October 11 2006

Selhurst Park

Jamesey is delighted at the news that our chairman has managed to buy the freehold of Selhurst Park.

What a great a pleasure it was last weekend to return from the cool and stormy weather of north-east Greece to the sunny and balmy climate of south-east England. Yes, daft isn't it?

It's great to go travelling but it's always nice to be home, and even better to read that Simon Jordan has, by subterfuge, managed to buy our ground from Ron Noades.

It has always been a stark fear for me that we would relocate to some remote and inaccessible greenfield site in the Surrey or Sussex countryside...long, awkward drives or expensive, irritating train rides to be endured.

Of course, Selhurst Park leaves a lot to be desired. The Holmesdale is impressive (Ron Noades's innovation - please remember all Ron-knockers). The Coydon Advertiser stand is adequate.

But the Main Stand is in drastic need of modernisation, as is the Arthur Wait.

Let's face it, we don't need any extra capacity. The only times we have ever sold out in our Premiership seasons have been the few and obvious big games with the you-know-whos.

I guess, speaking as a veteran supporter, I have an extra desire to be conservative and to stay where we are.

After 50 years of travelling to Selhurst from various addresses I have got used to it. Nostalgia is a strong issue for the long-standing fan.

In the 1950s when I first made the journeys as a South Croydon schoolboy, Selhurst was what was called at the time a working-class area, populated by white unskilled or blue-collar workers living largely in rented accommodation.

Now, all these years later, it is a multi-cultural, polyglot place where, as a senior Caucasian, I sometimes feel quite lonely.

But it is still Selhurst and that's where I for one want to carry on supporting the Palace. Hopefully that will now be the case.

Scatter my ashes along the Holmesdale Road - although that will no doubt be against Croydon Council hygiene regulations now.

Email Jamesey with your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

In Depth Jamesey's Veteran View Index