I was 12 at the time - I remember that 'butterfly' feeling during the day at school - then legging it home - my dad & uncle took me up ( was living in crawley at the time) , what a fantastic night - I remember being 'placed' down the front of the old holmesdale - couldn't see my dad or uncle during the match - jumped on the pitch at the end - and nearly got one of Jon Burridge's socks when the players through there kits into the crowd - I'm 35 now - don't think of myself as a veteran -but I feel honoured that I was there !!

CPFC Since 1977 and hooked ever since !!
HOL Member since 2002

1979 vs Burnley
2-0
I was 12 too and my brother took me to the game, he was 20 and he also took his small malaysian girlfried who didn't see a thing the whole game.
I was passed over peoples heads and sat at the edge of the pitch, we were standing at the ne corner of the ground.
I remember thinking that they needed a bigger ground (I hadn't been to many games and thought that they always had crowds like this). My brother was apparently a bit worried that I might never be seen again but I had a great time and remember running onto the pitch and watching the players throw their kits into the crowd. What a great atmosphere. Like Garyb, I don't feel like a veteran but the eagles got into my blood that night and they'll be there until I die and beyond.
Looking forward to seeing the photos, you won't see Valerie (my brother's girlfriend, she never went to another game... the relationship didn't last!)

What a night as an eight year old going to the game with my brothers friends and family in one of the VW campers (the ones that Aussies travel about in!)and having Champagne in the fridge waiting!
Remember getting in the Holmesdale early at 5.00pm and sitting on a cushion on one of the bars!
Then i recall a group of skinheads unable to go to the toilet so just emptying out in front of everyone to my mothers horror,still worse was to come as one of them tried to remove the other blokes eye as he said he could put it back (was it you?).
Much of the game a do not recall other than the crush when we scored and a female being passed to the medics at the front of the terrace.
The after match celabrations were great as everyone ran on the pitch and waved white Palace flags with the red and blue sash on.
Back to the van afterwards to rack open the bubbly although i was too young to partake!

GT

Edited by Geoff Thomas (03 Jan 2003 2:38pm)

Eagles S*** on Seagulls, Eagles S*** on Seagulls,
La La La La,!
La La La La!

I think the Jim Cannon goal was the one when we beat Ipswich 4-1 to go top of the old first division. He spanked in a shoulder high volley.

Walsh and Swindlehurst scored against Burnley and according to the 'Complete Record' Vince Hilaire started.

I was at the game - 11 at the time - and can't remember much about it. My brother's car broke down and we had to get the train. We could hear the singing as soon as we got off at Selhurst (How I long for that again).
I remember Walshie's looping header but didn't see Swindles goal.
Other than that I just remember some bloke open the train door at East Croydon and asked us if we won. When we told him we had, he replied "Oh Bollocks!" and sloped off.

The next day Saint and Greavsie (On The Ball) showed the goals.

An absolutely amazing night.

Team:
Burridge, Hinshelwood, Sansom, Kember, Cannon, Gilbert, Nicholas, Murphy, Swindlehurst, Walsh, Hilaire.

I've still got the program in the roof.

You fed me, you bred me, I'll remember your name.

I went with my brother 'Geoff Thomas', but I was 16 at the time so me and my mate decided to stand in the middle of the Holmesdale. My abiding memories are of groups of Brighton and Sunderland fans that were in the Whitehorse, having aching legs prior to kick off, looking at my watch praying that we would score and take the championship from the Brighton scum, my feet not touching the ground when we scored and the drinks afterwards.

I kept a scrapbook at the time, which my dear old nan used to assist with by providing clippings from the Croydon Advertiser. I have a picture of the Holmesdale in my scrapbook which is amazing, as someone said before, it was a sea of heads. According to the Advertiser there were over 23000!!! in the Holmesdale alone that night.

Have to say though, that this night was overshadowed by the trip to Wrexham in 1977!!
That was pure drama.

A new era of total football is on the way to Selhurst Park!!

In the words of Max Boyce, I was there!!

I stood on the Holmesdale at the back trying to get the best view I could. I was 15 at the time. I don't remember much about the game although I vaguely remember the goals. The pitch celebrations were amazing. I recall how jam packed it was on the pitch, yet when you looked around the ground there weren't any spare gaps on the terraces or in the stands.

I remember reading The Sun in Biology lesson at Purley Boys (usual practise) on the day of the game. The Burnley chairman at the time, Bob Lord I think, said they would turn Palace over because he would rather see Sunderland in the 1st Division than Palace. Git!

Ian Walsh summarises on all the Welsh games on BBC here in sunny Cymru and I always think of '79 when I hear him.

Dulce et decorum est pro Palace mori

"Gee, you and I oughtta get on swell Mister Burton, as we're both Selts".
"No, I am a Selt. You are a Sunt."

"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not." ~ Stephen Wright

[Link]