We may well have stood next to each other on the Park View Road terrace then, as that was my era too (on days when I couldn't get to the Palace game, obviously). I started in the early 80s when I worked with Ian Starkey (defender) and played cricket with Ian Shead (goalkeeper). (Do any kids get called 'Ian' any more, I wonder?)

You and I were a little too late to see Andy Townsend play, although I did meet him a number of times as he was a mate of another guy I played cricket with; he and Townsend went to Bexleyheath School together. This was before he discovered that he was Irish. Also too early to see Paul Barron play for Welling before he turned pro, eventually coming to Palace with Clive Allen from Arsenal in exchange for Kenny Sansom. (I wonder if any kids get called 'Paul', 'Clive' or 'Kenneth' any more too!).

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)