, for Tyrick Mitchell, that day will always be ahead of him tyrick mitchell

Where strikers take pride in putting the ball in the back of the net, Tyrick Mitchell enjoys stopping them. As he keeps honing his defensive skills in the Premier League, he remembers some of the players to have left the biggest impression on his game.

Top defenders ashley cole

Dani Alves

How aggressive he was one against one – you’re not passing that. He was a massive inspiration in my game. I haven’t asked the manager about playing with him, because I class him in my head as a Chelsea player so I don’t really remember his Arsenal days. But that’s a good point – I’m going to do that!

For a while, him, Marcelo and David Alaba were the best fullbacks for me, from what I saw of them.

gary cahill He was someone that I looked up to when he was at Chelsea. I was a big fan of his. When he came here it was like: ‘Wow, that’s Gary Cahill. He’s a Champions League winner. There are so many things that he’s won.’

Philipp Lahm Growing up there were a lot of fullbacks I looked up to, and he was one of the first. the follow-up

Patrick van Aanholt Patrick was a great left-back. When he was here, I learned a lot off him. The confidence the club and the manager have put in me [after he left] has made me want to repay them and show them that they are right for putting their belief in me.

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

Proud to support

Crystal Palace Football Club

Aston Villa F.C. est. 1874

Inside Clashing legends Darren Bent's opposition view Head-to-head

opposition

villans aston villa

Aston Villa have not enjoyed their start to the 2021/22 season, losing seven of 12 games and currently sitting 15th. But things have changed at Villa Park with the arrival of Steven Gerrard.

match preview Gerrard’s switch from Rangers – where he won the 20/21 Scottish Premiership, SWFA, PFA and SPFL Manager of the Year and LMA Special Achievement Award – came after five consecutive defeats for Villa. The Liverpool icon will now test his managerial capabilities in the Premier League much like Patrick Vieira, with both managers stepping into coaching away from England after illustrious playing careers. Gerrard’s first game marked a positive change in fortune the claret and blues overcame Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0. Palace on the other hand sustained their unbeaten run with a 3-3 draw against Burnley. That point means they have gone seven consecutive games without losing, last falling to Liverpool in the middle of September.

Story so far

Position Points

Home

away

third

Last five Seasons Season

Position

Points

Top Scorer

20/21

11th

Watkins (14)

19/20

17th

Grealish (8)

18/19

5th (Champ)

Abraham (25)

17/18

4th (Champ)

Adomah (14)

16/17

13th (Champ)

Kodjia (19)

15th 13

Top scorer

Ings/Watkins (3)

Most shots

Ollie Watkins (24)

Most passes

Tyrone Mings (503)

opposition

New gaffer: Gerrard

Gerrard guided Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title unbeaten in 2020/21, winning SPFL Manager of the Year.

Remember when?

Boot in both camps

Darren Ambrose scored arguably his best goal in red and blue with a sensational 30-yard free-kick against the Villans in the 2010 FA Cup. The game ended 2-2, with Villa winning the replay.

Gary Cahill

recent form

last time out Aston Villa 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Sat 20 Nov / Villa Park

Starting xi

subs

D. Martínez

M. Sanson

M. Targett

J. Steer

T. Mings

A. Tuanzebe

E. Konsa

A. Young

M. Cash

A. El Ghazi

J. Ramsey

K. Hause

M. Nakamba

L. Bailey

J. McGinn

C. Chukwuemeka

O. Watkins

K. Davis

D. Ings

E. Buendía

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

opposition

Cahill began his career with the Villans, breaking through to their first-team after a loan with Burnley in which he won Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season. His Villa debut was an 8-3 win over Wycombe Wanderers.

SAFE HANDS 64 apps 25 clean sheets

02 03 Matty Cash

Matt Targett

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: POLAND

NAT: ENGLAND

04 16 Emiliano Martínez

Ezri Konsa

Axel Tuanzebe

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ARGENTINA

NAT: ENGLAND

Martínez has been in sensational form for Villa since joining in 2020/21 from Arsenal. The Argentine shot-stopper was ever-present between the sticks last season, recording 15 clean sheets and becoming one of the league’s most highly regarded 'keepers.

player profile

POS: GOALKEEPER

Age

Height

1.95m

Joined

16th September, 2020

Debut

21st September, 2020 v Sheffield United

LOAN EXPERIENCES: Oxford Utd, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham Utd, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Getafe & Reading. opposition

06 05

STALWART

Ashley Young

Douglas Luiz

POS: DEFENDER

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: BRAZIL

97 apps 24 clean sheets

08 10 Morgan Sanson

Emiliano Buendía

Tyrone Mings

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: ARGENTINA

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.96m

Joined

31st January, 2019

Debut

2nd February, 2019 v Reading

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Yate Town, Chippenham Town, Ipswich Town & AFC Bournemouth. opposition

After initially joining on loan in 2019, Mings made his move to Villa Park permanent the same year and has been a constant presence at the back ever since. He has formed a strong partnership with Ezri Konsa and his performances saw him feature in England’s Euro 2020 campaign.

17 Trézéguet

Marvelous Nakamba

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: EGYPT

NAT: ZIMBABWE

Anwar El Ghazi

Leon Bailey

ENGINE ROOM

76 app 25 wins

John M©Ginn

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: NETHERLANDS

NAT: JAMAICA

NAT: SCOTLAND

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.78m

Joined

8th August, 2018

Debut

11th August, 2018 v Wigan Athletic

PREVIOUS CLUBS: St Mirren & Hibernian. opposition

Since making the move south of the border from Scotland in 2018, McGinn has been the engine in the middle of the park for Aston Villa. He won the club’s Player of the Season award in 2018/19 as he helped them secure promotion back to the Premier League.

MARKSMAN

47 app 17 goals

Jacob Ramsey

Bertrand Traoré

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: FORWARD

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: BURKINA FASO

20 39 Ollie Watkins

Danny Ings

Keinan Davis

POS: FORWARD

NAT: ENGLAND

Despite only joining in 2020/21, Watkins has proven himself to be a clinical Premier League goalscorer, notching 17 goals in 47 games and earning himself an England call-up. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he scored with his first shot on target for the Three Lions.

player profile

POS: FORWARD

Age

Height

1.80m

Joined

9th September, 2020

Debut

15th September, 2020 v Burton Albion

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Exeter City & Brentford. opposition

NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY now available countrywide

for SPORT

Aston Villa have won three of their last five Premier League games against Palace (L2), as many as they had in their first 13 against them in the competition.

Crystal Palace have won five of their last six home league games against Aston Villa (L1), including each of the last three in a row.

22 00

01 28

Passes per match 474

357 shots

140

138 Shooting accuracy %

32 goals conceded

20 clean sheets

Christian Benteke

Ollie Watkins

goals

Shots

shots

04 26

03 24

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.

Instant impact I wasn’t surprised when Steven Gerrard left Rangers for Villa. I thought he should absolutely leave, because every manager wants to manage in the Premier League. Rangers is a big club, a massive club, but Villa is a bigger job. I got slated for saying that on the radio and had a lot of calls from Scots about it, but, lo and behold, a few days later Gerrard joined Villa. I’m not one to say I told you so, but there we are! You can already see what Gerrard has brought to the club: passion, desire and commitment. It’s similar to Patrick in that he’s come in as a legend and gained respect immediately without having to demand it. You can see already that Villa players love to play for him in their brilliant performance against Brighton. Brighton are a good side and Villa made them look ordinary despite coming off the back of five defeats. I regret not finishing my coaching badges during my career. The PFA were always coming in to help and offer courses, but I didn’t

want to; I felt there was always next time. Time ticked away and I never went beyond Level 2. I did some work with Ipswich’s Under-10s recently while my son was playing there but I stopped because I

gerrard is similar to Patrick in that he’s come in as a legend and gained respect immediately without having to demand it

wanted him to spread his wings and not be seen as the coach’s kid. If I had gone down the coaching route, I think now I’d be a relaxed manager with a fiery number two; not quite good cop, bad cop, but something close. I used to be quite mellow on the Darren ambrose

pitch but in certain situations I could switch; and that happens in management. Like Steven and I’m sure like Patrick, I’d demand work rate, desire and commitment, because that’s the minimum you expect of a footballer.

More positive steps Palace once again dominated the game and possession against Burnley. Christian is back to his

The co-pundit I caught up with Darren Bent this week for an opposition view. Having played for Villa 72 times, he knows a thing or two about today’s opponent. I’m going for a 3-1 Palace win this afternoon, so think Benty’s prediction is well off. Here’s what he had to say.

best and looks like he’s playing in and around the box more, getting found and playing to his strengths. And the assist from Conor Gallagher hasn’t been spoken about enough. It was phenomenal. The whole philosophy has changed at Palace and if we can turn some draws into wins over Christmas, it’s going to look very good in the New Year. We will creep up this league. I’ve had a little wager on Palace to finish in the top eight, so if we don’t it’ll cost me a steak dinner! The one issue from Burnley was conceding at set plays. I know Patrick and the lads will be aware of that and doing untold amounts to work on it, but it’s always going to be tough against a side like Burnley. We touched on this after last-minute goals against Brighton and Arsenal: you can’t get into a negative mentality. Defenders are desperate not to concede and it takes just one game to get back to being confident about set pieces.

DA: First of all, what are your memories of playing at Selhurst? DB: My memories of Selhurst Park range across years. I remember going there as a kid when I used to live in London. I must have been about eight-years-old and we played a cup final at Selhurst Park. That was my earliest memory. I grew up around the corner from Selhurst Park, five minutes from the stadium, so I used to go to Selhurst and watch Crystal Palace on occasions. As a player one thing I definitely know – and I don’t think I ever scored there, which annoys me! – is the atmosphere was always good. I remember playing Crystal Palace a few times and it was always a tough place to go. The atmosphere was good and I always enjoyed it, but it

darren ambrose

annoys me that I didn’t use to get much change there! DA: Unlucky, Benty, not everyone’s able to score at Selhurst. What should fans look for from Steven Gerrard’s Villa? DB: One thing Steven Gerrard will demand is standards. Not that Dean Smith didn’t do that - he did a fantastic job - but you’re talking about one of the greatest players this country has ever produced. As a player he demanded standards and he commands respect because of what he’s done. When you see someone who has been at the very, very top with such iconic moments, that will rub off on the players. They’re going to want to run and work hard for him, take his instructions on board and ultimately try to get the job done. DA: Prediction for today? DB: I’m going to go for a draw! I know it’s sitting on the fence, but Crystal Palace have found a unique way of not losing games and at the minute have some players who are playing really well. Villa have just got that win against Brighton, so I’m going to go for a 2-2 draw

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.

Until Monday, 15th November, England’s largest competitive win was triumphing 9-0 against Luxembourg in both 1960 and 1962. Fifty-nine years later, the Three Lions broke that record as they scored a whopping 10 goals against San Marino to secure a place in the 2022 World Cup. Conor Gallagher’s call-up to secure his first senior cap after playing for the Under-17s through to the U21s made it even more special for Palace fans. Gallagher joined the Lions for the second-half while England were already six goals up. Although he narrowly missed a debut goal, his outstanding performance was praised by former Palace and England player, Ian Wright, who said: “He did everything right and that is the kind of player he is, that is the kind of player you want to see.” But it’s no surprise Gallagher impressed on the night, after scoring four goals and registering two assists since the start of the season with Palace. The midfielder’s current statistics include one goal and one assist

in the Manchester City win, for which he was crowned the club’s Man of the Match. Ties between Palace as a professional side and England date all the way back to 1914 with Horace Colclough making Crystal Palace history as their

ian wright said: 'He did everything right and that is the kind of player he is, that is the kind of player you want to see' first professional England player. Naturally, these links go further back into the club’s amateur years after founding in 1861. Colclough’s 2-0 victory against Wales was England’s penultimate match before the beginning of World War I, for which the full-back left south London to serve. John Salako, Andrew Johnson and Wilfried Zaha aspiring writers

are also among 15 professional Palace players who’ve stepped up to play for the nation. Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson have ties between club and country too, managing both the Eagles and Three Lions. Joining them is current England manager Gareth Southgate, who began his career at Palace after graduating from the youth system in 1990. Before Gallagher, the last Palace player called up for England was Aaron Wan-Bissaka during the Euro 2020 qualifiers, however he didn’t see the pitch due to a back injury, so it’s been long awaited to finally see an Eagle’s debut. Speaking to the Press Association, Gallagher said: “I was over the moon. I was hoping to get some minutes so I could make my debut and thankfully I did.”

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 Meet the Academy player who went from no club to the Olympics Why Palace entered this year’s Papa John’s Trophy How the club shaped a future England manager

inside the academy

over the road The Palace Academy has produced players from Steve Kember to Wilfried Zaha, and plenty more in between. Here, we look at some of the talented prospects in the system today.

Jay RichBaghuelou age: 22 / position: Centre-back / joined: jan 2020

highlights so far Being called up to the Australia Olympic team for the 2021 Games. Rich-Baghuelou featured as a substitute against Egypt.

Take note of Rich-Baghuelou is a tall, imposing centre-back with experience at senior level football. He is able to use this and his physicality to marshal the backline and keep powerful centre-forwards under control. But with the ball at his feet, the 22-year-old is technical and competent, looking to start attacks in the mould of the ‘modern’ defender. inside the academy

getting to know Jay Rich-Baghuelou -

Jay is a big, strong, competent defender with a mature head on his shoulders and experience playing against older opposition. He provides a very solid base to our already dominant defence Paddy M©Carthy u23S manager

Jay Rich-Baghuelou came to England on a wing and a prayer. Flying over 10,000 miles and leaving his parents and brother in Gold Coast, Australia, the then-teenager moved to London hoping to kickstart a career in football. It’s the sort of move where ‘risky’ would be understatement even if he had a side to start with, but Rich-Baghuelou was taking a total leap of faith. Thankfully for him, it paid off, with the defender recently featuring for Australia in the Tokyo Olympics. “[The Olympics] was an amazing experience,” RichBaghuelou says. “I never thought I would ever be involved in that; growing up in Australia and to come back four or five years after to be selected in the Olympic team and be a part of that was an amazing achievement for me and my family. Everyone was proud of me. “I came as a striker and then went to Dulwich. That was the club that transformed me… I feel more determined to succeed for my family. It inspires me. I want them to reap my benefits and rewards.” The Australian has enjoyed success since moving to south London, first joining Dulwich Hamlet and then representing Welling United in the National League South. He brought experience of men’s football with him when putting pen to paper with the Eagles, and has since helped earn Inside the academy

promotion for the Under-23s. He is one of the more senior lads in the team, especially with a crop of Under-18s stepping up recently. Explaining his approach to the game, Rich-Baghuelou says: “As soon as you cross the line you’ve got to be focused and ready to tear up the pitch. Whatever’s happening off the pitch, you can’t let that affect you. I like to switch into a different mindset when I’m on the pitch compared to when I’m off the pitch, like two different people. “I like to take certain attributes from each defender. I want to be strong like [Virgil] van Dijk, quick like [Raphaël] Varane, technical like [John] Stones. I look at all centrebacks and try to build my game on that, to develop my technique.” But alongside his personal development watching those in his role, Rich-Baghuelou is in the unique position of having a manager who understands the requirements better than most. With Paddy McCarthy recently taking over as Under-23s manager, the young centre-back has the perfect mentor: “We had the transition of coaches. Paddy’s come in now, works well with us and we’re building every day… It’s what I need at this moment in time. I was a striker before so the basic fundamentals of defending and principles of defending, I need to be able to understand that better. Paddy helps me understand the position and the simpler things I’m meant to know. He’s a really good coach and I’ve enjoyed working with him.”

inside the academy

Gary Issott After achieving promotion last season, we are now in the top division of development football in England. I think it’s the best league outside of first-teams in Europe.

here’s not a league that looks like the Premier League 2, and the players, coaches and staff all have to be at the top of their game week-in, week-out. It’s a huge challenge and it is one we really want to replicate every year. The big objective for us is to stay in the league this season, so that future year groups can have that same experience. We had the invitation to join the Papa John’s Trophy in pre-season, having gained promotion so late via the play-offs. We now had a league programme that would really challenge the players, so we were sceptical at first, but we really wanted to give the lads as much exposure to top-end football that we could. People may have noticed that the Papa John’s lineup was often different to the regular league side. This was due to a large number of players being called up to their national sides when the Papa John’s games were scheduled. Players joining up with their national sides is fantastic for the Academy. It’s our first year in the Papa John’s, and moving forwards we will try to schedule games away from

international breaks – against Sutton United and Portsmouth we had eight players respectively called into their international groups. The aim of the Papa John’s was to expose the players to stadiums, to crowds and to a tier above the Premier League 2. Coming away from those nights, the players should be reflecting and thinking on what they need to

In league football, if you take one step backwards you’ll be severely punished add to their game to take them to the next stage. These are all the things you have to contend with because it’s as close to a first-team game as the players will experience. I thought our support was brilliant at Sutton – we took close to a thousand people. At Portsmouth and Wimbledon the fans were really noisy. It’s giving these boys a glimpse – and hopefully a hunger – to perform at this level.

Inside the academy

Elsewhere, I think the league campaign is absolutely on track, and that’s our priority. Paddy and Darren have done a great job, with the sports scientists, the medical department and the analysts who prepare us for games. We’re really happy with how it’s going, but of course we’re only a third of the way through the season. In league football, if you take one step backwards you’ll be severely punished. We’ve got to try and get enough points to achieve our objective. The programme for the season has been great with the Papa John’s Trophy and Premier League 2, and if we can add one or two experiences playing against foreign and nonleague opposition, we’ll be really happy with the variety of exposure we’ve given the players to develop. Outside of the team campaign, we’re still hopeful that some individuals will have the opportunity to play league football out on loan, and be able to train in and around the first-team, with the ambition of making their debut before the season finishes. That’s what the season should look like, and we’re really happy with how it’s going

made in south london During 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.

From south London to wembley -

GARETH SOUTHGATE Born First-team debut

3rd September, 1970 9th October, 1990

Appearances

191

Goals

inside the academy

With Gareth born in Watford, the Southgate family moved around the country for the father’s job until a posting in Croydon led them to Crawley, where Gareth went to school. He featured in the school football teams, county side and from 12 trained with the Southampton youth setup in East Grinstead. After being released by Saints, Southgate began playing with Selsdon Juniors and there came to the attention of Palace scout John Whitfield. At 15 he started training with the Eagles. Soon Southgate was appearing in the South East Counties team alongside the likes of John Salako and Richard Shaw, signing full-time apprentice forms while studying O-Levels at school. Early in 1987 he featured in the FA Youth Cup and by that November had progressed to the second team squad, playing for the youth side in the morning and Reserves on a Saturday afternoon. Southgate played almost exclusively at right-back for four seasons with the Reserves from 1988/89 until 1991/92 and,

especially after requesting a loan move that never materialised, became somewhat frustrated that he couldn’t step up with John Pemberton and then John Humphrey holding that position. It was during this period that Southgate made his first-team debut, however, coming on as a substitute in the rather meaningless second leg of a League Cup tie at Southend on 9th October, 1990 which followed an 8-0 Palace

Alan Smith made Southgate captain, and he played every minute of a 53-game season, topping it off by lifting the (old) Division One trophy

victory at Selhurst Park. His full debut was at Norwich City in the Zenith Data Systems Cup semi-final in March 1991 and towards the end of that campaign came his league debut at Anfield, where the Eagles succumbed to a 0-3 loss. Southgate finally became established in the first XI’s defence and midfield in February 1992. With the first Premier League season in August 1992 he played in midfield and netted his first senior goal in Inside the academy

the opening game, a 3-3 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Selhurst Park. Following relegation and Geoff Thomas’ departure manager Alan Smith made Southgate captain, and he played every minute of a 53-game season, topping it off by lifting the (old) Division One trophy at Selhurst before the final game against Watford. Back in the top-flight came another heart-breaking campaign in which Southgate again showed his fitness by playing every minute of 55 league and cup games. He caught the attention - and studs - of Roy Keane at Villa Park in the FA Cup semi-final and come the close season it was obvious Southgate would move on. He joined Aston Villa in 1995, the fee being reduced by £50,000 from £2.5 million on the day he signed as Villa Chairman Doug Ellis got the edge on Ron Noades With acknowledgments to Woody and Nord: A Football Friendship.

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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 Chair of LGBT+-inclusive side London Falcons Will Oster explains the uplifting story behind his side’s success, why it matters and what life is like for an LGBT+ football lover. Younger readers should be aware of offensive terms in the following piece which have not been redacted.

Voices of South London

ill Oster and his London Falcons teammates want to be seen as a success. They don’t trump – indeed, they actively discourage – the go-to line of football’s hostility to its LGBT+ members, or how a shared story of abuse and discrimination has moulded thickskinned communities. Those realities are very much experienced by LGBT+ supporters and players across the country. But they’re not what Oster wants to dwell on. Instead, he focuses on the club he chairs which was promoted in the 2019 Wimbledon and District League and holds three Gay Football Supporters Network National League and four London Unity League titles. He discusses a team of players and friends who are both LGBT+ and not, but all who have a passion for football, and he explains the history of a side which provided its members a safe and enjoyable place to play without discrimination. “We launched in 2006 as a team for mainly gay and bisexual men who perhaps felt they had fallen out of love with the game,” says Will, a teacher who today lives in Wandsworth. “They couldn’t maybe get as involved in football as they once wanted to due to a variety of reasons. “It could be a sense that they’d gone to football games and had experienced things that put them off watching. It could have been playing in matches where they saw homophobic behaviour

on the pitch and maybe seen people on their team not stand up. “They’d see teams and hear the odd homophobic comment or what’s commonly named as ‘banter’. You just think: ‘I love football and came here wanting to play football, not to feel as if I’m in any way different. I’m just another person who likes to play.’ “That’s really what we wanted to do, to create a place where we are a group of people who love football… we just also happen to be a group of largely gay and bisexual men.” London Falcons began playing teams in the London Unity league and Gay Football Supporters Network, where they enjoyed success. Today they play in Raynes Park, seven miles from Selhurst, Voices of South London

That’s really what we wanted to do, to create a place where we are a group of people who love football… we just also happen to be a group of largely gay and bisexual men and train near Clapham, a similar distance from SE25. In 2018 they joined the Wimbledon and District League, a ‘mainstream’ competition rather than one which is explicitly LGBT+-inclusive. This move caused some concern about exposing the team to abuse, but Will says the transition has been “overwhelmingly positive in terms of inclusion, acceptance and visibility.”

They’ve had one incident of homophobic abuse in three years, but beyond London Falcons Will says LGBT+ players still feel discomfort in ‘mainstream’ sides. “I do feel sadly there does still exist a culture within football of some sort of ‘other’ or difference between straight and gay footballers. “We all know from experience in this team that so many young men just have this idea there is a toxicity about football, a negative dressing room ‘banter’. “It’s the sort of comments made on the sly or the banter that gets thrown around, like: ‘He’s gone down like a fairy,’ or you hear ‘poofter’ and ‘bender’ and that sort of stuff. “It might just be ignorance – something they’re used to saying growing up and they’re not homophobic – but it makes you feel uncomfortable. “You just want to play football and suddenly misplace a pass or do something wrong and you think: ‘Are they going to think that’s ‘because I’m a bender?’. It’s when you hear those words flying around, you think: ‘If I were to come out in this team, would I be treated differently?’” Again, though, Will returns to a positive message: he thinks football, or society more generally, has a long way to go in combatting discrimination, intolerance and ignorance, but he knows change is taking place, and that, with London Falcons, he’s

found a home. He’s passionate and serious about this topic and speaks with a tangible verve. But there’s an uplifting undercurrent to everything he says. “There is a reason we all come every Saturday and train in the rain in November and it’s because we love it. This is our game. We are all football fans first and we love football and if we can go out and compete it should hopefully counter the stereotypes that still exist. “There’s been a complete coincidence with [me] enjoying football [again] and joining

The fact that I’m gay is irrelevant, I’m just a football fan… We want to show that there is a place for LGBT+ footballers and that you can play the game you love, regardless of who you love Falcons… There’s nothing better than going out and playing a game of football and for years I thought maybe I’m never going to be able to do it again because I don’t feel safe or welcomed. Here I have a club where I’m supported. Voices of South London

“I’m just a football fan. The fact that I’m gay is irrelevant, I’m just a football fan… We want to show that there is a place for LGBT+ footballers and that you can play the game you love, regardless of who you love.” Will stops short, enthusiastic but sincere. He then adds, with a laugh: “There’s a soundbite if you want one.” Positive through and through

Find out more about London Falcons by searching: ‘London Falcons’, or @londonfalcons on Instagram or Twitter.

21 years of Together for football Unlocking the powerof 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.

Find out more about the Football Foundation, its impact and the future plans for your local area: footballfoundation.org.uk

non-league neighbours 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

holmesdale f.c. In this edition, we hear from Holmesdale manager Lee Roots, who negotiates non-league challenges that go well beyond the pitch. And, he says, his hairline pays the price.

league table pos CLUB

recent results P

Pts erith & belvedere

erith & belvedere

Holmesdale

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has just had the night off, you may have had a stressful day, you may be stuck in traffic. You may not have eaten properly, you may have just had a can of Coke on the way to the game. “I don’t actually announce my team until about 20 minutes before kick-off to the players. At this level, something may have happened at home or at work. Sometimes when a player doesn’t see his name up on the board, and he’s just rushed there from work, you can see a change in the player. It’s a bit of a psychological trick.” The luxuries of state-of-theart dressing rooms and freshly prepared nutrition are not for sides like Holmesdale. “The only Non-League Neighbours

holmesdale

2-0 holmesdale

punjab united

3-1 holmesdale

ee Roots’ phone signal is coming and going – he’s racing from work to Oakley Road to prepare for a midweek fixture. “On the way, straight from the job that pays the bills on top of this,” he laughs. “It’s proper, real football over here.” Management at non-league level presents an entirely different set of challenges to that of the Premier League, and motivating a squad weary from a day at work is just one example. Roots takes us through his tricks to counter it. “We meet an hour and 15 minutes before the game, because we have to take into account they have all just been at work,” he explains. “No one

2-1

tower hamlets

luxury we have at home is that the kit is hung up for us! We do our usual set-up, covering a bit of tactical work on the walls. Then the players would have about 20 or 30 minutes for a warm up.

“After the game we would be sweeping up the changing room, packing away the kit, and then having some beers and staying there as late as we can – which is probably one of the reasons we do it!” Such is the pressures of balancing a full-time job with a family life and regular matchdays, there are often weeks where there is no time for training at all. “There can come a time where we play three games in a week and we don’t even train, because you’ve got three games in seven days. It’s hard to bring the lads in for two more nights a week. Some of these players aren’t getting paid money, or they’re only getting paid their expenses.

they made the away kit red and blue checks. [The club] has always been linked to Crystal Palace fans and fanatics

“It can be quite the sacrifice. We try to bring them in as often as possible where we can, but obviously recovery is so important. We’re not able to monitor or police their recovery; we have to trust them

that they’re going to go away, be professional and look after themselves. It’s difficult.” That being said, this is an unofficially full-time job for Roots. “It really is a labour of love. If you were to value your time, you could probably run a successful business with the amount of energy you put into it. You’re constantly thinking, constantly talking to your staff. “You’re designing sessions, thinking about the squad, playing back-to-back games, seeing new players come in, rotating, managing injuries, physiotherapy. Then there’s obviously the development lads, reserve staff, committee members, the Chairman, budgets. “Everything down to the bag of sweets on a Saturday. I’ve been managing for 10 straight seasons now – I had a hairline when I started, you know!” Amongst all the focus on Holmesdale, Roots keeps another eye on his south London neighbours. “The guys that run the club are absolutely Palace mad,” the manager reveals. “One of our committee members was late to a game because he was trying to renew his Season Ticket. “We play in green and yellow chequered kits, the original Holmesdale colours. But they made the away kit red and blue checks. [The club] has always been linked to Crystal Palace fans and fanatics.” The addition of a Palace Non-League Neighbours

style sash for this season’s design confirms the theory. As the top-level game ticks along in the divisions above, Roots and Holmesdale continue to cram as much football as they can into already hectic schedules. Not for the money, but for the love of the game; the romance of football at local level. “It’s a great thing to have alongside the professional game,” he says. “It’s real: the players are not working day to day, and they have to develop themselves away from the game. You really do go a long

when you’re in non-league, it moulds a lot of your life. You meet a lot of people through it – it moulds you way when you buy a burger and a programme at this level. It pays the way for the football. “My dad knew a guy who used to bring the mascots up at Palace when Chris Coleman, Richard Shaw, John Salako and Gareth Southgate were there. He became Holmesdale manager, and he actually brought me here. “From Holmesdale I met the mother of my children. So when you’re in non-league, it moulds a lot of your life. You meet a lot of people through it – it moulds you.”

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Premier League 31/8/2019 Luka Milivojevic takes a corner in Palace’s second home game of 19/20. The season would last another 330 days due to suspension in March.

moment in time

Some goal celebrations are just plain odd. Andrew Johnson celebrates his opening goal with Wayne Routledge in the match against Villa on New Year’s Day 2005.

Premier League 3/1/2005

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

moment in time

steve coppell From its founding to the current day, Crystal Palace’s history is rich in stories and characters. Here, ‘Sir’ Steve Coppell explains the unique circumstances around his arrival in SE25.

teve Coppell stood at a Football Writers’ Association dinner, surrounded by journalists and other well-known footballing faces. He met then-Crystal Palace Chairman Ron Noades for the first time and, somewhere nearby, Dave Bassett chatted with fellow attendees. Coppell made small talk with Noades, Bassett and

I always say my first year of management was the blind leading the blind because I didn’t know what I was doing. It was the steepest learning curve

others for less than 10 minutes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the conversation wasn’t enough to remember 35 years on. From the Archive

Days later, Bassett rejected Noades’ Palace and the club was left without a manager. Coppell had returned home to Manchester and, upon hearing the news, turned to his wife and said: ‘Ron Noades will give me a call. I know he will.’ Coppell was 28-years-old and just eight months into retirement. He’d spent the last three months in Amsterdam, “to get away from it all,” before he decided to pursue a career in management. He had no managerial experience, but, “Lo and behold… got the call.” ‘Do you want to come down and have a look at what we’re doing?’ Noades asked. ‘Obviously Dave has left and I’m looking for somebody to come in and take over.’ Coppell’s playing career ended under the ACL-destroying tackle of Hungary’s József

Tóth three years earlier. He continued to play for both Manchester United and England, but after just 10 years in the professional game, could no longer sustain a top-flight career. Despite the effect injury had on him, Coppell reflects on the time positively, saying: “As such, it was a great advantage - on the fact that Ron took the chance on me. It took me five years to get promotion [at Palace]. I’d hazard a guess that in today’s climate I would have got two or three years max.

I’ve always been fortunate that the Palace faithful registered I was working hard to try and turn around the situation “I was fortunate. I always say my first year of management was the blind leading the blind because I didn’t know what I was doing. It was the steepest learning curve.” “Blind”, in his own words, Coppell inherited a job with little to no financial support behind it. His challenge - taking Palace into the top tier of English football - was immense. “I remember when I got the job at Crystal Palace, one of my old coaches phoned me up and From the Archive

said: ‘Listen, don’t be anything other than yourself. Because if you try and be somebody else or manage like somebody else, the veneer will drop and you won’t be able to keep up the facade.’ “I always tried to treat players like grown men. Because at that time, management was more of a bully situation: ‘I’m the boss and don’t you forget it.’ Whereas you’ve got to remember I was younger than some of the players I was managing, so there’s no way I could be the bully boy. “I was just myself, I treated them like grown men and the vast majority of the time they responded like grown men… I was lucky with the Palace fans. In my first year, when we really struggled, everyone blamed Ron! “I’ve always been fortunate that the Palace faithful registered I was working hard to try and turn around the situation.”

palace for life palace for life joins giving tuesday Palace for Life will be taking part in #GivingTuesday 2021, the global day of generosity taking place on November 30th.

alace for Life Foundation are one of the thousands of organisations taking part in this year’s #GivingTuesday campaign. #GivingTuesday offers the opportunity to give back to good causes, either by donating to charity, reaffirming commitment to a cause, volunteering time or supporting others by simply helping a friend, neighbour or family member. Over the last year the COVID-19 pandemic has seen charities step up like never

before, helping keep communities going across the country; #GivingTuesday allows those who can the chance to give back. Over the past 18 months Palace for Life have worked hard to support our community

The generosity of Palace fans never ceases to amaze us. From the Palace Kitchen to the Marathon March, their support has always been incredible

overcome the impact of the pandemic. We have continued in-person presence within schools, provided new girls-only, pan-disability and Get Involved sessions aimed at getting more palace for life

young people active, delivered mental health workshops to over 400 schoolchildren and distributed more than 27,000 meals to those in need. The pandemic has pushed us to work harder than ever to help the young people of south London. Your support allows us to continue doing this. By supporting the Foundation on Giving Tuesday you will help us support more young people than ever before. Over the next year we will continue to deliver our successful projects across south London, while adding a larger focus on diversionary activities to keep young south Londoners safe and away from serious violence, knife crime and gang activities. To do this we will be implementing further free sports sessions in some of the most disadvantaged areas across south London, delivering more one-to-one mentoring sessions to individuals who are in, or at risk of being in, the criminal justice system, and providing young people with even more opportunities into education

and employment thanks to our Route to Employment pathway. Palace for Life CEO Mike Summers is calling on Foundation supporters to embrace the campaign: “The generosity of Palace fans never ceases to amaze us. From the Palace Kitchen to the Marathon March, their support has always been incredible. We’re really excited to see what our supporters can raise on our first #GivingTuesday to help us further our work throughout south London.”

Palace for Life Foundation work with 13,000 young people from SE25 and across south London every single year. We work with those who are most in need of help, working to create safer communities, healthier lives and brighter futures. In 2020 #GivingTuesday raised more than £20 million for UK charities through online donations, more than ever before. To donate to our Giving Tuesday campaign, visit palaceforlife.org and search: 2021 Giving Tuesday. You can also keep up to date on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages: @PalaceforLife

To find out more about work done by the Foundation and how you can support the young people of our community, visit palaceforlife.org.

palace for life

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 that the first three meetings of the new Football Association in October 1863 were equally divided into two camps: those clubs who wanted football to follow the Rugby school rules and those clubs, including Crystal Palace, who wanted what we now call ‘soccer’ rules. In this edition we’ll look at the next three FA meetings and the political maneuvering it finally took to get the rules of ‘soccer’ accepted over the rules of Rugby, the important part Crystal Palace played in it and what it meant for the embryonic Football Association and the future of football.

FORMING THE FA

devise their own rules under which they continued to play. Surprisingly, even though Rugby school had two representatives at this meeting, the new Cambridge rules forbade pushing players with hands, tripping up and shinning

the new Cambridge rules forbade pushing players with hands, tripping up and shinning - precisely what the FA’s soccer members wanted to achieve

The third FA meeting concluded with nine draft rules expanding to 23, including retaining rules that permitted hacking players on their legs and tripping and holding players who had the ball; all rules that were then part of the Rugby game. It must have been at this meeting that the non-hacking soccer clubs realised the difficulty they would have in getting their rules past the Rugby clubs. The fourth meeting was scheduled for November 24th, 1863. At the same time, no doubt knowing the new Football Association was coming up with its own set of rules, a group of public school old boys met at Cambridge University to

- precisely what the FA’s soccer members wanted to achieve. At the FA’s fourth meeting - where James Turner and his brother-in-law, Theodore Lloyd Junior, represented Palace - the soccer clubs proposed that the FA should form a committee to reach out to the Cambridge rules as they ‘embraced every requisite of the game with great simplicity’ and were ‘the most desirable rules for the association to adopt.’ Palace’s Turner played his part that evening by seconding the motion. The Blackheath Club objected, proposing that the motion should only say the Cambridge rules were ‘worthy of consideration’, and a vote was taken. The clubs tied with eight each and it was left to Arthur Pember, as President, to give the casting vote. He gave it to Turner and John Alcock of

Football before its rules were agreed in the 1860s

cpfc 1861

Football Association members playing organised football Forest F.C’s motion to contact Cambridge and discuss adopting their rules. The soccer ‘nonhackers’ had the upper hand - just. But the Rugby clubs then turned the tables, saying they misunderstood the first motion and so put forward their own: that the FA Committee insist the hacking rule be kept in any communications with Cambridge. This vote was carried 10 to nine. Probably realising the

Palace were one of the few clubs to attend all six inaugural FA meetings, providing seven different delegates - more than any other

Rugby clubs now had the upper hand, Alcock said it was too late to carry on and proposed that the meeting be adjourned until the following Tuesday, December 1st. This was agreed. This was a shrewd move by Alcock as two schools, who were supporters of the Rugby faction, started their Christmas holidays and couldn’t attend the next meeting. In their place was a new member, Forest School of Walthamstow. This was a school close to Forest F.C. which, presumably, was no coincidence and, not surprisingly, they supported the soccer faction. Crystal Palace clearly took their role in supporting the soccer cause seriously. Neither James Turner nor the Lloyd brothers were able to attend the hastily arranged meeting, but they made sure the club was represented by players Frederick Urwick and John Louis Siordet. In fact, Palace were one of the few clubs to attend all six inaugural FA meetings, cpfc 1861

providing seven different delegates - more than any other. The battle continued at the fifth meeting and the Rugby faction tried to get it adjourned without success. The group then voted on removing the rules which allowed players to run with the ball in their hands and to ‘charge, hold, trip or hack’ a player with the ball, and this was comfortably carried by 11 votes to five. The soccer faction had finally won, and Crystal Palace had been an important part of its success. A sixth meeting was held on December 8th, 1863, to confirm the new laws and the first FA Committee was appointed. Except for Blackheath’s Francis Campbell, they were all members of the soccer faction, including James Turner, and these men are now considered the Founding Fathers of the Football Association

NEXT TIME In the next edition we’ll look at Palace’s involvement in keeping the FA going after the dust settled, and the creation of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest national football competition. Peter Manning’s book, Palace at the Palace, is available online through the Club Shop.

leigh nicol I love all the changes this season; I love the new facilities, the new coaching staff, the new system and the philosophy we’re trying to play.

he group of girls we’ve recruited are excellent players, but they’re even better people. We spend so much time together and everyone gets on, which I think you can see on the pitch. Some results haven’t gone the way we’ve wanted but I feel we’re getting better and better every week. The key is no matter who’s come into the team and who’s starting we have a real togetherness. I think it’s

The club’s in a fantastic place, with a group of girls and staff who are second to none so important the team remain together whether you’re starting, coming on, injured or don’t play. The club’s in a fantastic place, with a group of girls and staff who are second to none. Personally it’s not been the easiest of starts. I’ve had palace women

so you assumed that’s what they were like off the pitch. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Now I’m wearing the badge it’s excellent to be on this side: part of the team rather than against it. The girls are like a family to me, I absolutely love them. They might not say that about me – they’d say I’m annoying! – but honestly they are like family members. I’ve never been at a team where every

to recover from injury and it’s taken me some time to get going. During that time, I think it was really important to try and make an impact off the pitch while I couldn’t do so on it. Now I am able to train and play, I’m focusing on getting quicker and stronger. I’m glad to say it’s happening and every few weeks I’m hitting new personal bests. Now it’s about using that to help the girls get results. After time with Celtic, Arsenal, Millwall and Charlton, Crystal Palace is hands down my favourite club, and it has the best group of girls. My initial perception of Palace on the outside was so different to what it is on the inside. Palace was a team you didn’t like playing because they were aggressive,

I think it was really important to try and make an impact off the pitch while I couldn’t do so on it

single person gets on and every single person likes each other. All the girls who’ve moved from up north spend our off days together and we’re always going for coffee before training. Finally, talking about life away from Palace, I work for a company called B5 Consultancy which works with players and clubs to help them with off the pitch issues, including social media. I work with football, rugby and cricket clubs and organisations nationally and internationally to help athletes protect themselves on social media. palace women

One project I have going on with B5 Consultancy and DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Education, who run educational courses for WSL Academies), is to educate youth female athletes on being prepared for the growth of media in the women’s game. We are educating them on what to expect and how to deal with it. We made a video called #BeReady which highlights the key messages we try to get across. The video was so successful it was up for Best Sport Related Commercial Video of the Year at the Sports Business Awards earlier this month! I’m very proud of that, and proud of the work we’ve done at Palace this season. Hopefully there’s more to come from both over the next few months!

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.

Enjoy your first ever game at Selhurst Park Molly Levenson, and happy belated 7th birthday

Very happy 9th birthday Alex Williamson, love mummy, daddy and granddad.

Happy 14th birthday Stanley. Enjoy the game - it’ll be Eze like Sunday morning!

Meet the newest member of the CPFC family, our new grandson/ nephew Arthur! From Grandfather Kevin and Uncle Tony

Happy 50th Birthday Colin! Enjoy the game. Lots of love from Jo and Alfie.

Our gorgeous Princess sporting the third kit. She loves watching the Eagles, and sleeps with her own Pete the Eagle! X

from the terraces

Happy Birthday 18th Joseph Gilroy, love Dad, Sarah, Grandad, Nanny and Jess X

Happy 55th birthday today to my husband Tony Pedrotti. Lots of love Mandy xx

Rest in peace to a loving Dad, Grandad & Husband, and a true Palace supporter xxx

To Our Dearest Baba, wishing you a very Happy 50th Birthday!! All our love x always x Gizelle & Luca xx

Oliver Vause is attending his first Palace match today with his mum, dad and grandad Happy 25th birthday Shane. Love from Mum, Dad, Bentley and boys Xxx

Happy 21st Birthday to Matthew Thorne, Palace fan from birth and Holmesdale Season Ticket Holder. Lots of Love, Mum, Dad, Pippa and JD. xx Come On Palace!

Welcome to Arthur Hewitt. Born 11th October 2021 to season ticket holder Hannah Lovelock. We are counting down the days until Arthur singing Glad All Over.

Welcome to the family of Jack Edwards on their visit to Selhurst Park. Jack spent most of his career with Palace between 1949-59 and passed away in 2014. We hope his family enjoy their day with us. In Loving Memory of lifelong Palace Fan Garry ‘GTG’ O’Loughlin. Taken way too soon but always alive in the hearts of everyone who knew him. RIP Garry you absolute legend.

David Arthur Fox. 1954 – 2021. Lifelong Palace fan, grew up close to the stadium. Despite living in Canada attended many home games. Suddenly passed away at the age of 67. Loved and remembered by close family and friends

Noah Hicks - massive Palace fan from Bray in Ireland - Happy 9th Birthday - Welcome to Selhurst Park for your first live game - enjoy your day - lots of love Auntie Val and Uncle Steve, Mummy, Daddy Tommy and Summer xxxxx

Email programme@cpfc.co.uk Happy 12th birthday Max, have a great day. Love uncle Gary, auntie Julie & Jess. Max sits in the Arthur Wait stand with his dad and grandad xx

from the terraces

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

Yannick Bolasie represented both Palace and Villa. To which country did he move in 2007 in a bid to kick-start his career?

Woody and Nord is a book written by which two former Palace figures?

In which city was Christian Benteke born?

How many England caps did Geoff Thomas collect?

From which country did Mile Jedinak join Palace?

GAmes

FAMOUS FAN

guess the ground

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

This Irish actor says beating Leeds United in the 1996 League Cup final is her highlight of life as a Villan. ‘Go on, go on!’ she’s said to have shouted in support. Do you recognise this famous Villa fan?

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

Brighty

You

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

ANSWERS Guess who: Danny Boxall Spot the image: Page 56 Quiz: 1) Malta 2) Andy Woodman and Gareth Southgate 3) Kinshasa 4) Eight 5) Turkey Famous Fan: Pauline McLynn Guess the Ground: University of Bolton Stadium - Bolton Wanderers

games

team stats: women / U23S / U18S Victor Akinwale Akinwale (on 10 goals from nine for Palace) made his England Under-18s debut against the Netherlands.

Jack Wells-Morrison Wells-Morrison joined three teammates with England Under-18s, playing the full game against Belgium.

Bianca Baptiste Baptiste notched her second of the season after just four minutes against Blackburn Rovers.

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

AUGUST Sun 29

Bristol City

W 4-3

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST Mon 16 Leeds United

L 1-3

Fri 20

Arsenal

L 2-4

Everton

W 3-1

Sun 5

London City Lionesses

L 1-2

Fri 27

Sun 12

Sunderland

D 1-1

Sun 26

Liverpool

L 1-2

SEPTEMBER Mon 13 Leicester City

W 6-1

Sat 18

Manchester City

L 2-4

Fri 24

West Ham United

L 0-1

OCTOBER Sun 3

Sheffield United

D 0-0

Sun 10

Coventry United

Wed 13 Lewes

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

Sun 31

D 2-2

Sat 16

Brighton & Hove Albion

L 1-2

Fri 22

Derby County

W 3-2

NOVEMBER Mon 1 Blackburn Rovers

L 1-2

Sat 6

Chelsea

W 2-1

Sat 20

Liverpool

W 3-0

Sat 27

Manchester United

Watford

NOVEMBER Sun 7

Durham

W 3-1

Sun 14

Charlton Athletic

W 3-2

Wed 17 Reading

L 1-3

Sun 21

W 2-1

Blackburn Rovers

DECEMBER Wed 15 Bristol City Sun 19

Lewes

JANUARY Sun 9

Sunderland

Sun 16

Durham

Sun 23

Liverpool

FEBRUARY Sun 6

Bristol City

Sun 13

London City Lionesses

MARCH

OCTOBER Fri 1 Tottenham Hotpsur

DECEMBER Mon 6 West Ham United Mon 20 Derby County JANUARY Mon 10 Everton Mon 17 Chelsea Mon 24 Liverpool FEBRUARY Mon 7 Tottenham Hotspur Mon 21 Manchester United Mon 28 Brighton & Hove Albion

Sun 6

Coventry United

Sun 13

Lewes

MARCH Mon 14 Manchester City

Sun 27

Charlton Athletic

Mon 21 Arsenal

Sun 3

Blackburn Rovers

APRIL Mon 4

Sun 24

Watford

Mon 25 Blackburn Rovers

Sheffield United

MAY Mon 2

APRIL

MAY Sun 1

Leeds United

Leicester City

women/u23S/u18S

W 4-3

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 DECEMBER Sat 4 Tottenham Hotpsur Sat 18 Brighton & Hove Albion JANUARY Sat 8 Norwich City Sat 15 Fulham Sat 22 Birmingham City FEBRUARY Sat 5 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 19 Arsenal Sat 26 Norwich City MARCH Sat 5 Leicester City Sat 12 West Ham United Sat 19 West Bromwich Albion APRIL Sat 2 Aston Villa Sat 9 Southampton 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

Name

Apps

Bianca Baptiste

Kirsty Barton

Hannah Churchill

Goals

Charley Clifford

Grace Coombs

Leanne Cowan

Aimee Everett

Millie Farrow

Coral-Jade Haines

Sophie McLean

Chloe Morgan

4 2

Molly-Mae Sharpe

1 2

Siobhan Wilson

liv

10 7

16 5

11 23

lon

10 6

3 12 9

3 19

cry

10 5

Jay-Rich Baghuelou

Scott Banks

David Boateng

Freddie Bell

Malachi Boateng

Maliq Cadogan

Harry Freedman

Junior Dixon

John-Kymani Gordon

Owen Goodman

Reece Hannam

Ryan Bartley

Kalani Barton

2 1

David Omilabu

Dan Quick

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Sean Robertson

A GD Pts

2 20 16 4 18

dur

10 6

4 13 10 3 18

bri

10 5

3 20 12 8 17

James Taylor

Jackson Izquierdo

Kanye Jobson

James Leonard

Cameron Lewis-Brown

Joe Ling

Fionn Mooney

David Obou

Ademola Ola-Adebomi

David Ozoh

Jadan Raymond

Kaden Rodney

Joe Sheridan

Dylan Thiselton

Basilio Socoliche

Noah Watson

Matthew Vigor

Oliver Webber

Jack Wells-Morrison

Joe Whitworth

Vonnte Williams

pos CLUB P W D 1

ars

12 8

Goals

Apps

Victor Akinwale

Jake O'Brien

Name Tayo Adaramola

Nya Kirby

Rob Street

Lizzie Waldie

pos CLUB P W D

Victor Akinwale

Aidan Steele

Gracie Pearse

Cardo Siddik

Emily Orman

Goals

Jack Roles

Leigh Nicol

Apps

Tayo Adaramola

Danny Imray

Annabel Johnson

Name

A GD Pts

2 35 23 12 26

pos CLUB P W D 1

che

10 7

A GD Pts

2 36 16 20 22

whu

12 8

3 32 17 15 25

sou

10 7

2 32 16 16 22

mci

12 6

3 28 17 11 21

lei

10 7

2 22 11

tot

12 6

3 30 22 8 21

ful

10 5

2 21 11 10 18

11 22

bha

12 5

3 20 16 4 19

ars

10 5

2 23 16 7 18

cry

12 6

6 28 24 4 18

cry

10 5

2 22 18 4 18

cha

10 5

4 15 10 5 16

mun

12 5

4 19 21 -2 18

whu

3 17 13 4 14

lew

10 5

4 14 11

3 16

eve

12 4

6 17 25 -8 14

bha

10 4

5 25 24 1

sun

10 3

9 12 -3 12

che

12 3

5 18 24 -6 13

TOT

5 20 25 -5 12

11 14 -3 11

10 lei

4 16 26 -10 13

10 avl

10 3

6 28 33 -5 10

12 3

6 26 29 -3 12

wba

10 3

6 17 30 -13 10

6 16 24 -8 12

12 rdg

10 2

7 16 22 -6 7

5 20 33 -13 11

13 bir

11 26 -15 6

14 nor

5 34 -29 3

she

10 3

10 BLA

10 3

6 10 15 -5 10

12 liv

12 3

cov

7 10 22 -12 5

13 bla

12 2

12 wat

7 10 24 -14 5

14 der

8 16 20 -4 7

lee

women/u23S/u18S

MAY

APRIL

March

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST

Chelsea

15:00

0-3

18th

Sat 21

Brentford

15:00

D 0-0

13th

Sat 24

Watford

19:45

Sat 28

West Ham United