Crystal Palace v Burnley matchday programme by Crystal Palace F.C.

Crystal Palace v Burnley Saturday 26th February 2022 // 3:00pm

palace √ burnley sat 26 feb | 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, Ed Reynolds Photography Neil Everitt, Seb Frej, Dan Weir (PPA), Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

When a bomb goes off – after, when you start to listen and speak with others, [you realise] it was two kilometres from your house – the moment it touches the ground it’s crazy...

briefing palace √ burnley sat 26 feb | 15:00

DSA encourage members during Level Playing Field campaign As Crystal Palace back the Level Playing Field campaign for disabled supporters, we hear from the club’s Disabled Supporters Association, who shared their banner above and told us: “‘Stronger together’ is the message the Crystal

february

Palace Disabled Supporters Association (CPFC DSA) is sending to Patrick Vieira, his players and staff at Crystal Palace F.C. “The association exists to provide an effective channel of communication between its members and the club, representing their views and seeking to enhance their matchday experience.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Crystal Palace, 2016

Andy Gray born (1964)

Leicester City 1-4 Crystal Palace, 2019

Darren Ambrose born, 1984

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Crystal Palace, 2020

“CPFC DSA is actively looking to attract new members and all Crystal Palace disabled supporters are welcome to join, along with their family, friends and personal assistants. “If you would like to become a member or have any issues, suggestions, or feedback, please contact us at cpfcdsa@gmail.com and a committee member will get back to you.”

Fan update Check out the new pop-up Club Shop at BOXPARK Croydon from 11am until kick-off before first-team matches. Grab your Palace kits, scarves and everything else you need in red and blue while having a pre-match pint or bite to eat.

What’s inside Find out… how warfare and the loss of his father have shaped Luka Milivojevic (Page 12), Paddy McCarthy’s insight on Tayo Adaramola (Page 42) and why the Academy is producing players as bright off the pitch as they are on it (Page 47). briefing

manager

Welcome to Selhurst Park to Sean Dyche, the Burnley directors, staff and players, and to everyone here supporting us.

e faced a very strong side, the European champions, and had a good team performance last weekend. The way the players worked and how we performed collectively made it difficult for Chelsea, but we are still showing a slight lack of concentration. It’s important we focus for 95 minutes, especially against teams who only need a half-chance to score, and I was disappointed to concede after such a strong performance. But I’m positive overall. It’s an encouraging sign to play a side with Chelsea’s attacking strength and for them not to create much. Now my message is about consistency: we have to transfer the performances against Chelsea and in the secondhalf against Liverpool into every game. If we continue to play the way we did against Chelsea we’ll win more than we lose. I cannot comment on the Watford result unfortunately, as I had to write these notes before the game. But another key focus of ours is managing the difficult periods we face, and that comes with maturity. Those challenging moments are

key for us and we have to avoid the opposition getting their chances while continuing to create for ourselves. We have the ability to do that: the responsibility is on us being focused for 95 minutes, and that comes with experience.

Naturally I will always field fresh legs but I want to sustain the momentum players build from competing regularly This is a busy period for us, so it’s good to see Cheikhou and Macca returning to perform so well. We need Macca’s energy, experience, leadership and voice, because he makes a massive impact on and off the field. But I won’t rotate for the upcoming games solely to keep the squad fresh; it’s about finding the right balance. Naturally I will always field fresh legs but I want to sustain manager

the momentum players build from competing regularly, and prefer a consistent team that is closely monitored. On that front the fitness levels have been good, and that’s credit to the medical staff, the way we train and how we communicate across the departments. We take into consideration any medical points raised to make the best decisions about the team, and this has helped us have relatively few injuries so far. Off the pitch we are supporting Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action campaign to highlight the work done to benefit disabled supporters. Everybody is welcome and equal at Selhurst Park, and I’m proud the club strives to make that the case every week. Lastly, your backing will be as crucial as ever today. The atmosphere at our stadium is fantastic every time we step out, and I’ve been impressed by how it has been sustained throughout my time. The environment you created was fantastic against Chelsea and I have no doubt it will be so again this afternoon. It is so important if we are to succeed. Thank you for your support

captain

We are here at Selhurst Park for another game that is so important for us as we look to get back to a win at home after frustration against Chelsea.

nfortunately I have had to write these before we played Watford so I cannot discuss this match, but I can look back on a very positive performance and result that was tough to take against Chelsea. I do not wish to say this many more times, but again we played so well in this match and should have ended it with some more points next to our name on the table. We created chances, looked good on the ball and defended well frequently, but must use these abilities in our favour for results more often. When you are playing the European champions anything that is not 100% right 100% of the time can lead to you missing some points. That makes today a big game for us – we know it is key we pick back up points against Burnley. Our last match together at their stadium was an enjoyable one for supporters and showed our strength going forward. We will need this, and to combine it with our defensive strength, to succeed today. Burnley’s win away at Brighton in the last week was an impressive result and shows that they have the

your backing will be the extra push we need if we are going to secure a positive result from another strong performance. I have no doubt we will start collecting more regular points captain

fight and experience to stay in this top division. We know they will use all of that today against us to try to get another positive away result that puts them closer to safety. We know teams in this situation are often the hardest to face, because every point means more. We are up for this though and have a point to prove in front of you all. The midweek games this week and next week can make preparation difficult because it is interrupted and your time for tactics and working on team moves is reduced, but we have trained with a lot of motivation and that will show today. As with every week, your backing will be the extra push we need if we are going to secure a positive result from another strong performance. I have no doubt we will start collecting points much more regularly from the way we are playing and ensuring that your constant support is well rewarded. We have just 11 league games left after this fixture, so are coming to the most important time of the season. We must use this to get into the position our ability and spirit deserves. Make some noise!

chairman

Welcome to the supporters, players, staff and directors of Burnley to Selhurst Park, and of course, to each and every Crystal Palace supporter here this afternoon to get behind Patrick’s team.

am penning these notes before the trip to Watford – hopefully they reach you following a positive outcome. Our clash against Chelsea was a frustrating one in the sense that we more than held our own – I thought we approached the game brilliantly, but for a well-taken goal late on to deny us the points against the Club World Cup champions. Conceding late on has happened a few times this season, but I remain extremely positive about the style of football being played and I am confident we will soon become more effective at closing out these tight games. I read in The Times last week that we’ve had on average 51.9% possession this season – our highest in the Premier League by some margin since promotion, with the figure in recent seasons hovering between the late-30s and mid-40s. Possession doesn’t mean points, of course, but I think it is indicative of the style being played and our positive approach to matches, and I know Patrick and all the players are intent on converting these performances into points.

Today’s opponents have been affected the most by COVIDrelated postponements – so much so they have as many as three games in hand on some of

I remain extremely positive about the style of football being played and I am confident we will soon become more effective at closing out these tight games

the sides around them. Everyone here knows all too well about the qualities of Sean Dyche’s Burnley, a side that is always hard to beat and one we’ve chairman

struggled to overcome in our last four meetings. They had a very impressive win over Brighton last week with some new faces in the ranks, and we absolutely must be on top of our game to secure points today. It’s been another positive week for the Academy with a 5-0 win for the Under-18s against Arsenal and a 2-2 draw against Man United at Under-23 level. Congratulations to both sets of players, as well as Rob Quinn, Paddy McCarthy and their staff. Finally, I urge you to take a moment to look at Hy Money’s wonderful images later in the programme of that famous night at Selhurst for our match against Burnley in May 1979, when Palace secured the Division Two league title and promotion to the top-flight in front of a record crowd of more than 50,000. Having had the joy of seeing Hy at our Academy in recent weeks, I am so pleased she is here today to reminisce on that incredible night. Enjoy the game, and Up the Palace

Growing up during the NATO bombings of his hometown in Yugoslavia, Luka Milivojevic’s childhood was defined by strength in the face of trauma. But when his father passed away last year, he faced an entirely different challenge. Here, he opens up to Ben Mountain about how he’s handled both upheavals.

main interview

ir Bobby Robson shared the often-quoted view that at their core football clubs are “a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.” Robson encapsulated a feeling every supporter knows well. It’s shuffling amongst a dense crowd, squeezing through a stifling turnstile and emerging from the concourse din to see, for the first or thousandth time, a soothingly unbroken pitch – a pure expanse of chequered green, with an earthy smell and the promise of new memories. It’s a moment of peace at a tumultuous time; an incredibly fleeting, dare we say unspoken, calm before the storm. In Belgrade, Serbia, it’s even more momentary, as eyes stream, bodies sweat and throats burn inside the stadiums’ dark furnaces. Yet somehow football’s constant is still guaranteed: from Robson’s Newcastle to Belgrade’s firepit, a small boy, father’s hand grasped tight, will be gawping, unknowingly experiencing that personal, pre-match moment of calm for the first time. And so it was in 1995, when Luka Milivojevic’s father took him to the 100th Eternal Derby, Red Star v Partizan, aged four. For the uninitiated, the Eternal Derby is arguably Europe’s fiercest: it is filled with smoke, heat and noise, and is no ordinary induction.

“My parents and tradition was to be a fan of Red Star,” Milivojevic remembers. “My father came with me six hours before the game into the stadium. He was in a big group with friends – six or seven people. Policemen asked: ‘Are you crazy? How can you go with that young guy on your back?’ “We were in the ultras of Red Star, because my father was a crazy fan. I just watched as a kid – I don’t remember that game but I was with him, so maybe that stayed in my mind. After that I was just watching football, loving football.

We were in the ultras of Red Star, because my father was a crazy fan. I just watched as a kid – I don’t remember that game but I was with him, so maybe that stayed in my mind. After that I was just watching football, loving football

“Everything was positive, everyone was happy and maybe that just stayed in me. Maybe after that it comes from you… especially when you’re a kid, you can see what you love and don’t love and football was just,” Milivojevic points at his wrist, “in my veins.” The Crystal Palace midfielder is trying to answer why, at sixyears-old, he persuaded his father to mislead the authorities. By law Serbians were not allowed to play football until the age of seven, Luka Milivojevic

but Milivojevic’s father got him into a team one year early, such was the youngster’s passion. The midfielder can only explain this with the perspective of adulthood: one of his earliest memories is football, and a day of celebration (Red Star won 2-1) that formed a life-changing association. These stories – the Eternal Derby and sneaking into a team – are Milivojevic’s first recollections, and the first he shares in a lengthy conversation. They both involve his father, which is telling in itself: he died last summer, when “life totally changed.” The midfielder is at a transitional point today. Turning 31 in April, he knows retirement is no longer theoretical, and his father’s passing altered his worldview. It’s made him nostalgic, Milivojevic says with half a smile. It shows. As soon this interview begins he picks up a discarded keyboard, and starts to recall that, at school, he and his classmates were taught to touchtype. He says this with fittingly childlike enthusiasm, clacking at redundant keys, energised by another fond early memory. But then for a Serbian born in 1991, fond early memories are keenly cherished, scattered amongst scarring early memories; those of warfare and bombing, looting and hunger. While Milivojevic has always been forthcoming, it’s only now that reliving his traumas comes so naturally – even keenly. Milivojevic grew up during a period of crisis. The Yugoslav

Wars began when he was twomonths-old, and by March 1999, weeks before his eighth birthday, NATO began its 78-day bombing campaign of Yugoslavia. His city, Kragujevac, was badly damaged. “I remember the day NATO started to put bombs to our country,” he says. “I was a kid, I’d just started going to school, but I remember everything was confused in that moment; a lot of people panicked. Me, as a kid, I didn’t understand why. What is happening?

I remember the day NATO started to put bombs to our country. I was a kid, I’d just started going to school, but I remember everything was confused in that moment; a lot of people panicked. Me, as a kid, I didn’t understand why. What is happening?

“I was on the sofa one afternoon with my mum and my brother – my father had gone to close the shops he had because as soon as the war starts people are going to go out, break the glass and steal stuff. “When a bomb goes off – after, when you start to listen and speak with others, [you realise] it was two kilometres from your house – the moment it touches the ground it’s crazy… When you’re a kid you just see something is wrong and start to panic, because you Luka Milivojevic

main interview

don’t know what’s happening. You try to get help from your mother but you see she cannot help you because she’s panicking as well. “The worst was when you hear the signal that enemy aeroplanes are coming to your territory, it means soon bombs will come... Every town had that signal for people to go to their basements until the threat goes. In that moment when you hear the signal you just run home; that was all you could do.

soon bombs will come... Every town had that signal for people to go to their basements until the threat goes. In that moment when you hear the signal you just run home; that was all you could do

“I remember when we’d go out to play with friends our parents would tell us to be careful – be careful from what? [“Nowhere was safe; a bomb can come anywhere,” Milivojevic later adds, explaining that being ‘careful’ made no difference.] For us it [became] normal, a normal life: there was no training, no school, not enough food. But there was football - always.” Two weeks after the bombing began, Milivojevic’s parents moved with Luka and his brother to a village in the countryside. “We came back home to start Luka Milivojevic

main interview

again,” he says, “but everything was destroyed.” Milivojevic’s family didn’t discuss politics; they had the more pressing concerns of restarting life and bringing home essentials such as food. He says he and his parents were “nobody” within NATO’s decision, but the effect of conflict on Palace’s captain is clear: he is strong and direct, filling a large, empty office with a booming voice that is, apparently, the default setting. “Difficult times make stronger people,” he says. “When you go through difficult times you need to be strong to survive. You start to strengthen your mentality, your character – you start to respect very simple stuff. Because when you go through difficult moments you realise how little you need to just be happy.” So Milivojevic faces his latest challenge – grieving – in the style his upbringing taught him: head on, and with a strong mentality. “My father wasn’t just a father to me,” he says, still clearly, but a little quieter now. “I will say the least he was my father. He was my best friend, first of all. I don’t have a lot of best friends, but he was, definitely. Wherever I went he went with me. “From my career what I made as a young kid, from all situations when I grew up, to play for clubs in Serbia and to reach the level I reached, I would say 50% [of the credit] goes on me

and 50% goes on my father. He kept me realistic, honest with performances, with work, with effort, mentality and character. He was the one who, when we speak about football, was always trying to keep me on the ground. “We liked to go fishing. We were always there together spending time - even going out, he was many, many times with me, which is crazy with the difference of age. But he was just my friend; I didn’t see him as a father, I saw him as a friend.

Difficult times make stronger people. When you go through difficult times you need to be strong to survive. You start to strengthen your mentality, your character – you start to respect very simple stuff. Because when you go through difficult moments you realise how little you need to just be happy “When I lost him, my father was 59. So very young. He was suffering a lot from the disease [cancer] and I will say my life totally changed, I have to be honest. I’m trying to fight with my emotions – trust me – every single day. “But that’s the challenge life gives you – you have to fight that. You don’t have many options… It’s a difficult period but I’m trying. I know he would like for me to keep fighting and to do the best and try to be like nothing happened. “It’s impossible, but I’m trying.” Luka Milivojevic

Luka Milivojevic has been Crystal Palace captain for over four years now. Here, from his previous interviews, he explains his approach to the role.

How being captain feels I’m coming from away, from a small country in the middle of Europe, from Serbia, to a country where football is born. To become captain in the strongest and best league in the world is not easy. But it’s a big satisfaction for me.

How to conduct yourself Becoming captain In 2018, the first game against Southampton away… [Yohan] Cabaye was captain... At half-time he [Roy Hodgson] decided to change and gave me the band. In that moment it was a great feeling for me but on the other side you have the second-half to play so don’t think a lot about that... I was so lucky in that game - I scored second-half and we won 2-1.

I’m trying to give a good example to the other players… I’m trying to help my teammates, I’m not trying to force something like: ‘I want to be this or I want to be that.’ It’s a natural thing; it’s just what I am. I’m trying to help, trying to do my best. As a captain, when you go through difficult situations you need to be strong enough and show an example for the other boys. They are looking at you. the follow-up

On responsibilities You have more responsibility when you have that band on your [arm]. There is more responsibility in you as a professional football player, on the pitch and off the pitch. There is no big, big difference but that shows something to you: that you’re in a good way, they believe in you and you have to carry on as before.

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

Proud to support

Crystal Palace Football Club

Burnley F.C. est. 1882

Inside Dangerous duo Boot in both camps Ambrose: Analysing Palace's Lukaku tactics

opposition

Clarets BURNLEY

Burnley sit second-bottom of the Premier League table having won just twice in a thoroughly interrupted season.

match preview The Clarets’ current saving grace is their total games played: just 22, where Palace have played 25, and some sides have managed 26. Their deficit comes from four postponed games between the end of November and middle of January. That said, their current total of 17 points from 22 matches suggest they might not be in the clear even having played every game. Their tally of two wins and 11 draws is bar far the fewest wins (the next is Norwich and Newcastle on four) and the second-most draws. They may be tough to overcome, but currently Sean Dyche’s men are desperately in need of victories – and a 3-0 drubbing of Brighton showed how well they can fight for them.

Story so far

Position Points Top scorer

Home

away

third

Last five Seasons Season

Position

Points

Top Scorer

20/21

17th

Wood (12)

19/20

10th

Wood (14)

18/19

15th

Barnes (12)

17/18

7th

Wood (10)

16/17

16th

Vokes (10)

19th 17 Maxwel Cornet (6)

Most assists

Ashley Westwood (3)

Most passes

Ashley Westwood (834)

opposition

dangerman: Cornet

Ivorian Maxwel Cornet has scored six goals from 15 league appearances this season, making him Burnley’s leading goalscorer.

Boot in both camps

Remember when?

Leon Cort

Palace confirmed their play-off place by beating Burnley 5-0 in May 2008, with five different goalscorers: Ben Watson, Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Scott Sinclair and Clinton Morrison.

recent form

Recent clash Brighton 0 Burnley 3 Sat 19 Feb American Express Community stadium

Starting xi 1

subs

N. Pope

M. Lowton

E. Pieters

A. Barnes

B. Mee

W. Hennessey

N. Collins

D. Stephens

C. Roberts

J. Rodriguez

D. McNeil

P. Bardsley

J. Brownhill

K. Long

J. Cork

B. Thomas

A. Lennon

S. Waller

W. Weghorst

M. Cornet

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

opposition

Cort was born and raised in Bermondsey, and joined Palace in 2006. He won Player of the Season in 2006/07, later moving to Burnley via Stoke City in 2010.

International

126 apps 43 clean sheets

02 03 Matthew Lowton

Charlie Taylor

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

05 14 Nick Pope

James Tarkowski

Connor Roberts

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: WALES

Having been at the club since their promotion back to the top-flight in 2016, Pope has been the goalkeeper of choice for the Clarets since 2017. He narrowly missed out on the Golden Glove in 2019/20 after keeping 15 clean sheets.

player profile

POS: GOALKEEPER

Age

Height

1.91m

Joined

19th July, 2016

Debut

10th September, 2017 v Crystal Palace

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Bury Town & Charlton Athletic opposition

22 23 06

Skipper

Nathan Collins

Erik Pieters

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: IRELAND

NAT: NETHERLANDS

215 apps 61 clean sheets

04 07 Jack Cork

Jóhann Berg GODmundsson

Ben Mee

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: ICELAND

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.83m

Joined

14th July, 2011

Debut

6th August, 2011 v Watford

PREVIOUS CLUB: Manchester City opposition

After being at the club for a decade, Mee epitomises Burnley’s defensive solidity. He helped the Clarets to a seventh-place finish in the 2017/18 season and has kept captained the side since.

08 16 Josh Brownhill

Dale Stephens

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: ENGLAND

Aaron Lennon

Ashley Westwood

Bright light

119 apps 7 goals

Dwight M©Neil

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.83m

Joined

Academy – aged 14

Debut

13th May, 2018 v AFC Bournemouth

LAST FOUR SEASONS: • 17/18: 1 app, 0 goals • 18/19: 26 apps, 3 goals • 19/20: 40 apps, 2 goals • 20/21: 40 apps, 2 goals opposition

Pacey winger McNeil broke onto the scene at Turf Moor in 2018/19 and has since been an integral part of the Burnley team, with over 100 appearances to his name despite being just 22-years-old.

09 20 10 Saviour

4 apps

Ashley Barnes

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: FORWARD

NAT: IVORY COAST

NAT: ENGLAND

Wout Weghorst

Jay Rodriguez

Matej Vydra

POS: FORWARD

NAT: NETHERLANDS

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: CZECH REPUBLIC

1 goals

Weghorst joined Burnley as a big-name signing at the end of the recent January transfer window. He impressed immediately after joining but was forced off the pitch recently against Liverpool with an injury. He made a goalscoring return against Brighton.

player profile

Maxwel Cornet

Age

Height

1.97m

Re-joined

31st January, 2022

Debut

5th February, 2022 v Watford

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Emmen, Heracles Almelo, AZ Alkmaar & VfL Wolfsburg. opposition

NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY now available countrywide

for SPORT

After four straight league victories against Burnley between January 2018 and November 2019, Crystal Palace are now winless in their last four against the Clarets in the competition (D1 L3).

43 01

Burnley have won their last two Premier League away games against Palace – for the first time in their top-flight history.

00 44

Pass accuracy % 81%

69% shots

273

231 goals

20 goals conceded

29 clean sheets

Conor Gallagher

Dwight M©Neil

Shooting accuracy

45%

goals

36% goals

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.

The big man: too little, too late? It’s obviously been a very frustrating season for Burnley with all the postponements. Palace fans will have been delighted by their fantastic result against Brighton, and – the Spurs game aside – they’ll be full of confidence at the perfect time to rescue their season. I think they’ll struggle to turn it around, but if there’s any manager you’d trust to do it, it’s Sean Dyche. Him being in charge ensures there’s a chance of survival – he’s a fantastic manager. He’s honest and open and his teams always look happy and confident, even when they’re not playing too well. I’d like to have played for Sean as a player, and have worked under managers with a similar style: Neil Warnock and Mick McCarthy. Those guys don’t have the careers they do without good reason. This Burnley isn’t playing like the side we’ve come to know, though. They’ve won just twice this season when we expect them to grind out results.

Turf Moor is a tough place to travel and should be a fortress where their players can handle tough conditions. That’s what I found when I played there, and that’s how it’s been ever since. This season something has changed.

I’ve been really impressed by him and if he keeps Burnley up he’ll be one of the greatest signings they’ve ever made Their main source of hope, I think, is Wout Weghorst, the new centre-forward. He scored a magnificent goal against Brighton and looked a real threat throughout his time on the pitch. If he competes until the end of the season Burnley could utilise their games in hand. Every side Darren ambrose

in the bottom spots has their threat: Weghorst is Burnley’s. There are questions over strikers – Dutch ones in particular, don’t ask me why – coming from European leagues into the Premier League. But when Burnley lost Chris Wood they immediately knew who to replace him with: an in-demand, large centre-forward with a great touch – though that’s not such a unique trait in today’s ball-playing league. I’ve been really impressed by him and if he keeps Burnley up he’ll be one of the greatest signings they’ve ever made. It’s unfortunate for Palace that he’s arrived at just the right time.

An unrewarded masterclass I’m sounding like a broken record now with the number of games Palace could have earned more points in: Brighton, Arsenal, West Ham away, West Ham home, Leicester, Norwich; the list goes on. With those in our pocket we’d be sat comfortably in the top eight. Now the frustration in my line of work is people starting to question Palace’s season although they deserve to be higher. These two weeks could flip the whole season: 32 points and you’re safe this year, and an FA Cup quarter-final would be huge. That means you’re safe, competing in the cup and enjoying the run-in. On the cup, Palace are owed a decent run. It’s not been easy so far, but you’d take Millwall, Hartlepool and Stoke City if offered as your first three rounds. Again though Palace are competing in the opposition’s final. Stoke are having an average league season so will be bang up for the cup. Suddenly with a win against them and just a few league points the whole story changes: Palace are flying again. Results like the Chelsea one need cutting out, clearly. After the game the media and supporters went crazy with this stat: Romelu Lukaku had seven touches, the fewest since records began. That overlooks another team being involved. It’s an unacceptable performance

for Lukaku – I once made just 23 passes in a game and my teammates printed it out and pinned it on the dressing room wall – but it was a defensive masterclass from Palace. They did it to Harry Kane earlier this season: he had no touches in the box for the first time in his top-flight career.

These aren’t poor forwards, it’s exceptional defence. Palace nullified what Lukaku and Kane are good at, and in Lukaku’s case, sat two centre-midfielders right in front of the centrebacks to suffocate his space. That meant he had no room for balls into his feet, and had to darren ambrose

make runs in-behind. With Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen to outpace, he had no chance. So the big-name players get focused on for things like that, and Palace’s performance was lost among the noise. Against another side, or with a bit more focus, that game is a 2-0 home win

Battle for 17th Palace face Watford and Burnley in a week: two of the bottom three. But that doesn’t mean they’ve had it easy, because the competition near the relegation zone has been brilliant this year. I can’t make up my mind about who’s going down. Unfortunately I think Norwich can be safely included, despite Dean Smith’s appointment. They’re too good for the Championship but not enough for the Premier League. Then you’ve got Watford and Burnley as the next most likely, but they both have brilliant managers who know how to save a season. Newcastle are safe to me – they’ll finish 13th or so – and that leaves Everton and Leeds as the out of form teams. I’ve enjoyed the scrap for the top four this year, too, and think the title race is open again. But I do like to look at the lower places most, and when you consider the managers down there – Smith, Dyche, Roy Hodgson, Marcelo Bielsa, Frank Lampard, Eddie Howe – we have a great competition on

writers Ed Reynolds

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 Ed Reynolds.

Earlier this season Burnley faced Crystal Palace in a 3-3 thriller at Turf Moor. Last season, the Clarets kept the south London side out in both games, with Palace suffering defeat home and away. This season however, the Eagles are stylistically different, with more focus on keeping the ball and creating clearer scoring opportunities. One of the keys to this change were two new signings in defence. Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen both provide stability and the opportunity to dictate tempo from defence as centre-backs with a greater focus on playing with the ball. Last time out against Burnley, Andersen and right-back Joel Ward made the most successful passes, and this allowed the right side of defence to control the game, with Andersen providing an assist for Christian Benteke’s opening goal. The Eagles’ increased confidence to play out from the back and recycle play has allowed the team to enjoy clearer-cut opportunities. In the reverse fixture, Andersen was central to Palace’s opening goals. The Danish

centre-back provided an assist for Benteke's opener, playing a short pass across the 18-yard box for the Belgian to strike in off the post. Andersen also started the second goal, which showed the opportunities that can be created from one defence-splitting pass – Andersen’s speciality. His long ball over the top, between the two Burnley centre-backs, found Conor Gallagher, who controlled it confidently before cutting back and laying off a pass to the on-running Benteke to finish. The whole move took only five seconds from Andersen to the back of the net. This directness is highlighted in the big chances created statistic, as the current side are ahead of last season’s team. The 3-3 earlier this campaign shows progress from the previous, as there were a similar number of shots but a disparity in goals scored. Greater clear-cut opportunities this season have given strikers higher-quality opportunities, with more shots coming from in the box. Increasing confidence on the ball has led to higher possession statistics, too. An average of 52% aspiring writers

this season is a 12% increase from 2020/21. Vieira appears to have instilled faith in each of his players’ ability, and this has been reflected on the pitch. This was evident in the reverse fixture against Burnley as Palace had over 60% possession and 150 more passes. This possession- and pass-dominating Palace is different to the counterattacking team of the past, as is clear in the Eagles’ comparative ability to hold onto the ball. Against Burnley last season the south Londoners gave up possession an average of 27 times across the two games. This season against Burnley the number was down to 20. While this may only be a small change it shows the focal point of Vieira’s patient style of football, with the aim to create better clear-cut opportunities. Today’s match could well provide another example. Impressed by what you’ve read, and need work from a media professional? You can discuss work opportunities with Ed and our other aspiring writers by emailing programme@cpfc.co.uk.

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inside the academy copers cope road

Inside Meet the returning international Paddy gives his insight into Tayo Adaramola Dave Swindlehurst: The Problem

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.

Cardo Siddik age: 19 / position: Centre-back

joined: 2016

highlights so far Captaining Iraq’s Under-19s in two friendlies in 2020. Siddik also played a central part in Palace Under-18s’ runners-up league finish in 2020/21.

Take note of Having once been an attack-minded player, Siddik enjoys breaking the lines going forward by picking the ball up and driving. inside the academy

getting to know Cardo Siddik -

a very grounded young man with a great attitude to develop. cardo played a big part in the U18s' league campaign last season and showed real growth in his all-round game. Unfortunately his season has been disrupted by injuries and we are hopeful he will be fit and available soon Paddy M©Carthy Under-23S manager

It took time for Cardo Siddik’s fledgling career to settle down. He moved from Hanwell to LNER before trialling with Watford, QPR, Brentford and Barnet and then, eventually, impressing the Crystal Palace scouts and signing in south London. Since then he’s played international football, signed a professional contract and even collected two highly impressive A-Levels through the club’s education system. It’s fair to say those earlier struggles were formative, rather than prohibitive. “[Signing professional forms] is a really proud moment for me,” he said earlier this season. “It’s something any footballer dreams of when they start off. My journey, I’ve been all sorts of places and multiple times I’ve been rejected. As a young player that affects your mentality and motivation. Let’s just say five years ago if you’d told me I’d be sitting in this position… I would have a very hard time processing that.” Rejection in his mid-teens was a defining experience for Siddik, who credits his parents with keeping him motivated. Today, having recently recovered from injury to start competing with the Under-23s, he can look back and smile: “The consistent setbacks, people saying: ‘You’re not good enough for this, not good Inside the academy

enough for that, you should probably change sport.’ I’ve had all sorts but it goes to show that if you put your mind to something you will achieve it in the end and all the hard work does pay off. Just thinking back to those moments does bring a smile to my face because it’s a big ‘damn you’ to all the people who said that in the past. “It goes to show football is a game of opinions. Loads of people might not like you but if you put your mind to it you’ll find the right place, and I think I have.” Today doesn’t just see Siddik settled at one club, however. It’s more than that: he’s finding his feet at Under-23s level with two experienced ex-professionals, Darren Powell and Paddy McCarthy, as mentors, having risen through the Under18s via their tutelage. He also trains every day in Category 1 facilities, benefitting from the Academy’s spectacular recent redevelopment. None of that is lost on him. “Having been under the wing of coaches like that, former players who’ve been right at the top of elite football, you learn an incredible amount,” the centreback says. “From the year I was with Shaun Derry [in the Under23s for 2020/21] and the three years with Paddy and Powelly they have taught me an insane amount of stuff. I definitely wouldn’t here without them, and them guiding me through it.”

inside the academy

Paddy M©Carthy There’s been a lot of activity at the Academy recently, with players going on loan, joining other clubs or, in Tayo Adaramola’s case, competing with the first-team.

hat meant a lot of boys played their first minutes in a long time when we beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1. The players acquitted themselves really well against a high-quality opponent in a rich vein of form, and had an exceptional performance. We played our football: exciting, attacking, in possession and high-pressing. This division is a great challenge, because you get punished if you press wrong by a single second. It’s risky in a way, but we wouldn’t play like that if we didn’t have the players to do it. It’s our identity, it’s exciting, and it makes our players capable of playing at the highest Academy level in the world. But we’re always looking to help them make the next step: getting into a first-team, either with us or elsewhere. When Darren and I took over the Under-23s, we were really clear in our objectives. We stood in front of the players for the first time and said: ‘We don’t want you here with us long-term. That’s not the objective. It’s about you growing as individuals and getting into first-teams.’ To that end we’ve managed to secure a lot of

decent loans for lads at different stages of their development. That’s all credit to the players for showcasing themselves, and now we have the likes of Jake O’Brien having a successful time with Swindon. He’s acquitted himself well for League Two level and looks comfortable at 20-years-old. Rob Street has another exciting loan

Tayo and Jes Rak-Sakyi worked for nine days straight before our Spurs win, and still played with enthusiasm opportunity as he tries to break through at Newport. There are lots of pathways for lots of lads, so it’s a really exciting time at this Academy. That was encapsulated by Tayo’s professional debut earlier this month. He played in the Under-18s at 16 and made his senior debut

Inside the academy

as a second-year scholar, which is testament to the strides he’s made. When you see Tayo in full flow it can take your breath away, but his stand-out quality is his attitude. He can be too harsh on himself for his age because he strives for perfection, so the thing for us is calming him down and putting the reins on. He wants to do more and more and more; he’s an enthusiastic young man and a credit to his family. But he loves the game, loves to improve, loves the club and I’ve enjoyed every minute of coaching him – which I can’t imagine will be for much longer. To highlight the boys’ attitudes, Tayo and Jes Rak-Sakyi worked for nine days straight before our Spurs win, and still played with enthusiasm. We tried to give them a couple days’ rest after that, but it was very difficult to keep them away from this place. That applies across the team; a lot of our players have a real belief that they’re going to be footballers at the highest level. Players and other people say that often, or it’s written on social media, but when I look in our lads’ eyes I see belief, and when I listen to them I hear conviction

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.

The Problem -

DAVId SWINDLEHURST Born

6th January, 1956

First-team debut

23rd August, 1973

Appearances

276

Goals

inside the academy

David Swindlehurst was brought up in north-west London, his birthplace recorded as Edgware, and attended school in Cricklewood. Aged 15 he started playing for Palace in the South East Counties League and was still living at home, travelling to Selhurst Park each day. In 1972 Swindlehurst began to feature in the Reserve teams and his first goal came in a fixture with Swindon Town that March. He also qualified for the London Youth Cup final at Leyton Orient in October due to his age. First-team manager Malcolm Allison arrived in March 1973 and Swindlehurst impressed on a pre-season tour in Sweden with his 6’1” physique. He earned his debut for the first game of 1973/74, with the club then back in Division Two. Allison introduced the gimmick of printing nicknames on players’ tracksuit tops – Swindlehurst’s was ‘The Problem’ – but poor results led to this being ditched. A 1-4 home defeat to Notts

County meant Swindlehurst was also dropped, and he only made nine appearances through a disastrous campaign which ended in relegation. However the forward was not forgotten and a winning goal from the substitutes’ bench at home to Tranmere Rovers in August 1974 meant a return to the starting lineup that lasted six seasons. Swindlehurst immediately repaid the faith

He ended the season as jointtop scorer with Peter Taylor, an accolade he would hold singly or alongside another player for five seasons

shown in him with a brace against Swindon Town, when Palace scored five goals in 11 minutes. He ended the season as joint-top scorer with Peter Taylor, an accolade he would hold singly or alongside another player for five seasons. 1975/76 is always remembered for the FA Cup run in which Swindlehurst Inside the academy

scored probably his most memorable goal as Palace beat Leeds United in the fourth round, the Third Division side out-thinking and out-playing their First Division hosts. A year later came promotion from the Third Division in nailbiting fashion as Palace came from outside the promotion trio to snatch third place from Wrexham, beating the Welsh club twice in their last three games. Swindlehurst found the net twice. Consolidation in Division Two followed and in the final game at home to Blackburn Rovers Swindlehurst netted his only Palace hat-trick in a 5-0 victory that included his 50th league goal. Once again the Eagles were involved in a dramatic end to a season in 1978/79 with elevation to Division One the outcome. Again Swindlehurst rose to the occasion with vital strikes in the last three games culminating in the home match against Burnley on May 11th when he notched the opening goal. Another memorable effort arrived in September 1979 with his flying volley against Ipswich Town as Palace climbed to the top of Division One for the first (and so far only) time. Early in 1980 Swindlehurst fell from favour and in February he was transferred to Derby County. After hanging up his boots Swindlehurst has been involved with the club on occasion and has always been warmly welcomed upon his return

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 Head of Education Rowan Griffiths explains why there’s “no such thing as a dumb footballer” at Palace.

Voices of South London

t is easy to forget that Academy players aren’t yet professional footballers, but often teenagers still at school. Their future is by no means guaranteed, and whether they make it to the very top or not an education is vital. At Crystal Palace, Rowan Griffiths is the man to provide that. “What are you going to do when football ends?” he says, speaking just around the corner from the state-of-the-art classrooms at the new Academy facility. “It’s not if football ends. You could play 500 games in the Premier League, but football is going to end. “You might have millions in the bank – fantastic, brilliant, really happy for you. But are you going to be healthy and happy and content just playing golf all day? If you are, brilliant, but I’d like to think they got to that level because of the challenge, and they still want to work and still want to achieve. “That’s why we’ve got ex-Premier League players working with us now. They’re here because they’ve got a passion to work and to achieve. Hopefully, even if the players are successful they’ll want to do something else in another life.” Griffiths has his own motto for the young players. “I use the phrase ‘healthy distraction’,” he explains. “My background is in athletics, and I’ve worked with Olympic and World [Championship] athletes. There are only so many hours they can be athletes – but traditionally athletic individuals have gone to university during their prime years of performance. “That’s their healthy distraction. For scholars and Under-23s, they are footballers and there is no

traditional avenue of building up the rest of the working day. They come in, they train, they go home. “We’re trying to make them think differently about their working day.” This starts early on – Griffiths oversees the education of ages eight and upwards. He keeps regular contact with primary schools to check on students and offer support, but the real work begins at secondary school. “Starting in year seven – so Under-12s – we speak to the schools about how they have transitioned from primary to secondary, and how intense that becomes on top of their training weeks,” he says. “Under-13s is when we start our hybrid programme. They come out [of school] two afternoons each week, and that’s an agreement with schools, parents and ourselves. We Voices of South London

that’s why we’ve got ex-Premier League players working with us now. They’re here because they’ve got a passion to work and to achieve

transport them to the Academy, where they do additional training, but we also do teaching in the classroom environment. “The schools can ask us to cover certain subjects or certain topics, and again that’s about not making their education suffer due to being part of the Academy system. “Our scholars [16-18-years-old] technically become our students within school, even though we’re not a school. We’re wholly responsibly for their achievement and attainment here. They will all do a BTEC qualification as a norm, and some will do an A-Level – or

even two A-Levels – on top of that. “They are very high achieving students. Last year, five of the boys finished their A-Levels in the summer. One of our second-year scholars, Joe Sheridan, did a full maths A-Level in one year via Zoom and got an A, while being full-time with the Under-18s. “So the perception that footballers aren’t clever is completely untrue. We’ve got politics students, economics, arts, business and media students all doing A-Levels on top of a BTEC diploma.” After the age of 18, there is no legal requirement for the players to continue their education. But Griffiths is keen to change the collective mindset, encouraging further education as a positive opportunity that should be grabbed with both hands. “What we’re trying to do with the Under-23s is extend the learning on offer,” he explains. “At the minute they finish their scholar and get offered a pro [contract], and there’s a perception that they’re professional footballers now, why would they need to [continue education]? It’s about unpicking that mentality.” Part of the process is demonstrating that education can open doors within the game, giving players opportunities to make real on-pitch progress. “At the minute the boys are doing language courses to help them if they go on loan abroad,” Griffiths reveals. “Reece Hannam and Scott Banks are the two Under-23s who have been pushing on this. “Reece is learning Spanish and Scott is learning French. It is thinking about their

opportunities and their options. “I think it makes them better players, I really do. But it’s so good for them to have a passion elsewhere. When it comes to media interviews, it gives them something to talk about rather than the common phrases ‘at the end of the day’ and ‘to be fair’.

they make a huge amount of sacrifices, and they are such nice lads. Really professional, really nice

“They’ve got something else to talk about. One of our secondyear scholars, Jadan Raymond, is incredibly talented and has a massive passion for art and graphic design – and he is very good at it. “He is an incredible artist. I can imagine that is a brilliant step away from all the pressures he has. He’s had a lot of focus playing for Wales, playing at a very high level and scoring goals for the Under-18s.” Now 15 months into the job, Griffiths is already seeing his hard work come to fruition – a process he finds incredibly rewarding. “The stats from last summer about A-level and BTEC grades are significantly above average for boys in all areas,” he says proudly. “I know Voices of South London

you’re getting smaller classes and smaller teaching groups, but there is no such thing as a dumb footballer. “The boys’ working week for some of them here is way above what their peers are doing in sixth form. As a sixth former you might have one or two lessons on some days – these boys are in six days a week doing their training. “Some of them are doing eight hours of A-Levels on top of nine hours of BTECs. They’re eating well, travelling distances. They’re sacrificing being a teenager. “They make a huge amount of sacrifices, and they are such nice lads. Really professional, really nice. They’re having a great experience, no matter what the outcome is.” It’s no easy task balancing the pressures of youth football with schoolwork and exams, but Rowan Griffiths and his team at the Academy are doing all they can to ease the process

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.

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

non-league neighbours beckenham town 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

beckenham town In this edition we hear from lifelong Beckenham Town fan Ian Muir, whose association with the club led to spiteful paper rounds, watching professionals tuck into a fry up and growing into “old fogeys” with the players he once watched.

league table pos CLUB

recent results P

Pts beckenham town

beckenham town

walton & hersham

jersey bulls

here was only one thing on Ian Muir’s mind when growing up in south London: “Football, football, football,” he remembers fondly. “We had one football – if the kid who had it was ill, we would go round to his house and borrow it. We were at the park every single day.” Not much has changed. Now in his late-60s, Muir travels home and away with Beckenham Town, the team he fell in love with as a boy. Not allowed to play football on a Saturday because of the league fixtures, a 10-year-old Muir instead sat in the rickety old stand, the driving rain often billowing in and soaking the

supporters. Beckenham did try hanging a plastic sheet from the roof as protection: the rain issue was solved, with the unfortunate drawback that nobody could see the pitch. It was soon taken down. Like all fans, though, Muir loved his club’s unique foibles and even as a child was fiercely protective when new owners treated the fans poorly. He got his revenge in a unique way. “[The owner] lived locally and his house was on my paper round,” Muir laughs. “I got my own back by leaving the delivery of his paper until last. He used to come running out of his front door in his dressing gown and slippers.” Non-League Neighbours

beckenham town

walton & hersham

3-1 knaphill

3-3 farnham town

0-1

beckenham town

This, like so many at non-league level, is another story you wouldn’t find in the top-flight. For Muir there is also a unique Palace connection. Beckenham’s ground was next door to where the Eagles once trained, and the Palace players would creep through a hole in the fence to play trial games on the non-league side’s pitch. “I can remember [thenmanager] Bert Head shouting and swearing at everybody,” he remembers. “I remember finding Martin Hinshelwood’s shin pads. After training all the players used to go to Eden Park [stadium’s] café, have a fry-up and play on the pinball machine.

I got my own back by leaving the delivery of his paper until last. He used to come running out of his front door in his dressing gown and slippers “As a kid, we were seeing all their names on the highest scorers list for pinball for the week! Today they wouldn’t get away with eating a fried breakfast, but I remember them all tucking into bacon, egg and beans.”

Operating as something of a feeder club in the 1950s and 1960s, plenty of Beckenham Town players had trials with Palace. “One of the best players I’ve ever seen in non-league football is a player called Jan Wawrzewski,” Muir says. “He had a trial with Palace. He scored five goals in three games for their Reserves, but he didn’t fancy it because he didn’t like training – so he came back to play for Beckenham!” Wawrzewski may have had the potential to make the big time, but it seems bidding non-league goodbye was too much of a wrench. Muir knows the feeling. When Beckenham Town weren’t playing he was a Chelsea fan growing up, first heading to Stamford Bridge in 1966 to see Terry Venables and co. try to beat Gordon Banks’ Leicester City. Muir still visited Eden Park Avenue when he could, but not as often. In the end, though, he couldn’t stay away, and in the late 1990s he returned, going home and away with his boyhood side. “I go to Chelsea on midweeks and Sundays,” he explains. “But [Beckenham Town] is that eternal link to childhood, I would call it. “I remember all the old players, and we get quite a lot of them coming down to watch. It’s nice to reminisce with them. I’m 67 now and these players are in their 70s; Non-League Neighbours

I’m an old fogey and they’re old fogeys now [too].” It’s a community club, and this is the community Muir is so pleased to be a part of. “You’re close to the team,” he says. “You’re within touching distance of the players before the game. It’s just being involved. “I know people that say: ‘I just came here once and I stayed; it grew on me’. We get a big group of Palace fans coming when Palace are away – a big group of Season Ticket holders come to our games.”

You’re close to the team, You’re within touching distance of the players before the game. It’s just being involved It’s clear what Beckenham Town means to Ian Muir: it’s community, it’s nostalgia, but most importantly it’s the place where he fell in love with football for the very first time. Now associated with the club for more than half a century, Muir’s affection is only getting stronger. “To sum it all up, I think Beckenham means more to me now when I’m 67 than it did when I was 10,” he says as our conversation draws to a close. It’s impossible not to believe him

Second Division 11/05/1979

Crystal Palace v Burnley

Ian Walsh and Dave Swindlehurst celebrate securing promotion to the top-flight. Image: Hy Money

moment in time

Hy Money

To be sitting pitchside and capturing the winning goal, then to look down from the Directors’ Box to watch the 60,000-crowd gather on the pitch to congratulate the team, and continue to photograph the celebrations in the players’ dressing room, the joy of sharing these images with the Palace fans is why I love photography. Thank you, Palace, for believing in me that I was up to the job.

moment in time

geoff thomas From its founding to the current day, Crystal Palace’s history is rich in stories and characters. Today, Geoff Thomas looks back on one of the club’s finest hours.

eoff Thomas marched into the Wembley sun, nonchalantly tossing a ball in his hand. Further up, the black captain’s band hugged his arm under a bulging ‘90s track jacket as he entered the cauldron of noise, colour and tension that was the FA Cup final.

Before the game, we wanted to go out, enjoy it and not leave anything in the dressing room. We wanted to really put on a performance Steve Coppell led the way ahead of him and, to his left, Bryan Robson followed behind Alex Ferguson. Nine years before, Thomas had been working as an apprentice electrician preparing to take a gamble with fourth-tier Rochdale. From the Archive

But, having joined Palace, Thomas, Coppell et al defied the odds to reach the FA Cup final on May 12th, 1990. For Thomas, as he nonchalantly tossed a ball in the Wembley sun, coming against Manchester United was a chance to make history against a group of childhood icons.

I mentioned to him [coppell] that I played for a youth side which never lost in this bright yellow and black striped kit. That was it. That was my comment “We trained harder,” he says, explaining how the Eagles approached the clash. “We didn’t take our foot off the pedal… We’d go on horrendous runs up Farthing Downs; it didn’t matter how fit you were, it was painful.

“Before the game, we wanted to go out, enjoy it and not leave anything in the dressing room. We wanted to really put on a performance. “I think we went out there to really try and make history. We were making history getting Crystal Palace to Wembley for the first time but everybody was looking forward to the end of the game and being able to say they were FA Cup winners. We were seven minutes away from doing that. “We had to do the walk up the balcony, both sides, and pretend we were shaking

dignitaries’ hands and all that sort of thing. I remember pretending to lift the cup to the Palace fans and just enjoying that moment. I was dreaming of the cup being in our hands.” After the game, with Palace un-done at 3-2 up by Mark Hughes’ 113th-minute equaliser, Thomas joined Coppell in his hotel room to look ahead at the replay in five days’ time. In that moment, Thomas made a suggestion that inspired a kit still debated over 30 years later. “Steve was very superstitious about kits and he wanted colours we hadn’t lost in,” Thomas elaborates. “I mentioned to him that I played for a youth side which never lost in this bright yellow and black striped kit. That was it. That was my comment. “Then all of a sudden we see this new kit turning up a couple of days after. I thought: ‘Ah, this looks really nice,’ and I’m sure if we’d won it would have gone down as a nice kit and a nice keepsake. I get the blame for it though – and rightly so.”

From the Archive

palace for life NCS returns for local teens this summer Summer 2022 sees Palace for Life’s NCS programme return, an experience specially designed for 15-17-year-olds to encourage them to try new things, make new friends and have a positive impact on their local community. Sign-ups are open now!

he NCS programme incorporates opportunities to help young people transition into adulthood by providing a taste of independence and loading them with new skills and opportunities for when they leave school or college, with a large focus on fun and enjoying their holidays.

NCS is broken down into three sections: 1) Residential and skills week Young people take on new adventures, challenge themselves, meet new friends, and work together as a team in an action-packed week away from home. Participants

develop a variety of skills through themed workshops delivered across the week. 2) Social action week Young people come together to support the community. They spend time understanding the needs of their community and design a project to make positive change using the skills gained from week one. They will then volunteer and deliver a project in their local community. 3) Graduate pathway Once the programme finishes, young people can continue their journey with Palace for Life. This is tailored to continue their development as they move into college, university or a job. Participants are given opportunities that include work placements with Crystal Palace F.C, corporate trips to companies such as ASOS, charity event days and further qualifications and work experience. There are limited places left on the NCS programme, so visit palaceforlife.org and search ‘NCS’ to book one!

palace for life

Palace for Life Foundation’s NCS programme has helped me step out of my comfort zone. It has helped me socialise more and I was able to make some new friends. I am now more likely to try new activities and challenge myself more – at first, I was terrified to go paintballing but by the end of the day, I didn’t want to leave because I was having so much fun. Overall, the NCS programme has shown me that it isn’t bad to try things out of my comfort zone and it has helped me to open up to new people and try new things.

How did 2021 look? • Over 331 participants • Bespoke, individual programmes were delivered to three schools, including SEND schools and colleges • Participants volunteered over 10,000 hours in the community • Over £3,500 raised for local charities through social action projects

SUPER DRAW 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

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 spotted an opportunity to stage the FA Cup final, which had been banned from the Oval cricket ground, and built England’s first national football stadium to house it. In this edition we’ll cover the resurgence of the Crystal Palace football team.

In 1894 Henry Gillman, Entertainments Manager at the Crystal Palace, put forward an audacious plan to the Crystal Palace Company board: to fill in two of the palace’s enormous but dilapidated fountains and build a football stadium to house the FA Cup final. The final of the national knockout competition would decide who was the premier football club in Britain each year. The company’s directors accepted the idea with enthusiasm and the new stadium was ready for 1895; the first in a series of 20 Crystal Palace finals which were so popular and successful that they became an unofficial bank holiday. The Crystal Palace Company now had probably the best football stadium in Europe to stage the cup final, but what else could be done to bring much-needed paying visitors? The Crystal Palace Club, which was founded to play cricket in 1857 and had added football to its repertoire in 1861,

had played its cricket continually but hadn’t put out a football team for nearly 20 years. The company saw an opportunity for the club to start playing football again, but this time against top teams, to try and pull the large crowds which came to cup finals.

Q: When was Crystal Palace F.C’s first match in the new stadium?

A: Palace’s first game that year was against the cup holders, Aston Villa, who had won the final at the palace the previous April. The match took place on 30th November, 1895, and Crystal Palace put out a very strong side, wearing their traditional blue and white. The team were amateurs and most, including four full England internationals, frequently played for the leading amateur team of the day, Corinthians. Cynics might say the team was nothing more than a Corinthians side playing in Palace’s blue and white, but it must be cpfc 1861

remembered that, as amateurs, players were not contracted and were free to play for whoever they wanted. Leading amateur players could frequently be found

The company saw an opportunity for the club to start playing football again, but this time against top teams, to try and pull the large crowds which came to cup finals playing for five or six different teams in a season, and when they pulled on a club’s shirt, they were that club’s player for the match. So this was most definitely a Crystal Palace team. The match was not the success the Crystal Palace

Company had hoped for. It was played under grey skies, on a soggy pitch which both teams had difficulty with and to complete disappointment only 1,500 spectators turned up. The first-half was fairly even with the teams going into half-time at 2-2, but eventually Villa’s professional fitness levels told, and the cup holders ran out 7-3 winners. Picking out the positives, at least Crystal Palace’s football team was firmly back on the pitch in the newest and most impressive stadium in the country. A further planned Palace match against Sheffield United did not take place due to an ‘unfortunate hitch’, but the crowds returned to the palace in 1896 when an estimated 58,000 saw Sheffield Wednesday beat Wolves 2-1 in the FA Cup final in April. Association football’s popularity gradually took hold in continental Europe and Palace’s next match came against a visiting German team, to be played on September 5th. The German team landed at Sheerness in Kent and Palace were the fourth and final match on their tour. The Germans came up against a very strong Crystal Palace side, which fielded three England internationals – including the Croydon-born G.O. Smith, considered by many to be England’s first great centre-forward. The match was totally one-sided with Palace scoring

G O Smith of Corinthians AFC, featured on a vintage cigarette card published in London six goals in 25 minutes and going in leading 8-0 at halftime. The rout continued in the second-half and Palace scored another five to leave the final score at 13-0. Clearly, German football had a lot to learn! The German team sailed home that night and that, seemingly, was the end of that. But 10 days later indignant reports from Berlin started appearing in the press, denouncing the German team and saying no such organisation as a German FA even existed. Further enquiries showed that the team weren’t Germans at all, but English electricians who worked at the Siemens factory in Woolwich, who had been working on a contract in Germany. To quote the British press at the time: “It looks as if somebody had been playing cpfc 1861

a very pretty bit of spoof, and that the Kaiser has been done a very severe injustice!” Palace’s next game was arranged for March 1897 against FA Cup holders, Sheffield Wednesday. Palace fielded a strong team including the usual quota of England internationals, but again the opposition’s calibre was too much for them and Wednesday ran out easy 4-0 winners. Football was still highly popular at the palace with the stadium staging its first England v Scotland international that year, drawing a crowd of 35,000, and the Aston Villa v Everton cup final which drew nearly 66,000. But Crystal Palace F.C. matches were not pulling anything like the crowds the Crystal Palace Company wanted to make best use of the stadium. Crystal Palace were playing again, but fresh thinking was required

NEXT TIME In the next edition we’ll find out what happened when the Crystal Palace Company appointed one of the 19th century’s most famous sportsmen as its new Sporting Director. Peter Manning’s book, Palace at the Palace, is available online through the Club Shop.

hannah churchill I’ve spent a lot of this season recovering from injury but feel good and able to help the team, who’ve done really well so far.

think we’ve surprised ourselves with what we’ve achieved collectively so far. We had a really strong start and sustained that through to Christmas, but have had a bit of a dip in recent weeks. We’ve still been able to get some pleasing results though, and I think it’s obvious there’s more to come.

I’ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines this season but that can open your eyes: there’s more to it than just your involvement On a personal note I started the season really ready to go, and took a bit of a setback when I injured my ankle. It’s not the first injury I’ve suffered but it did take its toll and make my confidence dip a bit, and that’s taken a couple of months to come back from. palace women

term injuries your expectations are higher so returning is harder. Now I’m trying to make up ground from my ankle injury and get back to my best, to the level I know I can play. I’ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines this season but that can open your eyes: there’s more to it than just your involvement. So the goal for me now is to be the best player and person I can be to help the team for the end of the season. Away from football I have a full-time job as a product interaction designer. Balancing my time was really hard at the

While I was with Charlton three years ago I did my ACL, which kept me out for 18 months. I was ready to return after a year, but COVID hit and the season was suspended, so I had to wait a further six months. In a way that was a blessing for me because it gave me time to get fitter and sharper and, weirdly, that injury has made me a better player today. I’m more resilient, stronger, and have a changed mindset towards the body; you have to do everything right day to day to stay at your peak. Strangely I’ve found shorterterm injuries harder to deal with. With a long-term one you get into a mindset that it will last a year, or 18 months, and that any steps before that are wins. So you prepare yourself mentally and the expectations are low. With short-

the goal for me now is to be the best player and person I can be to help the team for the end of the season start of the season but I’ve got better at it. That’s not to say it’s easy – I’d be lying if I said that – because being switched on from 8-10 every day is exhausting, but I make sure to enjoy my downtime. I’m at my happiest when travelling, even if it’s just for two days. If I can go somewhere I’ve never been before without much of a plan it makes me the happiest person ever. Recently, that’s meant a lot of staycations, but this summer – hopefully – it’ll mean several trips away

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.

Happy 18th birthday Connor Prescott for 27th February. We love the passion you have for the Eagles. Love Mum, Dean, Catherine, Matt and all the family x

I have a large collection of Palace News Newspapers - Volume 3, August 1989 to Volume 14, August 1998 - that I no longer require. If anyone would like the collection please contact me at jnj.gibbons@btinternet.com.

Poppy Collins is 8 and this is her first ever Palace match! She’s so excited! All our love, Dad, Grandad, & Liam. X

A Palace supporter for over 60 years, John Simmons was born in SE25, but now lives in Southend where he celebrated his 70th Birthday on February 5th. Up the Eagles!

from the terraces

Happy birthday to a very special son on his 13th birthday. Enjoy the game! Lots of love Mum xx

Happy belated 50th birthday Mark from us all. We’ll all be singing at the game today, Eeeaaaagles!

In loving Memory of Mrs Rose Lane. 07.05.1931 - 06.01.2022. Mum, Nanny, Lovely Nan. Forever in our hearts. Team Lane - lifelong Crystal Palace supporters

Welcome to Selhurst Harry, enjoy your first game. Love Mummy and Daddy xxx

Happy 2nd birthday Dylan. Welcome to Selhurst Park - we hope you enjoy watching your first game. Love from mummy, daddy and all the family xxx

Happy 90th birthday Bill - we hope you have a great day. Love your family and favourite team

Happy 70th Birthday Dad (Bob Lowe). Enjoy the match today. Love all your family

Happy Birthday Wendy Osborn

The Padded Seat is checking out Palace’s hospitality today. Check out their TikTok in the next few days to see what they’re getting up to!

Happy 50th birthday Grant Turner! Have a good one, with love from Lisa, Edward and Milly xxx

Happy 50th birthday to my darling girl, Kate Westrupp. Love you lots, Jane xx

We are saddened to share that Jack Payne has passed away. Jack was a lifelong season ticket holder. 24.03.1949 - 03.01.2022. RIP Dad, Grandad, Brother, Husband, pictured here with Steve Coppell.

from the terraces

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

Which manager did Leon Cort follow to Palace?

How many Premier League trophies did Gary Cahill win?

Who scored against Burnley in the 1979 season finale?

Ian Wright joined Palace from which non-league side?

Which stadium has a greater capacity: Selhurst Park or Turf Moor?

GAmes

FAMOUS FAN

guess the ground

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

This former spin doctor held various roles under Tony Blair and has made clear his Burnley fandom in a very public fashion, and once played alongside Diego Maradona in a charity game. Do you recognise this famous Burnley supporter?

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

0-1 1-1 2-0 0-3 total Manage to Beat Brighty? Keep track of your total score above!

ANSWERS Guess who: Stuart Green Spot the image: Page 39 Quiz: 1) Peter Taylor 2) Two 3) Ian Walsh and Dave Swindlehurst 4) Greenwich Borough 5) Selhurst Famous Fan: Alastair Campbell Guess the Ground: Osborne Road - Leyton Orient

games

team stats: women / U23S / U18S Millie Farrow Having scored against them in the reverse fixture, Farrow will hope to take the lead as Palace’s top scorer when travelling to Sunderland tomorrow.

Fionn Mooney Mooney bagged a brace against Arsenal in Palace’s 5-0 stomp, tripling his total for the season.

Scott Banks Banks netted against Manchester United to make his recent tally three goals from two games.

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

Manchester United

Mon 28 Brighton & Hove Albion MARCH Sat 12

Manchester City

Fri 18

Arsenal

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 Sat 12 West Ham United Sat 19 West Bromwich Albion Thu 24 Fulham APRIL Sat 2 Aston Villa Sat 9 Southampton Tue 12 Brighton & Hove Albion 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

Name

Apps

Skye Bacon

Bianca Baptiste

Kirsty Barton

Hannah Churchill

Charley Clifford

Grace Coombs

Goals

Aimee Everett

Millie Farrow

3 4

Coral-Jade Haines

Alex Hennessy

Annabel Johnson

Sophie McLean

Chloe Morgan (GK)

Leigh Nicol

Apps

Goals

Tayo Adaramola

Leanne Cowan

Name

Victor Akinwale

Scott Banks

11 12

Harry Freedman

Freddie Bell

Owen Goodman (GK)

Maliq Cadogan

John-Kymani Gordon

Junior Dixon

Owen Goodman (GK)

Reece Hannam

Danny Imray

David Omilabu

Killian Phillips

Dan Quick

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Sean Robertson

Kaden Rodney

Cardo Siddik

Aidan Steele

Gracie Pearse

Rob Street

Molly-Mae Sharpe

James Taylor

Isabella Sibley

A GD Pts

liv

15 12 2

1 33 5 28 38

lon

14 9

4 22 13 9 28

cha

15 8

4 22 11

bri

14 8

4 28 14 14 26

11 27

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

Matthew Vigor

Noah Watson

Jack Wells-Morrison

Joe Whitworth (GK)

Vonnte Williams

pos CLUB P W D 1

mci

20 13 3

Basilio Socoliche

Dylan Thiselton

Kalani Barton

Siobhan Wilson

Ryan Bartley

Victor Akinwale

Jake O'Brien

Tayo Adaramola

Nya Kirby

Lizzie Waldie

Goals

Malachi Boateng

Apps

Joshua Addae

David Boateng

Emily Orman (GK)

pos CLUB P W D

Name

A GD Pts

4 50 27 23 42

pos CLUB P W D 1

sou

15 11

A GD Pts

3 46 22 24 34

whu

19 11

6 43 27 16 35

whu

16 10 3

3 38 17 21 33

ars

19 9

4 45 35 10 33

lei

14 10 2

2 32 14 18 32

tot

18 8

5 40 29 11 29

cry

15 9

2 38 20 18 31

cry

19 9

8 43 38 5 29

che

15 9

4 45 25 20 29

dur

15 8

6 21 19 2 25

mun

19 8

6 33 31 2 29

ars

5 33 32 1 26

cry

15 7

5 27 32 -5 24

eve

20 7

8 26 34 -8 26

ful

15 7

4 30 18 12 25

lew

14 7

6 19 15 4 22

lei

18 7

6 26 39 -13 26

bha

14 5

7 32 34 -2 17

she

15 5

5 21 18 3 20

bha

19 6

7 28 31 -3 24

rdg

14 5

8 24 25 -1 16

7 12 22 -10 13

8 24 32 -8 23

10 liv

19 6

10 tot

15 5

0 10 27 43 -16 15

lee

19 5

4 10 34 42 -8 19

wba

15 4

9 23 41 -18 14

12 bla

19 4

8 35 45 -10 19

12 avl

14 3

8 30 43 -13 12

18 4

9 28 35 -7 17

13 bir

16 3

11 20 43 -23 11

18 4

2 12 25 35 -10 14

14 nor

13 8 49 -41 4

sun

14 3

10 BLA

15 3

2 10 11 29 -18 11

4 10 11 31 -20 7

13 che

12 cov* 15

4 10 13 31 -18 -3

14 der

wat

* 10 point deduction

women/u23S/u18S

MAY

APRIL

March

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST

Chelsea

KICK-OFF 15:00

Result 0-3

Sat 21

Brentford