I started supporting Palace in the late 50’s when Dad and I went on the bus every other week from Wallington, changing at West Croydon, to stand on the Holmesdale Road terrace. I squeaked ‘Up The Palace’ and rattled my, hand painted, black and white rattle as loudly as I could. I can remember the stinking Gents down the back and the Bovril hut which was roughly where the away dressing rooms are today... and I loved it.

We always went to the same spot and I’d perch on the barrier until I was big enough to stand and peer through a gap in the crowd. If I was lucky Dad would buy some peanuts from the bloke hawking his wares. Occasionally we’d walk right round the ground – there was only one stand in those days – and watch the second half at the Whitehorse Lane end if we were playing in that direction ‘so we could see all the goals go in’. When the game was a bit dull I’d wander round picking up the empty beer bottles from by the men’s feet and return them to the Bovril hut where they were worth a penny each... and I loved it.

The 60’s were a blur and in 1971 I married and work took me away from the area, but I’ve never lost my Palace passion. I’m not a season ticket holder and I don’t get to many games now. The last match I saw was in October 2019 when Man City beat us 2-0... and I loved it. Not the result – just being there.

Thing is, there are a lot of negative comments on here and, to be honest, it irks me although I am pleased to see some more positive and realistic things being written recently. We all accept that Crystal Palace FC is not a big club, but that’s the attraction isn’t it? I am retired now, but when I was out earning a crust I tried my best to do a good job although sometimes things didn’t work out. Well, as far as I’m concerned, Steve Parish tries hard to do a great job at Palace and let’s face it, he’s done exceedingly well. Same goes for Roy who has done a brilliant job in keeping us in the world’s greatest football league for a record period of time. Some of the criticism he and some of our players get on here is unfair I think. Sure, we sometimes play a nervy game and tactics such as his late and seemingly strange substitutions appear odd, but everyone at the club tries their best for it to be a success and it is quite normal if it doesn’t work out every time. A few of our players are not always performing at their best, but that doesn’t mean they’re not trying. I could name some that I regard as past their ‘Best Before’ date, but that would defeat the point of this post.

Our great club is run by a Board of lifelong supporters, the manager supported us when he was a lad and we are fortunate to have many loyal, long serving folk, including ex –players working hard behind the scenes to make the club a success within a limited budget. It always feels to me like ‘our’ club rather than ‘the’ club and I love it that way.

I suspect that, despite the criticism on here sometimes, most of us would be appalled if we were owned and run by a multinational conglomerate and managed by one of our friends from abroad. It wouldn’t feel right and, anyway, it was tried before Roy came on board and it certainly didn’t work then.
Lads, we should have faith in the stewardship of our club – it is in good and capable hands. Just let them do their jobs and stop trying to appear that we, as supporters, know better than they do. For sure Roy will retire gracefully before long and will be given many plaudits for the fine job he’s done. Rest assured that SP has this covered and probably has a succession plan in place. He has no obligation to share it with us. I know who I’d like to see take over the management and coaching reins, but, again, a suggestion from me would defeat the point of this post.

We will continue this strange season with more great results and a share of disappointments, but we will not be relegated. We will enjoy some sparkling football and endure some dour games. We will leap off the sofa and hide behind same in equal measure I suspect. Who knows what the future holds these days, but one thing is certain, being a Palace supporter will never be dull. And I love it that way!

I started supporting Palace in the late 50’s when Dad and I went on the bus every other week from Wallington, changing at West Croydon, to stand on the Holmesdale Road terrace. I squeaked ‘Up The Palace’ and rattled my, hand painted, black and white rattle as loudly as I could. I can remember the stinking Gents down the back and the Bovril hut which was roughly where the away dressing rooms are today... and I loved it.

We always went to the same spot and I’d perch on the barrier until I was big enough to stand and peer through a gap in the crowd. If I was lucky Dad would buy some peanuts from the bloke hawking his wares. Occasionally we’d walk right round the ground – there was only one stand in those days – and watch the second half at the Whitehorse Lane end if we were playing in that direction ‘so we could see all the goals go in’. When the game was a bit dull I’d wander round picking up the empty beer bottles from by the men’s feet and return them to the Bovril hut where they were worth a penny each... and I loved it.

The 60’s were a blur and in 1971 I married and work took me away from the area, but I’ve never lost my Palace passion. I’m not a season ticket holder and I don’t get to many games now. The last match I saw was in October 2019 when Man City beat us 2-0... and I loved it. Not the result – just being there.

Thing is, there are a lot of negative comments on here and, to be honest, it irks me although I am pleased to see some more positive and realistic things being written recently. We all accept that Crystal Palace FC is not a big club, but that’s the attraction isn’t it? I am retired now, but when I was out earning a crust I tried my best to do a good job although sometimes things didn’t work out. Well, as far as I’m concerned, Steve Parish tries hard to do a great job at Palace and let’s face it, he’s done exceedingly well. Same goes for Roy who has done a brilliant job in keeping us in the world’s greatest football league for a record period of time. Some of the criticism he and some of our players get on here is unfair I think. Sure, we sometimes play a nervy game and tactics such as his late and seemingly strange substitutions appear odd, but everyone at the club tries their best for it to be a success and it is quite normal if it doesn’t work out every time. A few of our players are not always performing at their best, but that doesn’t mean they’re not trying. I could name some that I regard as past their ‘Best Before’ date, but that would defeat the point of this post.

Our great club is run by a Board of lifelong supporters, the manager supported us when he was a lad and we are fortunate to have many loyal, long serving folk, including ex –players working hard behind the scenes to make the club a success within a limited budget. It always feels to me like ‘our’ club rather than ‘the’ club and I love it that way.

I suspect that, despite the criticism on here sometimes, most of us would be appalled if we were owned and run by a multinational conglomerate and managed by one of our friends from abroad. It wouldn’t feel right and, anyway, it was tried before Roy came on board and it certainly didn’t work then.
Lads, we should have faith in the stewardship of our club – it is in good and capable hands. Just let them do their jobs and stop trying to appear that we, as supporters, know better than they do. For sure Roy will retire gracefully before long and will be given many plaudits for the fine job he’s done. Rest assured that SP has this covered and probably has a succession plan in place. He has no obligation to share it with us. I know who I’d like to see take over the management and coaching reins, but, again, a suggestion from me would defeat the point of this post.

We will continue this strange season with more great results and a share of disappointments, but we will not be relegated. We will enjoy some sparkling football and endure some dour games. We will leap off the sofa and hide behind same in equal measure I suspect. Who knows what the future holds these days, but one thing is certain, being a Palace supporter will never be dull. And I love it that way!