Tackles and I mean proper tackles.

Standing on the barriers next to the pitch you could not only see players smashing in to each other you could hear it as well. But they got straight up, shook hands and off they went again.

I miss that part of the game as it was a art as much as any other in the game.

Edited by lozeg (22 Feb 2017 11.43am)

In the fifties, getting a number 3 bus up to Crystal Palace, and then the trolleybus to Norwood Junction - before I decided that a 68 from West Norwood was better value, as well as dropping me right outside the ground.

Using the boys' entrance when I was well over age.

My recollection of the post match newspaper sellers was calling out Star News and Standard, all the half time scores except for some reason it sounded like skiers! Used to go around the local newsagent waiting for full time scores and reports to come, also saturday sports report.

Watching bicycle polo before the match. Have never forgotten as a kid seeing some old boy who was working for Palace and putting out advertising boards for the next game. Some lads had been cheeking him and suddenly keeled over and died--I was told to keep out of the way while they tried rubbing the palms of his hands to revive him. sadly failure.

The match ball was auctioned by selling penny on the ball tickets,

Back in those days pre season games were usually between the possibles v the probables.

We often watched friendly or testimonial games that included the likes of Alex James.

Players were generally known for skill rather than being super athletes which is prevalent in today's game.

Tactically today's football is much more advanced, players used to have time to trap the ball were as today's players bring the ball under control by killing the momentum.

Today we get upset by fans using clacker's, while we excelled with our wooden rattles,so not much progress with that.

I recall the days of Palace supporters being ejected from the Whitehorse where they went to confront 'Home' supporters.Recall them being marched along the side of the pitch and into the Holmesdale.

And the Millwall cries of "Warren, where are you ?" referring to Denny Warren.

Edited by Willo (23 Feb 2017 7.18pm)

Earlier in this thread I asked whether anyone recalled the Holmesdale end's rendition of Chopin's Funeral March when an opposition player was stretchered off (not that anyone would have known that that's what it was) - the answer was a resounding silence. So what about another long-buried memory that has just resurfaced: the chant of "There's gonna be a nasty accident" - presumably when we were "entertaining" Millwall.

Most people of a certain age probably remember it but don't know what it was called or who penned it. I'm in my 40s and think I do. But maybe my memory is f***ing with me as I first read your post a couple of days ago.

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.