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

Crystal Palace v Southampton Wednesday 15th December 2021 // 7:30pm

palace √ southampton WED 15 dec | 19:30

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, Mohamed Rguyeg Photography Neil Everitt, Seb Frej, Dan Weir (PPA), Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

It has shaped me. It’s made me a lot more mature – I feel like mentally I’m ahead of my age. I’ve been through a lot in a short period of time which a lot of people haven’t

briefing palace √ southampton WED 15 dec | 19:30

Palace Academy players support Marie Curie Staff and players from Crystal Palace’s Academy last month donated their unused clothes to end of life charity Marie Curie.

december

The clothes, which include designer labels and seasonal essentials, will be on sale at Marie Curie’s Caterham shop from December 2021. Palace have previously supported Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal and regularly hold local events to raise vital funds for the charity. Leanne Hides, the club’s Academy Administrator, said: “It feels great to free up some space in my wardrobe and donate to a great cause at the same time. At CPFC, we are incredibly proud to support Marie Curie and the crucial work they do for people affected by terminal illness.

Victor Moses born, 1990

Andy Gray scores on debut, 1984 v Grimsby Town

Crystal Palace 5-0 Manchester United, 1972

Gary Cahill born, 1985

Cheikhou Kouyaté born, 1989

“We hope by doing this we can encourage supporters to dig deep and donate some garments to their local charity shop.” Karen Green, Marie Curie volunteer and Palace fan, added: “We are incredibly grateful to CPFC for generously donating some really desirable clothing. The pieces will hopefully fetch some great prices at Marie Curie’s Caterham shop which goes towards the charity’s fantastic nursing and support services.” Some of Palace’s Academy players posed for photographs with the bags of donations, Marie Curie sashes and the charity’s famous daffodil.

Fan update Palace for Life Foundation are collecting new and used boots and trainers for those who need them in our community. Before every home game this month, you can donate yours at the drop off point in the Fanzone.

What’s inside Find out… Nathan Ferguson’s life-changing two years (Page 12), how the Under-23s trumped three of England’s biggest teams (Page 42) and why a psychologist with a penchant for magic revolutionised Steve Coppell’s Palace (Page 57). briefing

manager

Welcome to Selhurst Park to Ralph Hasenhüttl, the Southampton directors, staff and players, and to everyone here supporting us.

was pleased with how we played against Everton, especially how we reacted as a team and stuck together. I thought this game showed some of our maturity and I was happy to see the players carry out our gameplan like they did. Now we need to be consistent with that game after game. It was important for us to realise that during 90-minute matches we’ll go through difficult periods and it’s all about how we manage them. We had this against Everton and it was a tough game, but we managed the challenging times well, showing how we’re improving as a team. We know what we’re capable of when we play like this together, but our focus is not on that result. We have had to recover fast to perform again tonight and try to win. What is most positive for us is that we’re playing at home again; the relationship at this club is really special, and it is the fans – who gave us the energy to score a third against Everton – that help to make it this way. We know we’re in for a really good challenge this evening because Southampton deserve

more points than they currently have. They’ve been unlucky in some games and played some good football this season. What will be really important over Christmas is how we recover from one game to the other; we’ll

What is most positive for us is that we’re playing at home again; the relationship at this club is really special, and it is the fans that help to make it this way

have played nine times in 36 days by West Ham. I want the players to really look after themselves and reduce any risks in their everyday life. COVID can have a huge impact on players’ availability, especially at this time where games are so regular. manager

We have a lot of work ahead of us for this busy period, but the staff will help the players recover as quickly as they can. Christmas is of course a challenging time in English football; the atmosphere is different. This year, we will train on Christmas morning, allow the players to go home in the afternoon, and then meet later in the evening before the Boxing Day game. I think there are some players who are doing well with the Under23s and may get involved with the first-team around Christmas. I know how important developing talented young players is to this football club, so I’m glad we have some to call upon when needed. Lastly, this is our final home game until the 28th, so I’d like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. This period is all about being with your loved ones, so I hope you enjoy the time together, have a wonderful break and that those close to you remain safe and well. I look forward to welcoming you back to Selhurst after Christmas, and to seeing those of you travelling to Spurs on Boxing Day. Thank you for your support

captain

Welcome back to Selhurst Park to each of you supporting us today as we return home for a big clash under the lights.

his is our second game in four days in front of our loyal supporters, and we know your backing is crucial to getting us through these congested matches. We have not played an evening fixture here since Brighton in September, and I always enjoy the atmosphere these nights create. The Everton game was an example of this. The sound you created carried the boys to a fantastic win; you could see the energy after 90 minutes because of the confidence you give us. I was very pleased with what I saw. We managed this game well and showed that we have learned some lessons recently through focused hard work. There were some good individual performances but it was our game as a team that made the difference. Our effort across the pitch, pressing Everton to take advantage of their mistakes, caused them problems and helped us take a deserved three points after some games where we wanted more. Tonight won’t be easy, though. Southampton have looked

strong this season but are not sitting where they probably want to be. This can make a game even more challenging, because

I was very pleased with what I saw. We managed this game well and showed that we have learned some lessons recently through focused hard work. There were some good individual performances but it was our game as a team that made the difference your opposition are more hungry to get back any points they think they might have dropped. But we are in a similar position and captain

think we should be higher in the table this year after some positive performances, so I think this evening you will see two teams fighting hard to win. After tonight we go to Watford and then come into our Christmas games, which always provides a chance to push up the table and face some frequent tests to our system. We play on Boxing Day this year so will be training on Christmas Day and spending that evening together as we prepare for the Spurs game. It is part of football to work over these occasions and I know I enjoy this period, as do the boys. There is a good atmosphere amongst everyone at this time and we are privileged to do the job we do. Now I am hoping we can put in the performances in some tough games that your support throughout the year deserves. The last thing to say is I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Christmas and that you and those close to you remain safe. I look forward to seeing you all again soon after Christmas Day. Make some noise!

chairman

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

’m sure like me you all enjoyed the fantastic win against Everton along with some brilliant performances: a great goal by Conor, a very impressive first start for the club by Will Hughes, James getting back on the scoresheet and yet again another crucial save from Vicente. It’s now an extremely busy but exciting programme of games. Hopefully with your incredible support and some luck with injuries we can build on Sunday’s success over the Christmas period. I’d like to also begin by thanking you for adhering to the added COVID safety requirements which came into effect today. Since the announcement last week, we have been working extremely closely with our Premier League colleagues to ensure we meet the requirements and also minimise risk to everyone joining us on matchdays. The key elements are to ensure you bring a valid NHS COVID Pass to the stadium, that you have submitted your Health Declaration on the club’s website, that you wear a face covering, and please do not attend matches

if you are displaying symptoms. In the coming weeks, I’d urge you to check the club’s website for the very latest guidance and requirements before each visit to Selhurst Park.

It’s now an extremely busy but exciting programme of games. Hopefully with your incredible support and some luck with injuries we can build on Sunday’s success The FA Cup draw was quite something, wasn’t it?! We haven’t faced Millwall in a competitive fixture since the season we secured promotion back in 2013. By some quirk of fate we played our local rivals in the FA Cup 100 years ago, remarkably almost to the day. It’s chairman

a special FA Cup campaign for us, as our club played in the very first edition of the tournament back in 1871/72 – 150 years ago. Of course, we’ve finished runners-up twice, and every supporter and player I know would do anything to go one better. Elsewhere in the club, hopefully you saw that our Under-18s got through their opening FA Youth Cup fixture at Barnsley, setting up a home tie with Wolves. Your support of our young teams at Selhurst has always been magnificent, providing a huge development opportunity for our players – so I’d urge you all to come along for what promises to be a great occasion in the new year, with further details to be confirmed soon. As tonight’s match is our last before Christmas, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our supporters, players and my colleagues a very happy and healthy Christmas. Thank you all for your immense support this year. It’s been a real joy welcoming so many of you back to Selhurst this season. Enjoy the match tonight and Up The Palace!

Nathan Ferguson has been through two turbulent years which tested him to his limits. Now, nearing the other side, he explains to Ben Mountain how the experience shaped him, and just what it means to go through what he has at 21.

main interview

athan Ferguson isn’t the sort of person to ease himself into an interview. There’s no breaking the ice or treading carefully; no need to open up when he begins so honestly. There’s a sense of catharsis in the 21-year-old’s words after a near-two-year injury layoff. His confidence and candour are impressive in equal measure, as the young defender rolls a football around and occasionally checks his phone, pausing to overhear his teammates’ jokes echo down the hallway. He is completely comfortable without having kicked a ball in anger, and while reflecting on the most difficult period of his life: injury, pandemic, leaving home, social media abuse, recovery, injury. Perhaps there’s a reason for Ferguson’s easy company and positivity: he is back in full training, hitting the pitches and, in his own words, “expressing himself” once again. But there’s a lot of difficulty to cover before getting to that. He begins to look back on his first spell on the sidelines, saying: “That period of my life was so dark in my eyes. It was so dark. It made me so comfortable being in such a dark place. Now being in the light is great. “I genuinely couldn’t have planned this. I couldn’t have said when I was enjoying my football and doing well at 18-19 I would have a blip like that and then go off the map. “I was bedbound for a month or two; a good month or two. It was

a crazy period. I couldn’t move. I genuinely couldn’t move. “I was lying there and if I didn’t have my mum – God bless her – I would have been finito… My mum was so supportive, she took some time off work to support me. That was nice and made me closer to her. When you play football it’s hard because your life is a million miles per hour, always travelling and never really being at home. Home is your happy place. But you’re never really at home so you lose that connection with your family and friends. It’s nice to rekindle that.”

My mum was so supportive, she took some time off work to support me. That was nice and made me closer to her. When you play football it’s hard because your life is a million miles per hour

Ferguson is incredibly candid about the mental toll injury can have on a player. “I want people to know it wasn’t easy,” he says. “I want people to be aware.” But while the physical work on his first injury – between leaving West Bromwich Albion and joining Palace – was more strenuous, he says the overall strain of his second was greater, and left Ferguson fighting for stability. He initially reached full fitness in May 2021 and says he felt better than ever. After weeks of steadily nathan ferguson

stepping up his routine, Ferguson was told he might be included in Palace’s final squad of 20/21 against Liverpool. The day before, he ran out to training “feeling amazing,” but soon sustained another injury that would set him back by seven months. “I felt so fit. I felt sharp and ready,” he says. “I trained and trained and trained, carried on for three weeks and it was proper training. I was a squad member for three weeks. Everything was fine. “The day before training I had a chat with someone that was like: ‘I’m just going to get through this session, do nothing extra, get through it and go home. If the gaffer wants me to travel for the Liverpool game, I’ll travel. If he doesn’t, I’ll go home.’ After that Liverpool game you could go [for the off-season]. “I came down to training and… it’s not like this is the first time I’ve done the movement and I’m cold; I’m actually warm. I take a touch and put my foot down backwards. Bang.” Ferguson tore his Achilles. “I pushed down on it and there was nothing there. I just knew. “My parents were coming down to London – it was either they’d come for the [Liverpool] game or because I’d finished the season and we’d go get something to eat. “My parents were unaware. I [phoned them and] said: ‘I’ve absolutely messed up here. My leg’s gone. My Achilles just went.’… My mum walked through, the Doc walked out and Mum started crying.

“I was finished. After that injury I was mentally gone. Mentally I was in a terrible place and I’m not afraid to say that. I felt defeated and felt tired. I wasn’t tired because I got injured, I was calm; pain doesn’t last forever, injuries heal. It was the fact I had to do the process again. “That was a tough period, and that’s tough for me to admit. It’s the first time admitting it.” It’s challenging to relay what Ferguson says without it sounding like a tale of woe. Actually the defender is still full of verve and

I was finished. After that injury I was mentally gone. Mentally I was in a terrible place and I’m not afraid to say that. I felt defeated and felt tired

humour; he keeps a smile on his face and is animated when recalling these moments. “I was thinking: ‘How can one person suffer so much in two years?!’” he says. “To me, I haven’t done nothing wrong!... No one was after me. I was genuinely confused.” We ask why he’s willing to focus on the struggle, and he says he has a point to make: “People don’t understand how difficult it is to come from being fully fit and feeling like you’re on top of the world to then just being pulled back down to the bottom again. nathan ferguson

main interview

“When you see a player get injured, you think: ‘That’s it, they’re injured, they’ll be back. It’s not that deep. Someone will replace him.’ It’s not like that – whoever you see get injured is genuinely in pain, they’re genuinely hurting. Depending on the stage they are in their life and where they are in their career, they’re going to be mentally finished. “Going from working all the time - really sociable with the lads, your teammates - to withdrawn and chilling by yourself is not nice at all. I want people to know it’s a very difficult period for anyone.”

Going from working all the time - really sociable with the lads, your teammates - to withdrawn and chilling by yourself is not nice at all. I want people to know it’s a very difficult period for anyone

Ferguson tells the story of drawing into himself during his first injury, not talking to his little brother, father or mother. He says his mum would come into his room and sit, waiting for him to start talking. “‘You’re not not going to talk to me,’” he recalls her saying. “‘I’m just going to chill here; you can speak to me if you want to.’” But Ferguson was content in his own company, and says he learned to feel comfortable alone. He also struggled to speak openly with non-footballers about the nathan ferguson

main interview

experience, because the derailment is so specific to sporting careers. Thankfully, when he moved to Palace, the defender found a squad and backroom staff ready and waiting to support him. “It was nice coming here because it was easier than I was expecting. The people here are really nice. My teammates – a lot have left now, obviously, but even bringing new ones in are cool and it’s a good group of lads, a very diverse group of lads. “I feel like after my knee injury, Scott Dann [was the biggest support]. Scott Dann was Uncle Scott, Uncle Dannsy. He was genuinely there for me every time, asking how I was, waiting for me to come back. “Scott Dann and the physios. Shout out to Nick [Taylor]. He did well with me. The Achilles injury I’d say Ebs [Eberechi Eze] because he was with me, and me and him got really close. “I’ve known a lot of players through internationals that have come in like Conor [Gallagher] and Marc [Guéhi]. Michael [Olise] has come in. The group’s a genuinely nice group. Jeff [Schlupp], Wilf [Zaha], Macca [James McArthur]. They’re just genuinely nice people, asking me how things are going and then just watching me run about. Even things like watching you, it’s still nice to have someone. They’re watching you, looking forward to you coming back. “I feel like I’ve come back nicely physically through a lot of help from the backroom staff. My

family, my friends and teammates have helped me out a lot.” Today, Ferguson is back on the grass, training alongside his teammates once more and easing himself back into professional football. As a teenager, he was the ever-grinning defender who’d play across the back four with drive and aplomb. He is the prospect who first met the public eye when a clip of him energetically dancing spread across the internet, and he’s now the sort of man to casually smile his way through a draining two-year story.

I feel like after my knee injury, Scott Dann [was the biggest support]. Scott Dann was Uncle Scott, Uncle Dannsy. He was genuinely there for me every time, asking how I was, waiting for me to come back

His career may have been halted by circumstances beyond his control, but Ferguson has embraced the positives in trademark style. “If I get pushed back into the dark then I’ve been there before,” he says. “It’s not unfamiliar. “It has shaped me. It’s made me a lot more mature – I feel like mentally I’m ahead of my age. I’ve been through a lot in a short period of time which a lot of people haven’t been through – they hit 28 and still won’t have experienced what I have. “I’m feeling great, I feel amazing. I feel like I’m in a good place right now.” nathan ferguson

Nathan Ferguson is an old head on young shoulders, who can look at football beyond just the game. When we ask for his idols, he gives typically considered responses.

fergie’s follow -up Christopher Ferguson

Ronaldinho

My Pops first of all. My dad came from nothing. I looked up to him from when I was young because he did what he could to sort things out for me all the time. He’s inspirational to me.

It’s Ronaldinho. I don’t really get intimidated playing against players but I think: if I was playing against him, that would be a scary, scary game. That’s one player I’d be like: I’m not too sure I fancy this one.

Paolo Maldini

Chris Brunt

He was my icon when I was growing up. I didn’t watch Paolo Maldini. However, I got an assignment when I was a kid and just started watching highlights of him. I was like: ‘This guy is just like me. He used to be a centre-back, started playing rightback then starting playing left-back. He’s genuinely like me.’ So since I was like 14 I wanted to be like this guy. I want to be this guy, that was my football icon.

You can’t hate Chris Brunt. I don’t care where I am in the world, where I end up playing, I’ll feel like Chris Brunt was one of those players: he was so slow, so slow – and now I’m going to bring you back up, Chris – but had the sweetest left foot I have ever trained with, played with or seen. I was like: this guy is just clean, he makes football look nice. Even a punch-pass, I was like: that’s a nice pass.

the follow-up

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

Proud to support

Crystal Palace Football Club

Southampton F.C. est. 1885

Inside Similar starts Ricardo Fuller: Palace man Darren Ambrose is joined by another expert guest

opposition

the saints Southampton

Southampton are perceived to have had a relatively slow start to the season, but in a campaign as tight as it is currently, Saints have done better than it seems.

match preview Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men have, at the time of writing, drawn seven of their 15 games, the same as Palace. They will be keen to turn more of these into wins to push closer to mid-table. It’s the goals-for column that has caused concerns so far, with the south coast side keeping a relatively solid backline but failing to trouble the opposition enough going forwards. This can in part be explained by three-time top scorer Danny Ings departing in summer, however the strike partnership of Ché Adams and Armando Broja appears more than able to fill his proverbial boots. Palace are playing their second home match in four days, as they enter their second three-game week of the month.

Story so far

Position Points Top scorer

Home

away

third

Last five Seasons Season

Position

Points

Top Scorer

20/21

15th

Ings (12)

19/20

11th

Ings (22)

18/19

16th

Ings (7)

17/18

17th

Austin (7)

16/17

8th

Redmond (7)

16th 16 Adams/Broja (3)

Most assists

Nathan Redmond (4)

Most passes

Mohammed Salisu (813)

opposition

watch for: livramento

Croydon-born Tino Livramento joined Southampton in summer from Chelsea and has earned widespread plaudits since.

Boot in both camps

Remember when? Palace’s first game after that Liverpool clash in 1989 came against Southampton; an impressive 1-1 draw with a sizeable crowd despite the circumstances.

recent form

last time out Southampton 1 Brighton 1 Sat 4 Dec / St Mary’s

Starting xi

subs

A. McCarthy

J. Stephens

K. Walker-Peters

S. Long

M. Salisu

A. Armstrong

Lynaco

R. Perraud

T. Livramento

W. Smallbone

N. Tella

M. Elyounoussi

O. Romeu

I. Diallo

J. Ward-Prowse

T. Walcott

N. Redmond

H. Lewis

A. Broja

C. Adams

23 2

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

11 21

opposition

Ricardo Fuller Not many supporters – not those under a certain age, anyway – will remember Ricardo Fuller in red and blue. But the forward moved to SE25 from Jamaica’s Tivoli Gardens in 2001 before returning to his country of birth. He joined Saints in 2005.

EX-EAGLE

139 apps 29 clean sheets

Alex M©Carthy

04 05 Lyanco

Jack Stephens

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: BRAZIL

NAT: ENGLAND

Romain Perraud

Tino Livramento

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: ENGLAND

When he first joined Saints in 2016, McCarthy was the back-up goalkeeper, however he has since established himself as No. 1 ahead of Fraser Forster. McCarthy made seven Palace appearances in 2015/16, all in the Premier League.

player profile

POS: GOALKEEPER

Age

Height

1.93m

Joined

1st August, 2016

Debut

21st September, 2016 v Crystal Palace

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Reading, Queens Park Rangers & Crystal Palace. opposition

22 35 02

KEY DEFENDER

Mohammed Salisu

Jan Bednarek

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: GHANA

NAT: POLAND

63 apps 17 clean sheets

43 06 Yan Valery

Oriol Romeu

Kyle Walker-Peters

POS: MIDFIELDER

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: SPAIN

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: DEFENDER

Age

Height

1.73m

Joined

29th January, 2020

Debut

15th February, 2020 v Burnley

PREVIOUS CLUB: Tottenham Hotspur. opposition

Walker-Peters initially joined Southampton on loan before moving permanently ahead of the 2020/21 season. He has since become an integral part of the team, making 30 appearances in the last campaign. The now-24-year-old also featured in the U20 World Cup-winning squad in 2017, playing 90 minutes in the final.

11 Nathan Redmond

Stuart Armstrong

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: SCOTLAND

Moussa Djenepo

Mohamed Elyounoussi

SKIPPER

282 apps 32 goals

James Ward-Prowse

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: MALI

NAT: NORWAY

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.73m

Joined

Academy – aged eight

Debut

25th October, 2011 v Crystal Palace

ENGLAND GOALS: - San Marino (5-0) – 25th March, 2021 - Andorra (5-0) – 9th October, 2021 opposition

Having been at the club for almost 20 years, Ward-Prowse is a fan favourite at St Mary’s, making over 250 appearances and being captain since June 2020. He played every minute of every game in 19/20 and 20/21 and made his England debut in 2017.

DANGERMAN

78 apps 16 goals

27 32 Ibrahima Diallo

Theo Walcott

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: ENGLAND

09 18 Ché Adams

Adam Armstrong

Armando Broja

POS: FORWARD

NAT: SCOTLAND

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: ALBANIA

Rising all the way up from non-League to the Premier League, Adams has been a regular in the Southampton side since joining in 2019 thanks to his versatility to play up front or on the wing. He also has international experience behind him, choosing to represent Scotland earlier this year.

player profile

POS: FORWARD

Age

Height

1.75m

Joined

1st July, 2019

Debut

10th August, 2019 v Burnley

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Oadby Town, Ilkeston Town, Sheffield United & Birmingham City. opposition

NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY now available countrywide

for SPORT

Of teams they’ve faced at least 10 times in the Premier League, against no side have Southampton won a higher share of their games than Palace (58% - 14/24).

Crystal Palace have lost five of their last eight Premier League home games against Southampton (W3), though they did win this fixture 1-0 last season.

30 00

01 28

Passes per match 459

402 shots

165

190 Shooting accuracy %

30 goals conceded

21 clean sheets

Tyrick Mitchell

Kyle Walker-Peters

Clean sheets

Passes

639

passes

376

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.

False starts It’s tough to say one player stands out for Southampton; they’re a fantastic team overall with no individual stars. If I had to pick anyone I’d pick Tino Livramento. He looks a very, very good player. We had Theo Walcott on the radio recently and he compared Livramento with a young Gareth Bale, which is high praise indeed. He is a brilliant player who can drive forward and helps to make Southampton dangerous. Saints are struggling a bit, but it’s all relative. Theo said a team like Southampton need to aim for the top 10 and I agree. It’s surprising how similarly Palace and Saints have done this season when you look at how well people think Palace have done with how poorly they think Southampton have. The mood around Palace is quite positive and fans are looking up the league, whereas we all say Southampton have started poorly. Actually, we’ve both begun more or less the same. I think Saints' manager and backroom staff will keep that in

mind. They’ll say to the players: ‘Look, everyone’s saying teams like Crystal Palace and Brentford have started well, but we’re at the same level. So let’s get a few wins and move into the top 10.’

theo Walcott on the radio recently compared Livramento with a young Gareth Bale, which is high praise indeed

Practice makes perfect I scored a goal in the FA Cup against Southampton that I’ll always remember. I’d been working at the training ground with Terry Connor on my headers. It was Darren ambrose

constant. I was always good at arriving in the box and heading on my own, but every day we worked on heading under pressure. In the game itself, Tyrone Mings got down the left, put a cross into the box and I arrived at exactly the right time to head it in from 13 yards. It went top corner past Fraser Forster and my first reaction was to sprint to the dugout and give Terry a big hug. I got absolutely abused by my own players for that – it’s an unwritten rule you don’t hug the bench!

DA: Who should Palace fans watch out for today? AC: The key player to keep an eye on is the young right-back Tino Livramento – 19-years-of-age from Chelsea. He’s been exceptional both in terms of his defensive work and bombing up and down the right-hand side. Equally, I’m a big fan of Armanda Broja on loan from Chelsea. He’s a very raw, very powerful striker who showed with his goal against Brighton that he knows how to finish.

The co-pundit I caught up with talkSPORT’s south coast correspondent Alex Crook this week for an opposition view. He knows his stuff about Southampton, so it’s worth taking note of this. DA: Firstly, can you explain your association with Saints? AC: I’ve been covering Southampton for national newspapers since they played at the Dell – so too long to remember, really. I’m south coast correspondent for talkSPORT, so cover the bulk of their home games. I’ve also written two books: Southampton Match of My Life and Southampton Greatest Games.

DA: What tactics are we likely to see? AC: Ralph Hasenhüttl is fairly set in his ways, except when they went to Liverpool and played a back-three. He’ll play a 4-2-2-2 formation which was taught to him by Ralf Rangnick, the new Manchester United manager. It’s a traditional back four, two deeplying midfielders in James WardProwse and Oriol Romeu, then two players just in front – who’ve been Nathan Tella and Nathan Redmond in recent weeks. Then there are two up-front, probably Ché Adams and Broja. In this system the main threats come from the full-backs pushing into wide areas. If Palace can push them back into their own third - with Wilfried Zaha making sure Livramento plays most of the game in his own half, for example - that will stifle a lot of Southampton’s attacking intent.

darren ambrose

DA: Come on, then. What’s your prediction for today? AC: Historically games between Crystal Palace and Southampton have been fairly tight and I’d imagine that will be the case again. Saints this season have played a lot of their best football in the first-half and tend to go into half-time ahead, but they’re unable to see it through. It wouldn’t surprise me if they go a goal up and it ends up in a score draw, possibly another 1-1, which has been quite a common scoreline for Southampton since Ralph Hasenhüttl came in.

Festive football I absolutely loved the Christmas period when I played; I just loved the games coming thick and fast. I used to break this spell of fixtures up in my head. The first three games - in this instance Everton, Southampton and Watford – you ask: how many points can we get out of that? Can we get seven? If not, okay, you get five and go into the next three: Tottenham, Norwich, West Ham. How many points from them? You set targets as you go. I loved Christmas because it makes or breaks your season. It’s so congested: six games in a short spell, and if you can get 12-15 points it pushes you right up. Lastly, I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas. Hopefully everybody gets what they want - points on the board - and that everyone is safe and well going into the New Year

writers Mohamed Rguyeg

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 Mohamed Rguyeg.

South London is not a huge area, but it’s one that’s made a massive impact on the Premier League. From Ian Wright and David Rocastle to Rio Ferdinand and Wilfried Zaha, south London has always been a hotspot for talent. Despite having a population of 2.8 million people, the 250-square-miles produced 14% of English players in the 2016/17 top-flight season. Recently we have seen a further increase in young south Londoners on the biggest stage. Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho, Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi and our very own Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi are chief amongst them. Over the years Palace have benefitted and shaped the fruits of south London. Aaron Wan-Bissaka became a member of the Academy aged 11, and in 2019 was sold for a record-breaking fee to Manchester United. Victor Moses was another talented player who learned his trade at the Palace Academy; he went on to win the Premier League and Europa League with Chelsea. Throughout time Palace have placed an importance on promoting Academy products and

continue that trend today - featuring four Academy graduates already in 21/22: Nathaniel Clyne, Tyrick Mitchell, recent debutant Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Wilfried Zaha.

"In the next 50 years I believe this will touch a vast number of lives in south London"

THE NEW ACADEMY On October 28th, 2021, Palace formally unveiled their new Academy. The new complex, based across the road from the first-team Training Ground, will have six full-size pitches, including an outdoor 3G pitch with floodlighting, a show pitch that will have a 500-seater stand, and a full-size covered indoor 3G training pitch with a built-in sprinkler system. Former Palace graduate and current England manager Gareth Southgate noted how the Academy will make aspiring writers

it easier for the next generation of south Londoners to join Palace. He said: "Young players coming in now will feel just as special as any of the other clubs in the Premier League because the facilities are going to match that. The onus now is on everybody to bring it alive.” Palace also want to use the Academy as a positive for the community, with Palace Chairman Steve Parish stating: "In the next 50 years I believe this will touch a vast number of lives in south London and transform not only our club and team but make a real difference to our local area." In one of the best scouting markets in Europe, Crystal Palace have set themselves up for a plethora of talent joining in the foreseeable future. The club has always had a geographical advantage in recruiting from south London, but now has the facilities to match too

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

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inside the academy copers cope road

Inside How Rob Street has crafted his form Darren Powell delves into three memorable wins Richard Shaw: from graduate to gaffer

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.

rob street age: 20 / position: Forward / joined: Under-15S

highlights so far Bagging a goal and assist in Palace’s play-off semi-final in 2020/21. But, Street says, “I wouldn’t say I’ve had my career highlight; I’ve had highs but I’ve had lows as well. So I don’t want to get too high on the highs."

Take note of Street is a direct, hardworking centre-forward. He is a clinical finisher and began 2021/22 with six goals from his first 10 games, citing players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Harry Kane as those he models himself on. inside the academy

getting to know rob street -

Rob is your traditional centre-forward - he uses his height and desire to cause teams difficulty from the middle of attack. He’s a mature young man with his head in the right place Paddy M©Carthy u23S manager

“Everything changes so quickly,” says Rob Street. “You can be up there,” he adds, with his hand above his head, "and a month later you’re at the bottom. Don’t get too high on the highs and too low on the lows. You’ve just got to stay level-headed and humble, that’s been drilled into me. Don’t be a big timer, just get on with it and keep working hard.” This is the attitude of a seasoned professional coming from the mouth of a 20-year-old Academy prospect. The words are perhaps expected from a league or cup winner who gets released the next season, or an international whose game time dries up. But Street isn’t either – instead, he’s moulded his beliefs fast. The striker joined Palace at Under-15 level from Whyteleafe and began to thrive in the Under-18s. He’s spent the past few seasons with the Under-23s and this year is in sensational scoring form, growing into the age group and becoming comfortable there. He then earned a move to Torquay United in the second half of 2020/21, but, he says, that “didn’t go as [he] wanted it to.” So when Street returned to south London with Palace chasing promotion, he had a point to prove. “I came back from loan to finish the season and we got promoted. We had a really good group of boys here. “It was a really tight-knit group at the end because with COVID it was tough; we couldn’t go in changing rooms together, we were reporting Inside the academy

and then leaving, social distancing, you had to be really careful with it all. So you kind of had to build that relationship on the pitch, because off the pitch you couldn’t really do the things you do now. “That semi-final went to extra time and both teams were gone in their legs. Then we’ve gone on to get the winner [in the final a week later] and that was a massive part of having the fans there; they keep you switched on for 240 minutes. I’m very thankful to them for coming.” Street isn’t the sort of player to rest on his laurels, though, and while many may have spent summer basking in the glory of their achievements, the then-teenager got back to work. “I worked really hard over the off-season,” he says, “a lot more on the technical side of my game, my finishing, my movement. I worked to come back in over the summer with Paddy and [Darren] Powelly on my movements and watching back after games, really analysing my games to get the best out of myself. “It’s been a really positive start. It does my head in – I usually start seasons quite slow. I usually go three or four games without a goal, then I get one and start flying. I had the opposite this season: I came back and started flying straight away. “I feel really fit, really strong. I feel in the best shape I’ve been in; I’ve really knuckled down over the last year and a half.” This is exactly the approach you’d expect from a player with Street’s attitude. Now he’s enjoying exactly the rewards he deserves

inside the academy

Darren Powell We beat three of the biggest teams in the country in November by following our mantra and playing the football we know. Spoiling the party is massive for us as a club and Academy: it shows we aren’t frightened of anyone.

he first game came after a poor result against Blackburn. We knew we’d then face Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United, so part of you thinks it could be difficult to get going again if you don’t pick up points across all four games. With that in mind it was crucial to get the boys refocused after Blackburn, show them their strengths and keep everyone positive. So we went to Chelsea on the front foot, took the game to them and pressed in good areas. In the latter stages they hardly tested us at all, because us getting after them ground them down. We went into the Liverpool game with a bit of confidence. It was a cold, blustery day away from home but the boys executed our gameplan brilliantly. We knew they’d press us and work hard like their first-team does, so we had to counter-press and play away from pressure. We did: the lads out-fought a Liverpool team and won, and that’s massive. Finally we travelled back up north to face United. You can

take on the world when you’re confident, so this game was about sustaining our momentum.

Your interest doesn’t go unnoticed, so I ask that you keep watching our games on Palace TV and keeping an eye on these potential future players. There are some good things happening across the age groups

There is a belief in the group where the boys understand their roles and responsibilities, and

Inside the academy

it’s always pleasing to see them work their socks off so that all your hard work becomes evident. After the whistle, some of the United staff spoke to Paddy and said: ‘Your boys gave us a proper, tough game,’ and that’s testament to the performance. Now we’re heading towards Christmas, the ‘break’ is a little different for the Under-23s. Some of the boys will get seven-10 days off, return for physical testing and get back for the second half of the season in early January. But others will have to be mindful that the first-team could need them due to the frequency of games. There will be a list of potential players who might train with the first-team; there’s only so many mince pies those lads can have. Finally, I’d again like to end with a message to the Academy’s supporters. Your interest doesn’t go unnoticed, so I ask that you keep watching our games on Palace TV and keeping an eye on these potential future players. There are some good things happening across the age groups

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.

Graduate to gaffer -

RICHARD SHAW Born

11th September, 1968

First-team debut

19th September, 1987

Appearances Goals

268 3

inside the academy

Richard Shaw’s Palace career started in the 1984/85 close season as an associated schoolboy under John Whitfield and youth manager Alan Smith, who was reviving the Academy set-up. This was also the time Steve Coppell became Palace manager. Soon Shaw was playing in the South East Counties League and the FA Youth Cup a few months after his 16th birthday, which he continued to do for three seasons while also competing in the Southern Junior Floodlight Cup. In September 1985 Shaw made his first appearance for the Reserves and was a regular for them over the next three years, appearing in a number of positions before settling into a defensive role with some incursions into midfield as he honed his man-marking skills. Shaw signed his first professional contract a year later. The defender’s first-team debut came in September 1987

when he was introduced just before half-time for an injured Paul Brush. His sure-footed performance, coupled with an assist for Palace’s third goal in a 3-2 victory, earned plaudits for the former Young Player of the Season. Although Shaw started the next three games, David

His sure-footed performance, coupled with an assist for Palace’s third goal in a 3-2 victory, earned plaudits for the former Young Player of the Season

Burke’s arrival from Huddersfield Town saw him revert to the Reserves for a handful of matches in the 1988/89 promotion season. In October 1989 Shaw returned to first-team action in place of Burke but following a dip in results lost his place, and in December went on a month’s loan to Hull City, whose manager Stan Ternent had recently been Coppell’s assistant. The club suffered four straight league defeats after Shaw’s return, Inside the academy

tempered by FA Cup victories, and he soon replaced Burke at left-back, a position he held for the remainder of the season as the Eagles progressed to the FA Cup final. Defensive duties always come with the possibility of mishap or two from time to time and for Shaw this came at Southampton in November 1990 when, with just 28 seconds on the clock, his back pass to Nigel Martyn was too firm and the ‘keeper scrambled unsuccessfully to stop the ball entering the net. Fortunately Messrs Wright and Bright ensured there was still a victory to save any blushes. Injuries struck Shaw in September 1991 and it was over a year until he returned on a permanent basis, however he and the rest of the squad were unable to prevent relegation from the first Premier League season. Palace ensured an immediate return to the top-flight under Alan Smith the following season, but this was the heart of the side’s ‘yo-yo’ years. So in summer 1995 Shaw was one of a number of unsettled players following another relegation, but regardless started the season at centre-back alongside Chris Coleman. Then in November Coventry City tabled a £1 million bid and Shaw joined the Sky Blues to be reunited with John Salako. The defender continued playing until nearly 40 and more recently spent six years with the Palace Academy

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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 Executive Head Chef Will Britton reveals how his approach to the kitchens of south London has been shaped by an international experience.

Voices of South London

ill Britton joined Crystal Palace as Executive Head Chef in August 2021, taking responsibility for every meal served at Selhurst Park’s lounges and events, the Training Ground and Academy. It’s no small task, with hundreds to feed and a range of requirements to fulfil across multiple sites. But, having started life in the industry aged 14 and more recently spending months discovering different cuisine across Asia, Will is able to bring a considered touch to every meal. “There is only ever 20 Executive Chef jobs at any one time in the Premier League, so you can imagine how little the chance becomes available,” he says. “When it came about I was quite excited by it and then every single conversation that I had in the interview process I got that bit more excited.” Will began life in the kitchen aged 14, when he got his first job as a hotel’s glass collector curious to know more about life behind the swinging double doors. "I’d ask the chefs if I could come in and do something,” he remembers, “but they were keen not to have a 14-year-old kid in the kitchen!” He then moved to Canada with his parents aged 16, and began a co-op scheme to train as a chef having set his mind on it years before, which, in his own words, meant “never fully applying myself in school. Looking back now, that wasn’t my brightest idea.” And so, with such an early entrance

into the industry, Will collected his first AA Rosette aged 27 after returning to England and working in a range of restaurants and hotels in London and Kent. Will’s next step was to further broaden his horizons. In 2016 he and his partner travelled Asia and Australia and, “wherever we went,” Will says, “I’d ask if I could jump in a kitchen with someone and learn a bit about their cuisine.” He explains more about the trip, saying: “We started off in India, which was the biggest culture shock I’ve had in my life… The food was amazing. The first night we got three different curries, some rice, some bread, and for two of us it was the equivalent of about £1.50. Voices of South London

There is only ever 20 Executive Chef jobs at any one time in the Premier League, so you can imagine how little the chance becomes available

“From there we went to Nepal and it was very different to India, but very nice food. The flavours are similar in terms of spices but the way they cook things is different. From there we went to Thailand where I did some cooking and Thai food has always been one of my favourites. I had a lot of street food there. “Then we did Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos before coming back to Thailand. I did lots of

cooking in those places and it was very different. Even though these countries are very close together, their cuisine is very different. “Finally we did the Philippines and Malaysia before heading to Australia. The Philippines was the furthest away from all of the other cuisines. It was very heavy food; they do a stew cooked with peanut butter, very rich and very heavy. “[When we got to Australia], we’d eaten spices for five months and I was craving a roast dinner! “Before I went away my emphasis was on fine dining; everything was very refined. What I found from Asia was that flavour is king. You need to get your flavours right before you start making things look pretty.” Both the AA Rosette and Michelin star experiences at home and discovering new cuisines abroad have shaped Will’s approach to cooking, something which can be seen at the club today. Menus change with the seasons, and guests in our Premium lounges are treated to the freshest local produce. But his approach to the role goes beyond what dishes get served when and to whom, with Will also establishing an Academy programme to support young players more holistically. “We’ve started a cooking class with the Under-18s... The idea is to give them some life skills, but also to be able to understand what they need to put in their bodies and why.

Sometimes it’s very easy to say: ‘Eat chicken, eat salmon, eat pasta.’ But why? Why do you need those things? “When we have them in front of us, we can explain: ‘This is what this does, this is what that does, this is how you should cook these ingredients.’

We’ve started a cooking class with the Under18s... The idea is to give them some life skills, but also to be able to understand what they need to put in their bodies and why

“You can see they really enjoy it and are learning something new... I’m lucky to have inherited this role at a time where the Academy was launching, so I was in a position to be able to make the Academy experience my own.” We ask if Will has anything he wants to get across in this interview, and there’s a unique request for a man with three sites to run, and hundreds of Voices of South London

people to feed. He wants to be stopped in his tracks: “I’m very open and like to think I’m very approachable. If people do ever want to stop and chat, whether it be about food, football or whatever it is, I’m open to that. I do try to talk to people as much as possible. If anyone wants to catch me on a game day, I’m always in and around the restaurants.” For a man who entered the industry at 14 and travelled a continent to refine his approach, there’s always something new to learn, no matter where it comes from

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 Corinthian-Casuals 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

Corinthian-Casuals In this edition, Stuart Tree, long-time Corinthian-Casuals committee member, explains his passion and the global significance of the south London outfit.

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Bliss’ 2014 book. Months after its release, the club received a call from Hungary. Ebstein’s first club, Budapesti AK, were reforming in his honour, and of course there was a link to Corinthian. The non-league side, now playing in the seventh-tier but once the envy of world football, were first on their list of opponents, after the sides contested the Corinthian Cup in 1904. “They wanted to play Corinthian, and they thought it was a shame they don’t still exist,” laughs Stuart Tree, longtime committee member at the club. “But we said: ‘No – we do!’ “We went over to Budapest [in 2019] to play for the Non-League Neighbours

0-0 1-2

lewes

n 1949, on the back of five consecutive Italian Championships, Hungarian manager Egri Ebstein and his ‘Il Grande Torino’ side were flying back from a friendly against Benfica. Just outside Turin, they crashed into the Basilica of Superga, where he and many of his players were killed in one of football’s greatest tragedies. If this seems like a unique way to start a story about nonleague English football then bear with us, because CorinthianCasuals are a unique old club. Now regarded as a pioneer of football’s early development, Ebstein’s legacy was largely overlooked until CorinthianCasuals club historian Dominic

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corinthiancasuals

Corinthian Cup, which had just been rediscovered. And it was a celebration really of Corinthian taking football over to Hungary [in 1904]. They paid us back of course in 1953 when they thumped England at Wembley!” Corinthian-Casuals won the cup, but the experience itself was far more important than the result. It’s typical of the peculiar double act they are forced to play: historic European giants, but simultaneously non-league amateurs. “We’re trying to interact a lot more with clubs that we played in the past,” Tree explains. “When Slavia Prague came over here a couple of years ago to play Chelsea in the

Champions League, we invited them down to the ground. “Slavia Prague were the first ever European team to beat Corinthians – after we’d beaten them five or six times! A few of their officials came down and we exchanged gifts and presents, and they invited us to come to a game of theirs. “So it’s kind of just re-engaging with a lot of these European teams that we hold a lot of early pioneering history with.” And yet in England the recognition is very different. “Most home games you’ll get at least one or two Brazilians who have come over. We’ve had people crying on the pitch and overwhelmed with excitement. There’s only two hundred people in the crowd, but they see it as the Mecca of Corinthians. “Some of the board run a podcast, and in the first episode they interviewed people at the local shopping centre – no one really knew who we were! And yet in Brazil, they know us completely. We have 140,000

fans on Facebook, but I’d say 135,000 of them are Brazilian.” For Tree, the club’s history was a secondary discovery after he fell in love with the team. It’s non-league football itself he enjoys. “It’s kind of like playing Championship Manager but in real life – you’re not managing the team but building up a club and trying to do your best.

We have 140,000 fans on Facebook, but I’d say 135,000 of them are Brazilian “It’s a great community thing. Most of my best friends are now involved with the football club as well. It’s a friendship thing, where we’re all in it together, part of a bigger picture. “I grew up supporting Arsenal, but now I’m not too fussed with their results. If Corinthian-Casuals lose, it ruins my weekend.”

But, Tree explains, running an amateur club at that level is only getting harder. “When I first started 20 years ago, you were maybe talking about players going to another team for £20, maybe £50 tops [per game]. But we lost our striker last season to the level below us for what is described as full-time weekly wages. “That’s insane! There are people that can earn money in non-league they can’t earn in League One and League Two. It’s crazy. So we just have to be professional in every other way we can: providing great facilities, great coaching, a good atmosphere. “We can’t put players on a contract either. Years ago we did try to circumnavigate by paying players a pound a week, which they then had to give back to the club. But morally we’ve come round to the fact that we wouldn’t want to stop a player progressing.” It means Corinthian-Casuals remain in the seventh-tier, held back by their amateur status but maintaining their special place in the sport’s history. “At the level we’re competing we’ll never be world beaters,” Tree admits. “We won’t be competing for the title, but we’ll be giving it a go and seeing what we can do. But going down on a Saturday and seeing everyone, it’s just a community thing really.” As Palace fans know, that is what football is all about

Non-League Neighbours

Southampton v Crystal Palace Championship 11/08/2007

James Scowcroft completes his hat-trick in a sunny start to the season at St Mary’s.

moment in time

Luka Milivojevic, beyond ecstatic after scoring the winner at St Mary’s.

Premier League 02/01/2018

Southampton v Crystal Palace

moment in time

roberto forzoni From its founding to the current day, Crystal Palace’s history is rich in stories and characters. Today, we reveal how a forward-thinking psychologist revolutionised Steve Coppell’s changing room.

azor Ruddock, by a swimming pool in Spain, having a playing card pulled from behind his ear by a member of the Magic Circle. It’s a peculiar image. But for the Crystal Palace staff and players in the early 2000s, it was perfectly normal. “We used to have a lot of magic going on at the club at the time,” explains Roberto Forzoni, the card-producing then-first-team coach.

Everyone was doing the same sort of stuff but we changed some psychological aspects and that had a massive impact Forzoni’s influence at Palace went beyond providing entertainment during downtime, however. The performance consultant also delivered a groundbreaking new approach to sports management under From the Archive

the leadership of forwardthinking bosses Steve Coppell and Alan Smith. Palace first noticed Forzoni when he moved from Dave Swindlehurst’s non-league Chipstead to work with the Charlton Athletic Academy. The club’s former Academy Directors Derek Broadley and John Cartwright then asked him across south London to start working in SE25. Utilising “ladders and poles and cones before anyone else was doing it,” Forzoni caught the eye of first-team staff and swiftly found himself working alongside Coppell. Despite being an adept coach, his expertise was - beyond the occasional card trick - in sport psychology, which he holds a Master’s degree in.

“I wouldn’t force it on everyone,” Coppell says, explaining his attitude to psychology in sport then and now. “If people want to talk and have that conversation and experiment with it, great. But there’s no way I’d sit everyone down and say: ‘Do this. Whatever he says, goes.’ That just doesn’t work.”

I’d be talking to players about their half-time team talk. I’d be in the dressing room or on the bench. I wasn’t just someone they’d go to when there was a problem or issues with psychology Forzoni elaborates: “We used to come back and change the diet - it didn’t do too much. We’d change the fitness routine - it didn’t do too much. Everyone was doing the same sort of stuff but we changed some psychological aspects and that had a massive impact. “I’d be talking to players about their half-time team talk. I’d be in the dressing room or on the bench. I wasn’t just someone they’d go to when there was a problem or issues with psychology.” From the Archive

Looking back, Forzoni’s techniques seem far from trailblazing, but at the turn of the millennium and before, they were making their first intrepid steps into professional sport. “It’s looking at the culture of the club,” Forzoni explains. “I got everyone in the squad - and I did this in every team - to write three strengths of their teammates. “We’d put posters up around the dressing room in the Training Ground and main ground, so every time a player came in, they had a peer review of what their strengths were from their fellow players. That was really energising because people would look at it and go: ‘I didn’t even realise that was a strength of mine.’” So up went Forzoni’s motivational posters, down went the list of players’ strengths and, by the pool, out came the playing cards. Forzoni, Coppell and Smith may not have achieved outstanding league success, but they guided the club through administration and laid the foundations for Crystal Palace today. There’s something to be said for those playing cards

palace for life PALACE FOR LIFE LAUNCH NEW CHALLENGE: BIKE TO SOUTHAMPTON Take on our next challenge and support Palace for Life Foundation by cycling to the Premier League clash between Southampton and Crystal Palace on Saturday, 30th April 2022*.

e are looking for dedicated fans to take on our latest fundraising challenge: a 100-mile cycle from Selhurst Park to St Mary’s stadium, before cheering on Palace in the away end with a free ticket courtesy of Palace for Life! The Bike to Southampton is a fantastic chance to not only watch Palace away but also to get to know fellow Palace fans, complete a personal challenge and raise money to help the next generation of south Londoners. The 2020 Bike to Bournemouth was a huge success, raising more than

£15,000 for the Foundation despite the match being postponed! The ride will begin at Selhurst Park on Friday 29th April, heading south through the picturesque Surrey countryside before staying overnight at a spa hotel near Portsmouth. After a night of rest and recovery we will cross the divide from Portsmouth into Southampton. We will arrive in Southampton with plenty of time to shower, change and eat lunch (as well as stop off at a pub!) before the 15:00 kick off. You will then join Palace’s away

palace for life

following for the game, before being transported, along with your bike, back to Selhurst Park. This cycling event will cater for all abilities and is not a race - you can cycle as fast or as slow as you like and will be well-supported throughout. The Bournemouth ride in 2020 was underpinned by a great sense of togetherness between the riders, in the same way our Marathon March has been over the years. The registration fee is £150 and includes: • One-night hotel accommodation • A bespoke Palace-themed cycling jersey • Two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast • One free match ticket in the away end • Professional support throughout the cycle • Fundraising support and resources • Transport back from St Mary’s stadium to Selhurst Park

To take part, each cyclist will pledge to raise a minimum of £500 for Palace for Life Foundation, helping to support our work with young south Londoners and aspire to give them brighter futures. The £150 registration fee can be paid in instalments. To arrange this please contact: fundraising@palaceforlife.org. To sign-up and book your place on the Bike to Southampton team, visit palaceforlife.org and search ‘Bike to Southampton’ or scan the QR code (below). *Please note that like all fixtures this is liable to change, and we will confirm any movement of this date by February 2022

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

An unmissable line up on BT Sport

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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.

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In the last programme we saw how Crystal Palace were one of the key clubs that helped sustain the FA in its early, fragile years and how the FA Cup was conceived and launched by Charles Alcock, the FA secretary, in his efforts to broaden football’s appeal and the FA’s influence across England. In this edition we’ll look at how Crystal Palace fared in the very first FA Cup, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this season as the world’s oldest national knockout football competition.

Cuthbert Ottaway, England’s first international football captain

THE FIRST FA CUP 1871/72 was a momentous season for Crystal Palace and its captain Douglas Allport. Allport was Palace’s representative at the FA and was a member of its committee. In the last edition we saw that in summer 1871 the committee approved Charles Alcock’s idea of launching a national knockout challenge cup competition for all members of the Football Association. At their next meeting, on October 16th, 1871, the Association Challenge Cup - as it was officially known - was on the agenda, and Allport put forward the motion to set up a committee to draw up rules for the new cup. The new rules were agreed by the committee on October 23rd.

By that time the new season was well underway and most clubs had already arranged their fixtures for the coming season, so a cup clash was tough to fit in and only 15 sides, including Crystal Palace, entered the very first competition. The first round fixtures were decided at that meeting and Palace were drawn away to a club they had never played before, Hitchin. The odd team out, Hampstead Heathens, were given a bye, going straight through to the second round. The first round was played on Saturday, November 11th and turned out to be somewhat chaotic as only four of the seven ties were played. The Royal Engineers were awarded a walk over when Reigate Priory scratched, as were cpfc 1861

the Wanderers when Harrow Chequers pulled out. Bizarrely, Queens Park and Donington School could not agree on a venue, so both were allowed to go through to the second round. Hitchin v Crystal Palace was one of the two matches that kicked off at 3pm that day, so Palace played in one of the very first FA Cup ties. The two teams, playing in drizzling rain, were well matched and both played with “great spirit”, according to a report from the time. Notable for Palace was that James Turner played in goal and, as far as can be ascertained, he was the only original FA Founding Father of 1863 to play in the FA Cup. Chances were few and far between and, at the end of the 90 minutes, neither team had scored.

The first {fa challenge cup} round was played on Saturday, November 11th and turned out to be somewhat chaotic as only four of the seven ties were played This was the first FA Cup draw and a decision on progression had to be made.

In the first FA Cup replay on March 9th, Palace could not call on starplayer Ottaway and this saw the south Londoners go down to a 3-0 defeat

Presumably, because the clubs already had a busy fixture list, the FA allowed both to go through to the second round. In the run up to Christmas, Palace played their second round tie at home to Maidenhead. There had clearly been some bad weather as the notoriously wet Palace ground “was not at all in a good state for football, being very heavy from the recent thaw.” The game was an even contest for the first hour, even though Palace goalkeeper Alex Morten was late arriving. But Palace scored three goals through Alfred Lloyd, Bouch and future England international, Charles Chenery, to wrap up the game 3-0 and take them through to the quarter-finals. Crystal Palace were drawn against the top team of the day, the Wanderers, for their quarter-final, which was played on

January 20th, 1872, on Clapham Common. Palace put out a very strong team which included future England internationals Frederick Chappell and Cuthbert Ottaway, Charles Chenery’s friends from Oxford University’s social scene. Ottaway would become the first England captain in a recognised international match later that year. The Wanderers had the better game but neither side was able to break the deadlock and Palace managed to hold the Wanderers to a 0-0 draw through the excellent play of goalkeeper, Morten. The FA discussed what to do about the drawn quarter-final and decided to let both Palace and the Wanderers through to the semi-final, as they gave the Glaswegian club, Queens Park, a further bye, meaning they reached

the new FA Challenge Cup trophy to be presented to the winner. Crystal Palace drew the Royal Engineers for their semi-final which was to be played at the Oval. Palace again put out their strong ‘cup side’ which included Chappell and Ottaway. It was another hard-fought game that ended in a 0-0 draw and this time the FA ordered the match be replayed as only one team could go through to the final. In the first FA Cup replay on March 9th, Palace could not call on star-player Ottaway and this, coupled with the fact they did not look fit and the Engineers played a very physical game, saw the south Londoners go down to a 3-0 defeat. Palace played a couple more club games but their season, which had been both memorable for reaching the cup semi-final and for Allport personally, was otherwise over

NEXT TIME

FA Challenge Cup winners medal - 1872 the semi-final without playing a single round! In the same month an FA sub-committee, which included Palace captain Douglas Allport, selected and purchased cpfc 1861

In the next edition we’ll hear about Palace’s involvement in the earliest England v Scotland internationals, the world’s oldest international football matches. Peter Manning’s book, Palace at the Palace, is available online through the Club Shop.

siobhan wilson Mentally and physically I’m in a much better place than last season after leaving my job and starting anew. I’m really enjoying football at the moment.

left my job as a postwoman, which had meant walking ridiculous amounts every day. It was killing me with football, so I knew at the end of last season that I had to make a change. Since then I’ve felt a massive difference.

I create videos on TikTok and Instagram for over half a million followers, which I absolutely love doing I’ve started as an online personal trainer and life has become a lot more manageable. Although I still don’t like calling myself it, I’m also a social media influencer - or content creator. I create videos on TikTok and Instagram for over half a million followers, which I absolutely love doing. It doesn’t feel like work, and I’ve signed a few deals with brands to work together next year. On the PT side, I work with palace women

clients from all over the place to create training and nutrition plans and help with their fitness goals. I’ll follow whichever avenue continues to be a success. Now I don’t find it so difficult to balance work and football. I don’t have to fit things around my job, so everything is much more manageable. As a team we’re having a great season. I’d like to finish in the top four and think that’s very doable. Individually I’d like to score a few more goals, but as long as I can help the team with good performances I’m happy. What’s great about this squad is its togetherness. I knew a couple of the girls before joining, but even so it immediately felt like I’d been here for ages because everyone, players and staff, were so welcoming. We now have a smaller squad than last year, so everyone gets along really well. No one takes any disagreements to heart and whatever happens on the pitch is

left there. There’s a really good feeling in the camp right now. Another real positive is our incredible support. The fans have been unreal, particularly since coming back this season. When you travel away, for example, you don’t typically expect to see travelling fans. But when we got to Blackburn recently we could see the fans putting flags up, which I thought was unbelievable. We know they’ll always cheer us on and we can celebrate as one, so being able to engage with our 12th player and enjoy what’s happening at this club together is a great feeling.

we have a lot of young girls watching us and wanting to take pictures or get autographs, which is why we do what we do: to inspire an upcoming generation Beyond that, we have a lot of young girls watching us and wanting to take pictures or get autographs, which is why we do what we do: to inspire an upcoming generation. Those girls look up to us, so we want to set the bar high and push them to aim for the stars

palace women

The page for Palace supporters: taking your comments from the terraces into the programme. This week, we received the sad news that former staff member David Free has passed away. Here we remember his dedication to the club.

in memory of david free -

towards equipment, clothing and even tours for Palace players of the future. Vice Presidents’ Chair Chris Wait said: “Born on the Holmesdale Road, David was a lifelong Palace fan and VP for 48 years. He was instrumental in fundraising to support the founding of the Palace Academy. He was well-loved and greatly respected in the lounge and will be sorely missed.” David will be remembered fondly by many for the passion he always showed for Palace, whether on a matchday in the VPs or when he worked full-time at the club, running some exciting initiatives with the enthusiasm and dedication he was renowned for. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to David’s family and friends at this sad time.

The club were saddened to learn that former staff member and Honorary Vice President, David Free, has passed away. David was a member of the original Vice Presidents’ Club committee when the private members’ club was formed in 1973, and he remained a hard-working member for many years. He worked in conjunction

david was well-loved and greatly respected in the lounge and will be sorely missed

with the club on fundraising initiatives such as events and sponsorships instigated by members to provide money

Got something to share? Email us on programme@cpfc.co.uk with a message of no more than 200 words with a (printable) opinion or story. Alternatively, use #CPFC on Twitter and we’ll keep an eye out!

from the terraces

Happy Birthday Dean! Enjoy a few Wheat Beers, with hopefully a Palace win this year to keep you smiling :)

Owen Fairweather - Happy 12th Birthday! Have an amazing day and let’s hope for a Palace win. Lots of love Mum, Dad, Morgie and all your family & friends xxxx

Happy 18th Birthday Fergus, love Mum, Dad, Isla and Noah.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY COLIN MOORE. Have a day filled with happiness and your Eagles flying high! With love, your Norma, daughter Gillian, Steve & Izzi, granddaughter Charlotte & Adam xxx

Happy 19th Birthday Joe! What better way to celebrate? Hope you’re feeling glad all over! Love from Grandad, Dad and everyone in the Arthur! x

Jake, a 4th generation fan, has just completed a 3,500 piece model of Selhurst Park. A place he loves to visit in person as often as possible since his first game, a win against Villa in 2019.

Email programme@cpfc.co.uk with a message of 30 words or 72 years a Palace supporter. Happy Birthday Dad, Grandad, Bob. South London and Proud

Happy 8th Birthday Junior Eagle Finley Brown. Love Mummy, Daddy & Fletcher xxxx

from the terraces

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

Against who did Nathaniel Clyne make his debut?

In which country did Jason Puncheon most recently play?

Who held Palace’s fastest hat-trick record before Danny Butterfield?

Alan Pardew netted the FA Cup winner in 1990 v Liverpool. Who else scored for Palace?

Who managed Southampton in the 1976 FA Cup semi-final?

GAmes

FAMOUS FAN

guess the ground

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

Initially a Spurs fan, this former sprinter became a Saints supporter after moving to Southampton to begin his athletics career. Do you recognsie this famous Southampton fan?

BEAT BRIGHTY In each edition, club icon Mark Bright calls it how he sees it and predicts scores from the week’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 1-2 1-2 total Manage to Beat Brighty? Keep track of your total score above!

ANSWERS Guess who: Craig Moore Spot the image: Page 12 Quiz: 1) Barnsley 2) Cyprus 3) Dougie Freedman 4) Andy Gray, Gary O’Reilly and Mark Bright 5) Lawry McMenemy Famous Fan: Iwan Thomas Guess the Ground: Home Park - Plymouth Argyle

games

team stats: women / U23S / U18S Jack WellsMorrison Wells-Morrison returned to the U18s to help in their FA Youth Cup clash with Barnsley, which the Eagles won.

Tayo Adaramola Adaramola will vie to make it two goals in two against Derby later this month. He has played similar amounts for the U18s and U23s this season.

Millie Farrow Farrow plays her old loan club Bristol City tonight in an 8pm FA WSL Cup clash.

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

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

Fri 24

West Ham United

L 0-1

Wed 13 Lewes

D 0-0 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

W W L W

NOVEMBER Mon 1 Blackburn Rovers

L 1-2

Sat 6

Chelsea

W 2-1

Sat 20

Liverpool

W 3-0

DECEMBER Sun 12 Bridgwater United Wed 15 Bristol City Sun 19 Lewes

Sat 27

Manchester United

W 2-1

DECEMBER Mon 6 West Ham United

L 2-4

JANUARY Sun 9 Sunderland Sun 16 Durham Sun 23 Liverpool

JANUARY Mon 10 Everton

FEBRUARY Sun 6 Bristol City Sun 13 London City Lionesses

FEBRUARY Mon 7 Tottenham Hotspur

MARCH Sun 6 Sun 13 Sun 27

Mon 28 Brighton & Hove Albion Coventry United Lewes Charlton Athletic

APRIL Sun 3 Sun 24

Blackburn Rovers Watford

MAY Sun 1

Sheffield United

Watford

NOVEMBER Sun 7 Durham Sun 14 Charlton Athletic Wed 17 Reading Sun 21 Blackburn Rovers

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

OCTOBER Fri 1 Tottenham Hotpsur

Mon 20 Derby County

Mon 17 Chelsea Mon 24 Liverpool

Mon 21 Manchester United MARCH Mon 14 Manchester City Mon 21 Arsenal APRIL Mon 4

Leeds United

Mon 25 Blackburn Rovers MAY Mon 2

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 Sat 27 Aston Villa DECEMBER Sat 4 Tottenham Hotpsur Wed 8 Barnsley 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 W 3-1 W 3-0 W 2-1

Name

Apps

Bianca Baptiste

Kirsty Barton

Hannah Churchill

Charley Clifford

Grace Coombs

Leanne Cowan

Aimee Everett

Millie Farrow

Coral-Jade Haines

Annabel Johnson

Sophie McLean

Chloe Morgan (GK)

Leigh Nicol

Emily Orman (GK)

Goals

Gracie Pearse

Molly-Mae Sharpe

Siobhan Wilson

pos CLUB P W D

liv

10 7

16 5

11 23

lon

10 6

3 12 9

3 19

cry

Apps

Goals

Tayo Adaramola

Victor Akinwale

Jay-Rich Baghuelou

Ryan Bartley

Scott Banks

Kalani Barton

10 5

A GD Pts

2 20 16 4 18

dur

10 6

4 13 10 3 18

bri

10 5

3 20 12 8 17

Name

Apps

Goals

Tayo Adaramola

Victor Akinwale

David Boateng

Freddie Bell

Malachi Boateng

Maliq Cadogan

Harry Freedman

Junior Dixon

John-Kymani Gordon

Owen Goodman (GK)

Reece Hannam

Jackson Izquierdo (GK)

Danny Imray

Kanye Jobson

Nya Kirby

James Leonard

Jake O'Brien

Cameron Lewis-Brown

David Omilabu

Joe Ling

Dan Quick

Adler Nascimento

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Fionn Mooney

Sean Robertson

David Obou

Jack Roles

Ademola Ola-Adebomi

Cardo Siddik

David Ozoh

Aidan Steele

Jadan Raymond

Kaden Rodney

Joe Sheridan

Rob Street

James Taylor

Dylan Thiselton

Lizzie Waldie

Name

Matthew Vigor

Oliver Webber (GK)

Jack Wells-Morrison

Joe Whitworth (GK)

Vonnte Williams

pos CLUB P W D whu

14 10

Basilio Socoliche

Noah Watson

A GD Pts

3 37 19 18 31

pos CLUB P W D 1

che

A GD Pts

2 40 17 23 25

tot

14 8

3 37 22 15 27

sou

2 34 16 18 25

ars

14 8

4 38 30 8 26

lei

10 7

2 22 11

mci

14 7

4 31 22 9 24

cry

2 25 18 7 21

11 22

bha

14 6

3 24 17

7 23

ful

3 21 13 8 18

cry

14 7

7 32 29 3 21

ars

3 24 20 4 18

cha

10 5

4 15 10 5 16

mun

14 6

5 24 23 1

whu

3 17 13 4 14

lew

10 5

4 14 11

3 16

eve

14 5

7 19 29 -10 17

bha

10 4

5 25 24 1

sun

10 3

9 12 -3 12

lei

13 4

5 19 30 -11 16

TOT

10 4

6 20 28 -8 12

she

10 3

11 14 -3 11

6 18 31 -13 11

10 BLA

10 3

6 10 15 -5 10

10 liv

14 4

7 19 27 -8 15

10 wba

che

14 3

6 20 28 -8 14

7 18 22 -4 10

12 der

13 4

8 24 24 0 13

12 avl

10 3

6 28 33 -5 10

rdg

cov

7 10 22 -12 5

13 lee

14 3

8 29 35 -6 12

13 bir

10 2

7 12 27 -15 7

12 wat

7 10 24 -14 5

14 bla

14 2

7 20 38 -18 11

14 nor

women/u23S/u18S

5 36 -31 3

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