Crystal Palace v West Ham United matchday programme by Crystal Palace F.C.

Crystal Palace v West Ham United Saturday 1st January 2022 // 5:30pm

palace √ West ham united Sat 01 jan | 17:30

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, Ed Reynolds Photography Neil Everitt, Seb Frej, Dan Weir (PPA), Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

Thank you to all the supporters who’ve been great from the minute I arrived. The atmosphere around Selhurst Park, especially during this season, has been something I’ve never experienced

briefing palace √ West ham united Sat 01 jan | 17:30

Palace confirm three-part Academy documentary -

january

2020/21 was a landmark season for the Crystal Palace Academy, as the club’s youth teams excelled in their first campaign at Category 1 level. Following one side throughout, the Under-18s, Palace TV cameras captured exclusive behind the scenes footage of every moment in a gripping title-push. In a new three-part documentary available to Palace TV+ subscribers, Coming of Age: The Step Up, you can see inside

an eventful period as Palace’s aspiring players fought to further their journey to professional football as a state of the art Academy grew around them. Coming of Age shows how coaches and former Palace players Paddy McCarthy and Darren Powell work both publicly and privately, including reflective interviews, and the mentality of Palace’s lauded young prospects. It charts the journey from scrapping on a building site to a tense final-day wait as Palace battled with Fulham for the U18 Premier League South title, despite having reached the league just that season.

Steve Kember makes his debut v Bristol City, 1966

Mark Bright nets his first Palace hat-trick, 1989 v Walsall

Peter Taylor born, 1953

Terry Venables (1943), Dave Swindlehurst (1956) and Attilio Lombardo (1966) born

Steve Kember scores his first goal, 1966

And it shows Palace for the club supporters know: driven, determined and focused on talented south Londoners shaped by their environment. The first episode of Coming of Age will be made available in the New Year to supporters with a Palace TV+ subscription, which you can easily purchase now from £2.99 with a Weekly, Monthly or Annual pass.

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

What’s inside Find out… why Jack Butland is taking on a new mantle at Palace (Page 12), Darren Ambrose’s close Christmas encounter with a helicopter at training (Page 34) and how our Academy has expanded to further support players away from the club (Page 47). briefing

manager

Welcome to Selhurst Park to David Moyes, the West Ham directors, staff and players, and very good afternoon to everyone here supporting us.

irstly, I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year and to thank you for your support in 2021. We have a big year ahead of us and lots of work to do throughout, but I look forward to seeing how we improve together in 2022. As you will know, I have been isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 recently, however my family and I are well, and I’d like to thank supporters for the kind messages I’ve received over the last few days. While away I’ve been in constant communication with the coaches, speaking with Osh at least 10 times a day. We plan the training sessions, discuss how the players are and what will happen the following day – at times before and after training, and at others in the evening. The staff have shown real leadership over the last week. It’s important for us to have an environment in which people can express themselves, and the staff know what we are trying to build together at this football club. They know how I think, and I know they’ve followed that closely.

It shows I am surrounded by good people at this football club. The players also know what they need to do and that they have to take responsibility for it. As staff we’re here to guide them by being really clear about the details we require, and our performance against Norwich is a sign they understand how we want them to play.

We have a big year ahead of us and lots of work to do throughout, but I look forward to seeing how we improve together in 2022 I was particularly pleased with the tactical approach and players’ discipline against Norwich. To play another game two days after the tough one against Spurs required the right attitude and determination, both of which were top draw from the players. I needed them to stick together in a difficult manager

period, and their response to that demand was what I wanted. One player who embodied this was JP. He has had a difficult season so far, but responded well when the team needed him. This is all credit to him for working hard and waiting for his chance. Anybody in this squad could be called up any time – we are a team, and the message has always been clear to every single one of them: they have a part to play, and the objective is to make it difficult for me to choose which players to represent the team. We’re halfway through the season now and I think the first half has been positive. The way we’ve tried to play has been pleasing and we’ve competed in every game. Of course, there are things we need to keep improving in the second part of the season, but we are only six months into a job in a league where teams have been working together for five or more years. So the players, staff and I need to keep focused, concentrate and challenge ourselves to keep improving the details over time. Thank you for your support

captain

Good afternoon to each of you reading this – I hope you and your family are well, and of course Happy New Year to you all.

would like to start by wishing my teammates currently isolating a fast recovery and to say I hope they are managing well. We miss their involvement but are playing hard on their behalf. We face a strong team enjoying a positive season during a difficult time for us today. We are missing a few of the boys and experiencing a very packed schedule, so what we will have to rely on is our spirit and fight, with your support as always. We have to show professionalism to do this, and I know we have the right mentality for that. The Norwich game was a very satisfying one. It showed that we can do the basics right and be clinical in front of goal, also that we have very good strength throughout our squad and that we have understood the gaffer’s messages well enough to play his style effectively even without him on the touchline. I enjoyed playing in front of you all under the lights and was pleased with the lads and their performance. Of course, we were disappointed by the Tottenham

score after disrupted preparation. However I thought we were in control for lots of the start of this game and showed that, even in

what we will have to rely on is our spirit and fight, with your support as always. We have to show professionalism to do this, and I know we have the right mentality for that

that situation, we can play well and use our strengths. We will have to do this throughout the 90 minutes today to get the result we deserve. captain

But West Ham are looking for some points themselves and we can expect them to play at the level we’ve seen over the last year. Their reaction to some disappointing games by beating Watford makes this very clear; we will have to be careful today. That is a threat we are aware of and must work hard to handle. 2021 was a year of change for this club, with a new manager, new teammates and lots of off-pitch developments that happened. It was not an easy year for anyone but it was a positive one for Crystal Palace, and we can hope for more of this in 2022. It’s all about continuing the hard work we did over the last 12 months and building on the platform that’s been created over a long time. I am excited for what is to come over the next year and look forward to making some more special moments together. Your backing was the most important part of our year even though it was so difficult for everyone when you were not here. Make some noise!

chairman

Happy New Year and welcome to the directors, players, staff and supporters of West Ham United to Selhurst Park for this New Year’s Day fixture, and to each and every Palace fan here today.

uesday’s win over Norwich was a magnificent and comprehensive performance, and finished the year on a high. Congratulations to the goalscorers Odsonne, Jean-Philippe and Jeffrey and to Osian and the rest of the staff who stood in so ably on the day. But it really was a superb display throughout the side, and everyone deserves their share of the credit. To land on 23 points at the halfway point is an excellent return, and one everyone is determined to build upon. I was really pleased to learn that we have scored goals in nine consecutive Premier League home games – a club record, and I have no doubt that your return to Selhurst, with you all behind the team so vociferously, has spurred us on to achieve this feat. It’s a difficult and packed schedule over Christmas; every club has been affected in some way by COVID in recent weeks. We had a challenging period immediately before the match against Spurs with injuries and some positive cases, which included Patrick.

The players began that game very well indeed for the first 30 minutes or so, but sadly things unravelled in a short period of time after that which effectively killed the game.

I have no doubt that your return to Selhurst, with you all behind the team so vociferously, has spurred us on to achieve

But one huge positive was Nathan’s long-awaited debut appearance. Nathan has endured an extremely tough period since joining us from West Brom with a couple of serious injuries – throughout that whole time he has chairman

never stopped smiling and working hard, doing everything the medical team and doctors asked of him. So it was fantastic for his family, friends and everyone at the club to see him out there. Hopefully it’s the first of many times we see Nathan in a Palace shirt. I think recent weeks have shown that we have a considerable amount of squad depth, which will undoubtedly help us overcome future challenges – be it COVIDrelated, injuries and even the imminent AFCON. Like many of you I am looking forward to putting 2021 behind us, but as I’m sure lots of you have, we made the best of the circumstances and achieved some major milestones for the club, including a new Academy and a major overhaul of the squad. I’m excited and optimistic that 2022 will be still more positive for all of us. I do hope that’s the case and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all you for your support in these difficult times. Happy New Year, and up the Palace

Jack Butland has dual responsibilities in his life as a footballer. The first is to train and compete to his maximum. The next, he feels, is to stand up for others and make himself heard. Here, he tells Ben Mountain how moving to Palace has enabled him to thrive at both.

main interview

ack Butland’s approach to balancing on- and offpitch life is a mark of his commitment. “I’ve always been one where if I’m not playing I like to get my head down and focus on football,” he says. “Some people have this great ability to do things alongside football and spend a lot of time campaigning. It’s always something I’ve had a great interest in but I always come back to football being the focus.” While enjoying consistent minutes, Butland has been true to his word: the ‘keeper threw himself into off-pitch duties with England, visiting Auschwitz and writing about the experience for Holocaust Memorial Day, attending a youth centre, and regularly showing his support for those serving in the Armed Forces. Personally or at club level, he has put his name to causes such as breast cancer awareness and HIV testing, donated to the GB women’s deaf football team and called or sent messages online to isolating Stoke City fans or key workers in the area. But Butland has had his head down for the last year, joining Palace in October 2020 to find “a fresh beginning.” Now, he says, he feels “absolutely settled,” and has begun to use his position to benefit the club – on and off the pitch. “What motivated me?” Butland asks rhetorically of his recent call with Palace Women’s Chloe Morgan where, rather uniquely for a current Premier League player, he spoke about addressing LGBT+-inclusion

in sport. “Just doing the right thing, really. It’s not a topic I’ve ever shied away from but neither have I ever really thrown myself into it. “Sometimes there are uncomfortable discussions to have but I think they’re the most important. I was keen to be a part of it and it’s something I think unless more and more of us start to do we become a part of the problem, or are playing for the wrong side with helping members of the LGBTQ+ community out. It’s important everyone opens up and at some point feels uncomfortable to speak about it. I’m glad I did.”

Sometimes there are uncomfortable discussions to have but I think they’re the most important. I was keen to be a part of it and it’s something I think unless more and more of us start to do we become a part of the problem, or are playing for the wrong side with helping members of the LGBTQ+ community out As he said at the time, Butland feels the first professional male player to come out during their career will be football’s turning point, and it’s a moment he hopes players like him can help to accelerate: “This topic in particular has been around for decades and will continue to be around and it affects a hell of a lot of people… Ultimately it comes down to the rest of the football world to make it easier for someone. That first individual that Jack butland

does believe they want to come out, be open and find the environment comfortable enough will be very important. But it’s going to take a lot of work from players, clubs and fans to finally give someone that confidence to do so. “We’re all friends with people of different backgrounds, religions, races, sexual orientations. It’s around us, it’s nothing new. “There are a lot of people stuck in the Stone Age who are reluctant and perhaps don’t know why they’re reluctant. It’s just a lot of people are stuck in their ways and it’s going to take a lot of time to get away from that. It’s close to us all, and none more so than in a club like ours – south London is incredibly diverse.” But there is a balance to strike for professional footballers: ensuring their career and sporting ability remains on track while speaking about issues close to their hearts. It’s a skill players like Marcus Rashford have mastered, with the forward netting 43 times since starting his public charity work in October 2019. Butland’s approach has historically been to keep his head down until he could guarantee form, but now with a base as strong as his at Palace, the goalkeeper may well feel those shackles loosening regardless of his time on the pitch. “I perhaps need a little bit more, because I do feel I have opinions and can help. I know when I’m not playing social media becomes an enemy; I don’t need it, I just want to get my head down

and perhaps don’t do as much campaigning as I may want. We often want to focus our energy in what directly affects us. “But everyone has an opportunity to do the right thing, to set an example, to nip things in the bud if you see or witness them and to welcome people with open arms that feel discriminated against or uncomfortable. I certainly feel I’m one of those people. “I didn’t come from a particularly diverse background. The school I went to was not massively diverse in Clevedon, just outside Bristol. I never grew up in such a diverse place as south London but

I never grew up in such a diverse place as south London but I always feel I’ve treated people the same. It’s just the way I’ve been brought up, to see everyone as equals, to help out, to support people I always feel I’ve treated people the same. It’s just the way I’ve been brought up, to see everyone as equals, to help out, to support people. I’m not going to understand the deep-rooted stories of some others who’ve been through hell, but I can try my best to.” And so, with that attitude, Butland has also more recently spoken about his professional struggles at Stoke City; not as a campaigner or with much fuss, but as honestly and clearly as he did about inclusion. Jack butland

main interview

He’s refreshingly open without any melodrama: “The end to my time at Stoke was the first time I’ve really ever experienced a loss of form. “It became quite an important learning curve for me. It took a lot of time and a lot of battling and got me quite down because I didn’t believe I had changed anything. “In football we have difficult times. In life we have difficult times… You have those setbacks but they’re quite miniscule in terms of everything from there is quite simple: work hard, get back fit. A loss of form takes a completely different shape because it’s mental and it’s confidence.

In football we have difficult times. In life we have difficult times… You have those setbacks but they’re quite miniscule in terms of everything from there is quite simple: work hard, get back fit “How you channel that confidence when you’re not performing well can become quite arrogant... That was a struggle, like I was trying to wheel myself through the difficult times. “When I ended up not playing towards the end of that season [2019/20] I needed to… It was frustrating as hell - I hated every minute of not playing - but the benefit for the team at that point was me not playing. That was the hardest thing for me to swallow. Jack butland

main interview

“During those months I ended up joining Palace it just occurred to me: I’ll always have the talent and ability - I still do - but I’d forgotten to believe in myself, had got myself in a spiral of not believing what was going on, not wanting to accept I wasn’t playing well. “In the end it took a change – coming to Palace… Now as a person and as a player I’m better for it, understanding myself a bit more and learning a bit of patience and just how powerful the mind can be. Now I feel back to my 18-year-old self; yeah, I’ve got a few more grey hairs than I did but I’m certainly as capable as I’ve ever been. I feel great.” The challenge for a supporting goalkeeper, however, never alters: they must prove their form without playing. Butland concedes that life fighting for a single place has its frustrations, but makes clear he’s adopted the role with as much vigour as any – and, as his volunteered ending to this interview shows – he’s embraced life on-pitch as much as off-pitch at Palace. Just like you’d expect him to: “It’s difficult to show to outside of our little bubble because I haven’t played many games, but from the minute I came in I feel like I’ve been back to my best. I’ve joined a club where Vicente [Guaita] has also been at a fantastic level, so I always knew I’d always have to be patient, to work hard. I know what being a goalkeeper’s all about – sometimes things happen and you’re in quickly, sometimes you’ve got to sit around and be patient. I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum.

“What’s been great for the club is Vicente has been great and the team have been great and it’s a really good environment. I’ve just got to be patient and wait for that opportunity when it comes. “You get older, you mature and I’m not stupid – I can look ahead and I can see when people are doing well, and see when you’ve got to be patient. Of course there are frustrations because you want to play. What’s been massive for me which I’ve relied on is just patience, being patient, which is a

Of course there are frustrations because you want to play. What’s been massive for me which I’ve relied on is just patience, being patient, which is a very difficult thing to do

very difficult thing to do. I feel I’ve got a lot to offer the team and we’ve got an extremely good group of goalkeepers pushing each other and that’s great for the club. “Thank you to all the supporters who’ve been great from the minute I arrived. Despite not playing as much they’ve been great. The atmosphere around Selhurst Park, especially during this season, has been something I’ve never experienced. The one that stands out to me was the 3-0 home game against Tottenham, it was one of the loudest I’ve witnessed a Premier League stadium and it was a pleasure to see. Long may it continue.” Jack butland

Jack Butland became England’s youngest ‘keeper when he made his debut aged 19. Uniquely, that appearance came before his first with Birmingham City, his earliest permanent club. Here, he picks his top Three Lions.

England idols Wayne Rooney One of the elite England players for me growing up and watching what he did, his ability to do anything he wanted with the ball.

David Beckham Goes back to one of my earliest and best memories of an England game, the equalising free-kick against Greece. I remember watching it with my friends and it was: ‘Oh, my God. What a moment.’ One of my earliest and best England memories.

Gordon Banks I was fortunate and very lucky to have met him on a number of occasions, shared a cup of tea, talked about footie, goalkeeping, set plays and all the rest of it with him at his house. He was always a great supporter of mine, which is something I’ll never forget. God rest his soul. the follow-up

Joe Hart He came on loan to Birmingham when I was young and showed me where the level I wanted to be was and he was the first goalkeeper I really wanted to be. He was like a big brother to me and obviously went on to do incredible things with England. A top, top goalkeeper.

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

Proud to support

Crystal Palace Football Club

west ham united f.c. est. 1895

Inside The best time to play? Who’s who: West Ham Darren Ambrose’s helicopter surprise

opposition

hammers west ham

West Ham United have had a sensational season so far, winning seven of their first 11 league games and topping their Europa League group.

match preview

Story so far

However in recent matches the Hammers have started to see their blistering early form drop off, drawing and losing twice from three and losing both the League Cup quarter-final and their dead rubber group game with Dinamo Zagreb. This dip has seen them slip from a solid fourth-place in the table to sixth, with a gap emerging between the top four and chasing pack due to the uneven fixture schedule so far. David Moyes expressed his irritation with this change in fortune after defeat to Southampton, saying: “It was rubbish, rubbish from the start… We didn't really get anything out of it.”

Home

third

Last five Seasons

Position

6th

Points

Top scorer

away

Season

Position

Points

Top Scorer

20/21

6th

Antonio (10)

19/20

16th

Antonio (10)

18/19

10th

Arnautović (10)

17/18

13th

Arnautović (11)

16/17

11th

Antonio (9)

Michail Antonio (7)

Most assists

Jarrod Bowen (6)

Most passes

Declan Rice (1,012)

opposition

Dangerman: Antonio

Michail Antonio has bagged seven goals so far this season and registered 47 shots – the fifth-most of any player in the league.

Remember when?

Boot in both camps

Marouane Chamakh scored his first home goal for Palace as Tony Pulis collected his first home win in his first home game against West Ham in 2013, setting Palace on the path to safety in our first Premier League season since 2004/05.

recent form

recent outing West Ham 2 Southampton 3 Sun 26 Dec / London Stadium

Starting xi

subs

Ł. Fabiański

A. Yarmolenko

A. Masuaku

M. Antonio

I. Diop

M. Lanzini

C. Dawson

A. Areola

V. Coufal

M. Noble

D. Rice

R. Fredericks

T. Souček

B. Johnson

S. Benrahma

A. Král

P. Fornals

H. Ashby

N. Vlašić

J. Bowen

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

20 22

opposition

José Fonte Fonte was loaned to Palace from Benfica in 2007 and signed permanently the following year. He then reached the Premier League with Southampton before joining West Ham in 2016; he still plays regularly today with Lille, aged 37.

INTERNATIONAL ICON 297 apps 77 clean sheets

Łukasz Fabianski

04 05 Kurt Zouma

Vladimír Coufal

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: CZECH REPUBLIC

Craig Dawson

Angelo Ogbonna

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: POLAND

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: ITALY

Since at the start of 2018/19, the experienced Fabiański has been first-choice goalkeeper for the Hammers, making over 100 appearances. He has represented Poland 57 times, appearing in two World Cup and three Euro squads for his country of birth.

player profile

POS: GOALKEEPER

Age

Height

1.90m

Joined

20th June, 2018

Debut

12th August, 2018 v Liverpool

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Lech Poznań, Legia Warsaw, Arsenal & Swansea City. opposition

23 24 03

PROVIDER

Issa Diop

Ryan Fredericks

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: FRANCE

NAT: ENGLAND

237 apps 54 clean sheets

26 31 Arthur Masuaku

Ben Johnson

Aaron Cresswell

POS: DEFENDER

NAT: DR CONGO

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: DEFENDER

Age

Height

1.70m

Joined

3rd July, 2014

Debut

16th August, 2014 v Tottenham Hotspur

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Tranmere Rovers & Ipswich Town. opposition

The marauding left-back has been one of the key players for Werst Ham since his arrival in 2014, with his ability from set pieces seeing him rack up 27 top-flight assists. He is a constant threat along the flank.

08 10 Pablo Fornals

Manuel Lanzini

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: SPAIN

NAT: ARGENTINA

Mark Noble

Tomás Soucek

BACKBONE

149 app 6 wins

Declan Rice

POS: MIDFIELDER

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: CZECH REPUBLIC

NAT: ENGLAND

player profile

POS: MIDFIELDER

Age

Height

1.85m

Joined

Academy – aged 14

Debut

21st May, 2017 v Burnley

AWARDS: West Ham Young Player of the Season 16/17 and 17/18 & West Ham Player of the Season 19/20. opposition

Having also established himself in the England midfield, West Ham’s 2019/20 Player of the Season has become a vital cog for both club and country. He has captained the Hammers on occasion and looks to be the successor to long-serving legend Mark Noble.

09 07 11 DANGERMAN

176 app 53 goals

Andriy Yarmolenko

Nikola Vlasic

POS: FORWARD

NAT: UKRAINE

NAT: ENGLAND

20 22 Jarrod Bowen

POS: FORWARD

NAT: JAMAICA

NAT: ENGLAND

NAT: ALGERIA

After working his way up from Non-League to the Premier League, Antonio had a similar success story at the Hammers playing in a multitude of positions after joining in 2015 before earning the No.9 shirt and establishing himself as the striker of choice.

player profile

Michail Antonio

Saïd Benrahma

Age

Height

1.80m

Joined

1st September, 2015

Debut

19th September, 2015 v Manchester City

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Tooting & Mitcham United, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday & Nottingham Forest. opposition

NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY now available countrywide

for SPORT

In 2019/20 Palace enjoyed a double over West Ham, rectifying their form against the Hammers by recording their only two wins of their last 13 Premier League games against them.

33 00

West Ham have won four of their last seven away Premier League games against Palace (D2 L1). The Hammers have scored in all seven of these visits.

02 19

Passes per match 457

415 shots

195

244 Shooting accuracy %

34 goals conceded

24 clean sheets

Conor Gallagher goals

assists

Pablo Fornals goals

assists

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.

Battle for the centre He’s an obvious choice for a dangerman but Michail Antonio has impressed me a lot. I must have played him when he was a full-back years ago, and now he’s one of the most feared centreforwards in the league because of his pace and power. If he stays fit he can cause anyone problems, so the Palace defence need to be on their game. Another obvious choice for one to watch is Declan Rice. He’s one of the best players in the Premier League currently because of the way he conducts and controls a game and glides about the pitch. There’s an air of Steven Gerrard or Patrick Vieira about him – two legends of the game. But what I really like to see is he looks happy and full of confidence, and in those moods a player can control a game. Palace can’t let him dictate from the middle of the park because he’ll orchestrate every one of West Ham’s moves. But he’s not the only player down the middle they’ll need to

keep an eye on. You’ve also got Tomáš Souček, Vladimír Coufal, Manuel Lanzini, Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals. West Ham are a very good team with a brilliant manager, so Palace will need to go toe to toe with these guys.

he’s one of the most feared centre-forwards in the league because of his pace and power. If he stays fit he can cause anyone problems

Whoever it is – Cheikhou Kouyaté, Luka Milivojević,, Will Hughes or James McArthur if he’s back – will to have prepare themselves pre-match by saying: ‘All I’m going to think about is beating my man today. If I go up against them I’m confident and ready to go toe to Darren ambrose

toe.’ They’ll visualise the battle to beat their man, and whichever side does that best in the middle will come out on top today.

Sky high The confidence at West Ham spreads from the manager across the team. What David Moyes has achieved is nothing short of a miracle, and if he can reach the top four, he’s earned Manager of the Season. If you’re happy and confident you play well, and I think a lot of West Ham’s players are. They remind me in some ways of my Palace team in 2010: there’s a real spirit and sense of togetherness, doing their job well for the manager. I also think the fact they’re winning in Europe has had a positive impact, which isn’t always the case. They just seem buzzing every time they go out because they’re winning regularly. We’ve seen with sides like Leicester that losing in Europe has a negative impact on your domestic form, but West Ham’s confidence is sky high and they come back for league games thinking they can beat anyone. I loved playing in Europe with Ipswich and Newcastle. It gives you the chance to face teams you never thought you would, or to shine if you’re not getting chances in the league. I fortunately never had a fitness issue despite the volume of fixtures, and hopefully that remains the case for West Ham. However there is a sense of uncertainty with them and they’ve dropped points as favourites this season: they lost to Arsenal and Wolves and drew with Burnley and Brighton. They might expect to beat

Palace today, but I wouldn’t be so confident. Seeing Palace, who I’m very fond of and have such a close connection with, face West Ham is always special for me. West Ham were my dad’s team, and he passed away recently. I always keep an eye on them for him. I played West Ham a few years back with Palace and scored the opening goal. I remember it clearly: Jonny Williams got down the wing, cut it back and I put it in. It was a great feeling because I knew my dad and grandad would have hated it but begrudgingly cheered me on.

Christmas hangover A lot of people think New Year’s Day matches are the one players might turn up to feeling a little worse for wear. My career started at the end of that era, but I actually darren ambrose

found Christmas to be the time people felt a bit ropey. One year at Ipswich we were told to come in for an early session on Christmas Day. We all turned up for training at 8:30 or so but couldn’t see the manager, Jim Magilton, or left-back, Ben Thatcher. We thought they had us on a windup, but started playing five-a-side with the first-team coach to get warm. Then we started to hear this noise, and looked up to the hedge behind Playford Road. All of a sudden a helicopter started to come over the top of it and landed right on our five-a-side pitch. The door opens and there’s Ben Thatcher, dressed in full kit with his boots on. He jumped down and said: ‘Right, whose team am I on?’ The helicopter then went up, circled the training ground for an hour or so, and came back down once we were done. Ben jumped in, said ‘See you, lads,’ and off he went. It was the most surreal thing I’ve seen. Ben lived in Surrey then and used to travel over 100 miles or stay overnight in Ipswich. But he had young kids and it was Christmas, so he woke up that morning in Surrey, called his mate who was a pilot and flew over in 15 minutes. He was such a character. To this day no one knows where the manager was. I think we lost the Boxing Day game, and blame him for it… Lastly, I just want to emphasise that I hope everyone had a great New Year’s, is healthy, and ready to smash 2022. Hopefully it’s better than the last few years

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.

The opening day of the 2022 calendar sees Crystal Palace welcome West Ham United to Selhurst Park. The south Londoners have been successful in recent times, having not lost the first fixture of a new year for the last four seasons. Unfortunately, home fans haven’t experienced a year’s opening day success recently, having not seen a new year’s game since a 0-3 loss to Chelsea in 2016. Today’s is the first clash in five years that the Selhurst faithful can watch in person to open the year. The previous four opening day fixtures in front of fans have been away, and one came during the COVID-hit 2020/21 season. That match brought a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United; Jeffrey Schlupp fired ahead inside four minutes, before Eberechi Eze scored the fans’ Goal of the Season. Additionally, wins against both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton and a draw against Norwich City complete four years without a loss to start a new calendar year. The last time Palace opened a year by dropping points was an away loss to Arsenal in 2017. This impressive

form is something the home side will want to continue. In the reverse of this afternoon’s fixture, Vieira highlighted West Ham’s strength in his pre-match press conference. Palace drew with today’s visitors 2-2 in August, with both goals from loanee Conor Gallagher securing the point. Going

the match against West Ham signals the beginning of an important month, both in the league and FA Cup

into the new year Crystal Palace will be looking to go one better over the east London outfit in front of home support. This time around Palace will likely be without the influential James McArthur, however Will Hughes has come in to help fill a potential midfield void. Additional recruitments such as Odsonne Edouard, who joined aspiring writers

after the Hammers away fixture, will pose a new threat. Seen as the start of the season’s second half a win today could be significant in the remaining campaign. A win at the beginning of January is vital in setting up the rest of the month. Starting well at the beginning of the month will influence how the team can kick on for the second half of the season – in 2015/16, for example, Palace failed to collect a point in January after starting with the Chelsea loss. The match against West Ham signals the beginning of an important month, both in the league and FA Cup. Upcoming fixtures include an away clash Brighton followed by Liverpool at home. January will be a crucial spell if Palace want to push themselves into the top half of the Premier League; form suggests they will start it well.

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 England and Wales’ midfield hotshot Paddy reviews an encouraging start Hayden Mullins: Academy graduate to double POTS

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.

Jadan Raymond age: 18 / position: Midfielder / joined: Under-8s

highlights so far Representing England and Wales at various youth levels and scoring the winning penalty for the former in the 2017 Syrenka Cup in Poland.

Take note of Raymond is a nimble and intelligent attacking midfielder who can play on the wing when required. He is a creative provider who can shimmy his way through a defence or push his way more forcefully. inside the academy

getting to know Jadan Raymond Jadan Raymond has Crystal Palace running through his blood. Raised just minutes away from Selhurst Park and with a former Academy player as a father, the teenage midfielder has spent a decade with the club. He joined from Croydon F.C. as a child, and since then has progressed through the ranks to spend his weeks causing trouble in midfield for the Under-18s, after a battle for fitness last season. Internationally, he is eligible to represent England and Wales and has done so for both at various levels, scoring the winning penalty in the

Jadan is a hard-working lad who is a key player for his team. He has natural talent and the right work ethic the next step for will come because of the latter. He needs to use his success so far to kick on with the right mentality Gary Issott Academy Director

Jes [Rak-Sakyi] is an inspiration to all of us because it shows you can be in the Under-18s and the next year be in the first-team

Syrenka Cup for the Young Lions in 2017. And, along with consistent coaches, an experienced father and eye for a role model, Raymond says those experiences have been crucial so far. “It’s a different coaching style [between England and Wales],” he says. “You learn a lot of new things. When you come back to the club you feel you have way more skills and Inside the academy

awareness of the game… the speed of the game is better and you learn from the opposition. The foreign players play a different way, different intensity. You pick up bits here and there that you add to your game to make you better. “It lets you experience different cultures of football, how different countries play and it’s helped me come back to Palace, be a bit sharper on and off the ball and even tactically – little details help a lot. Whenever I go there I get to express myself and play my best football.” Closer to home, Raymond is back under the tutelage of Rob Quinn this season, with the Under-18s manager having worked with many of the current crop at earlier age groups. Raymond elaborates: “I’ve been with Rob since Under-13s, 14s, 15s and he’s joined us at 18s, so it’s good to have a coach that knows me so well, knows my playing style and can fit me into the team well. “We all really like Rob because we grew up with him coaching us at all age groups. He’s calm and persistent with us and we all know how good a coach Rob is.” But, the young midfielder adds, those influences go beyond the day job too: “I look at No.10s like David Silva, players that show a different aspect to the game and are a bit more intelligent. How they manipulate the ball and unlock defences is how I base my game. “My dad is always giving me tips on how I can improve. He was in my position when he was my age so had been through it and knows I have to be on it every day to have a chance.”

inside the academy

Paddy M©Carthy We enter 2022 over halfway through the season, and Darren and I were really pleased with how the boys bought into what we were doing last year.

e joined a winning mentality and good culture in this group and knew we were taking the boys into a step up with the Premier League 2. We said from the start we’d approach each game on the front foot with a belief we can compete at this level, so we’ve got after teams, pressed them high, been brave in possession and maintained our style. We’re conscious of playing a way that befits the badge and that gives the players opportunities to showcase their skills. But there’s no ceiling on development, so we approach every day trying to become better footballers, people and coaches. That gives every player the best chance of having a career in this game. We were clear on our first day with these boys: their ambition should not be to play under us for too long. They should want to get away to a first-team here or elsewhere, but to do that they have to first buy into what we’re doing as a team, and be open to learn, grow and work hard. So the lads know we’re enforcing the style we are to give them the best chance of playing professional

football, and they’ve been a credit to the club in their response to it. I’m enjoying the part of my job where I deal with the older players through open, regular dialogue.

I’ll never forget where the football club has come from, but it’s important we continue to reach for the stars

We’re clear with our objectives, have conversations with players, agents, Academy and first-team staff and the boys are comfortable to come to me, Darren or any coach for support.

Inside the academy

That’s benefitted by the inspiring environment we have here. I always say when I come through the gates to work that I’m proud to be here every day. But I’m mindful of what’s come before for this football club. Just over 10 years ago Steve and the consortium dragged it from near the abyss; all of a sudden we’re a decade on with a shiny new Academy, a first-team flying high and an excellent infrastructure throughout. There are lots of people here today who were around in 2010, me and Shaun included. The spirit of that group – by which I mean not only the players but also the supporters, the staff who did their jobs professionally without being paid, and everyone who formed our mentality – will live in the memory forever. I’m conscious that, yes, we’ve got a shiny new building; yes, we’ve got Category 1 status; yes, we are now looking like a really good Premier League football club, but we should never step away from the spirit of that group. I’ll never forget where the football club has come from, but it’s important we continue to reach for the stars

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.

Two-time POTS -

HAYDEN MULLINS Born First-team debut

27th March, 1979 19th July, 1998

Appearances

257

Goals

inside the academy

In 1989 Palace opened a second Centre of Excellence at Wokingham and it is probable that is how Hayden Mullins, born in Reading, came to the club. It soon became obvious he had skills that enabled him to exude a cool and calm confidence in midfield or defence - abilities that would earn him the nickname ‘Cas’ (for casual) as his Eagles career progressed. Before he was 18 Mullins had already featured for the team that reached the 1996 FA Youth Cup semi-final against Liverpool and 1997 final against Leeds United, and in that same year won the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup, beating Arsenal over a two-legged final. Mullins had already made his debut for the Reserves in February 1996, and such were his performances he became a member of the first-team squad as an unused substitute at Manchester City in January 1997. The following month he signed his first professional contract. Had the Eagles not reached the Premier League in May 1997

Mullins may have made his professional debut earlier than he did. Relegated to the second tier in summer 1998, Terry Venables, as new Palace manager, handed Mullins his opportunity. Palace were in the first leg of their initial venture into Europe - the Intertoto Cup - and were drawn against Turkish club Samsunspor. Mullins

Mullins went on to captain the club and during these five years saw five managers come and go, while Steve Kember had three stints as caretaker. At the end of 2002/03 Mullins was again Player of the Season

took to the pitch at Selhurst Park on July 19th, 1998, but the team produced a rather spiritless display, losing 0-2. However there must have been something in Mullins’ performance that afternoon as the 19-year-old became a Inside the academy

permanent fixture from that day onward and missed very few games for the next five years. His Football League debut came at home to Bolton Wanderers on August 8th and the following weekend at Birmingham City he scored his first goal in a 1-3 defeat. By the end of 1998/99 Mullins had gained the first of three England Under-21 caps and was also named the club’s Player of the Season. Mullins’ time with Palace coincided with two of the most renowned games in club history. The first was the final fixture of 1999/2000 on May 7th at Tranmere, when many feared this would be the club’s last game in the Football League and manager Steve Coppell threw his jacket to the Palace fans present. Then a year later came the brink of relegation drama at Stockport County in May 2001. Mullins went on to captain the club and during these five years saw five managers come and go, while Steve Kember had three stints as caretaker. At the end of 2002/03 Mullins was again Player of the Season and then Kember was made permanent manager. A promising start to the following campaign began to unravel and in October 2003, against Kember’s wishes, Mullins was sold to West Ham United for £650,000 - Alan Pardew’s first signing as Hammers boss. Mullins must have looked on wistfully as Palace won the play-off final over his new side the following May

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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 Player Care Officer Kiran Dingri explains how the Academy nurtures and supports players off-pitch from Under-9s all the way through to the Under-16s and beyond.

Voices of South London

oung players involved in Academy football from Under-9s through to Under-23s receive not only a high level of coaching on the pitch, but also holistic support off it, where staff like Kiran Dingri create “an environment in which players can flourish.” “Day to day I support the rest of the Academy staff to make sure the Academy programme runs smoothly,” he says one evening at the Academy, before delivering a player care workshop. “That’s the main thing. It’s not as heavy day to day as what the coaches have, but it’s making sure we have players here ready to learn in an environment that can help them. “In terms of week to week it’s making sure players who require transport support are looked after, some players who require additional support, and supporting coaches and staff with players who need support in terms of having a chat around anything from school to home to the Academy. “They’ve got another person they can recognise that isn’t the person picking the team or making decisions on their futures and selection. This season I will be working with each age group and their parents, delivering different content on navigating through the Academy journey.” Dingri is very familiar with south London having grown up in and around Dartford, and previously held the position of Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) at Charlton Athletic.

“In November [2020] I made the switch to come as YDP [Youth Development Phase] Player Care Officer and now it’s grown into Academy Player Care Officer from Under-9s to Under-16s. It’s nice doing that role because I’m able to offer a layer of support that has definitely been there, but now it’s formalised into one role, and putting my own print and stance on it from what I didn’t have when I came through on my Academy journey.” Dingri’s own route saw him at another south London club, Millwall, where he achieved a scholarship, and this is arguably what shaped his current trajectory in player development. “I didn’t recognise how steep that step up would be from UnderVoices of South London

It was a different time within football where it was football or nothing. We’re at a better stage now - boys are more rounded. They have to be

16s schoolboy to full-time scholar,” he says. “I didn’t realise how much of a step up that would be in terms of the physical load on my body. “I was a young lad and probably not ready. You’ll get a lot of boys with similar feelings but the layers of support are there now and they can gain those characteristics. There’s a lot more people you can speak to on a nonfootball level and a football level.

“It was a different time within football where it was football or nothing. We’re at a better stage now - boys are more rounded. They have to be.” Providing this sort of player support with the ability to empathise is vital in a role like Dingri’s, as many now utilise his guidance to assist their goal of reaching a scholarship and going beyond. Though, as he goes on to explain, that success could be considered the easier step: “Achieving a scholarship is sometimes seen as the hard bit. It is sometimes the easy part; the bits after that are the really telling years to see if the boy can mould a career for himself. “It’s not about earning that first contract. Coaches will tell you as well: it’s about earning all the contracts after, which is kind of the step up that the boys need to realise. When they’re 16 the next two years don’t just build for the next year as a pro – they’re hopefully building the foundation for a long career.” Of course, not all players will make it through from the early stages of Academy football to a professional career, however the club’s support structure remains accessible to anyone who leaves the Academy. “We’re looking at a threeyear aftercare plan for PDP [Professional Development Phase] where boys will understand that, even if they leave the Academy, for three years after they’ll have support from us. Whether that

be to help them with football journeys, education, vocational learning, jobs, apprenticeships, whatever it may be we’ll help them find that next step. In terms of supporting players who transition away from the Academy between U9-16s, it’s about supporting the next football step but also recognising the impact this can have on all different areas of their life. “We hope, even if it’s not here, that they can make the step

Achieving a scholarship is sometimes seen as the hard bit. It is sometimes the easy part; the bits after that are the really telling years to see if the boy can mould a career for himself

into another football area, but essentially understanding that they still have more options out there and a life to live and that really one door might close here, but there’s a million doors that will open for them.” Voices of South London

While the support is in place regardless of development, the goal is for players to utilise this to its full potential, and ultimately have a well-rounded life aided by the Academy structure. Dingri elaborates: “It’s inevitable that boys will leave this Academy and transition away from the Academy, whether that be after one year, two years or five years. It might be after 400 games in the first-team, but at some point football will end. What are they going to be left with at the end of that? “Are they going to be left with a personality and identity which is ready to excel at the next step? Or is it just what we’ve given them on the face of it, which is football? We’d hope to think we’ve given them a lot more here.”

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

Non-League Neighbours

holmesdale f.c. In this edition, we hear from Holmesdale committee member Mark Hayes, who balances his passion for Palace with a pivotal role in non-league football, and brings a little Palace influence with him.

league table pos CLUB

recent results P

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t often seems as if we make a certain choice early in our emotional development as football fans. Do we support a Football League side, and choose a life of constant coverage, commentaries and controversy? Or do we go down the non-league route, towards cosy communities, cooperation and – where possible – calm? Do we pick Match of the Day or the Non-League Paper ? The reality is far from that simple. For one thing, while Premier League sides possess the same tightly-knit communities of other clubs up or down the ladder, the non-league landscape is often as chaotic and pressurised as any top-level final.

More importantly, though, it is not a choice we are required to make. For some people, like Mark Hayes, you can do both. “I’ve been a Palace supporter since I was 15,” he explains. “I’m 54 now, so it’s been quite a while. But I’ve been with Holmesdale since I was 18-years-old as a player.” Hayes’ role on the committee running Holmesdale means he inhabits both worlds: following Palace where he can, but also being the heartbeat of a local non-league club. “I stopped playing around 30-years-old,” he remembers, “but by my mid-20s I became the fixture secretary. We had four or five senior teams and a youth section, which is Non-League Neighbours

fc elmstead

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erith & belvedere

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unfortunately no more. We’ve got one youth team left. “I was secretary for a number of years. I do the fixtures and the registrations. We produce a matchday programme, where we get information from the visiting team and release that through the club. “It’s not a great deal of people that run the club. It’s probably around six or seven, plus a management team and a reserve side that play in the Suburban League midweek. Then we’ve got one youth team left, the Under-16s, but we’re trying to re-establish the system over the next few seasons.” Hayes balances his love of Palace with his love of

matchdays at Oakley Road. “If it’s an away game, it’s lovely,” he laughs. “We don’t do anything, we just go to the game! “If it’s a home game, we’ll get to the ground at around 12:30. We all muck in to get everything ready. Get the match balls ready, get the bar ready, get the kit out. “We get ready for the players to arrive, so everything is done for them effectively. We have someone on the gate. Attendancewise we probably have on average 50 people coming to watch us – we would love to increase that with some Palace supporters if there is ever no game!” Hayes’ links with the Eagles go back some way. “I used to stand in the old Holmesdale. I would go with my uncle to the games. Those teenage years until I was about 18, I was a regular at Palace. “One of my big memories was when we beat Burnley and won promotion [in 1979]. We had a pitch invasion – I was a part of that pitch invasion! I remember that night.

“I went to a few away games as well. I remember going down to the Goldstone Ground at Brighton, and getting chased to the station by the home supporters. It’s a bit different now…”

I used to stand in the old Holmesdale. I would go with my uncle to the games. Those teenage years until I was about 18, I was a regular at Palace

Hayes is determined that his Palace influence is not lost on Holmesdale F.C., most evidently displayed in the first-team colours. “I sort the

kits out, getting sponsorship etc,” he explains. “Originally our kits, all the way back from 1956, were quarter shirts. “Our original shirt is yellow and green quarters. The home shirt now is a modern style yellow and green quarters, but our away kit a few years ago was a red and blue quartered shirt, in the Palace colours and modelled on the Palace kit. “This year, we’ve got a new kit: the sash. That’s based on the 1980s red and blue sash, the white one. We were designing a new kit and I thought: ‘I liked that – why not try and design that?’ We’ve got that as an away kit this year and it’s looking really smart.” As Hayes shows, passion for a side at the top level does not render one blind to the romance of non-league football. “You’d be surprised at the standard,” he says. “You get a friendly atmosphere. The beer is cheap and the burgers are good. “It’s a big community feel. Even the away supporters will clap the teams that played well. We played a big team in our league, with over 400 at the game. We lost 1-0, but our players were clapped off the pitch because they played so well. It’s a community thing.” Hayes will be at Palace come rain or shine, but beyond the gilded walls of Premier League football lies another passion: the co-operation, the chaos and the (dare we say) calm of non-league

Non-League Neighbours

West Ham v Crystal Palace Premier League 14/01/2017 Scott Dann enters the field of play to a storm of bubbles.

moment in time

Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaps to avoid a tackle from West Ham’s Arthur Masuaku.

Premier League 08/12/2018

West Ham v Crystal Palace

moment in time

anglo-italian cup From its founding to the current day, Crystal Palace’s history is rich in stories and characters. Today, we look back at the time Palace overcame Serie A champions, Inter Milan, on their own turf.

nter Milan were Serie A champions on a 23-game unbeaten run when they took on Crystal Palace in 1971. By contrast, their English adversaries were pleased to have avoided relegation, having just finished their second season in the top-flight.

We thought it was bloody fruit juice but they’re allowed to have a glass of wine about midday. Italians love it - so they had a glass and we had a frickin’ lemonade In ordinary circumstances, the two teams would never meet, but the circumstances were far from ordinary in 1971. Palace faced Inter in their first taste of the Anglo-Italian Cup, From the Archive

a tournament created in 1970 to generate funds to cover the extended close-season caused by that year’s World Cup. The tournament’s rules were complex and erratic, with teams split into three groups: two Italian sides and two English sides in each. Every club would face the two foreign outfits home and away and their points would go towards an overall minileague, again split by country. When Palace took part ‘71, they were placed in what was fast dubbed ‘the group of death’, drawn alongside Inter, West Bromwich Albion and World Cup finalist Luigi Riva’s Cagliari. The then-Glaziers began their participation well, with a Bobby Tambling goal defeating Cagliari and a single Alan Birchenall effort drawing with Inter - both games at Selhurst Park. With their matches in England complete, Palace prepared for a trip to Italy, where they fell to Cagliari before taking on Inter with one win, one draw and one loss behind them. Birchenall recalls a unique build-up: “I remember being in the

same hotel as Inter and we had to pass them in the dining room; they were having a pre-match lunch. They went in first and we had an annex… I remember walking

I remember walking out and the fans were on top of you - they went vertically up about three levels. Then we looked at their teamsheet... past and I went: ‘Have a look, each player has a glass of wine!’ I found out it was just common for Italian players in that era to have a glass of wine. We thought it was bloody fruit juice but they’re allowed to have a glass of wine about midday. Italians love it - so they had a glass and we had a frickin’ lemonade.” Lemonades finished, Palace travelled to the San Siro - with

Inter the brimming defenders of a near-impenetrable fortress. “It was like a theatre,” Birchenall says. “I remember walking out and the fans were on top of

Bobby Tambling, scorer of both Palace goals in the 1971 Anglo-Italian Cup win over Inter Milan. you - they went vertically up about three levels. Then we looked at their teamsheet...” The Inter XI included too many icons to list, but those that stood out included Jair da Costa, Tarcisio Burgnich, Mario Corso, Sandro Mazzola, Luis Suárez and Giacinto Facchetti - all club legends in their own right. The south Londoners excelled that day, however, and ran-out as 2-1 victors thanks to a Tambling brace. Palace ended the ‘71 AngloItalian Cup with two memorable wins over both Italian opponents alongside a draw and a loss, but such was their goal haul - just four from four games - they had to contend with a harsh-looking finish: fifth out of six English teams. Still, they’d beaten Inter Milan on their own turf. How many Englishmen can say that?

From the Archive

palace for life SIGN UP TO MARATHON MARCH TODAY Join us on Saturday, 24th September, 2022 for the sixth edition of our Marathon March, walking 26.2 miles around south London to raise money for young people in our local community.

nce again starting and finishing at our home, Selhurst Park, we will be unveiling a brand-new south London route for this year’s walk. The march will once again finish with a lap of the pitch, followed by a Palace party at the stadium to celebrate. History was made at last year’s event, with over £100,000 raised and more than 150 signups. The huge success creates a brilliant opportunity to build on this and break more records through the power of Palace. 2021 saw Palace legend Mark Bright complete his fifth marathon with us, former Olympian Martyn Rooney tackle his first and comedian Eddie Izzard run 26.2 miles simultaneously in Toronto, Canada. Previous years have also seen the likes of Steve Parish, Andy Gray and Andrew Johnson take part, walking alongside hundreds of fans of all ages. Palace for Life CEO Mike Summers, who has also walked all five, said: “Our fifth anniversary Marathon March was a special

day for the Foundation; I felt so proud seeing a record number of Palace fans come together for their community. It was amazing that everyone’s hard work paid-off as we raised £100,000 for the first time. “It’s never been tougher for young people growing up in south London, which makes supporting the Marathon March more important than ever. It’s a real highlight of my year, walking and talking with fellow Palace

palace for life

fans along the route. The sense of camaraderie is unmatched. I look forward to walking with as many of you as possible for 2022!” Palace fans, along with sponsor Utilita, have raised over £450,000 for the Foundation at the event over the past four years, directly supporting our work with vulnerable young people in south London. All participants will receive a Marathon March t-shirt, a finishers’ medal, and for the

It’s never been tougher for young people growing up in south London, which makes supporting the Marathon March more important than ever. It’s a real highlight of my year MIKE SUMMERS, PALACE FOR LIFE CEO

first time this year, training programmes leading up to the event; created by Palace fan and personal trainer, Beulah Pickles. Participants are asked to pay a registration fee of £25 (£20 for a half-route, £10 for under-18s) and to commit to raising a minimum of £300 each in sponsorship. To sign up and take on the Marathon March with 150 Palace fans, staff and legends, visit palaceforlife.org or scan the QR code below

Palace for Life Foundation work with 13,000 young people from SE25 and across south London every single year. We work with those who are most in need of help, creating safer communities, healthier lives and brighter futures.

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

palace for life

feel it all

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

cpfc 1861

n the last programme we saw how Crystal Palace players played in both the first ‘unofficial’ football international against Scotland in 1870 and the first ‘official’ international, also against Scotland, in 1872. In this edition we’ll look at some of Crystal Palace’s most famous players from their early amateur years.

Q: Did Crystal Palace have any notable players in the early days? A: It’s long been a myth that the early Crystal Palace was just a casual team of groundworkers who built and worked in the Crystal Palace. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the most illustrious players of the day played for Crystal Palace, but before we take a look at them let’s be reminded that the game was entirely amateur in those days; players were not contracted to play for individual teams and could be found playing for four or five different sides a season. Charles Alcock was a good example of this. When a player pulled on a club’s shirt, he was their player for that game regardless of which others he played for. So, let’s take a look at some of Palace’s notable amateur players, starting with James Turner. Turner was the son of Thomas Turner, the first president of the Royal College of Veterinary

Surgeons. Turner Jr was a wine merchant who lived on London Road, Croydon, and was heavily involved with the founding of the Football Association, representing Crystal Palace at three of the FA’s six initial meetings. He was a member of the FA’s first committee and was its second treasurer. As such, the FA recognises him as one of its eight Founding Fathers, a proud player to have in our history. He was also the brotherin-law of three other Palace players: Theodore, Alfred and Harry Lloyd, having married their sister Rachel. It’s ironic that, when Palace were close to liquidation in 2010, they were saved by hundreds of Palace fans demonstrating outside Lloyds Bank. Little did the bank suspect that Palace started life as virtually their family club - the

the game was entirely amateur in those days; players were not contracted to play for individual teams and could be found playing for four or five different sides a season

cpfc 1861

three Lloyd brothers were the great-great-grandson of Sampson Lloyd, Lloyds Bank’s founder. Next, we have Alex Morten. Morten was a stockbroker who lived close to Crystal Palace. He played cricket for the Crystal Palace Club in the summer, but in the winter he played football for the NNs of Kilburn who counted the FA’s first secretary, Ebenezer Cobb Morley, and first president, Arthur Pember, among their number. It seems highly likely Morten introduced the NNs team to Crystal Palace, one of our earliest opponents. Morten was a very capable goalkeeper and eventually switched to playing for Palace. As we’ve seen in an earlier programme, Englishman Morten stepped in to keep goal for Scotland in the first ‘unofficial’ international with England after the Scotland goalkeeper pulled out at the last minute. Morten also earned one cap for England and in doing so set a number of England records, which stand to this day. His date of birth is uncertain, but it was either 1831 or 1832, so he was over 40 when he won his only England cap as the goalkeeper in a game he was captain in, meaning he was born earlier than any other international footballer. It also makes him the oldest England debutant, the secondoldest player to ever represent England, the oldest debutant England captain and the oldest debutant England goalkeeper.

In the 1870s, as the Crystal Palace team grew in importance, a clutch of notable players put on the club’s blue and white jersey; chief among these was Charles Alcock. Alcock was the most influential footballing figure of his day, and it was largely down to his efforts that association football got established at all. He joined the FA committee in 1866 and became its secretary in 1870, holding the post for 25 years.

In the 1870s, as the Crystal Palace team grew in importance, a clutch of notable players put on the club’s blue and white jersey In his early years he came up with the idea of playing international football and also dreamt up the FA Cup to expand competition among clubs. It was an idea which eventually led to the Crystal Palace Company building England’s first national stadium and hosting 20 very successful FA Cup finals between 1895 and 1914. Alcock played six matches for Palace between 1870 and 1872 and, living in Dulwich, would have known the club well. A number of other England internationals played for the club at this time, including

Palace regulars Charles Chenery, our first England international, Charles Eastlake Smith and Arthur Savage. Other internationals who played occasionally were Morton Peto Betts, who would score the first goal in an FA Cup final, Cuthbert Ottaway, who would become the first recognised England captain, Charles Morice, Frederick Chappell and John Brockbank. When the new national stadium was built in 1895 and the Crystal Palace Company took direct control of the team, yet more England internationals turned out in the club’s last amateur games. Such notable stars included an England captain Charles WrefordBrown, Croydon born Gilbert (‘G.O’) Smith, sometimes called ‘the first great centreforward’, Hugh Stanbrough, Vaughan Lodge, Arthur Henfrey and Arthur Topham. A single article is not enough to do justice to all the notable stars who turned out for Palace in the 19th century, but we can’t finish without mentioning probably the most unique Palace amateur of all, the Reverend Kenneth Hunt. Kenneth Hunt actually signed for Palace in October 1912, when the club had turned professional, but retained his amateur status as an ordained clergyman. Hunt was the last amateur to play and score in an FA Cup final, having netted for Wolves when they beat favourites Newcastle at the cpfc 1861

Reverend Kenneth Hunt Palace in 1908. His uniqueness is that he is the only Olympic gold medal winner to have played for Crystal Palace, winning for the Great Britain football team in 1908, a side that was coached by Crystal Palace’s trainer, Adrian ‘Shy’ Birch - as was the gold medal-winning team of 1912. So, far from starting life as a casual team of groundworkers, Crystal Palace played host to many notable amateurs, from FA Founding Fathers to Olympic gold medal-winners

NEXT TIME In the next edition we’ll unravel the mystery of what happened to the Crystal Palace team and why they suddenly stopped playing football temporarily in 1875. Peter Manning’s book, Palace at the Palace, is available online through the Club Shop.

molly sharpe It was a long and challenging journey from my Sunday league side to Crystal Palace, but it’s one that helped me progress every step of the way.

verything happened quite fast at the start of my career. I got recruited to Leeds United’s Academy when I was 12, before joining what was then Bradford City Ladies a couple of years later – the team I supported as a child – and by age 16 I was regularly playing in the first-team.

I went to university in Miami and got my degree in sports science and exercise. Miami was an amazing place to live. The weather was incredible But the biggest adventure was still to come, and at 18 I travelled to America for a football scholarship. I went to university in Miami and got my degree in sports science and exercise. Miami was an amazing place to live. The weather was incredible, and on your day off you were able to head palace women

I came back to England because I wanted to take that next step in football. After a spell at Durham, where I got my master’s in education, I made the move down to London to join Palace. It’s difficult coming into a new team and trying to make a difference, but I’m happy with how I’ve performed so far this season. I think we’ve exceeded everybody’s expectations, and

down to the beach – I miss that weather, especially during winter in England! Most importantly, it was the perfect place for me to progress as a player. You essentially play for a professional team when you go to university in America. They have proper facilities, physios to treat you all the time, and you train every day to play two games each week. You get coaches and fly to games; it’s all very professionally done. The culture over there is a lot to do with fitness, and that helped me a lot; the amount we were exposed to in training and matches made me better. I made a lot of friends out there, and I do miss it. But I know I made the right decision in coming home.

I think we’ve exceeded everybody’s expectations, and going into the Christmas break in third place was great – we have a lot more to give in the new year going into the Christmas break in third place was great – we have a lot more to give in the new year and hopefully we can push on and climb up the table even more. The team spirit in the side is amazing: we all get on, and there’s never any bad blood. When we have a day off, the majority of the time we’re meeting each other for a coffee anyway – it’s literally like having best friends everywhere you look. That’s a really good culture, because you don’t want to let the girls around you down. You’ll do everything on and off the pitch to make them palace women

proud. We click really well and it’s had an effect on the results. As important are the fans. I’ve never been at a club where the fans are so loyal – they follow us all over England. When we’re playing and we can hear them, it makes us play better. I always think of the Charlton game where we were the better team but were just ticking along, and then the fans got behind us – when we scored the cheers gave us a feeling you just want over and over again. It means a lot to me personally, but I know it means a lot to all the girls because we speak about it in the dressing room. It’s another step in getting people to support women’s football, which is always the goal. We’re so thankful to those supporters, and hope we can keep performing whenever they are there

The page for Palace supporters: taking your comments from the terraces into the programme. This week, we share the sad news of comedian and after-dinner speaker Barry Williams’ passing.

Comedian Barry Williams passes away Crystal Palace Football Club were saddened to learn of the passing of after dinner speaker and comedian Barry Williams, who left the world of comedy, one he cherished so much, last month. Barry, who passed aged 73, worked at Selhurst both as an after-dinner speaker and comedian at several club events for over 30 years. He was also

well known for his appearances in Crystals in the 80s and 90s, compering the pre-match build up for club members. After collecting the second of his Comedian of the Year awards in 1984, it was no surprise that Barry’s talent and expertise saw him move into the popular world of the after-dinner speaking circuit, one which he became well known on. He always developed tremendous working relationships with fellow guest speakers and companies he hosted for.

Palace fans will have their own special memories of Barry, whether it was guiding them through one of the club’s sporting dinners with his quickfire humour and many stories of his life behind a microphone or meeting him on a matchday, as his love for the club was clear to see for all who met him. Deepest sympathy at this sad time is sent to Barry’s wife Jenny and the rest of his family as we pay our respects to someone we will always remember as a friend and an entertainer, who always left us with a smile on our faces.

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

Ben Hartshorne in attendance. Custodian of Savages Football Club, founded in 1882 by the British and Welsh military based in South Africa. Africa’s oldest FC. 9th oldest in the World.

Happy 70th Birthday. Have a great day – COME ON EAGLES!!! Love from all the family xx Rome Waterman-Willis born 24/11/21. Already following in Nanny Irene Sampson, Dad and brothers in supporting Palace. Welcome to Selhurst, your family’s spiritual home.

My Dad sadly passed away on the 12th November aged 85. He sat in the upper Holmesdale until unable to get up the stairs then went in the disabled area in the Arthur Wait. His favourite player was Johnny Byrne. RIP DAD

Happy 80th Birthday to life long Palace supporter John Brotherhood with love from wife Janet, his family and football friends

John, lifelong supporter, peacefully passed away 3rd December. John was always happiest on matchday, win or lose he shared many precious times with his Palace friends. Forever in our hearts.

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

James Tomkins has represented Palace, West Ham and who else at club level?

Which two players have competitively represented: Palace, Arsenal and West Ham?

Danny Gabbidon has 49 caps for which country?

Johnny Byrne finished his career in which country?

José Fonte played in England until which year?

GAmes

FAMOUS FAN

guess the ground

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

Hard as nails, or even Irons, this former boxer grew up in West Ham but moved to Canada aged 12. He reportedly gave a team talk to the Hammers under Sam Allardyce in 2014. ‘The champ is here watching,’ he told players. Do you recognise this famous West Ham supporter?

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

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

ANSWERS Guess who: Andy Frampton Spot the image: Page 26 Quiz: 1) Derby County 2) Ian Wright and Marouane Chamakh 3) Wales 4) South Africa 5) 2018 Famous Fan: Lennox Lewis Guess the Ground: Mazuma Stadium - Morecambe

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team stats: women / U23S / U18S Emily Orman Orman kept her first league clean sheet against Sheffield United last October. She’ll hope for more of the same against the Blades in May.

Ryan Bartley Bartley made his first appearance this season against Arsenal. He’ll have a chance to face the Gunners again in February.

Scott Banks Banks will hope to repeat his recent performance against Liverpool when they face Palace later this month. He bagged a brace in November.

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 9 Sunderland Sun 16 Durham Sun 23 Liverpool FEBRUARY Sun 6 Bristol City Sun 13 London City Lionesses 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 To be confirmed Lewes

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

D 2-2 W W L W

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

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

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

OCTOBER Fri 1 Tottenham Hotpsur

W 4-3

Sat 16

Brighton & Hove Albion

L 1-2

Fri 22

Derby County

W 3-2

NOVEMBER Mon 1 Blackburn Rovers

L 1-2

Sat 6

Chelsea

W 2-1

Sat 20

Liverpool

W 3-0

Sat 27

Manchester United

W 2-1

DECEMBER Mon 6 West Ham United

L 2-4

JANUARY Mon 10 Everton Mon 17 Chelsea Mon 24 Liverpool FEBRUARY Mon 7 Tottenham Hotspur Mon 21 Manchester United Mon 28 Brighton & Hove Albion MARCH Mon 14 Manchester City Mon 21 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 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 To be confirmed Fulham

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

Skye Bacon

Goals

Bianca Baptiste

Kirsty Barton

Hannah Churchill

Charley Clifford

Grace Coombs

Leanne Cowan

Aimee Everett

Millie Farrow

Name

Apps

Goals

Tayo Adaramola

Victor Akinwale

Jay-Rich Baghuelou

Ryan Bartley

Scott Banks

Kalani Barton

11 3

Maliq Cadogan

Harry Freedman

Junior Dixon

John-Kymani Gordon

Owen Goodman (GK)

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

Fionn Mooney

David Obou

Ademola Ola-Adebomi

Cardo Siddik

David Ozoh

Aidan Steele

Jadan Raymond

Kaden Rodney

Joe Sheridan

Jack Roles

Emily Orman (GK)

Gracie Pearse

Molly-Mae Sharpe

Lizzie Waldie

Siobhan Wilson

pos CLUB P W D

1 3

liv

10 7

16 5

11 23

dur

4 16 11

5 21

A GD Pts

lon

10 6

3 12 9

cry

10 5

2 20 16 4 18

3 19

Reece Hannam

Sean Robertson

Leigh Nicol

Freddie Bell

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Chloe Morgan (GK)

Victor Akinwale

Annabel Johnson

Goals

Malachi Boateng

Sophie McLean

Apps

Tayo Adaramola

David Boateng

Coral-Jade Haines

Name

Rob Street

James Taylor

Dylan Thiselton 1

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

mci

15 8

4 34 23 11 27

lei

2 25 11 14 25

ars

14 8

4 38 30 8 26

cry

2 25 18 7 21

bha

15 6

4 25 20 5 23

ful

12 5

3 22 14 8 19

bri

10 5

3 20 12 8 17

cry

14 7

7 32 29 3 21

ars

12 5

3 25 21 4 19

cha

10 5

4 15 10 5 16

mun

14 6

5 24 23 1

whu

10 5

3 19 13 6 17

3 16

eve

15 5

7 19 29 -10 18

bha

10 4

5 25 24 1

9 12 -3 12

lei

13 4

5 19 30 -11 16

TOT

7 20 31 -11 12

lew

10 5

4 14 11

sun

10 3

she

10 liv

14 4

7 19 27 -8 15

10 avl

6 29 34 -5 11

14 3

6 20 28 -8 14

6 18 31 -13 11

10 3

11 14 -3 11

10 BLA

11 18 -7 10

12 der

13 4

8 24 24 0 13

12 rdg

7 18 22 -4 10

cov

11 23 -12 6

13 lee

15 3

8 29 35 -6 13

13 bir

7 13 28 -15 8

12 wat

11 25 -14 6

14 bla

14 2

7 20 38 -18 11

14 nor

0 10 5 38 -33 3

che

women/u23S/u18S

wba

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