The Peter Taylor show at Stamford Bridge and kung fu in sheepskin coats

the reason I remember that incident so vividly was that as gaps appeared and closed violence flared intermittently for an hour before the game and most of the way through it.

i had positioned myself strategically beside the crowd barrier and closest to the toughest palace fans I could find

as the gap opened in front of me a chelsea fan did a fine ballet styled pirouette and leapt feet first towards me, slightly above him on the terracing and got his legs hung over the barrier and crashed onto his back

unfortunately random thoughts of retaliation dissolved as the crowd surged to one side

the other things i clearly recall were a woman crying and a large policeman focusing on her and shouting at her demanding to know what was the matter with her totally ignoring the riot around him

and being asked who i supported (despite wearing my colours) by a drunken tottenham fan who exclaimed what fun he was having and waded into some chelsea fans

I was there as a 13 year old with my mum and dad. We went in the Shed by mistake (luckily), although we nearly got crushed on the way in.

It was all worth it though.

That team never defended deep!

A new era of total football is on the way to Selhurst Park!!

Amazing crowd, over 50,000, considering Chelsea were then in the old Div 2 and Palace were in Div 3

It is very special this place, ask any player who has ever played for us how they feel about it - Ian Holloway