December 24 2013

Ron Noades

Former Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades has died.

The 76-year-old made public two months ago he was suffering with lung cancer and had undergone a treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He had been reliant on oxygen cylinders as he only had 19 per cent use of his lungs and was unable to attend the funeral of Palace club president Peter Morley in September.

Noades is Palace's most successful chairman, guiding them from the depths of the second division to the top flight and the FA Cup Final for the first time in 1990.

The outspoken businessman did it alongside Steve Coppell after giving him his break into management following his retirement from football. The Eagles then went on to finish in their highest-ever placing of third in the elite division.

Geoff Thomas, who skippered the Eagles during the Noades era, said: "Just heard the sad news that my Chairman when I was at Crystal Palace Ron Noades past away last night. Our thoughts and love go to his family."

Another ex-player EDDIE MCGOLDRICK said: "Ron has been a big part of my life. He oversaw the best period of success the club ever had. He was very hands-on as a chairman.

"He and Steve Coppell were both Mr Crystal Palace. I saw him about a month ago and he was still laughing and joking."