First and foremost,good luck with your GCSE`s Tom.

AS you only want 5 names I thought I would put forward one each of 5 categories 1. staff 2. goalkeeper 3.defender 4. midfielder 5. forward.

1. Sydney Bourne. Elected as our first chairman by the first ever Palace board. These were the guys who gave us this club we love so much! He remained chairman from day one, in the southern league, until 1930, overseeing Palaces` rise to div 2. As an alternative, perhaps Edmund Goodman, secretary for the first couple of years, and then manager, who enjoyed the same "ride" to div 2. I have seen it written (many years ago), that he cadged our kit from his former club (Villa). Not sure if that is a true fact though. Also, it was he who persuaded Syd Bourne to become involved.

Though I am an old git, even I don`t go back that far! I first watched The Palace as a 7 year old in 1957.
So onto players, and these are people I do have first hand knowledge of!

2. John Jackson. For me an absolute Palace legend. Kept goal for us in our first ever top flight stint. Ever present for the first 3 seasons, missing only 4 or 5 games in the fourth, and like Jules now, probably earned us 8 or 10 points a season single handedly. Younger fans will probably say Nigel Martyn - truly a top class act, but then they didn`t have the pleasure of seeing Jacko.

3. Jim Cannon. I don`t feel any explanations are necessary, and I just cannot think of a second nomination who gets anywhere near him, not even Kenny Samson, who to this day is still, for me, the best left back I have ever seen. I still love you Jimbo!

4. Steve Kember. I will probably get stick for this , as he didn`t exactly acquit himself that well as our boss. As a player, though, he was a 100%`er. Highly talented too, made over 250 appearances in the 60`s and 70`s. As a second choice Vince Hilaire, if wingers count as midfielders that is. Probably (IMO) the best ball player to wear a Palace shirt. A bit light on getting back to help in defence, but with the ball at his feet going forward was an absolute menace.

5. Ian Wright full stop. If Ian had never been I would have said Dave Swindlehurst. Statistically, some might say it would be Peter Simpson, but Ian and Swindle did it in the top division.

There are so many others though eg AJ, Terry Long,Johnny Byrne,Mark Bright,John Burridge,Cliff Holton etc. I could go on all day.......