Crystal Palace v Wolves matchday programme

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Chairman Steve Parish, David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, John Textor Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin

Director Dougie Freedman Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell Head of Sports Medicine

Dr. Zaf Iqbal Academy Director Gary Issott Director of U21 Development Mark Bright Chief Operating Officer Sharon Lacey Chief Commercial Officer Barry Webber General Counsel

David Nichol Head of Ticketing Paul McGowan Head of Retail Foz Bowers

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer James Woodroof Head of Safeguarding Cassi Wright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott

Ben Mountain

Design Billy Cooke, Luke Thomas, Stu Ellmer

Will Robinson, Ian King,

Bailey Smith, Toby Jagmohan, Tommy Macarthur, Fred Reardon, Anna Filbey Photography Neil Everitt, Sebastian

Pinnacle Photo Agency, Getty

ain’t done

Gordon wins PL2 Player of the Month

Crystal Palace Academy forward John-Kymani Gordon won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for September becoming the second Palace player this year to do so after Jesurun Rak-Sakyi scooped the award in March.

Gordon has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 11 goals in nine appearances for the Under-21s in all competitions. In September, he netted a first-half hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur

and also managed to score a hattrick in a remarkable 7-3 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Premier League International Cup.

His performances this season have earned him a place on the first-team bench against Chelsea and Leeds United, a feat he last realised in the summer of 2020 during Project Restart.

Upon winning the award, Gordon said: “It feels very, very good. All the hard work I’ve been doing is paying off and the reward tops it off really.

“We [the Under-21s] went on a [10-game] unbeaten run, we’ve been enjoying it, pushing each

other, working hard with each other. Now, I’ve been training with the first-team basically every day and I’m enjoying it a lot. Tempo’s high, intensity is high, but I’ve had to get used to it and now I feel like I’m blending in very well.”

Fan update

On this day: october 18th

In 2008 Nathaniel Clyne made his debut aged 17 against Barnsley having joined the Academy from Tottenham Hotspur three years earlier. He won Young Player of the Season for that campaign and the following one.

Driving on several residential streets surrounding Selhurst Park has become permit holders only. This will affect supporters who typically drive to or park near the stadium on matchday.

What’s inside

Find out… Malcolm Ebiowei’s development under Wayne Rooney (Page 12), why a real wolf pack unsettled Diego Costa (Page 34) and which Palace players should join which TV shows (Page 40).

Iwas really pleased with the character we showed after going 1-0 down against Leeds.

The first half an hour was really difficult and I give all credit to Leeds for stopping us from playing our game. Then an important save from Vicente and really good ball from a set piece allowed us to get back into the game.

Going into half-time at 1-1 showed a lot of character and spirit and meant we stayed in the game so that we could come back in the second-half and play better football, be more aggressive, play a little more direct and show that we’re capable in both aspects of football: defending and attacking. Then for the final minutes I was really pleased with the way we managed the game.

How we did that showed we’re progressing and on the right path to improving as a team. We still know there is a lot more to be consistent with to win football matches, however, so we have to repeat our strengths in every fixture.

Throughout the season we play and analyse the game, not just the result. You want to win football

matches but I think the message lately has been clear: we haven’t got the points we’ve deserved so far. There is no sign of panic in matches we lose or draw, because we know what we want to do and have to do.

to, and now that win has given us more belief and confidence.

We played Leicester City before tonight’s match, but I had to write these notes without knowing the outcome. It’s a busy month and we’re playing after just two days’ rest, but we have a fit squad and the five substitutions rule this season has allowed for better rotation. So the players are all ready to play, and we have to find the right fit to be competitive.

We understand we didn’t get the results we deserved and there were reasons for that, so we take those into consideration, put our heads down and work really hard. That lets us improve the elements we need

Sometimes that fit will include younger players, like John-Kymani Gordon. John was named Premier League 2 Player of the Month last week, so congratulations to him for that. There are several players like him who spend time with the firstteam as part of their development. Our Under-21s have done fantastically well with Paddy and that’s good to see. The message to them is clear: look at the first-team, it’s not the biggest squad and players may be absent at times, so there are opportunities for you. As a football club it’s important for us to create and sustain pathways.

Thank you for your support .

Welcome to Selhurst Park to everyone supporting us today, and welcome also to the Wolves coaching staff, directors, players and visiting fans.

we’re progressing and on the right path to improving as a team. We still know there is a lot more to be consistent with to win football matches

Welcome back to Selhurst Park for tonight’s game under the lights with Wolverhampton Wanderers. We are hoping to build some momentum with just five league games left before the break.

Iam writing this just a few days after our win over Leeds United because today’s programme was printed before the Leicester game. So this victory is still fresh in my mind – and it was a very pleasing one.

I have written to you before about keeping our focus and securing the points we feel we deserved in matches when maybe we have been on the wrong end of a scoreline. Coming into the Leeds game there was more talk of this and more hard work on putting things right through determination, concentration and game management.

As a squad we know the message and details to work towards after matches like Chelsea and even Brentford, and the challenge is then to put that into action when you step out on the pitch. Against Leeds we almost straight away had to go through a difficult period in the game against a team that attacked very well, and we had to regroup after they scored early on.

I was very proud of the team’s reaction and think you could all see how we played after Odsonne equalised: we took back control over the game and went on to win.

to protect our lead and keep Leeds away from fighting back.

We did this from the front players to the back very well, holding the ball in the best areas, making sensible decisions and passes, and defending together. This ending is one area of our game that had to be improved, so to see the focus and effort coming together over the weekend is very satisfying. I am proud of the squad for that, and hope you enjoyed the win as much as we did.

When we were 2-1 up was the big challenge: this was when we had to use our work in the week to get a reward. The manager made some substitutions that allowed us to be very solid for the last parts of the game and I enjoyed the battle

Now as we know our challenge is to use this run of fixtures before the break to get back the points we probably deserved earlier in the season, particularly with these home matches so close together. Tonight is another evening game here at Selhurst and we are playing a team with a desire to secure some points. It is going to be a well-fought match, and I hope to see another strong performance that leads to more positive results.

Make some noise! .

I was very proud of the team’s reaction and think you could all see how we played after Odsonne equalised: we took back control over the game and went on to win

Iam penning these notes before the trip to Leicester, so will focus my attention on the excellent win over Leeds United. It was a really competitive match against a dangerous and energetic Leeds site, but the team showed great character to come back from behind to secure a hugely welcome three points. And what a wonderful finish from Eberechi, a worthy winner of any game.

I’d like to congratulate Patrick on being honoured with a Best of Africa Lifetime Achievement award for his impact on the sport, which was presented by Wilfried at a central London event last week. I am sure the award means an awful lot to him, and represents not just his incredible achievements on the pitch, but also his charitable work – including establishing Diambars in Senegal which helps young players gain an education while developing their football skills.

I also attended the Legends of Football Awards, where Gareth Southgate was a worthy recipient of the main accolade, alongside Ellen White. Gareth spoke effusively of his time at the club and how his experience at Palace shaped him

and his career, and naturally I join all England fans in wishing him well next month at the World Cup. Despite a tough few months for the national side, I have no doubt he can pull everyone together like he has during recent tournaments and continue to exceed the nation’s expectations. Let’s hope we can go one better than last time and bring a trophy home.

Congratulations also to JohnKymani Gordon for being selected as the PL2 Player of the Month, which is a brilliant achievement for him, and his teammates and coaches too. For two Palace players to win this league-wide award in the last six months is extremely impressive, with Jesurun collecting the award last March. The Palace TV team here are planning a bumper schedule of live broadcasts during the World Cup break where you can still get your Palace fix and enjoy watching several players who could well feature in the first-team set-up this season.

As always, I encourage you to make as much noise as possible for Patrick’s team today – and hopefully we can celebrate tonight with another three points.

Up the Palace .

A warm welcome to everyone here tonight for this important match, including the directors, staff, players and supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

the team showed character to come back from behind to secure a hugely welcome three points. And what a wonderful finish from Eberechi, a worthy winner

If a week is a long time in politics, then in football a year feels like a millennium. Fortunes rise and fall, injuries strike, and luck – both good and bad – settles and rests on young careers in either benign or devastating fashion.

But while former Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s famous quote came in response to a series of seemingly never-ending crises, the past year in the life of Malcolm Ebiowei has been an entirely different affair: success after success, breakthrough after breakthrough, milestone after milestone.

There’s only one issue. “The problem with me is that I don’t seem to take things in properly,” Ebiowei says as he sits down for his first Palace programme interview. “I go through my memories or pictures on my phone and I’m like: ‘Wow, I really did that.’”

In fairness, even if he did remember it all in detail it would seem scarcely believable.

Released by Arsenal, Ebiowei endured an unsuccessful spell at Rangers and then moved to Derby County just before his 18th birthday with the intention of joining the Under-21s squad.

A few months later and he signed his first Premier League contract. It’s been some ride.

You can see, as we talk, that memories flicker and flash before Ebiowei’s eyes. At some points, he is too enthused to answer with words alone – only real life proof will do the trick. We mention the pre-season tour to Singapore and a childish glee takes over.

“I’ve been there with Arsenal – and I scored a screamer,” he points out. He whips out his phone from his pocket and begins scrolling frantically. “Let me show you the goal I scored. A screamer.

“Proper goal this. I was 15- or 16-years-old.” More scrolling. Eventually, he locates the requisite video and presses play – not forgetting to add his own

commentary, of course. We see a young Ebiowei control the ball on the edge of the area, flick it over his head and smash it into the top corner on the half-volley. A screamer indeed.

“Touch, bosh, top bins. It’s a screamer, bro.” Martin Tyler, eat your heart out.

Fans who saw Ebiowei during pre-season are no stranger to his dribbling, but this is something different. An explosion of power, finishing and technical ability. It’s something he wants to display at Selhurst Park.

“I ain’t done nothing crazy here,” he says, his south London accent as clear as his frustration. “The thing with me is that normally in training I do like three crazy things, but here the standard has got higher.”

The problem with me is that I don’t seem to take things in properly, I go through my memories or pictures on my phone and I’m like: ‘Wow, I really did that’

A young man from the capital, blessed with fast feet and the ability to beat a man, learning his trade at Crystal Palace. Remind you of anyone? We ask if Ebiowei feels the comparisons with Wilfried Zaha are apt.

Out comes the phone again. “Let me show you something – life is so crazy, man,” he grins, this time heading straight for the ‘Notes’ app. “When I was at Arsenal, I used to watch Wilf on YouTube.

“We had to do something for a team meeting, and I chose Wilf.” On the screen we see the title ‘Players like me’, and below a photograph of Zaha Ebiowei has written: ‘I think I am like Zaha because…’ He touches on one-v-ones, speed and more.

“It’s crazy, isn’t it? I used to watch Ebs [Eze] as well – I remember watching Ebs in an Under-21s game and I was like: ‘Oh my God, he’s so good.’”

But comparisons with his now-teammates don’t tell the whole story. “[Zaha] is different to me,” Ebiowei caveats. “I would like to play like a younger [Cristiano] Ronaldo at [Manchester] United. I would love to play like him when he was younger. I watched Neymar too.”

Both stellar names – but Ebiowei can look a lot closer to home to find inspiration from just as glittering careers. After all, not every 19-year-old can boast a working relationship with two Premier League greats: Wayne Rooney and Patrick Vieira.

Given that Ebiowei was born in – brace yourself – 2003, he doesn’t remember Vieira’s Arsenal heyday, but he has spent plenty of time catching up. “He’s one of the greats

of the Premier League, one of the legends,” he says. “He was spoken about [by staff at Arsenal].

“I used to see him when you watch Sky Sports or those channels, and it will come up with the 2003/04 season on Premier League Years. I used to watch that and I used to see him.

“He is helping me adapt to the Premier League. The levels, the tempo, the transitions: it’s a lot higher. How often you’ve got to run.”

[Zaha] is different to me, I would like to play like a younger [Cristiano] Ronaldo at [Manchester] United. I would love to play like him when he was younger. I watched Neymar too

Ebiowei’s early grounding came at Derby under Rooney, whose ferocious on-pitch persona did not translate into his dressing room manner. “[I joined] the Under-23s, but it didn’t work out between me and the coach,” Ebiowei remembers. “I would go and train with the firstteam and be on the bench, and then the coach wouldn’t want to play me. It was weird.

“Eventually the gaffer – Wayne – told me that I had to play. I had a really good relationship with him. He really had my back.

“He’s clean hearted; he has the best interests of all the players at heart. Anyone that is coming up to train. It’s because he

Eventually the gaffer – Wayne – told me that I had to play. I had a really good relationship with him. He really had my back

In my first session he said I needed to move the ball quicker, that he sees I have ability

understands. I think he understood my background growing up in London because it’s tough.

“Obviously he grew up in Liverpool and probably had it 10 times harder than what I have been through. So he understands.”

Rooney’s advice was firm but fair, and its effect was instantaneous. “When I was signing, he came and spoke to me,” Ebiowei says. “He said congratulations and that I needed to work hard. In my first session he said I needed to move the ball quicker, that he sees I have ability.

“I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating, but I just wanted to be in that position, sitting at a table with him giving me advice. Anything he told me I tried to replicate instantly. Even from the first conversation I knew he had my best interests at heart.”

It seems a footballing tradition that when a talented youngster makes his way to first-team training and begins to show off their fast feet, experienced pros remind them who’s boss. Think Damien Delaney and Wilfried Zaha. So it won’t surprise anyone to learn that Ebiowei was on the end of a few firm challenges at Derby.

I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating, but I just wanted to be in that position, sitting at a table with him giving me advice. Anything he told me I tried to replicate instantly

every pass I was pulling off was working. I was always beating a man, and it was just working out

“I won’t namedrop,” he says, smiling. “But it was all good, because when I had conversations with them after it was just them trying to get me to be harder. I still tried to beat them.”

It only took a few sessions for Ebiowei’s talent to shine through. He remembers the build-up to his Derby league debut like it was yesterday (and, frankly, it almost was). “We did a training session and I trained really well,” he says.

“We did an 11-a-side and I played really good. I knew I had done well. Literally every pass I was pulling off was working. I was always beating a man, and it was just working out.

“We had a meeting [after] and I saw my name on the starting lineup and I was like: ‘What the… what is going on?!’”

On his debut, another player stepped up to give him muchneeded advice. It was another career that Ebiowei could relate to: that of Ravel Morrison’s. Morrison was a star at Manchester United’s Academy, with Sir Alex Ferguson declaring him better than Rooney and Ryan Giggs at the same age.

But his career went awry and after going through 10 clubs in five different counties over the course of a decade, he settled at Derby under his former teammate. Ebiowei picks up the story from here.

“I nearly scored,” he says. “I must have skimmed the post. I’ve whipped it round and thought: ‘This is curling in, it’s written.’ Then for the next five minutes I was upset. I didn’t react well, I didn’t run or anything. Ravel told me to wake up.

“He gave me so much advice. He’s a top, top guy – one of the people that forever, even outside of football, I will still talk to. He told me just to keep my head down and stay away from temptation.

“People paint him out to be a bad guy, but even when I was first training with them and I wasn’t standing out, he would still talk to me and make me feel welcome all the time.”

He gave me so much advice. He’s a top, top guy – one of the people that forever, even outside of football, I will still talk to. He told me just to keep my head down and stay away from temptation

The more Ebiowei talks, the more he seems to remember. Not just events, but emotions and advice that shape the young man he is today. He recounts the sensation of signing his Premier League contract and the feeling of being able to financially support his family.

He says that with his first paycheck the money went partly to his family, partly into savings, partly on a Nando’s and partly on buying a proper washbag – because Jordan Ayew was on his case about it.

His next words reveal the perfect blend of humble arrogance that have brought him so far so soon. “I don’t want to sound big or anything, but it had to happen. It’s just been my dream all my life to be in this position.

“Now it’s time to kick on and make my name.”

Malcolm Ebiowei: England Under-20, teenage Premier League player and Batman fan. Here, takes on a random five of 60 questions and tells the Palace programme staff something they don’t understand.

the followthe follow -up -up

#53 If you could relive one day in your life, which would it be?

That is a goddamn question. I don’t need to play everything again, just to relive it? The day I won Man of the Match [for Derby County]; the best day of my life. [It was] against Coventry. I just played so well. I didn’t even score, but everyone I came up against couldn’t get near me.

#16 Who was the last artist you saw live?

Drake. It was in London at the O2; he was good.

#7 If you weren’t a footballer, which sport would you play?

I wouldn’t be playing a sport, man.

#25 Would you rather win the Champions League or the World Cup?

I want to win both. In fact, I’m going to! Last minute winner in the World Cup, definitely. And to do it in Brazil.

I just went past them, they couldn’t tackle me. I haven’t been up to that full confidence level yet [at Palace], because I know when I’m super confident. I’ve had it in training but not in a match yet.

#40 What is your favourite film?

Good question. Dark Knight: Christian Bale, my guy. [We tell Malcolm we haven’t seen it.] You’re violated, man. The whole trilogy. He’s the best Batman. The best. I just relate to him – I’m the Batman, bro

Worth a try? Probably.

Discover the refreshing, crisp and perfectly balanced taste of Carlsberg Danish Pilsner.

Did you know?

Wolves became the first English club to score 7,000 league goals when Seol Ki-hyeon bagged in a 1-1 draw with Palace in December 2005.

wolves wolves

wolves wolves

match preview

Lage joined Wolves in June 2021 and guided the club to 10th from their 13th-place finish the season before. However he was released following a 0-2 loss to West Ham United, and having collected six points from Wolves’ opening eight games this season.

The club’s new manager has a strong squad at their disposal, with former Chelsea forward Diego Costa signed midway through September, and the likes of Adama Traoré, João Moutinho and Daniel Podence continuing to feature.

Patrick Vieira had the better of his opposite number when facing Wolves last season, winning both matches 2-0. In his third of four home games this month he will hope to match Palace’s fast start against Chelsea with their composed finish against Leeds United.

José

Neil

Work’s over, kick-off is ticking closer and you're first to the pub. Before long hazy memories and almost-accurate stats will be filling the air. Brush-up for your Wolves pre-match below.

Aren’t they…

Scouting a manager (we think).

At the time of writing Wolves were still managerless – and we wrote this as late as possible.

Of course, the club may well have found Bruno Lage’s successor in between our research and this programme hitting the stands, but for our sake let’s hope not.

Lage left the midlands club earlier this month after an underwhelming start that saw Wolves sat in 18th. The Portuguese manager had the unenviable task of replacing Nuno Espírito Santo in the dugout, with the popular former boss joining Tottenham Hotspur

Lage guided Wolves up from 13th place into 10th for 2021/22 and leaves the next manager with a shortterm survival job that would likely lead to a longer-term task, given Wolves’ forwardplanning approach.

Didn’t he once…

Take on Damien Delaney. It requires a brave or naïve man to pick a fight with 6’2” Damien Delaney, but that’s exactly what Diego Costa did as Chelsea frontman between 20152017. The pair faced off four times while with their respective London clubs, winning two apiece (Palace in August 2015 and April 2017 and Chelsea in January and December 2016). Costa scored in both of the Blues’ victories, proving decisive in the one-goal December win, but in Palace’s triumphs Delaney enjoyed the upper hand.

After the centre-back drew first blood in 2015 he took to Instagram to call Costa “a good ol’ fashioned bruiser,” writing: “I ain't gonna lie... I enjoyed that.”

In 2016 manager Alan Pardew said of the pair’s meetings: “[Costa] is competitive… Delaney had one of his best games for me against Costa that day [August 2015], and he’s going to have to do a repeat performance, because the guy is at the top of his game.”

Sadly Damo’s boots are hung up these days while at 34 Costa has returned to the Premier League. Beware, Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi.

What’s the deal with...

Wolves. Real ones. We promise the whole page won’t be dedicated to Costa, but there’s more to cover. The frontman had something of a reputation in the Premier League

I was scared to death. Holding that chain I kept thinking: ‘What if this wolf thinks about jumping on top of me?’

after three seasons with Chelsea, so when he returned to English shores it drew attention.

Of course, that attention was heightened by the club’s announcement video, which held nothing back bar three real-life wolves. In the era of Old Trafford pianos, Burnley’s newfound humour and, dare we say, Friends Reunited, Wolves did well to trump the rest of the pack with a dramatic video of Costa holding metal chains attached to three snarling wolves.

The animals were real, the club confirmed, with Costa saying: “I was scared to death. Holding that chain I kept thinking: ‘What if this wolf thinks about jumping on top of me?’

“I was a little scared then. Those were wolves, not dogs. It was a cool experience but not a very

comfortable one. I have five dogs, but they’re not wolves!”

Procuring a pack of wolves: what every media degree builds-up to.

Pub talk tidbit:

The new manager bounce still applies to a caretaker boss. Just think of Keith Millen: he took nine points from nine across his three

even listed as a museum on Google Maps, with a helpful review for future visitors: “Newly refurbished but can be dirty.” Insightful.

To away fans, the tunnel once represented a fraught section of the journey to Molineux – the old ‘Subway Army’ firm’s name needs little explanation – but today it is decorated with the club’s history, colours and branding, and some much-needed lighting.

Those were wolves, not dogs. It was a cool experience but not a very comfortable one. I have five dogs, but they’re not wolves!

There was backlash across the fanbase when Wolverhampton Council pledged to remove the underpass as part of a local redevelopment and the decision was reversed in summer 2020 .

fire-fighting spells, and Kit Symons went one better in 2003/04, notching 12 from nine before Iain Dowie’s arrival.

Coaches Steve Davis and James Collins led Wolves against Nottingham Forest last time out.

Do you remember…

The underpass. Things become endearing in football without rhyme or reason, and that’s the way it’s always been. For Wolves fans, the subway that runs under the A4150 and almost straight into Molineux is part of their culture and identity. It’s

Pre-match pint

Cronx’s Kotchin. To Kotch: London slang; to chill out, relax, enjoy doing nothing in particular. This is the perfect beer for that. An easydrinking blonde ale brewed with Cascade hops to give it a citrus and peach aroma.

Available in the Lower Holmesdale’s Tap Room.

AMAZON DELIVERS LIVE SPORT

brown

Fred

Anna Filbey Freddie Bell

Palace players with reality shows

Filbey discusses the switch from Charlton to Palace

doc browndoc brown

Ben Bailey Smith, aka Doc Brown, does it all – acting, rapping, writing, directing, you name it. The multifaceted Palace fan is also a patron of Palace for Life Foundation. In each edition, he offers his unique take on the world in SE25.

Reality bites

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At time of press I have no idea if the trophy-laden former Arsenal and England legend Tony Adams is still treading the Strictly boards. But good Lord I hope he is, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, with the current downbeat state of modern British life, what a ray of beautifully silly sunshine Tony provides us all – I mean, we’re stuffy and reserved at the best of times, so when there’s a cost of living crisis, energy crisis, crisis-crisis etc, what better respite than a former Premier League footballer prancing around a shiny stage in his pants?

Secondly, long may any footballer survive on a reality TV competition. Why? Because they’re massive underdogs and they need our support. I mean, what hope do you have on Strictly against a professional singer when for 20 years your job was essentially to headbutt leather spheres out of danger zones?

It's patently unfair. Are you seriously telling me Alesha Dixon, Rachel Stevens or Emma Bunton have never done the odd bit of dancing before? How can you have professional stage performer

Michelle Williams up against Peter Shilton? I’d love to see Michelle try to stop a horrific ricochet off the tip of Paul Parker’s boot on a hot Turin night in the Stadio Delle Alpi. The game’s gone.

But it got me thinking: with all the talent in the current Palace squad, largely untapped and underappreciated by the mainstream, maybe our lads could make a splash on one of these shows. We’ve gotta win something, someday – if not the Premier League, why not the celebrity edition of Is It Cake? The only question in my mind is: who do we put up for what?

Sticking with Strictly, I’ll start with the obvious. Has to be Eberechi Eze. I remember watching him score one of his first goals for us, maybe against Sheffield United? I turned to my pal and said: “He looks like he’s figure skating!”

He looks like he’s figure skating!

The man was that graceful.

Now that I think about it – maybe Dancing on Ice. Hell, win ’em both

Jeff Schlupp is making the final of The Apprentice, by the way, and I won’t have a single Eagle telling me different. Business-like, focused… the guy is unflappable

The man was that graceful. Now that I think about it – maybe Dancing on Ice. Hell, win ’em both.

Right, I’ve absolutely no basis for this but I just have a hunch Vicente Guaita would smash Bake Off. I can picture his eyes lighting up when they announce Latin Week...

Next thing you know, he’s gone and baked a batch of churros that not only blow Prue’s mind with their Rioja-enhanced dip, but he gets a Paul Hollywood handshake – with his goalie gloves on. Beautiful.

Jeff Schlupp is making the final of The Apprentice, by the way, and I won’t have a single Eagle telling me different. Business-like, focused… the guy is unflappable. And Lord Sugar would eventually agree.

Maybe Michael Olise on Pointless? If only as a reminder to defenders everywhere of the nature of their task against him.

Project Runway? Easy. Joachim Andersen, series champ. Have you seen his Instagram? The man can not only dress, he’s bloody gorgeous. He makes me feel so inadequate I suck my belly in when he passes the stands on his way down the tunnel.

For me, the only squad member looking fully comfortable in the big black chair of Celebrity Mastermind is James McArthur. Think of the levels, the years of experience! He strikes me as a man who could sit you down and tell you the exact length of several rivers.

And as the most inventive player in Crystal Palace’s history, surely it’s time we see what Wilf can come up with on Dragon’s Den? Some gadget that whips the ball left

and right along the floor so a kid can practice endless stepovers. The Zaha 3000TM. The Wilferator®. I feel like Wilf would be good at the bargaining element as well. He’s definitely not giving Peter Jones 50%.

Is there a reality fishing show?

God I hope so, because I feel like Joel Ward and Will Hughes would nail it as a tag team. Sat back on the bank in their Barbours, shooting the breeze like a young Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer. I’d actually pay to see that show, now that I think about it…

Oh, and get Tyrick Mitchell on Garden Rescue ASAP. I’ve no idea if he has green fingers or not but I’ll tell you this, Charlie Dimmock: he certainly covers every blade of grass.

You’re probably wondering why I never mentioned Love Island. Well, unfortunately Conor Gallagher returned to Chelsea – otherwise we’d have won that too.

Anyway, look, whether we’re hunting fish or hunting Wolves: Palace for the win, yeah? Let’s hope that’s the reality

Is there a reality fishing show? God

I hope so, because I feel like Joel Ward and Will Hughes would nail it as a tag team

cpfc womencpfc women

Like a lot of players I got into football at a young age because my older brother played. I used to watch his team and I’d run to return the ball whenever it went off the pitch, which led to a coach asking if I’d join one of the younger boys’ sides: AFC Wasps.

Anna Filbey

From there I joined Queens Park Rangers and then Arsenal, where I spent eight years developing. After a few appearances with the first-team I made the move to Tottenham Hotspur. Controversial, I know…

At Spurs I had a six-month loan to Celtic, which after the initial disappointment of being loaned out was a really enjoyable time. At first it was quite a stressful period and I had a few loan deals fall through on deadline day, but choosing to move to Scotland was the best decision I could have made; the manager, staff, teammates and fans made the transition very easy.

The standard is high in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, which is mostly professional teams playing quite aggressive football. Celtic were a ball-playing team which suits

My career so far has taken me to three leagues and each club has taught me a lot, which I’m hoping to bring to Crystal Palace to achieve what we want this season

my style, and I ended up playing further forward there – scoring 11 goals. The experience put a smile back on my face.

My career so far has taken me to three leagues and each club has taught me a lot, which I’m hoping to bring to Crystal Palace to achieve what we want this season. It was an easy decision to move here because the club’s ambitions match mine, and I think the manager and staff want to instil the same values I believe in.

But I did move from Charlton, which isn’t the easiest thing to do. Both sets of fans are very passionate, so I didn’t know what the Palace crowd would be like with me, but they gave me a bit of banter and welcomed me with open arms, which I really appreciated. Whenever I played against Palace before I noticed the fans and the support they created behind the goal, so it’s great to be on their side now! As a team we want to put on a show and play the most exciting football we can for you to watch. So please come down and support us; it really does make a difference.

We want to win the league while developing week on week, and my individual goals tie in with that: I want to help in any way I can and become the best player I can be, which is possible in the environment here.

Internationally I represented England at several youth levels but switched to Wales after Jayne Ludlow, Arsenal legend and then-Wales manager, asked

if I’d join a senior camp. I’d grown up watching Jayne and was blown away by her offer.

I haven’t looked back since committing to Wales and would make the same decision over and over if I had to again; I feel like I belong there and it’s an honour to represent them. I love every second.

We competed in the World Cup qualifying play-offs at the start of the month, which is the furthest we’ve been as a nation. I wrote this before knowing the outcome, but it would be massive if things continue as we believe they can for Wales Women, and the pride we’d feel representing the country in a major tournament would be indescribable

Whenever I played against Palace before I noticed the fans and the support they created behind the goal, so it’s great to be on their side now

academy academy

Fred Reardon: U18 Performance Analyst

The key function of my role is to impact the players and coaching staff as much as I can through video and data. That can be in individual meetings, a group environment, post-match or even by analysing the opposition. As an analyst I’m constantly trying highlight areas of performance that might need to be improved or areas we’re doing really well at.

id id a season as First-Team Analyst at AFC Wimbledon and then moved to Crystal Palace. I became the Under-23s Performance Analyst for the 2020/21 season with Shaun Derry and Stephen Rice and last season I was made Under 18s Performance Analyst with Rob Quinn. I’ve been with them ever since.

The transition from professional to Academy football was really smooth. You’re developing players by preparing them for the first-team, so given my experience of a senior environment at AFC Wimbledon, I thought I’d be in a good position to prepare players for that here or with another club.

On a Monday morning I come into the office and watch the game back from Saturday. I’ll have all the individual stats from the game. We use a system called Bepro, which is a masterstroke from Head of Academy Performance Analysis Dougie Wright. It’s a massive timesaver for us at the Academy

because it pulls all the stats from the game: heatmaps, pass maps and more, and provides a great level of statistical detail to look at.

and assistant manager Mark Newson. We then select clips from that to show the boys.

We also collect 10 clips for three or four individuals that we rotate weekly, so they get individual feedback from the game. I then put the presentations together and telestrate them, which means adding Sky Sports-style drawings, and produce an eightminute video of the game to present back to the lads. You’ve got to make it fun, innovative and engaging for them.

Next I start to build the post-match review for the players – a pool of 30 clips or so, which I show to Rob Quinn

At Crystal Palace we have a clear understanding of who we are and who we want to be. When I’m looking at opposition games, we know what we want to exploit – we want to be a high pressing team that out-passes the opposition. That gives us a starting point and from there we’ve got our principles. When there's a clear identity running through the Academy it makes the job easier – and we’re fortunate to have one

we have a clear understanding of who we are and who we want to be. When I’m looking at opposition games, we know what we want to exploit

over theover theroad road

Freddie Bell

getting to know

Frddie Bell

“Being one of the older lads, [taking a leadership role] is kind of expected of you. It was the game before we went to Manchester in pre-season - Rob [Quinn] said to me in a jokey way: ‘Get some bicep curls in for Manchester.’ He was talking about the armband!”

Midfielder Freddie Bell is a second-year scholar and is currently captain of the Under18s. Captaining a side at any level is a unique proposition, especially for a teenager, but Bell takes it in his stride, growing into the leadership role.

“Captaining the side slowly came about,” he explains. “Towards the end of last season I was playing much more and doing well, in pre-season I was with the Under-21s quite a lot, and then when I came back to the Under-18s I tried to be a leader.

“I try to bring something to every training session and every game with the team. When we went up to the Manchester tour [in pre-season] I think that was probably the turning point. I was

captain for the first game against Bayern Munich, which we won 1-0, and since then everything’s sort of clicked. The team is doing well and we’re all bonding really well, which you can see in the results. It's a good team to be around and to be captain of that is really good.

“There is one captain in the side, but there is also a leadership group. There's about five of us, a mix of first- and second-year scholars. It just helps facilitate different views instead of it being one person. I think it’s really good, as it gives a wider view and helps the team come together.”

In the Premier League this season, 50% of all captains are midfielders. Bell is a quintessential box-to-box player, constantly trying to deliver at both ends of the pitch while leading the side.

“My preferred role is box-tobox, so someone who gets back, defends, hits big tackles, but also someone who is in and around the opposition box trying to score goals. I scored in the first game this season, but I would definitely like to join the attacks more and make sure I’m getting back on the defending side.

“[The goal] was pretty good. It was our first game, quite a lot of pressure on it, and obviously being captain for the first time in a league game was good to get the team going, which I needed to do, and get the season started.

“This season, we’ve shown that the bond of the team and the way the team has gelled has been really good. The group is

so t ight-knitted and so together that players will be willing to do the runs, or make challenges for each other, which I think will bring success for us. [Winning five consecutive games] really shows that and there's a lot of confidence for the season ahead.”

There is one captain in the side, but there is also a leadership group. There's about five of us, It just helps facilitate different views instead of it being one person. I think it’s really good, as it gives a wider view and helps the team come together

Fred has everything as a midfielder: the passing range, shooting, he can tackle and he doesn’t mind doing the horrible side of the game. He’s a very complete midfielder that’s continuing to grow Fred Reardon Performance Analyst

Keeping you posted on all things south London. Over the page, coach Phil Hingston explains the role showcased to much acclaim on Football Dreams: The Academy

sir Henry Cooper

The only boxer to have been awarded a knighthood, Sir Henry Cooper was born in Lambeth and grew up on the Bellingham Estate near Catford. In his career he won 40 of 55 fights and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice.

Croydonites Festival

Croydon

October 6th-21st

Croydonites Festival comes to an end this week, showcasing new theatre in Croydon. The final events are at Matthews Yard and the Parabolic Theatre.

The dream of becoming a footballer is shared by millions in the UK and around the world, captured by Channel 4 documentary Football Dreams: The Academy, which follows groups of Palace prospects at different age groups from Under-9s all the way through to Under-18s.

In doing so, it shows the care and attention of Palace coaches like Phil Hingston, Under-14s Head Coach and Lead Phase Lower YDP. Hingston says his approach with hopeful young players it to help them have “the time of their lives” by playing football and growing with the club. He is one of a number of staff whose primary responsibility is to support young prospects on- and off-pitch.

All young players encounter challenges along the path to becoming a professional footballer, be it educational, physical, mental, or social. Palace have implemented a structure to ensure that all the players’ needs are cared for, addressed and worked on.

“Through MDTs (MultiDisciplinary Meetings) we try to ensure holistic development as well as football development,” explains Hingston.

“Each [member of staff] will attend the meeting with notes on three or four players, which could be anything from scheduling, education, or an injury… We find out how we can devise a plan for each individual.

“It’s not always about issues, it’s sometimes just notifying all members of staff in all departments on how well somebody’s doing – so when that member of staff bumps into the boy around the

Training Ground they’ve got some way of connecting with them.”

The multi-disciplinary approach towards player development is a key component of ensuring the club and individual both benefit in the best way, especially in the younger age groups. This is often achieved through Individual Development Plans (IDP).

Hingston elaborates: “We talk a lot about individual player development as coaches… and as part of that we usually break it down into four corners: technical, tactical, psychological and social.”

As part of the plans the coaches devise an approach for improving a certain area of a player’s game. Hingston continues: “The IDP session is designed to make sure that each player is exposed to an area of their

development during that session and to ensure they have a lot of ways of improving each aspect.

“[If] we’ve just given a boy the captaincy for the night in order to get him used to his voice and get used to communicating with people, we’ll let him lead lots of the session.

“Sometimes it’s a psych thing. They’re my favourite [situations],

We talk a lot about individual player development as coaches… and as part of that we usually break it down into four corners: technical, tactical, psychological and social

because you really see people’s character when they’re out of their comfort zone – not just adults but children as well. One of my favourites is giving bad refereeing decisions away on purpose, or bad scoreline-keeping to test resilience and see how the boys deal with it.

“We have to improve their super strengths as well. If he’s good at something and that’s what’s got him in the building then we need to make sure he continues enhancing that skill.”

From a first-team point of view, a lot of the focus and action takes place on the pitch and in training sessions, however through the ranks at youth level it is almost flipped on its head, with off-pitch aspects taking priority. Hingston explains:

“A lot of the work… apart from direct coaching, is off the pitch. The kids all come in at various age groups and they’re all good footballers. Ultimately, it’s making sure the environment is right for them, both on and off the pitch –probably more so off the pitch.

“If a kid comes in happy he’ll usually train well, so it’s about finding out how their day’s gone, what they need, have they eaten, have they travelled from far, how was school, etc. Sometimes you really need to have a look at the whole framework before even heading on to the grass.

“It’s amazing the amount of stuff that goes on off the pitch. Last year I had a lad that got diagnosed with diabetes. We noticed that he was different, low in energy. We advised him to go to the hospital and he got diagnosed.

“He was in hospital for about two weeks and our staff were just so great, putting a plan together, visiting him in hospital, visiting him when we got home and just reassuring him that this wasn’t going to impact him being in the system.

“The first thing he said was: ‘I’m going to get released now,’ but that wasn’t the case. I remember going to his house and just reassuring him, seeing him, spending time with him and talking about everything that wasn’t football.”

decisions. I’ll never really have a conversation with any of the boys saying: ‘Oh, a decision is coming up. How do you feel?’ unless I can plainly see that it’s bothering them.

“I think the game brings its own pressures – you’ve got to perform, you’ve got other people on your team, expectations, win or lose, the opposition. There’s pressure there, then you’ve got mum or your family watching, the drive in to the game where all you’re hearing is: ‘Make sure you do this, make sure you do that.’

“If you’re playing at a high level, you’ve probably got everyone at school either wanting to be your best mate or being jealous of you…. For us at the club, as coaches, we’ve got to make sure we create a place where they don’t have to think about the pressure.

Naturally the idea of being released creates pressure, but the structure in place throughout the club is designed to ensure that’s managed: the developmental phase is shaped to detract from the thought of being released or retained until it is absolutely necessary.

“I think some of the boys feel most comfortable when they’re in the training sessions with a coach. I try not to talk to the boys about

“A lot of people say: ‘Just let the boys play.’ Well actually, when they come to us, that’s what we try to do. The only expectation we have on them is to focus on themselves. Coaches would rarely talk about retain and release until the time it comes for retain and release. That’s just one part of a season which goes on for 10 months.

“They’ve got to enjoy the journey, and we just try and make sure that when they’re on the journey they have the best time of their lives –that’s the most important thing. Yes, there’s a three- or four-week period in the year around being retained or released, similar to exam period in school, where it will be a bit intense. But it’s up to us to make sure the rest of it is the time of their lives.” .

If a kid comes in happy he’ll usually train well, so it’s about finding out how their day’s gone, what they need, have they eaten, have they travelled from far, etc

The Premier League celebrates its 30th anniversary this season, with Palace there at the start in 1992/93 and still there today – with a few detours along the way. Here, we break down the club’s Premier League spells, letter by letter.

g g

Goalkeepers, Guaita and goals, goals, goals

He didn’t invite me to his testimonial – oh, my heart bleeds!” wrote Diego Maradona of Peter Shilton. “How many people go to a goalkeeper’s testimonial anyway? A goalkeeper’s?!”

It’s safe to say that goalkeepers don’t often get the respect they deserve. Attacking players steal the limelight – since the awarding of the first Ballon d’Or 66 years ago, only Lev Yashin has won the award for his efforts between the sticks in 1963.

At Crystal Palace, however, there are a few ‘keepers who are held in just as high regard as their goalscoring counterparts. One is perhaps Palace’s best value signing: Julián Speroni.

Having joined from Dundee in 2004 for a reported £750,000, the Argentinian shot-stopper played just one season in the Premier League before Palace’s

relegation. He would play eight seasons in the Championship before returning to the top-flight.

But he was integral to that journey, winning the club’s Player of the Season award three times on the bounce between 2007 and 2010. “But wait,” we hear you ask, “isn’t this column about our time in the Premier League?”

It is indeed – a period still defined by Speroni’s service. In the

first season after promotion, he scooped the Player of the Season award for a record fourth time – a run that’s still unmatched.

In 2019, after 405 Palace appearances across a stellar 15-year stay, Speroni retired. But his legacy lives on, and as Patrick Vieira’s men prepared for today’s game on the ‘Julián Speroni training pitch’ at Copers Cope, they will have been reminded of a true Palace great.

Vicente Guaita

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Who better as a long-term heir to Speroni’s spot than a Spanish speaking ‘keeper with rapid-reactions and a drive for clean sheets?

After his arrival from Getafe in 2018, Vicente Guaita fast became a fan favourite at Selhurst Park with his highlight reel of seemingly impossible saves. In the spirit of his predecessor,

he won the club’s Player of the Season award in 2021.

With the additions of Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen ahead of him, Palace have created a formidable defensive unit which broke records last season – the last home goal the Eagles conceded in the 2021/22 Premier League season came in February, before a run of six straight clean sheets saw out the campaign.

It meant equalling the club’s record for the most clean sheets in a season with 12. Guaita has developed a tradition at the training ground: when he keeps a clean sheet, he buys donuts for everyone.

The way this defensive unit is heading, there’s going to be a lot more donuts. Minute on the lips, lads.

Goals, goals, goals

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After his prolific start to the 2022/23 season, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate Wilfried Zaha’s ouput over the last few

Adlène Guedioura

Guedioura arrived at Crystal Palace during a tricky period, with the club only just promoted back to the Premier League. “It was hectic,” he told cpfc.co.uk recently, “but I don’t want to say I have regrets.” Still in regular contact with former teammates Zaha and Joel Ward, Guedioura did his talking on the international stage, winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria in 2019 and being named in the Team of the Tournament.

years. Having made a conscious effort to strengthen other areas than the tricks and skills that defined his early career, he has developed into an efficient forward. Power and determination are now among his primary assets.

Indeed, Patrick Vieira has spoken about Zaha’s ability to play as a No.9, and efforts against Liverpool and Aston Villa demonstrated just that.

With 14 Premier League goals last season, he finished ninth in the race for the Golden Boot – and was one of just two players in the top 10 not representing Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham or Liverpool.

His fast start to the season has seen him reach 65 Premier League goals in total, overtaking legends like David Beckham, Robert Pires and David Silva.

With young attackers like Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard around him, you would expect that tally to keep on growing .

ian king

Having been on the brink of collapse in 2010, Crystal Palace earned promotion back to the Premier League 10 years ago this season. Here, Club Historian Ian King tells the story of a dramatic campaign – with a little help from the stars of When Eagles Dare

Saturday, October 20th: Palace 2-2 Millwall

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Owen Garvan returned to the side for a south London derby that had almost everything. The Eagles stormed into an early lead with a blistering 25-yard strike from Mile Jedinak in the 35th-minute, which Damien Delaney doubled four minutes later by heading home a Garvan free-kick. Palace were in control and cruising when Dean Moxey had a moment of madness: handling the ball on the line in an effort to keep it out; he was dismissed and the Lions reduced the deficit with the subsequent penalty. Playing the whole of the second-half with 10 men, Palace were just about holding on until 13 minutes from time when Millwall found an equaliser and Mark Beevers reacted fastest from a corner. Despite this draw the Eagles remained in fourth place as both

Wolves and Brighton lost, while Leeds also had drawn their clash with Sheffield Wednesday the previous evening.

Tuesday, October 23rd: Barnsley 1-1 Palace -

On the day Dougie Freedman left to take over at Bolton it fell to Lennie Lawrence and Curtis Fleming to oversee the game at Oakwell. Palace, with Julián Speroni making his 250th league appearance but Moxey and Wilfried Zaha missing through suspension, started brightly by producing two efforts on goal that narrowly missed the target. Then with 11 minutes gone Glenn Murray netted his eighth goal of the season from Jonathan Parr’s low cross. There was another opportunity minutes later when Murray’s header forced

‘keeper Ben Alnwick into a good save but as the half wore on the Tykes came back into the game

An even second-half ensued and in the final 15 minutes Kagisho Dikgacoi’s teasing effort hit the post, but four minutes from time David Perkins curled a shot past Speroni into the top corner.

With other clubs around Palace also dropping points the team remained fourth with Leicester City and Cardiff City joint leaders four points ahead.

October 12th october 20th

Freedman and Murray win September Manager and Player of the Month

Bolton approach Palace to speak with Freedman

Saturday, October 27th: Leicester City 1-2 Palace

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There was a vocal support of over 2,000 Palace fans who travelled to table-topping Leicester with the Foxes having won all six home league fixtures. In an outstanding team display the unlikely scorers were central defensive partners Damien Delaney and Peter Ramage, who scored both goals in a five-minute spell midway through the first-half. First Kasper Schmeichel failed to hold the ball from an outswinging Garvan corner and Delaney rifled home, before Ramage was left unmarked at another corner for a free header.

The Foxes applied more pressure after the break although Palace looked more likely to score again through Yannick Bolasie and Garvan. In the end Andy King netted in injury time and Palace couldn’t add an insurance policy third. Still, they had become the first club to beat Leicester on home turf that season.

The Eagles’ unbeaten run now stretched to 10 games but with Cardiff and Middlesbrough also victorious they remained in fourth place .

Peterplayer in

Ramage initially played on loan in 2011/12 from QPR, before being sent to Birmingham City. He signed permanently in summer 2012 and departed three years later. He now works alongside another ex-Eagle, Shola Ameobi, as Newcastle United’s assistant loan coordinator.

october 21st

Dougie was absolutely in his moment. The players were completely in his thrall. If he’d have said to them: ‘Walk through that wall,’ I have no doubt they’d have walked through that wall

Steve Parish

Parish and Freedman meet to discuss the future

october 23rd

Freedman agrees to take over at Bolton

from the

Times have changed over Crystal Palace’s rich and storied history. In each edition, we dust off the archive and reprint a story from one of the club’s historical programmes. This week, we republish a 98-year-old update from former Chairman Sydney Borne on the day Selhurst Park opened.

August 30th, 1924

Directors’ Foreword

TO OUR SUPPORTERS.

We had hoped to have welcomed you to a new ground complete in every detail, but the builders’ strike unfortunately upset all calculations. However, we throw ourselves on your indulgence with the confident feeling that you will cheerfully overlook any little discomforts you may experience on this, the opening day, and rest assured that every effort will be made to have everything complete at the earliest date possible. Our season ticket holders, and patrons of the centre block, will suffer the greatest inconvenience, as the contractors were quite unable to put in the tip up chairs in time, and we much regret the inadequacy of the temporary seating. This, however, will be speedily remedied. The enclosure is practically complete, but will be improved shortly.

At present the terracing on the three open sides of the ground is only partially laid, and will be proceeded with later on when the higher banks have had time to settle. However there is ample room on the banking above the terraces for over 30,000, everyone of whom will have a clear view of the play.

Owing to the strike delay in so many branches of the work it was impossible to make any arrangements for a caterer to come in, but in a week or two our patrons will be able to obtain refreshments in the stands, enclosure and grounds.

Mr. Archibald Leitch, the eminent architect and engineer, who designed the stand and ground, and the contractors, Messrs. Humphries, Ltd., of Knightsbridge, who are responsible for the erection of most of the big football stands, etc., in various parts of the kingdom, have had many very serious difficulties to meet, but they have made Herculean efforts to overcome them in order that we might keep our engagements to-day, and every-one will acknowledge the success of those efforts, and we beg to tender them our heartiest thanks and congratulations.

We may all be proud of the fact that the Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of London (Sir Louis Newton) has done us the honour of performing the opening

Another real positive is that the lads have responded to Patrick and his staff’s demands, which can be seen in their improvement

ceremony of to-day. Needless to say this gracious act will be widely esteemed by thousands who are present, and in offering him on their, and our, behalf our most sincere thanks, we will venture to hope that this will only be the first of many visits by him to Selhurst Park.

And now a word or two as to our future. You will find most of your old favourites again wearing the club colours, and we are confident that the newcomers will quickly find their way into your favour and earn your cordial applause by their play. You can rest assured they will carry out the club’s old tradition, that is, to “play the game.”

One word more. Although we have moved to a new ground we must bring our old spirit of

good sportsmanship with us. We must not treat our opponents as strangers in a foreign land. Let us hold out the hand of friendship to them, and prove by our applause that we can recognise good play on their part as generously as we can that of our own players. In victory or defeat let us show that we are real sportsmen. We have earned the name of being such; let us keep it.

And let us remember that of all the 25 men on the field, officials and players, the referee has in most cases the most difficult part to go through. Do not take it for granted that every adverse decision of his to your side is wrong. He is generally in a better position to see than we are. Doubtless he will make mistakes at times. We all do. But neither he nor we deserve to be hanged for them.

A last word. We directors have, in order to provide you with a really good ground, undertaken very heavy responsibilities. It is in your power to ease the burden by giving us your unstinted support. We ask you to give it. We will do all in our power to deserve it.

(Signed) SYDNEY BOURNE,

Chairman, on behalf of Directors .

The above copy is printed verbatim.

Another real positive is that the lads have responded to Patrick and his staff’s demands, which can be seen in their improvement

palace for life

MARATHON MARCH 2022: A LOOK BACK

It was another record-breaking year for Palace for Life’s Marathon March, with 150 dedicated fans taking on a brand-new route across south London, raising a whopping £72,000 so far to help transform the lives of young south Londoners.

The sixth annual Marathon March kicked-off from Selhurst Park on Saturday, September 24th, with friends, families, and even a couple of dogs taking on the challenge.

After a five-mile walk, passing BOXPARK Croydon, the participants grabbed a well-earned food and drink stop, before continuing through Merton Abbey Mills and hitting the halfway mark by Wimbledon Centre Court. Walkers may have noticed a few familiar (cardboard) faces along the way, with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Patrick Vieira, Michael Olise, and others waiting patiently at key milestones to encourage those involved.

Also joining the walkers were Palace for Life patrons and club legends Mark Bright and Andrew Johnson, who walked the whole way – giving fans the chance to chat Palace and meet two icons.

It also wouldn’t be a Marathon March without the involvement of actor, comedian, and Palace for Life patron Eddie Izzard, who took on the massive challenge of walking

from Sheffield to Manchester in her own solo mission, providing updates along the way about how she was getting on.

With legs slightly sore but spirits high, marchers made their way through Wandsworth, then Streatham Common, before nailing the home stretch on their way back to Selhurst Park. There they were greeted by Palace royalty: Louis, Jamal and Joshua from our Down Syndrome Eagles team, and Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish, who helped hand out medals and cheer walkers on for their last few steps.

After a lap of the pitch to mark the end of the marathon,

Football is a really good reflection of our society. I think we should use football to talk about our differences, and those differences shouldn’t stop us from living well together

celebrations began in Selhurst Park’s Malcolm Allison lounge, where marchers joined their family and friends for some well-deserved food and drink.

The 2022 Marathon March was record-breaking, with 150 Palace fans taking part, raising a superb £72,000 so far for Palace for Life. A huge thank you goes to everyone who took part and fundraised and those who have donated – everything raised will go towards transforming the lives of young south Londoners.

A special shout-out goes to our top five fundraisers for this year’s Marathon March:

would like to take part in 2023, please get in contact with us

There is also still time to support our Marathon March walkers – you can do so at

Support Palace for Life in our mission to raise £1 million to help us transform thousands of more young south Londoners’ lives. visit palaceforlife.org or scan below

on

In its near-100-year existence, Selhurst Park has hosted a collection of the weird and the wonderful – people, objects and events. In this edition, we look at three of the most eye-catching occasions be hosted in SE25.

Preserving the Status Quo

When Status Quo played at Selhurst Park in July 1984 the majority of their fans, and all of their members, thought the band had completed its final London gig.

Having formed as The Scorpions in 1962 the Quo decided to end their live performances after 22 years, with their penultimate outing coming at Selhurst Park. What was dubbed the ‘Farewell Tour’ came to a head with the Farewell London Concert in SE25.

“I don’t think they should stop touring,” one fan said when interviewed. “I don’t think they’re old enough. They’re stupid for stopping.” She was right, it turned out, and Status Quo continue to perform today.

But their desire to dial down in 1984 led to one of the most memorable non-footballing events in Selhurst’s history, as a 25,000-strong crowd witnessed the band perform for two-and-a-half solid hours.

Tickets cost £9.50 and the concert lasted for over six hours, with the Disciples of Soul, Dave Edmunds, Phil Lynott’s Grand Slam and Chas and Dave performing earlier in the day.

As supporters almost 40 years later can still attest, the back of the ticket booking form read: “Parking is minimal – in fact non existant [sic].”

The year before saw Peter Gabriel perform and, of course, a few miles along, the likes of Bob Marley, Eric Clapton and Elton John entertained fans at the Crystal Palace Bowl.

Selhurst gets political -

As he paraded Selhurst Park before Palace v Bradford City, headto-toe in a full Palace tracksuit – backwards cap tight, oversized clothes baggy – and applauded by the crowds, Saša Curcic looked every bit the late ‘90s footballer. Every bit, but for his placard.

An outgoing, headline-grabbing figure regardless, Curcic was never the everyday player. But when NATO began bombing Belgrade on March 24th, 1999, the eccentric Serbian began to attract more serious attention.

NATO launched strikes without the approval of the UN Security Council for the first time, and Curcic’s parents Toza and Ramila still lived in Belgrade with other members of the family. The air raid sirens groaned across the city, marking the beginning of a six-week bombardment which saw the people of Belgrade take shelter however they could; a seven-year-old Luka Milivojevic and his family fled to the countryside.

“I always promised my mother and father I would get them a house in

Belgrade when I was rich enough,” Curcic said at the time. “It has two floors and a basement which I had intended to use as a snooker room and also to put my trophies and photos in as a memory of my career. I never thought this would become the place where my family would hide from the bombs.

“I ring them every hour, every day, to see if they are okay. There are thousands of other people in Belgrade who do not have such a place to go. It is always the ordinary people who are hurt by wars.”

Curcic regularly demonstrated outside Downing Street and pledged to do so until the end of the bombings, saying he was advised by his family to stay in England to try to raise awareness. So, on March 28th, he took his protest to Selhurst.

Manager Steve Coppell held Curcic and fellow Yugoslavian Gordan Petric back from action, saying: “With it now becoming fairly tangible for the families of the two players, I told them they would not be considered.”

Curcic was determined not to play anyway, and said himself that: “I will forget about football

until the bombing has stopped. I am in a situation where I may quit football forever because this has caused me big mental problems. I don’t think I will ever recover. I may never play again, which will be a big shame, but I need all my spirit to fight this situation.”

The air strikes ceased on June 10th, 1999, with up to 1,200 Yugoslavians thought to have lost their lives.

On your bike -

Selhurst has hosted a few sports beyond domestic football, with cricket, baseball and boxing also seen in SE25. But perhaps the strangest to have graced the pitch is bicycle polo, a once-popular competition that regularly featured at Selhurst in the late 1940s.

For the uninitiated, bicycle polo is exactly what it sounds like: picture polo but with bikes instead of horses. Teams of three wheel around and the first to hit five goals wins. It still exists today, with the UK finishing third in the 2019 International Bicycle Polo Championships. But you knew that already.

In 1946 bicycle polo was played every Saturday at Selhurst between May 25th-August 17th in the London League, with teams based on the capital’s football clubs. So Palace opened the

fixtures against Tottenham, who went on to play Arsenal. After that came Chelsea, Charlton and Brentford – and later internationals involving England and France.

Local side Norwood Paragon also contested the English Championship final at Selhurst in August that year, and games appear to have been held until 1949. Why they stopped is unknown – but we could take a pretty good guess .

@AG_Smithy

October 9th, 2022

Well done to all @CPFC both on and off the field. Great atmosphere well deserved win and so many special people

@JayKnox

October 12th, 2022

Nahhhh why does it look like I was singing my heart out at @JDFootball in an audition judged by @EbereEze10

@EastMamba @jeffery_ schlupp #CPFC

Palace took center stage at a family wedding in Northern California earlier this year. I surprised my Palace loving Nephew Matthew Waldron with a less than traditional neck piece!

The four fellas charity would like to thank Crystal Palace Football Club for the hospitality and signed shirt and we wish them all the best for the season.

Happy 1st birthday to our beautiful Millie, all our love, Mummy, Daddy and Harry xxx

@BenWattsSport October 10th, 2022

I love everything about this goal.

The long diagonal, the first touch, the pass in field, the flick, the shoulder drop, the finish.

A thing of beauty. #CPFC

In memory of Leslie Taylor Grierson. 23 February 1943 – 4 October 2022. A lifelong Palace fan since his great friend, Ernie Organ, took him to his first football match at Selhurst Park (Les pictured with his son, Robert)

@Clapham_Grand October 11th, 2022

Love Andersen’s celebration #cpfc

Happy 14th Birthday Billy!

Happy 23rd birthday Ryan. Enjoy the game. Up the Palace. Best wishes from The Parky’s

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

Malcolm Ebiowei, Doc Brown and… Francis Rossi. Catchup on what you might have missed in this edition, prep for the next away trip and pit your wits against Brighty below.

did you spot?did you spot?

Status Quo, Saša Curcic and bicycle polo on Page 64.

quote of the week

quote of the week

Scott Flinders -

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders joined Palace early in his career and developed over five different loan spells – including one to Brighton & Hove Albion. At 36 he continues to play today with Mansfield Town.

“I did move from Charlton, which isn’t the easiest thing to do. Both sets of fans are very passionate, so I didn’t know what the Palace crowd would be like with me – but they gave me a bit of banter and welcomed me with open arms, which I really appreciated.”

Anna Filbey

next up: everton

Saturday Palace

Travel

Trains run from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street and take around three hours.

may have to change at Crewe for this clash. From Lime Street, multiple local buses run to Goodison Park.

Pre-match

There are several pubs close to the ground but they may request no colours. In Liverpool city centre fans have a breadth of choice: the Baltic Fleet, Philharmonic Dining Rooms, the Shipping Forecast and others included. Alternatively, take a stroll around the Albert Docks or Beatles Museum.

BEAT BRIGHTYBEAT BRIGHTY

In each edition, club icon

events

how

fare

Bright

how

sees

correct

Best memory:

The start of Palace’s Premier League return brought our best trips to Goodison: consecutive 3-2 wins in 2014.

Chloe Arthur 4

Paige Bailey-Gayle 1

Kirsty Barton 3

Annabel Blanchard 51

Charley Clifford 1

Rianna Dean

Polly Doran 5

Aimee Everett 4

Anna Filbey 5

Fliss Gibbons

Shauna Guyatt 3

Coral-Jade Haines 41

Elise Hughes 54

Annabel Johnson 5

Fran Kitching (GK) 4

Natalia Negri (GK) 1

Leigh Nicol

Ellie Noble 3

Hollie Olding 3

Chloe Peplow 4

Kirsten Reilly 3

Molly-Mae Sharpe 51

Isabella Sibley 51

Hope Smith (GK)

Lizzie Waldie 3

Tayo Adaramola 5

Josh Addae 3

Victor Akinwale 11 3

Kofi Balmer 9

Ryan Bartley 1

David Boateng 1

Maliq Cadogan 4 1

Owen Goodman (GK) 9

John-Kymani Gordon 9 11

Seán Grehan 9

Danny Imray 1

Jackson Izquierdo (GK) 3

Fionn Mooney 3

Jake O’Brien 2

Ademola Ola-Adebomi 10 1 David Omilabu 10 3

David Ozoh 10 1

Killian Phillips 11 3

Dan Quick

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi 1

Jadan Raymond 3

Kaden Rodney 9

Laurence Shala (GK) 3

Cardo Siddik 3 Rob Street 42

Matthew Vigor 1 Noah Watson 9

Jack Wells-Morrison 10 1

Joe Whitworth (GK) 1

Asher Agbinone

Cormac Austin

Kalani Barton

Bell

Cardines

Junior Dixon

William Eastwood (GK)

Gibbard

Jake Grante

Jackson Izquierdo (GK)

Eyimofe Jemide

Caleb Kporha

Giulio Marroni

Zach Marsh 52

Hindolo Mustapha

Adler Nascimento

Laurence Shala (GK)

Basilio Socoliche

Vonnte Williams 7 1

AUGUST

SEP

OCTOBER

DateOpposition

Fri 5 Arsenal 25,286 L 0-2 17th

Mon 15 Liverpool 52,970 D 1-1 16th

Sat 20 Aston Villa 25,012 W 3-1 9th

Tue 23 Oxford United 9,564 W 2-0 Second round

Sat 27 Manchester City 53,112 L 2-4 12th

Tue 30 Brentford 25,043 D 1-1 13th

Sat 3 Newcastle United 51,863 D 0-0 15th

Sat 1 Chelsea 25,125 L 1-2 17th

Sun 9 Leeds United 25,002 W 2-1 15th

Sat 15 Leicester City 12:30

Tue 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 19:30

Sat 22 Everton 15:00

Sat 29 Southampton 15:00

Sat 5 West Ham United 15:00

NOV

Wed 9 Newcastle United 19:45

Sat 12 Nottingham Forest 15:00

DEC Mon 26 Fulham 15:00

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

March

Sat 31 Bournemouth 15:00

Mon 2 Tottenham Hotspur 15:00

Sat 14 Chelsea 15:00

Sat 21 Newcastle United 15:00

Sat 4 Manchester United 15:00

Sat 11 Brighton & Hove Albion 15:00

Sat 18 Brentford 15:00

Sat 25 Liverpool 15:00

Sat 4 Aston Villa 15:00

Sat 11 Manchester City 15:00

Sat 18 Arsenal 15:00

Sat 1 Leicester City 15:00

Sat 8 Leeds United 15:00

APRIL

Sat 15 Southampton 15:00

Sat 22 Everton 15:00

Tue 25 Wolverhampton Wanderers 19:45

Sat 29 West Ham United 15:00

Sat 6 Tottenham Hotspur 15:00

Sat 13 Bournemouth 15:00

MAY

Sat 20 Fulham 15:00

Sun 28 Nottingham Forest 16:00

TBC Manchester United

Brighton & Hove Albion

Jack Butland Joel Ward Tyrick Mitchell Luka Milivojevic

United

United

Hove Albion

Ham United

Leeds United

Palace

Villa

Southampton

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nottingham Forest

Leicester City

Brighton nottingham forest

18th -

Crystal Palace wolves

Bournemouth southampton

Brentford

+814

9 +514

Newcastle Everton

Man united spurs

Fulham Aston Villa

Leicester Leeds

Liverpool West Ham

19th -

-110

10-210

1112-1

11-4

17-9

12-9

22-15

21-15

this week’s

Jack BUTLAND (GK)

Joel WARD

Tyrick MITCHELL

Luka MILIVOJEVIC

James TOMKINS

Marc GUÉHI

Michael OLISE

Jordan AYEW

Eberechi EZE

Wilfried ZAHA

Vicente GUAITA (GK)

Jean-Philippe MATETA

Jeffrey SCHLUPP

Joachim ANDERSEN

Nathaniel CLYNE

James McARTHUR

Will HUGHES

Sam JOHNSTONE (GK)

Odsonne EDOUARD

Malcolm EBIOWEI

Chris RICHARDS

Cheick DOUCOURÉ

Nathan FERGUSON

Jaïro RIEDEWALD

Killian PHILLIPS

Kaden RODNEY

WOLVERHAMPTON wanderers f.c.

José SÁ (GK)

Rayan AÏT-NOURI

Nathan COLLINS

Boubacar TRAORÉ

Pedro NETO Rúben NEVES

Raúl JIMÉNEZ

Daniel PODENCE

Hwang HEE-CHAN Matija SARKIC (GK)

Yerson MOSQUERA

Gonçalo GUEDES

Saša KALAJDŽIC

JONNY

CHIQUINHO

Nélson SEMEDO

Maximilian KILMAN

TOTI

Connor RONAN

Matheus NUNES

João MOUTINHO

Diego COSTA

Léo BONATINI

Adama TRAORÉ

Chem CAMPBELL