October 2 2008

Paul Bristow

Paul Bristow is our Fan of the Week as we count down to the Fan of the Season award.

Name?

Paul Bristow

Where do you live?

Born and brought up in Croydon before the London Fire Brigade posted me north of the river and then lived in Enfield. Now, having done my time in the fire service I have moved to Plymouth, Devon.

Which part of the ground do you sit?

Over the years I have sat and stood virtually everywhere at Selhurst but lately you will find me in the Holmesdale upper tier. When I can't get to home matches these days you will find me driving my taxi on the streets of Plymouth and thanks to modern day technology and internet connection, I have Palace Radio on in the car for the benefit of my customers. It creates good banter especially if I am taking Argyle fans to Home Park.

How did you become a Palace fan?

It was a family thing. My grandfather had supported Palace before the war and I am told that after returning from a German prisoner of war camp, he missed only a handful of home matches in some 15 years including the real dark days of re-election in 1949.

When I was born, his first grandson, he registered my name into the Supporters Club when I was just two days old so I can really say that I am a life long supporter. Sadly, grandad died in 1961 and never saw the club he so obviously loved climb to the heights of the top flight. My father too was a Palace fan and after taking me for the fist time when I was 9, there was no looking back for me.

Tell us about your first Palace game?

The first game I went to was against Birmingham in 1968. We won 3-2 which sent us to the top of the Second Division with three wins out of three. I can't remember too much now but I do remember that the Blues had Fred Pickering sent off, something that didn't happen too often in those days.

I was hooked and I only missed three more home matches that season and ironically they were our only three home defeats in the league that year. Promotion to the First Division meant the following season dad and I got season tickets in the Old Stand. Eighteen guineas (£18.90) with no concessions for juniors!

Your favourite player of all time and why?

A tough choice but without doubt I would say Peter Taylor. He was just superb when here as a player. He could turn defenders inside-out, score wonderful goals and create for others too but I also remember how he would chase back if he lost the ball, make a sliding tackle from behind, recovering the ball and immediately be on another jinky run. It is no wonder he looked so good in our then Third Division team. He broke into the England team, did so on merit and never looked out of place at international level.

Best goal you've seen?

My favourite goal was scored by Dougie Freedman in a 3-0 win at home to Sunderland in season 2003/4. Freedman had only just come on. A flick from ANDY JOHNSON found Dougie wide right some 20 yards from goal and he hit a magnificent volley into the goal at the Holmesdale end. It wasn't just the execution but the atmosphere was rocking that night at Selhurst and also I was in the perfect position in the Main Stand to witness this magnificent strike in all it's glory.

Favourite Palace memory?

I have so many great memories including promotion parties and the Cup Final draw against Manchester United but the best has to be at Wrexham in 1977. We all know the scenario and how we needed a win by at least 2 goals but to be there and one moment feeling the despair of losing a 2-0 lead and to be drawing with a couple of minutes left to being 4-2 up just moments later was unimaginable. The most vivid memory is of the stand to our left. One moment it was rocking in preparation of their own promotion party, the next it was empty!

Best Palace kit?

I have never liked the strips in the years when we have played in blue shorts but I loved last year's kit. I thought was vibrant. I also liked the "Lombardo" Premiership year kit of 97/98. Tough choice between those two.

Why do you think you should be voted Fan of the Year?

I could say that I deserve it for the travelling I have to do for both home and away games these days even if it isn't as often as I would like but with this being my 41st season and for all the great times I have witnessed, I deserve it for the lows I have suffered over the years.

The worst has to be 12th September 1989. We all suffered that night but believe me, I suffered more than most and for this experience alone I deserve something in return. A friend and I headed off to Anfield by car. It was about 4 o'clock and the car must have decided it didn't fancy the streets of Liverpool and wanted to keep its wheels or something. We broke down on the M6 somewhere near Stoke.

The RAC came to our rescue but it soon became evident that we weren't going any further and we wasn't going get to the game. The good old RAC arranged a recovery vehicle to take us and the car back to London but they must have had some sense of humour because the driver they sent just had to be a Liverpool fan, didn't he?

We headed back south with the game on his radio and the goals and the stick coming quicker than the motorway junctions. If only I could have seen that fella again after that season's FA Cup semi-final.

We are searching for Crystal Palace's Fan of the Year 2008.

This award will honour the supporter who demonstrates a high standard of dedication, passion and loyalty to Crystal Palace - voted by fellow fans.

They may travel hundreds of miles for each home game, may have had a red and blue themed wedding, named a child after Palace player, not missed a game in years, have a massive tattoo of the club crest... you get the idea!

Over the coming months, we will feature a mini interview with the Fan of the Week. Then at the end of the year, YOU have the chance to review the candidates and vote on our voting page who you think should be crowned Crystal Palace Fan of the Year 2008. The winning fan will get a specially-engraved trophy.

Simply copy and paste the questions above and email your answers with "Fan of Year" in the subject line to editor@holmesdale.net with a photo of yourself in Palace colours and we will publish the best ones each week.

The closing date for entries will be in December 2008 and voting will take place shorty after with the winner announced in January 2009 and presented with the trophy and honour of being crowned Fan of the Year.