Crystal Palace v Luton Town matchday programme 23240

Crystal Palace √ luton town

sat 9 mar 2024 15:00 kick-off

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palace √ luton town sat 9 mar | 15:00

Directors Chairman Steve Parish,

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David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, John Textor Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin Sporting Director Dougie Freedman Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell Head of Sports Medicine Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad

08 Captain

Academy Director

10 chairman

Director of U21 Development

36 eagle eye 42 ben bailey smith 44 academy

Gary Issott Mark Bright Chief Operating Officer Sharon Lacey Chief Commercial Officer Barry Webber

52 history makers

General Counsel

54 From the Archive

Head of Ticketing

David Nichol

56 RETRO PALACE 62 PALACE FOR LIFE 69 BEAT BRIGHTY 70 stats & results

Paul McGowan Head of Retail Foz Bowers Head of Safeguarding Cassi Wright Head Groundsman

12 We want more attacking pace, more speed, to be more quick. You have to play forward more quickly, and for this we have to train hard all week. If I can have more goals with this type of way we play, then it is good for me

Bruce Elliott Editor Will Robinson Design Billy Cooke, Stu Ellmer, Lucas Gough

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Contributors Ian King, Robin Johnson, Toby Jagmohan, Tommy Macarthur, Doc Brown, Mike Simmonds Photography Neil Everitt, Sebastian Frej, Pinnacle Photo Agency, Toby Jagmohan, Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

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palace √ luton town sat 9 mar | 15:00

SUPPORT THE EAGLES There are plenty of chances to support the Eagles, despite the first-team having a three-week break between now and the next Premier League fixture at Nottingham Forest at the very end of March.

Palace Women are at Selhurst Park tomorrow afternoon, facing Sheffield United (12:00 GMT). With the game falling on Mother’s Day, Palace are celebrating family football with one free Adult ticket available for every Under-16 ticket purchased – head to cpfc.co.uk for more details.

You can also get down to support Laura Kaminski’s side as they return to Selhurst Park on Sunday, 24th March (14:00 GMT). The Eagles’ pulled in a club-record attendance of 4,442 in their last Selhurst showdown against Southampton, and with the run-in well and truly underway, make sure you get back down to SE25 to show your support in two hugely significant games.

Palace’s Under-21s are in fantastic form, unbeaten since the winter break, and take on Aston Villa at the VBS Community Stadium on Monday, 11th March

(19:00 GMT). This game cannot be livestreamed on Palace TV+ due to broadcasting restrictions, so make sure you head to cpfc.co.uk to grab your tickets now!

On this day 9 mar 1991 Geoff Thomas scored a brace as Palace narrowly beat Southampton at Selhurst Park. Steve Coppell’s side were up against an in-form Saints boasting a young Alan Shearer among their ranks, but a looping header and a thunderous free-kick from the captain were enough to see the Eagles come out on top.

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briefing

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Thank you for such a warm welcome to Selhurst Park, and welcome to Rob Edwards and his Luton players and staff for this afternoon’s game.

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he last game here against Burnley was a great welcome for my staff and me. Straight away I could feel a unity around the club: we were all together with the fans and the team. It helped us from the very first second, because I think everybody on the pitch, on the bench and in the stands could feel the positive spirit at Selhurst Park.

It meant the fans pushed the team, and we earned an important and totally deserved win. It was what we all hoped for before the game, and it came from a togetherness from the beginning until the end.

This is what I hope can happen – and I know can happen – for all of our home games. That togetherness, that support for the team: that is how we want to spend a Saturday afternoon.

By kick-off, we had only been with the players for three days. You don’t get faster, you don’t get fitter and you don’t learn everything in three days – it is like learning a language, in three days it is impossible. But what helped the team produce that performance was the support. From the beginning, we spoke about selfconfidence and we spoke about team

we were all together with the fans and the team. It helped us from the very first second, because I think everybody on the pitch, on the bench and in the stands could feel the positive spirit at Selhurst Park

manager

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spirit. We reminded everyone that it is not just the 11 players on the pitch, but the whole bench, the whole backroom staff and all the fans that create this spirit together.

I think this is the biggest reason for the performance. Remember, it was 0-0 for a long time and nobody became impatient, neither the players nor the fans. Everybody had the feeling that if we continued playing like we were, we would win the game. Everybody had this belief.

I know it is not something you can measure, but we felt it, and for me it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If we all believe we can make it happen, then it happens.

At Tottenham last weekend, we were disappointed because we had the lead at a late stage in the game, and if you have the lead at that moment you want to win the game.

We gave them goals too easily, and a top team like Spurs will always thank you for that. But the team worked

We could see that we were going in the right direction, but we were not yet able to be competitive over 100 minutes of the game. This is what we have to work on: to be competitive in every part physically, technically and tactically, but also mentally

manager

hard, and again they worked as a team. We could see that we were going in the right direction, but we were not yet able to be competitive over 100 minutes of the game. This is what we have to work on: to be competitive in every part physically, technically and tactically, but also mentally. The away support from our fans was very, very good throughout.

After today’s game, we have the rare opportunity of a short break before our next Premier League game. For the first week we will have all the players together before some head off to their national sides, and so the more time we spend together the better we will get to know one another. Our job is always to think in solutions, and so when a game is postponed we can train harder than we would preparing for a game on Saturday, which will be helpful for us.

Today we face Luton, whose form does not tell the full story of their performances; in defeat most recently they scored two goals against Manchester City and Aston Villa, so this is a team that plays with a lot of confidence. But we are at home at Selhurst Park, and we want to win the three points with the same spirit that we started and finished the game with against Burnley. We go into this game to win the game, and with your support and belief from the very first minute we can make it happen. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again, and hearing the atmosphere you create

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captain

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Welcome back to Selhurst Park for this afternoon’s game, as we aim for back-to-back home league victories in the Premier League.

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fter leading away at Tottenham last weekend, we were all disappointed that we could not come away with a result that we felt we deserved – but there were plenty of positives to take from the afternoon.

It was great to welcome Ebs back to the side, and he marked his return with a fantastic goal. Every single player ran their heart out as we look to implement the manager’s instructions, and we will continue to do that in each and every game this season.

Your support at Spurs was fantastic as always, and was a continuation of the deafening atmosphere against Burnley a fortnight ago. It was a special afternoon with the introduction of the new gaffer to south London, and I think you proved to him what an amazing noise Selhurst Park can make. Let’s do the same this afternoon.

We put together a really positive performance against Burnley, and were rewarded with the result. We are aiming to be aggressive in our defending, to attack with real intent and to leave absolutely everything out on the pitch. It’s what we are working on in training each week, and with

more time the manager’s methods will become more ingrained.

After today’s game, we have a short break thanks to the postponement of our fixture against Newcastle. Although we would all prefer to be in Premier League action, this gives us an opportunity to work with the manager and his coaching

Every single player ran their heart out as we look to implement the manager’s instructions, and we will continue to do that in each and every game staff in more detail which I hope will benefit us come the end of the season.

At the time of writing the international squads are yet to be announced, but I wish all of our international players the very best over the break – it’s such an honour to represent your country, and reflects well on Crystal Palace too. captain

I wanted to give a quick shoutout to the Under-21s for three fantastic results in three competitions over the last fortnight, meaning they are still competing on three fronts heading into the business end of the season. Good luck lads – it’s great to see so much talent coming through.

We face a Luton side today who have shown plenty of times this season that they are ready to cause an upset against the biggest sides, and although results have not gone their way recently their performances have shown them to be a physical, technically capable side full of confidence in their own ability. We will have to make sure we are focused from the first minute to the last today in order to come away with another important three points.

Thank you as always for your support – let’s create another special atmosphere at Selhurst Park this afternoon. I hope we can produce the kind of performance to get you off your seats.

God Bless. JW

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Welcome to the supporters, players, staff and directors of Luton to Selhurst Park for today’s match. Welcome as always to each and every Crystal Palace supporter here to get behind the team.

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et me begin by praising the remarkable atmosphere you created to welcome Oliver and his staff to Selhurst Park for the first time, in what was a very positive afternoon for the club.

Your support lasted from the very first minute until the final whistle, and I know Oliver and the players were lifted by such backing as they secured us a vitally important three points.

There were plenty of encouraging signs from a really promising and committed performance at Spurs, despite the result, and it was great to welcome Ebere back to action with a fine goal and see the team work so hard to try to get our first result at their new stadium. Whilst we didn’t hang on this time, I know Oliver and his staff are working hard so that we can see out those games in the future.

The postponement of our fixture against Newcastle gives us a three-week break between today’s fixture and our next Premier League game against

Your support lasted from the very first minute until the final whistle, and I know Oliver and the players were lifted by such backing as they secured us a vitally important three points

chairman

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Nottingham Forest. Although I’m sure everyone would like to be in the thick of Premier League action, this presents us with an opportunity for the players to spend some extended time working under the manager and his coaching staff, and also allows us an extra window for players on the treatment table to make progress in their journey towards full fitness.

I would like to congratulate Darren Powell and his Under21s side on a remarkable run of results across three competitions.

Reaching the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup for a second successive season, after finishing runners-up last year, is a fantastic achievement against some of Europe’s best young sides, while they have also reached the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup. More details for those fixtures will be announced in due course.

we face a tough game today against a team that have shown themselves to be more than capable of taking points, so I know Oliver and his players will need your full support for the full 90 minutes this afternoon

chairman

Palace Women are in fine form in their battle at the top of the Championship as they seek promotion to the Women’s Super League, and Laura Kaminski’s team face Sheffield United here at Selhurst Park tomorrow afternoon at 12pm. The details for the rearranged fixture against Birmingham City have also been confirmed, with the match taking place at the VBS Stadium in Sutton on Sunday, 14th April at 2pm. We are comfortably the highest scorers in the division this season - if you can, do head down and throw your support behind Laura’s side!

Once again we face a tough game today against a team that have shown themselves to be more than capable of taking points, so I know Oliver and his players will need your full support for the full 90 minutes this afternoon – I am confident you will produce another proper Selhurst atmosphere.

Up the Palace

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On course for his most prolific season at Crystal Palace to date, Jean-Philippe Mateta tells Will Robinson about developing a rhythm, a new tactical approach and a special relationship with the Selhurst Park crowd…

ateta

Jean-Philippe M

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F

or some footballers, focus is all about silence. Silence the crowd, silence your critics, silence any noise in your head and let your feet do the talking. The quiet types shut themselves off from the outside world in one of the sport’s greatest ironies; they are at their calmest and most serene in front of thousands of adoring supporters – or sometimes more so in front of thousands of braying opponents.

A deep breath in the tunnel, and they sink into their own world.

It is an admirable trait, but not the only route to success, and certainly not for everyone. For Jean-Philippe Mateta, the opposite is true. He is a man who takes in all around him. Football is not a game played within the confines of four white lines, but a battle taking place in the entirety of the stadium, an arena in which each and every small advantage should be levied in support of the team’s efforts.

Rather than shut out the crowd, use them. It is most apparent in his goal celebration, the iconic smashing of the corner flag surrounded by the now familiar ‘BOOM’ from the crowd, but it is a constant in his performances.

Clapping at the right chants, geeing up the crowd before a set-piece, pumping his fist after a perfectly timed challenge or a well-executed press. After all, is that bond between fans and players not what makes us all fall in love with the sport in the first place?

“I like to play with the fans in mind, because the fans come for

I like to feel something with them. A relationship with the fans. They don’t come to see us just to be serious, and for us to be serious and do the job solemnly. They pay! They put some money down to come, and they are much happier when we do it for them

Jean-Philippe Mateta

us,” he says, pondering his next corner flag demolition. “I want to play with them. I like to clap my hands and to see them clap their hands to win the game.

“You can’t quite speak to them [mid-game], but I like to feel something with them. A relationship with the fans. They don’t come to see us just to be serious, and for us to be serious and do the job solemnly. They pay!

They put some money down to come, and they are much happier when we do it for them.

“I like to build a relationship with the fans, and that is why I ask them to say ‘boom’ when I score.”

We ask if he has any plans to roll out a new celebration for the future, but the answer is emphatic.

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that is why I ask them to say ‘boom’ when I score Jean-Philippe Mateta

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I feel like I am playing more, and that means more goals Jean-Philippe Mateta

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“No – I’ve been doing this since I was young!

“I will always keep it – particularly in Selhurst, because it has started to be very loud now.

They make a big noise. When I hear the ‘boom’, it’s always good for me.” We can’t argue with that – but does he have any advice for Palace’s younger players who hope to be unveiling a goal celebration at some time soon?

“They have to follow what they are like,” says Mateta. “They have to follow their personality – don’t try to do what someone else does, just be yourself.”

It’s a theme that runs through much of his game both on and off the pitch: personality. JeanPhilippe Mateta is not afraid to be his own man, and he is not afraid to show himself for who he really is. It is that personality which has bred his increased confidence in London, and seen him nail down a starting spot in attack for much of this season.

“I can still get better, but goals give me more confidence in the team,” he says. “I feel like I am playing more, and that means more goals are hopefully going to come.

“For a striker, it’s always good to play. It is hard to play one game and stay on the bench for one game and then play another game.

It is very hard. But now I start to have the rhythm, and I feel like that starts to give me confidence.

The coaches have given me a responsibility, and now I have to show them I am ready for it.”

It is hard to play one game and stay on the bench for one game and then play another game. It is very hard. But now I start to have the rhythm, and I feel like that starts to give me confidence.

The coaches have given me a responsibility, and now I have to show them I am ready for it

Jean-Philippe Mateta

He has added to that responsibility from the penalty spot in recent weeks, scoring from 12 yards against Liverpool and Burnley.

Here is the only occasion where he allows himself to shut out the noise – and for good reason.

“Always when you take a penalty it is never the same,” he explains. “It is different. I get nervous a little bit, but you have to stay focused. I just keep my eyes on the ball and try to be focused, because the defender will come around and say it isn’t a penalty, or tell me I’m going to miss. I don’t say anything back, I just stay focused.”

Mateta started the season in blistering fashion, scoring a sensational hat-trick against Plymouth Argyle in the League Cup

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– the first netted by a Palace player since Dwight Gayle eight years earlier. “As a striker, scoring a hat-trick gives you confidence,” he explains. “You always enjoy having that ball in your house. Everybody signs the ball – it is on a shelf close to my TV! Hopefully more are going to come.”

Since then, both opportunities and challenges: the benefits of competition with another top centre-forward in Odsonne Edouard; the difficulties of injuries to some of Palace’s brightest attacking players around him.

With Ebere Eze and Michael Olise out, however, opportunities have been handed to some of the most exciting young players, like teenagers Matheus França and David Ozoh.

“Competition is always good, especially for a player in the Premier League,” Mateta says. “It’s good when you have somebody to make you push yourself. We also have a strong forward team – but sometimes players have been injured. When everybody is back, there is a lot of competition of course. “[Matheus] is not the same player as when he played his first game. The more you play, the more you have a good rhythm. My advice to the young players is just to play like you train. If you train well, you will do the same on matchday.”

Mateta combined with Jordan Ayew for Palace’s opener at Goodison Park, and while the Ghanaian is a valuable asset on the pitch, he is also a perfect teammate

competition is always good, especially for a player in the Premier League, It’s good when you have somebody to make you push yourself.

We also have a strong forward team – but sometimes players have been injured

Jean-Philippe Mateta

for Mateta off it. A childhood Marseille fan, Ayew’s father Abedi Pele is something of a hero in the Mateta household, having won the European Cup in 1993 and remaining one of the club’s greatest ever players.

Mateta even followed Ayew’s career from its very beginning. “I always speak about Jordan – I remember when he started football with Marseille and he scored some goals. They were a very good team, and when my father followed them they won the Champions League with the father of Jordan.

“Jordan’s father is really big, like a legend in my family! I always speak about it. I ask Jordan how Marseille was when he was there.

I’m really interested in it – and I still watch Marseille games.”

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Jordan’s father is really big, like a legend in my family!

Jean-Philippe Mateta

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We want more attacking pace, more speed Jean-Philippe Mateta

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The appointment of Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace manager has meant new methods on the training pitch, and an adaptation of club’s playing style. For Mateta, this is an exciting opportunity – if also one requiring hard work.

Glasner’s Wolfsburg and Frankfurt sides were consistently some of the most energetic in the league, and Mateta’s two-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga with Mainz meant he was in no doubt what was in store.

“Now we have changed coach, the new coach has a different type of football,” he explains. “It is more about running. He has asked for more intensity in the team and in training. In the game, we want more intensity and more pressure.

Everybody has to run.

“We want more attacking pace, more speed, to be more quick. You have to play forward more quickly, and for this we have to train hard all week. If I can have more goals with this type of way we play, then it is good for me and good for the team.

“In Mainz it was also a lot of running, but in the Premier League they have everything. There is more tactics, more pace, everyone is more strong. Every game is also completely different. You could play against Burnley or Chelsea or Brentford and it is always not the same.”

Whatever battle comes next, you can be sure that Mateta will be ready and waiting to enjoy every minute. Consistent selection this season has seen him grow in

Now we have changed coach, the new coach has a different type of football, It is more about running. He has asked for more intensity in the team and in training. In the game, we want more intensity and more pressure.

Everybody has to run

Jean-Philippe Mateta

confidence and resolve, and the goals are beginning to follow.

Under Oliver Glasner at Wolfsburg, Wout Weghorst turned into prolific centre-forward; at Eintracht Frankfurt, Randal Kolo Muani blossomed into one of the most exciting young strikers on the continent. With Jean-Philippe Mateta, that journey is only just beginning.

Whether it’s in south London or across the country, there is one thing that is for sure: Jean-Philippe Mateta will never stop trying to give those in attendance their money’s worth. His relationship with the fans is booming, and if he keeps scoring it will only get stronger still

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the follow -up

This season, we’re putting your questions to members of the Palace squad. To have a chance of seeing your question answered by a first-team star, just head to cpfc.co.uk and submit your burning enquiries…

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Where is your ideal holiday?

Jasmine Greene The planet is huge, and I am trying to explore everywhere. I’m starting to like Rio, and I go there a lot – França teaches me Portuguese.

New York.

Now we have two Colombians, I think I’m going to have to go to Colombia. Jefferson and Daniel showed me where to go, and Lerma teaches me Spanish every day – only the good words…

I want to go to Japan, because it is totally different to Europe and America. I like to be somewhere I don’t know. Good food and a different culture.

What is your favourite film?

Steven Anker The Godfather – and maybe even the second one. I love the story of the movie, Michael Corleone, his father Vito. The way he has to manage his family, the respect. I could watch this film so often and never get bored, it’s crazy.

If you were not a footballer, what would you be?

Jackie O’Shea I never think about this – it has always been football. Before, I would say I would never be a manager, but the more I grow I feel like maybe I can. Maybe I would be a sporting director, because I love to travel. Travelling, seeing a player, speaking to them.

Which striker did you look up to?

If you could play alongside one French legend, who would it be?

Shane Burrows I’m a striker, so I need to play with a midfielder… Zinedine Zidane.

He was just the best. He can pass, skilful, he can do anything. the follow-up

James Staniforth Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is tall, strong, he has technique – because he’s tall he can do a lot of crazy things.

He can score a lot of goals. He’s a genius. His attitude as well, he is confident. To be fair, I think the celebration comes from him: one day he kicked a corner flag, and I tried it when I was young and I kept it.

Got a question?

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LUTON TOWN

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Opposition preview After being written off by many as certainties for relegation before a ball had been kicked, Luton have been the surprise package this season and are well within touching distance of survival as the run-in beckons.

A famous first Premier League victory at Goodison Park in September put to an end a difficult opening period, before a remarkable flurry of festive points, beating Newcastle United and Sheffield United in quick succession, before thrashing Brighton & Hove Albion and heading to St James’ Park to inflict more pain on Eddie Howe’s side.

However, there is a sense that Luton’s battle for survival may – if they succumb to relegation – be defined by a series of near misses.

They conceded a 95th-minute

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Top Scorer Elijah Adebayo (9) Most assists Alfie Doughty (6)

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LUTON TOWN Liverpool equaliser, a 97th-minute Declan Rice winner against Arsenal and two second-half goals after leading Manchester City at home; more recently, the crossbar denied them a last-gasp point against Manchester United and a two-goal lead was let slip against Newcastle.

The same problem reared its head against Aston Villa last time out, as Luton valiantly battled back from two goals down to draw level before conceding a third in the final minute of normal time, condemning another fine performance to no reward.

It means the Hatters have lost their last four on the spin, and with Everton’s points deduction reduced from 10 to six, their place in the Premier League looks ever-more precarious. If there is to be a sensational survival story, they need to get back to winning ways and fast.

Manager Rob Edwards Former Palace loanee Edwards became the first manager to be both sacked and promoted in the same season as he guided Luton to the Premier League, having been dismissed by Watford. His first Premier League campaign has seen his instil a steely resilience in his side, as they scrap for survival.

LUTON TOWN

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Starting xi

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A. Bell

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L. Berry

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BOOT IN BOTH CAMPS Sambi Lokonga Lokonga played nine times for Palace during a six-month loan spell last season, before joining Luton on loan from parent club Arsenal in September. He is a Belgium international.

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LUTON TOWN

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briefing What’s the story?

Founded in 1885 as a merger of many local clubs, including Luton Wanderers and Luton Excelsior, the team initially competed in the eclectic mix of dark blue and pink shirts, and became the first club in southern England to turn fully professional in 1891.

A move to the current ground of Kenilworth Road was arranged in 1905, with captain Bob Hawkes the club’s first player to earn international recognition two years later, making his debut against Ireland in 1907.

Hawkes would go on to win the gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics, and stayed at Luton for his entire career, making

more than 400 appearances for the club.

After the First World War, the club changed their colours to black and white, which they kept for much of their history. Despite playing in the Third Division, Luton’s side was so renowned that England’s visit to face Ireland in 1921 saw three representatives on the pitch, two for Ireland and one for England.

Luton struggled for interwar success, but eventually gained promotion to the Second Division in 1937, where they remained until the mid-1950s. In the process, striker Joe Payne scored 55 goals in 39 games, having the previous season notched 10 in a single game against Bristol Rovers. It is a

record which remains unbeaten in the Football League to this day.

One of Luton’s greatest sides emerged in the 1950s, as they reached the top-flight for the first time in 1956 and reached an FA Cup final in 1959. However, by the 1964/65 season the club had plummeted and was back playing in the fourth tier.

After yo-yoing for much of the 1960s and 1970s, a recovery in the 1980s under David Pleat proved the club’s most successful period, before a return to non-league obscurity in the 1990s and 2000s.

Their climb back up to the Premier League has been long and arduous, culminating in last season’s dramatic play-off final against Coventry at Wembley.

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the greatest manager David Pleat Pleat played for Luton for three years, taking over as manager in 1978. He transformed the club from top to bottom, winning the Second Division by a record number of points by playing entertaining attacking football. Only a defeat in extra-time in the 1985 FA Cup semifinal at Goodison Park denied them a crack at major silverware, while nine of the starting XI in the League Cup final were Pleat’s signings. He returned in 1991, managing 600 Luton games in total.

3-2 luton √ arsenal league cup

Mick Harford

24 april 1988 / wembley

One of the most exciting finals in the competition’s history. After Luton took an early lead, Arsenal hit back with two goals inside four minutes and the cup looked to be heading to the favourites. Instead, Luton levelled the scores with 10 minutes remaining, before scoring a last-gasp winner to lift the cup.

A place in Europe was denied them due to the UEFA ban on English teams entering the competition – a fate Palace would later share.

LUTON TOWN

Signed by David Pleat in 1984, Harford’s form at Luton Town saw him become a full England international, as he inspired the club to their only major honour to date in the 1988 League Cup final. He re-signed for the Hatters in 1991 despite interest from Manchester United, taking his tally for the club to 92 goals; Sir Alex Ferguson later expressed his regret at not signing Harford, whom he felt could have won them the title in 1992. Some praise.

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joined

2023

from

Issa Kaboré

02

A former teammate of Adam Wharton during three years at Blackburn Rovers, Kaminski moved to the Premier League with Luton Town upon their promotion, and has been everpresent since.

Gabriel Osho pos

defender

nat

england

age

25

Osho scored in the Championship play-off semi-final against Sunderland, and netted against Arsenal this season as Luton came within seconds of securing a famous result at Kenilworth Road.

LUTON TOWN

31

15 17

Pelly Mpanzu pos

midfielder

nat

DR Congo

age

29

Mpanzu’s story has a special place in English football history, as he became the first player to rise from non-league to the Premier League with the same club, in a phenomenal decade with Luton.

16 27

Teden Mengi

Reece Burke

DEFENDER england age

21

height

6ft 0in

joined

2023

from Mengi overcame serious injuries as a youngster to make his debut for Manchester United, before cementing his place as a Premier League regular for Luton this season. He scored against Palace back in November.

Daiki Hashioka

pos

defender

pos

defender

nat age

england

nat

japan

27

age

24

pos

defender

pos

defender

nat

jamaica

nat

england

age

29

age

24

29 45 Amari’i Bell

LUTON TOWN

Alfie Doughty

30

32

Andros Townsend pos

FORWARD

nat

england

age

32

06

Townsend made almost 200 appearances for Palace before moving to Everton, signing for Luton Town last summer and providing much-valued Premier League experience to the newly-promoted side.

08 13 Luke Berry

Ross Barkley

Marvelous Nakamba

pos

MIDFIELDER

pos

MIDFIELDER

nat age

england

nat

zimbabwe

31

age

30

18 28 Jordan Clark

Albert Sambi Lokonga

pos

midfielder

pos

midfielder

nat

england

nat

belgium

age

30

age

24

LUTON TOWN

MIDFIELDER england age

30

height

6ft 2in

joined

2023

from Barkley has proved an inspired signing, revitalising his career after a difficult spell at Chelsea and in France, and has reminded the Premier League of his quality by inspiring some of Luton’s best performances this season.

33

07 10 09 Chiedozie Ogbene

Cauley Woodrow

pos

forward

pos

FORWARD

nat

rep. ireland

nat

england

age

26

age

29

11 19 Elijah Adebayo

Carlton Morris

Jacob Brown

pos

forward

nat age

FORWARD

pos

FORWARD

england

nat

scotland

26

age

25

14

Tahith Chong pos

FORWARD

nat

netherlands

age

24

Signed from Manchester United after breaking through alongside Mengi, Chong has scored twice in his first full Premier League season, his first to earn Luton a famous draw with Liverpool at Kenilworth Road.

LUTON TOWN

england age

28

height

6ft 1in

joined

2022

from Morris has taken to the Premier League with real gusto in his first full top-flight campaign, scoring eight times for Luton including against Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa this season.

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Delivered by:

Stat zone

00 49

midfielder

Marvelous Nakamba

37

Apps

71

passes

1,866

passes per match

26.28

accurate long balls

64

tackles

149

tackle success

57%

fouls

74

Apps

46

passes

1,700

passes per match

36.96

tackles

55

tackle success

75%

interceptions

31

clearances

33

recoveries

165

duels won

154

Assists

2

accurate long balls

83

yellow cards

9

28

played 1 0 0

1

1

goals

2

0

penalties won

0

0

penalties scored

0

0

clean sheets

0

1

yellow cards

6

0

red cards

0

23/24 season goals 32

interceptions

79

clearances

66

37

conceded 47 54

average possession 41.6% 41.4%

pass accuracy 76.7% 72.1%

recoveries

385

duels won

277

clean sheets 6 2

yellow cards

18

tackles 528 455

LUTON TOWN

midfielder

Albert Sambi Lokonga

13

This will be Crystal Palace’s first home league game against Luton Town since Feb 2007 in the Championship (won 2-1), and first in the top-flight since a 1-1 draw in Feb 1992.

36

Eagle Eye Mike Simmonds is the Sports Editor of Luton Today, covering the Hatters’ first season in the Premier League.

How have Luton compared to your pre-season expectations?

Luton are more or less where I’d hoped they would be at the start of the season, as having come up through the play-offs, it would have been unrealistic to expect them to take that form into the top-flight, given the massive step up in class.

The aim was to be competitive and have a chance of remaining in the division for another season when the run-in, that looked kinder on paper, came around, and that is something they certainly have done.

How important is Rob Edwards to the club?

The ex-Palace loanee is a huge reason as to why Luton are in the division in the first place, having taken over last term and led the club to the Premier League. He's also changed tactics during the campaign to ensure Town haven’t gone the way of Burnley and Sheffield United, and actually look capable of staying up. There can’t be too many managers as popular as him, as he has formed a seemingly unbreakable bond with the Hatters fans, who quickly forgave him for his spell at sworn enemies Watford.

Who is Luton’s most important player – and whose contribution flies under the radar?

Midfielder Ross Barkley has had an outstanding season for Luton, as he has an ever-growing highlights reel that has led many supporters to label him as the best player they have seen wearing a Hatters shirt.

A player who might go under the radar somewhat, but is just as important, is keeper Thomas Kaminski, who continues to produce some outstanding saves on a weekly basis. He will need to make more of them if the Hatters are to stay up.

LUTON TOWN

What will be key to a Premier League survival this season?

The key will be Luton’s ability to get results against the teams around them at Kenilworth Road during the run-in.

With 12 games to go, seven of them involve sides in the bottom half of the table, including Everton and Nottingham Forest.

With both those sides potentially being hit by points deductions next month, it heaps added significance on to the matches, and should Town be able to win both of them, it will go some way to keeping them safe.

Who is a name for the future to keep an eye on?

At just 21-years-old, defender Teden Mengi was signed as more of a back-up when joining from Manchester United earlier in the season. Injuries to other defenders saw him given a chance sooner than he or Rob Edwards expected and he has quite simply grasped it with both hands. A centre-half who just loves defending, now over the injury worries he had when at Old Trafford, it’s quite clear he is going to go on and have an excellent career.

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We meet again From memorable meetings to tense transfers to shared stories, Palace have their own personal tale to tell for each of our Premier League opposition this season. Here, a special season gets underway...

HATTERS TOPPLED Although nobody could have predicted just how special the 1978/79 season was set to be for Crystal Palace, there was still a palpable sense of anticipation on Tuesday, 22nd August as Luton Town arrived at Selhurst Park for the first home game. There was excitement at seeing new £200,000 signing Mike Elwiss for the first time after his arrival from Preston North End, but the Hatters were a formidable opponent having hit Oldham Athletic for six on the opening day.

The previous season had been a learning experience, with a number of Palace’s young players blooded in the first-team; this same mix of youth and experience would earn them plaudits throughout the campaign. The Eagles were, at this point, 20-1 outsiders for the title.

They started as they meant to go on, however, and as early as the fourth minute a flowing team move saw Kenny Sansom deliver for Dave Swindlehurst to head home, scoring his second goal in as many games. The joy was short-lived, as just a few minutes later a Lil Fuccillo penalty levelled up the scores.

After this set-back Palace moved up a gear, and were in almost complete control for the remainder of the contest. At halftime, manager Terry Venables told his team to go out and play with more freedom, and so they did. Just six minutes into the second-half, Vince Hilaire nodded the hosts back into the lead, before rounding four defenders on a mazy dribble to set up Nicky Chatterton, who clattered his effort off the upright.

Despite the Eagles’ control, there was a nervous wait for the points to be confirmed – but confirmed they were when the hard-working Elwiss carved out an opportunity for Jerry Murphy to wrap it up with his first senior Palace goal.

LUTON TOWN

Palace: Burridge, Hinshelwood, Sansom, Chatterton, Cannon, Gilbert, Nicholas, Murphy, Swindlehurst, Elwiss, Hilaire.

Luton: Aleksic, Stephens, Sherlock, Donaghy, Turner, Aizlewood, Hill, Fuccillo (Ingram), Stein, Hatton, Moss.

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arsenal

THROUGH THE LENS

BACK WITH A BANG

39

through the lens

40

WELCOME TO THE CLUB Play Now

arsenal

41

ben bailey-smith

42

Ben Bailey Smith, aka Doc Brown, does it all – acting, rapping, writing, directing, you name it. The multifaceted Palace fan is also a patron of Palace for Life Foundation. In each edition, he offers his unique take on the world in SE25...

I’m not a betting man Personally, I tend to accept the generally universal understanding that human beings can’t see the future – hence I feel no pull to part with my hard-earned cash based on my ability to predict the outcome of the universe. And yet every April, I merrily throw money into a Grand National-shaped manhole, betting on a sport I literally know nothing about. Even before I had money of my own my dad would put a quid on for me. I haven’t missed a bet in 40 years. Forty years! Zero wins. ZERO. Why? Because what in God’s name have I ever understood about horse racing? I’ve never seen a race outside of the National, yet suddenly I’m super confident about taking the tenner I could have bought my children’s lunch with and chucking it at Hoagy Carmichael’s Treehouse or some other ridiculously named nag that I think sounds like a winner.

Ask me to bet on a sport that I watch every single day, that I have studied since the mid-eighties; a

suddenly I’m super confident about taking the tenner I could have bought my children’s lunch with and chucking it at Hoagy Carmichael’s Treehouse or some other ridiculously named nag that I think sounds like a winner sport I watch in all incarnations – national, international, women’s, kids and Sunday League – all in granular detail and with obsessive fascination? No sir. No way am I risking my cash on a home win for a Crystal Palace team with a bright new manager against a Burnley team who literally lose to everyone. ben bailey-smith

Too risky! My prediction? 3-0. But no, I’m not betting. Uh-uh, no way.

Fast forward to last Saturday, 3pm.

Sorry bookies – you want me to bet that Palace will come a cropper away at Spurs? I wouldn’t dare!

Who knows what could happen?

My prediction? 3-1.

I mean, the last time we won away at Tottenham I think I had just finished my A-Levels. I now have a child finishing their A-Levels.

So of all my personal fascinations and detailed knowledge of the beautiful game, why not pick the one I consume the most – Crystal Palace Football Club – and make a fast buck? I always know what’s going to happen to us, don’t I? Unfortunately, I can’t bet that Palace will lose even when I’m certain we will. That would feel like dirty money to scrape back off the counter. When we lose, I want to wallow with my fellow Eagles, I can’t be nipping off to collect my illgotten gains, grubby little smile on my chops. No – we win together, we lose together.

Fine. But why not bet on us when you know we’re going to

43

win? Surely that would just add to the general state of euphoria? Fair question and I think the answer has been somewhat subconscious up until now. It’s all down to emotion.

My problem is I’m too damn emotional. I’m reminded of my 10 years as a stand-up comedian.

Whenever I died, I found it absolutely excruciating – like sitting in the loneliest, darkest hole you can think of for at least 24 hours.

Staring into the abyss, the abyss staring back at you and saying “You are not funny.” So my focus was always on the opposite of dying – killing. Which, eventually, I began doing eight times out of ten, the two remainders being one average

gig (fine) and one death (yuck). But soon I realised that killing was a lot like dying – an incredibly powerful surge of extreme emotion, except instead of shrinking into a dark netherworld, you feel as powerful as some kind of ancient mythical Norse god – equally unhealthy. I couldn’t deal with the emotional seesaw, so I quit. Or at least took an extended sabbatical, which it turns out I’m still on, seven years later.

Now, as much as I have come close over the decades, I can’t quit Palace. Even a brief sabbatical is out of the question. I’ve watched us at nine in the morning in an Irish bar in Brookyln, midnight in a shisha bar in Abu Dhabi, ben bailey-smith

listened to us on many a soulless motorway – and no matter where I am or what I’m doing, all time stops for the famous red and blue. If we win, I’m wrapped in a cacophony of emotions. If we lose, I’m wrapped in a cacophony of emotions. If I’ve also got money at stake I think I would do a Mr Creosote and actually explode. I’ll keep the cash, thanks.

Funnily enough, I have no idea what’s going to happen today.

Luton are way less predictable than the others. Tell you one thing though – we’ll be loud, proud and Palace from the off.

I’d put my house on it.

UTP!

.

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Crystal Palace’s young Academy goalkeepers experienced a day they will never forget, as the club held 'Goalkeeper Day' to inspire the next generation between the sticks, with youngsters meeting their heroes in first-team training and learning from those at the top of their game.

Led by Academy goalkeeping coach Jordan Knight, players from the Under-11s through to the Under-16s were invited to experience a unique ‘Goalkeeper Day,’ where they were initially coached by goalkeepers from the Under-18s squad.

This gave them exposure to the Professional Development Phase, which is where they will be aiming to reach once they progress beyond U16s level. Following their training session, they went to meet the first-team goalkeepers and see their heroes train.

“You can't underestimate how important something like this is,” explained Knight. “If you are the Under-11s goalkeeper, getting the opportunity to watch the first-team goalkeepers up close and to be literally introduced to them, to watch them in the flesh, it's so powerful.

“It's such a unique tool. We're very lucky and very fortunate that the first-team have allowed us that opportunity, first and foremost. We know we're lucky. “[It’s great] for the lads to see that you get consistent messages

from us when we're coaching them so that when they walk through the door, there's not a bundle of difference.

If you are the Under-11s goalkeeper, getting the opportunity to watch the first-team goalkeepers up close and to be literally introduced to them, to watch them in the flesh, it's so powerful “In terms of what's different, it’s the speed and the power of the ball. The game is a lot quicker, obviously, but actually the base techniques and what they do [is mostly the same]. For them to go over and from the session they've Academy

done in the morning to see what the first-team guys are doing; there's so much consistency in the messages they’re seeing.”

Having first-team goalkeeper coach Dean Kiely put across the same messages and similar methods of training for the younger goalkeepers was crucial, Knight added. “The key thing is that what Deano [Dean Kiely] is saying to the first-team boys is what we're coaching our lads weekly.

“It's so powerful for them to actually see this. Half the time they'll look at us and go: ‘What does the coach know?’ But the first-team goalie coach says something and it might be the thing that triggers it for them. To be able to expose them to the top end of the football club, it's so massive and it gives them such a spring in their step as well.

“To have a link between us and them is so powerful because there are some clubs where there isn't that crossover. We'll speak to Deano every week, we know what's going on there, he knows what's going on here.

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Lads in our U18s teams [like] Billy have trained with the first-team this season, and international breaks mean opportunities come up and it's not alien to him.

To have that link between the Academy and the first-team, it's vital

“We might be across two different sites but the reality is that we all want to produce goalkeepers for this football club. So, from a goalkeeping perspective, that link's massive because there will be times when they'll need our goalkeepers to step up.

“It can't be an alien environment. It can't be people that they're not used to being around. So, to be able to drip-feed something like this today to the very, very youngest groups [is crucial].

“Lads in our U18s teams [like] Billy have trained with the firstteam this season, and international breaks mean opportunities come

up and it's not alien to him. To have that link between the Academy and the first-team, it's vital to be able to build something that's successful.”

That link was exemplified in the latter part of the day, where the first-team goalkeepers went to the Academy to do a Q&A with the younger ‘keepers.

An opportunity like this, to pick the brains of their idols and understand more about them, was priceless and offered so much to round off the day. “I think there's so many takeaways that the lads will have had from today,” said Knight.

“I think at every moment today there's a learning opportunity academy

for them. When they get the opportunity to sit with the firstteam boys, [they need to think]: ‘Can I take one nugget?’

“Whatever they've taken in, there's so many opportunities to learn something on a day like this, whether that's the key details that Deano's putting across when he's coaching, the miniscule details that make such a difference, whether that's listening to the boys talk in the Q&A, or whether it's just watching and then trying to go and imitate them.

“At every moment today there's been a learning opportunity for them. I think it's been really, really successful overall.”

.

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It’s an exciting time to be coming through the Academy at Crystal Palace – this week, hear from two of the next generation on a learning experience…

T

Joe Whitworth

Age

17

Joined

Under-9s

Position

Goalkeeper

Age

20

Joined

Under-14s

Position

Goalkeeper

Billy Eastwood academy

aking part in Goalkeeper Day, from two different perspectives, were two of Palace’s biggest fans and brightest prospects between the sticks: Joe Whitworth, who made his first-team debut against Brighton & Hove Albion last season and Billy Eastwood, current first-choice goalkeeper for the Under-18s.

Eastwood, a second-year scholar, got to experience the coaching side in the earlier part of the session. “It was us, and the coaches Jordan [Knight], and Greggers [David Greggory]. We did a full day, so we did a bit of coaching first for about an hour or two, and then we went over the road to watch the first-team training.

“It's always quite good for the younger boys to see the first-team environment, to see their pathway in the club, to see how they get there.

Then, afterwards, doing a Q&A with them was very good too.

“It's massive to see a full pathway into the club, to see certain steps. I mean, even at my age, to get their first scholarship or their first contract, it's good for them to see the pathway up to that.”

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Building on that sentiment, Whitworth added: “I think it's top for [the younger goalkeepers].

To have the opportunity to come and watch first-team goalkeeper training, watching how they do things, how they train, how they carry themselves, different little things that they do, would have been unbelievable for me when I was younger.”

Whitworth himself was a part of the first-team session, alongside Dean Henderson, Sam Johnstone and Remi Matthews. As a goalkeeper currently aiming to break through, he can relate to the younger players who came over to witness the session.

“To even be involved with the first-team myself is unbelievable, but I think it's really important that we can connect with the younger goalies and answer a few questions as well,” he explained.

“For me, I'm still learning myself and what I look for in training and stuff is seeing Remi [Matthews], Deano [Henderson], Sam [Johnstone], different handling shapes, different bits that they do, how they move their feet in different ways, how quick they do it.

“If I was younger watching on, I think the intensity of how we train, how quick the ball is struck, how good the lads' handling is, could be a big takeaway for the boys. Even to do the footwork, how quickly we move our feet in different ways.”

This resonates with Eastwood in particular, who experienced training with the first-team multiple times this season, which he directly

it's a much higher level over there. I try to work hard and just be the best I can be. It's good to see sort of a personal side to the firstteam ‘keepers, because all we see is just them just on the screen sometimes billy eastwood

attributes for improvements in his game. “I've been there probably five or six times now.

“It's always really good to try to experience as much as I can because it's a much higher level over there. I try to work hard and just be the best I can be. It's good to see sort of a personal side to the first-team ‘keepers, because all we see is just them just on the screen sometimes.

“It’s good to actually meet them, and experience training with them one-to-one. It’s been great so far to train with them.” academy

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Our rearranged match against Sheffield United is set to take place at Selhurst Park tomorrow (Sunday, 10th March, 12:00 GMT)!

With the game now falling on Mother’s Day, Palace are celebrating family football with one free Adult ticket available for every Under-16 ticket purchased! Tickets are available via cpfc.co.uk. Supporters can use code CPFCWMD at checkout for a free Adult ticket, as long as they also have an Under-16 ticket added in their basket. At the time of writing, and with seven games to go, Palace are just four points behind league leaders Sunderland, with two games in hand and a superior goal difference.

International update Five Crystal Palace Women's players featured for their respective nations during the February international break.

Championship top scorer Elise Hughes started for Wales in their eye-catching 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in Tallaght.

Winning her 21st cap, Hughes was involved in the build-up to the corner which yielded Wales' first goal after seven minutes, and then assisted Susan Woodham's strike 15 minutes later with a clever flick.

At the other end, club teammate Izzy Atkinson played the final 18 minutes for Ireland, while Abbie Larkin was an unused substitute for the Girls in Green. Three days prior, both players featured in a 0-0 friendly

qualifiers against Italy, Switzerland and Portugal.

The Young Lionesses took part in the friendly La Nucia tournament in Alicante, facing France (a 3-2 defeat) at Camilo Cano Sports City, and Norway (a 2-2 draw) at Meliá Villaitana Hotel.

On both occasions, Potter started the game – captaining the Young Lionesses for the former – with Dennis coming off the bench for the final half-an-hour.

draw with Italy at Fiorentina's Viola Park.

At youth international level, Lexi Potter and Araya Dennis, on loan from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, were both called up for England U19s' training camp, ahead of April's crucial European Championship women

Crystal Palace Women’s rearranged fixture against Birmingham City has been confirmed for Sunday, 14th April (14:00 BST) in Sutton.

Last weekend’s game had been called off due to unsafe playing conditions, and will take place at the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton mid-April instead.

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Age 25 Position Forward Nationality England Signed

molly sharpe

2021 – Durham

Originally from Bradford City, Sharpe burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old with a County Cup final hat-trick against Leeds United.

She was joint-top scorer in the Championship with Durham in 2020/21, and continues to plunder the goals for Palace…

We caught up with Molly…

molly sharpe

It's a big month coming up…

When it’s a new block of games, you always want to start it with a win. It gets quite intense with the amount of matches, so I think if we can get a win this Sunday, it'll just push us on to carry on doing well for the next however many games.

How excited are you to get started after the break?

We’re looking forward to it. Coming off the back of [a 4-0 win] against Blackburn, we're just looking to push on, get another clean sheet, and another three points hopefully.

It’s good, the break, but it’s always good just to get back into full training. We’re hoping we can put all of that into action on Sunday, and give a positive performance.

What are your thoughts at this stage of the season?

We are just trying to take every game as it comes. We want the three points from each game.

We're just looking to push on, get another clean sheet, and another three points hopefully

Whether they put us top of the table, or wherever they move us, we’re only looking at it knowing we need to go and get a win – we’re not really thinking that much ahead, to be honest. molly sharpe

And we’re back at Selhurst Park on Sunday…

We’ve had some great results and scored a lot of goals at home, and we’re just hoping to continue that on Sunday against Sheffield United.

It’s going to be massive – playing at Selhurst Park is a great occasion for us.

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51

For more than 150 years, Palace have paved a way into the history books, navigating wild misadventures, cult heroes, political and social changes and all the ups and downs that come with them. Step back into another world…

retro palace

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History Makers Palace players past and tantalising titbits from eras gone by: club historian Ian King takes us through the wacky, weird and wonderful history of Crystal Palace one new tale at a time.

albert dawes

a

lbert and Fred Dawes: footballing brothers, both of whom made an enormous impact on Crystal Palace.

Albert, the elder, was born in 1907, while Fred arrived four years later, both growing up in Frimley Green near Guildford. While Fred would join as a defender in 1936 and go on to become manager, our focus this week is on his older sibling.

With record goalscorer Peter Simpson coming to the end of his prolific career at Selhurst Park, Albert Dawes was making a name for himself. Just before Christmas in 1933, the Glaziers paid Northampton £1,500 to secure his services. Things started slowly – it took Albert a month to score his first goal – but soon his prowess up-front was clear to see, and he ended the season with 16 goals to his name as the

club’s leading scorer, significantly boosted by a remarkable performance against Cardiff City, when he found the back of the net five times.

There was no difficult second season; instead, things got even better for Dawes the following campaign. In 1935/36, he scored 38 league goals and another in the FA

history makers

Cup, missing just one game due to his inclusion in the England squad (he travelled as the 12th man with the team to face Scotland at Wembley, but in the days before substitutes was denied his international debut).

Boardroom upheaval at Palace meant Dawes was allowed to move to promotion-chasing Luton Town in December 1936, where his goals helped the Hatters win the Division Three South title. In the second tier he found goals hard to come by, and in February 1938 he made his return to Selhurst Park.

In the final full season before the outbreak of World War Two, and the subsequent suspension of domestic football across the country, Dawes starred in the side that finished second in Division Three, before signing for Aldershot.

But it was not to be the end of his love affair with the Palace faithful. After war was declared, local leagues replaced the official domestic fixtures, with ‘guest players’ allowed to feature. It meant that Albert, now serving with the Metropolitan Police, was able to feature for Palace throughout the war, unofficially adding a further 145 appearances and 75 more goals to his ‘official’ pre-war figures of 156 games and 92 goals.

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debuts and curtain calls Kevin Mabbutt made his Palace debut at Kenilworth Road in October 1981, while Eddie McGoldrick made his first appearance in a Simod Cup tie against Luton in January 1989.

Mark Dennis’ Palace career started and finished against the Hatters, his final appearance coming in August 1990, the same day that Glyn Hodges, John Humphreys and Eric Young made their bows. Luton’s visit to Selhurst Park in November 1993 saw defender Andy Thorn bid farewell to the Palace fans.

weird and wonderful A ghastly spell of winter weather 55 years ago saw both Palace and Norwich City have their away games postponed. As luck would have it, the two were due to meet in a reserve fixture that same day at Selhurst Park. Both decided to play their

Brief encounters ABERDARE Welsh club Aberdare were founded in 1893, initially competing in the Welsh leagues before a second place finish in the Welsh section of the Southern League gained them entry to the new Football League Division Three South in 1920.

This is where they met Palace, competing for two seasons and becoming something of a banana history makers

first-teams instead, and so on 15th February 1969 the two met in an unofficial match in SE25.

Palace won the encounter 5-1, and although there were no points up for grabs it created the momentum the team needed to finish the rest of the season unbeaten, and earn promotion to the topflight for the very first time.

skin for the south Londoners. The Glaziers recorded just one victory over Aberdare, with the Welsh side doing the double in 1925/26.

A 1926 merger with Aberaman Athletic was not successful, and a year later the club finished bottom of the league and were replaced in favour of Torquay United. The clubs split up once again, with Aberdare Town continuing to have a presence in the Welsh football league

.

54

Times have changed over Crystal Palace’s rich and storied history. In each edition, we dust off the archive and reprint a story from one of the club’s historical programmes.

This week, we look back at BBC London’s Tom Watt on giving the officials a break…

Crystal Palace √ luton town – 24 february 2007

t

wo weeks ago now, so it's probably old news. In the time since Arsenal’s televised game against Wigan at the Emirates, another referee has probably stepped forward into the limelight to be berated by managers, pundits and supporters. Phil Dowd’s short spell as football's Enemy Number One has passed. I wonder whose fault it'll be this weekend that a team lost and a match official cost the hapless club in question £50 million?

Think how wound up we get watching on a Saturday. Then try and imagine what it must feel like for a manager: work all week, scheming victory over your next opponent, and then, for all but 15 snatched minutes at half-time, you have to leave it up to your players.

The other team may well throw a spanner in the works by playing half-decently themselves. And a ref might wave play on when you're convinced of the foul. All you can do is stand and suffer on the sidelines.

FROM THE ARCHIVE

55

Little wonder, then, that Paul Jewell's eyes were popping out of his head at full-time after Arsenal's win. His rage, frustration and disappointment were as understandable as they were plain to see. He'd come within 10 minutes of upsetting the odds, out-thinking Arsène Wenger by finding a way to get his relegation-threatened team to outplay illustrious and much-hyped hosts for long spells in the game. No surprise his finger was jabbing away in Phil Dowd's face about a penalty that never was and an offside goal that shouldn't have been. Surely there had to be someone to blame, after all?

The Wigan manager is currently considering his response to an FA misconduct charge. And Wigan have written to complain about the wicked Mr Dowd swearing at their players. Like I say, it’ll all die down sooner rather than later and another row will turn up from somewhere to hog this Monday's back pages.

Events at the Emirates during and after the game, though, are worth recalling because seldom can

90 minutes and their aftermath have served up such a salutary reminder that, although we spend our time celebrating the fleeting moments when it all goes to plan, football matches are decided by mistakes more often than not. It’s the best game in the world because it's the most unpredictable. Thanks, in large part, to the inevitable: human error.

Paul Jewell is a bright, articulate and very funny man.

And, I'd guess, has taken a bit of

Slaughtering match officials is the timehonoured right of everybody else in football, not least us lot who enjoy baiting them almost as much as we enjoy cheering on our own team But: That ****** ref cost us the game’? I don't think so time since to reflect on the events of two weeks ago in N5. Mistakes at vital moments certainly cost his team the result against Arsenal that their performance deserved.

The referee on the day was a long way short of perfect but, to be honest, did his decisions really cost Wigan the game?

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Putting a football team together is about balancing up the strengths and weaknesses of the individuals in it. If players were perfect, managers would be out of a job. Fortunately for Paul Jewell and company, they're not. And Wigan eventually succumbed to Arsenal at the Emirates because of that. Emile Heskey led the line magnificently but, when it came to taking one of the chances which came his way to decide matters, had the kind of afternoon during which hitting a cow's backside with a banjo would have been some way beyond him.

Slaughtering match officials – I'm speaking metaphorically here, you understand – is the time-honoured right of everybody else in football, not least us lot who enjoy baiting them almost as much as we enjoy cheering on our own team. But: That ****** ref cost us the game’? I don't think so.

There'll always be an over-eager centre forward – or a butter-fingered goalkeeper or a dozy defender – who'll be just as likely to do that

.

This article is reprinted verbatim.

56

1997

nineteen

ninetyseven

Football, fashion, music and more – step back in time to an era that had it all…

At the

manager: steve coppell Hopkin looking to curl one…

One of the most iconic pieces of commentary in Crystal Palace’s history, but also one of the most significant moments. The Eagles had gone into the 1997 playoff final seeking redemption, having lost out in the season before to Leicester City.

The team had been in good form throughout the 1996/97 season, with four players scoring 10 goals or more: Neil Shipperley, Dougie Freedman, David Hopkin and Bruce Dyer. Legendary manager Steve Coppell was back in charge.

But, as games with such high stakes often are, Palace and Sheffield United shared a stalemate for the vast majority of play. Then, it happened. Palace won a corner which was only half-cleared, and the ball fell to Hopkin 25 yards out.

He unleashed an unstoppable effort past a helpless Simon Tracey in goal, and wheeled away in celebration.

His goal had clinched promotion for the Eagles in the most dramatic fashion, and sparked commentary history. The man behind the mic that day, Rob Hawthorne, remembered the goal years later: “It’s almost as if a sixth sense takes over.

“You can see the gap in the goal, you can see what he’s aiming at. Obviously it’s a fantastic goal and from Palace fans' point of view it’s one they always remember with great affection, not only because of how great a goal it was but obviously because of what it meant. retro palace

To be fair to Simon Tracey in the Sheffield United goal there was nothing that he could’ve done about it rob hawthorne “As a commentator, instinct takes over and you just say the first thing that comes into your head as it’s happening. To be fair to Simon Tracey in the Sheffield United goal there was nothing that he could’ve done about it – it was just a wonderful, wonderful goal and it was great to be able to commentate on it.”

Music

57

top 5 singles 1

Something About the Way You Look Tonight

Elton John

2

Barbie Girl

Aqua

3

I’ll Be Missing You

Puff Daddy & Faith Evans

4

Teletubbies say ‘Eh-oh’!

Teletubbies

5

Spice Up Your Life

Spice Girls

Games

Films

After hitting the shelves in Japan a year earlier, out came the Nintendo 64 in Europe to excite gamers everywhere. There was also the release of a legendary title: GoldenEye 007. Who wouldn’t want to spend their time after school with their friends pretending to be James Bond? It sold over eight million copies, and even won a BAFTA.

1

Titanic

2

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

3

Men in Black

4

Tomorrow Never Dies

5

The Full Monty

01 may Tony Blair is elected Prime Minister as Labour win a landslide General Election victory

27 june J.K Rowling publishes her debut novel: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

01 july The United Kingdom transfers control of Hong Kong to China

31 august Princess Diana is killed in a car crash in Paris

11 may Manchester United retain the Premier League title, pipping Newcastle into second place

17 may Chelsea win the FA Cup, beating Middlesbrough at Wembley

28 may Borussia Dortmund beat Juventus in Berlin to win their first European Cup

03 june Roberto Carlos scores his famous swerving ‘banana’ free-kick for Brazil against France

retro palace

58

Unlocking the power of pitches The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s charity.

We award grants and work with partners to deliver outstanding grassroots football facilities across England.

Search Football Foundation to find out more

59

super sam

60

61

inside palace

62

Bike to Wolves this May!

a

ustralia born, West Norwood-settled – sunnier climes swapped for south London vibes, but 53-year-old design leader, coach and mentor Jason Bootle has cherished the strength of the community he has found.

Jason was one of the opening registrants for this year’s Bike to Wolves fundraising challenge, run by Palace for Life Foundation with the goal of improving the lives of young south Londoners.

This year’s challenge invites supporters to raise valuable funds for the local community by taking on the most unique away day: a cycling trip to watch Palace take on Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, 11th May 2024.

This summer will mark Jason’s fourth registration for a ‘Bike to’ event, having been part of a band of supporters who have come together to raise over £90,000 for the Foundation since 2020.

Injury ruled Jason out of last year’s ‘Bike to Villa’ event – which raised over £43,000 – but, buoyed by the community and camaraderie he enjoys at each event, he attended

for the full weekend to cheer on his fellow cyclists and Palace fans.

“When you’re on the ride, the organisers are brilliant,” Jason said. “You're set up in little groups or pelotons of about six or so people, around the same speed and fitness and ability.

“I've had some really good combos with people. You're just riding through the countryside, and the route's really cool. Last year, the Foundation organised some training days too, where we get together beforehand, which was really nice, and you get an opportunity to see people outside of the actual race day.

“But there’s that support network of encouragement as foundation

well, which I think is really good.

Let's face it: it's a long distance for a lot of people. But if you want to raise money for charity, sometimes you need to put yourself out of your comfort zone.

“If you enjoy having a bike ride through beautiful English countryside with a bunch of really supportive fellow cyclists and Palace fans, then do it. The money you're going to raise is going to be put to some amazing use to help young people in south London, in the neighbourhood and in the community.”

How did Jason get involved with Palace, the Foundation and ‘Bike to’ in the first place?

63

“I came over to England in 2000, and I realised no one liked cricket because Australia were too good! I was never a huge fan of football, but I was living in south London, I realised I needed to understand football, and I had a friend who did a fanzine, Palace Echo, so I came to a game – and I loved it.

“I loved the family atmosphere and the vibe and the chants. I’m heavily into music, so I really enjoyed the humour and the Palace fans’ songs. Then, as I had kids, my daughter came along and enjoyed it too – so I used her as a way of convincing my wife to get Season Tickets! We’ve been Season Ticket holders for 12 or 13 years now. It’s been great.

“Taking my children and feeling that community aspect of the club as well, I really liked it. Then,

as I got more involved, I learned about Palace for Life Foundation.

I got speaking to somebody at our Wembley FA Cup semi-final [in 2016] – it was great to see so much going on and the club really centring itself in the community.”

As in previous years, the event is split over two days: on the first day this year, riders will set off from

it's a long distance for a lot of people.

But if you want to raise money for charity, sometimes you need to put yourself out of your comfort zone

Selhurst Park to travel 111 miles up through the Oxford countryside, before stopping off for the night in a hotel in Warwickshire.

The next morning, riders will complete the remaining 49 miles to the Molineux – with enough time for a shower, lunch and a drink before Palace’s final away game of the season. A coach is then organised to take riders from the Molineux back to Selhurst Park after the game, as well as their bikes.

“My advice to newcomers would be: just do it!”

.

foundation

WHY TAKE PART? Not only is the ride an incredible physical feat, Bike to Wolves will be a great way to connect with likeminded Palace fans, watch the Eagles in action, and most importantly, raise funds for young south Londoners.

The money you raise will go towards three key areas of the Foundation's work: • Keeping more young people away from knife crime, violence and anti-social behaviour • Helping more young people find career & job opportunities • Supporting more young people with their mental & physical health

scan below to sign up

64

Every day is a busy one at the Palace, from matchdays – men’s, women’s and Academy – to anniversaries, birthdays to events. Keep track of everything happening at the club right here…

09 mar

09 mar

10 mar

1990 palace u18S √ chelsea | 11:00 LIVE on

10 mar

palace √ luton | 15:00 LIVE audio commentary on

Palace beat Cambridge en route to the FA Cup final.

11 mar

11 mar

2016 palace women √ sheffield utd | 12:00 LIVE on

Palace beat Reading late on to reach a first FA Cup semi-final in 21 years.

what’s on?

palace u21S √ aston villa | 19:00

65

12 mar

14 mar

15 mar

1932 Peter Simpson's hat-trick takes him to 100 Palace goals in just 97 games.

17 mar

palace √ bodø/glimt | 15:00

southampton √ palace u21S | 19:00

LIVE on

LIVE on

16 mar

17 mar

arsenal √ palace u18S | 11:00 Paddy Mulligan turns 78 today.

18 mar

17 mar

LIVE on

19 mar

1998 sheffield united √ palace women | 14:00

Attilio Lombardo strikes as Palace beat Newcastle.

norwich √ palace u18S | 14:00 LIVE on

All times GMT. Head to cpfc.co.uk for more details and ticketing information.

what’s on?

66

The page for supporters: taking your comments from the terraces into the programme. Want to get in touch? Use the details below.

Happy 80th birthday to life long eagles fan Mary West, have a fantastic day love Sue, Andy and Matt.

I lost my lovely wife Janice Lilley on 9th March 2023, she was my soulmate and a lifelong Palace fan. A wonderful wife, mum and Nan is sorely missed every day. Steve Lilley.

Happy 70th Birthday Rita Ovenden lots of love Mick, Max and Keeley xx

Happy 10th birthday to Laurence Westbrook. Lots of love from Mum and Dad

Croydon native Edward Henry and Chicago Palace supporter John Nicolas happy to be reunited at Selhurst.

Happy 4th Birthday Eliza! Love Mummy & Daddy xx Come on you EAGLES!

Happy 23rd Birthday Lucy - lots of love from Mum, Dad and Jonathan xxx

from the terraces

Happy 70th birthday Alan Martingell, from all the family, including grandchildren Ollie & Charlie who are at Selhurst Park for their first match today.

67

Welcome to your first game at Selhurst Park Leo, and Kylo coming soon too – enjoy buddy!

Rest In Peace William Arthur Sawyer, who sadly passed away age 93. A lifelong Palace fan, season ticket holder. Amazing Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad. Sadly missed by all.

In loving memory of Steve Merritt who passed away aged 68 years.Steve was a lifelong Palace supporter. May he rest in peace and fly like an Eagle xx

Happy 61st Birthday, Trent. Go Eagles!!! Luv, Coirey, Brittany & little Scotlyn Marie xXx

Welcome back dad to Selhurst Park!

Been coming since 1960s now 70 years old and still coming, love ya

Three generations of the Crawley family are visiting Selhurst Park today including Marco Crawley, aged 7 for his first Crystal Palace football match. He is joined by his mum Kate, Dad Martin, and Grandad Tony.

Happy 50 Birthday Jason! Lots of love, Sharon.

Lee, A beloved husband, father, son, brother & uncle, You are the best, the best there could ever be, you will live on in our hearts, always & forever

Email programme@cpfc.co.uk Happy Birthday to Sebastian Bicknell who is celebrating his 9th birthday.

Sebastian is watching the game with his Dad and brother Conor.

Happy 18 Birthday Ren, have a great day and hope we win today. COYP!!!

Lots of love, Mum, Dad, Chris, Emily, James, David and Melissa. th

from the terraces

with a message of 30 words or fewer and an image to feature on our messageboard.

68

Meet today’s mascots, prepare for a visit to the City Ground, relive a brilliant brace and pit your wits against Brighty below.

Finlay Ellmer AGE:

13

Darcy Alger SCORE PREDICTION:

3-2

Hugo Alger

AGE:

SCORE PREDICTION:

11

2-1

AGE:

9

SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

Want to feature as a mascot?

Barnaby Alger

Fearne Alger

AGE:

AGE:

6

SCORE PREDICTION:

1-3

5

Email: liam.connery@cpfc.co.uk SCORE PREDICTION:

5-1

round-up

69

next up: forest Palace head to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday 30th March (15:00 GMT).

Best memory: Dougie Freedman sealed all three points in January 2001, after Mikael Forssell’s brace had put the Eagles in a commanding position early on.

Travel: Nottingham Station is just over a mile from the ground, with the 20 minute walk to the stadium one of the most picturesque in the Premier League, crossing the River Trent with the stands in the distance.

Pre-match: The Broken Wheelbarrow, Nottingham Britannia Club and Larwood & Voce have been known to accept away supporters near the ground, or head into the city centre for more options.

BEAT BRIGHTY In each edition, club icon Mark Bright calls it how he sees it and predicts events from the weekend’s football.

See how you fare and try to Beat Brighty!

Scoring: One point for every correct result, three for a correct scoreline.

Brighty

You

2-1 2-0 1-2 1-1 total Manage to Beat Brighty? Keep track of your score above.

round-up

70

team stats: women/U21S/U18S No player has made more appearances for Palace than Molly Sharpe so far this season.

Danny Imray made it four goals in three games with his strike against Stoke City.

Marcus Hill made his Under18s debut in the Premier League Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Home fixture Away fixture Cup fixture International Cup fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)

AUGUST Sun 27

Reading

D 1-1

SEPTEMBER Sun 3

Birmingham City

W 2-1

Sun 10

Durham

W 9-1

Sun 17

Sunderland

D 1-1

Blackburn Rovers

W 4-0

OCTOBER Sun 8

Wed 11 Lewes

D 1-1

Sun 15

London City Lionesses

W 6-1

Sun 22

Charlton Athletic

L 2-3

NOVEMBER Sun 5

Watford

W 3-0

Sun 12

Lewes

W 3-2

Sun 19

Southampton

L 3-4

Wed 22 Watford

W 3-0

DECEMBER Sun 10

Chatham Town

W 6-0

Sun 17

Reading

D 1-1

JANUARY Sun 14

Blackburn Rovers

W 3-1

Sun 21

London City Lionesses

W 2-0

Wed 24 London City Lionesses

L 1-2

Sun 28

L 0-1

Charlton Athletic

FEBRUARY Sun 4

Southampton

W 2-1

Sun 11

Chelsea

L 0-1

Sun 18

Blackburn Rovers

W 4-0

MARCH Sun 10

Sheffield United

Sun 17

Sheffield United

Sun 24

Watford

Sun 31

Durham

APRIL Sun 14

Birmingham City

Sun 21

Lewes

Sun 28

Sunderland

AUGUST Mon 14 Manchester United W Sun 20 Reading L Mon 28 Fulham L SEPTEMBER Fri 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers L Fri 15 Middlesbrough W Tue 19 Wycombe Wanderers L Sat 23 Nottingham Forest L Wed 27 Athletic Bilbao D OCTOBER Sun 1 Liverpool L Tue 24 Monaco W Mon 30 West Bromwich Albion W NOVEMBER Fri 3 Leeds United W Tue 7 AFC Wimbledon L Fri 10 Ipswich Town L Tue 14 Stevenage L Fri 24 Birmingham City W december Sat 2 Manchester City W Wed 6 Benfica W Mon 11 Middlesbrough L Mon 18 West Ham United L JANUARY Sun 14 Blackburn Rovers D Wed 17 Feyenoord D Mon 22 Birmingham City W Fri 26 Brighton & Hove Albion W FEBRUARY Mon 5 Ipswich Town W Mon 19 Leicester City D Mon 26 Wolves W MARCH Fri 1 Leicester City W Mon 4 Stoke City W Mon 11 Aston Villa Fri 15 Southampton Fri 29 Tottenham Hotspur APRIL Mon 8 Everton Fri 12 Chelsea Sun 28 Middlesbrough

women/u21S/u18S

3-2 0-2 2-5 2-3 6-2 0-1 3-4 1-1 2-4 3-1 3-0 7-1 0-2 2-4 2-5 4-1 3-0 2-1 0-4 1-5 3-3 1-1 3-0 2-1 1-0 1-1 3-0 3-2 3-1

AUGUST Sat 12 Southampton Sat 19 Chelsea Sat 26 Reading SEPTEMBER Sat 2 Liverpool Sat 16 Leicester City Sat 23 Fulham Sat 30 Brighton & Hove Albion OCTOBER Sat 28 Arsenal NOVEMBER Sat 4 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 11 West Bromwich Albion Thu 16 Newcastle United Sat 25 Fulham DECEMBER Thu 7 Plymouth Argyle Sat 16 Aston Villa January Sat 6 West Ham United Tue 16 Hull City Sat 20 Leicester City Sat 27 Fulham FEBRUARY Sat 3 Aston Villa Thu 8 Chelsea Sat 17 Brighton & Hove Albion MARCH Sat 2 Manchester United Sat 9 Chelsea Sat 16 Arsenal Tue 19 Norwich City Sat 30 West Bromwich Albion APRIL Sat 6 Norwich City Sat 13 Southampton Sat 20 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 27 Aston Villa may Sat 4 West Ham United Sat 11 Reading

W 5-0 L 1-2 W 2-1 W D L D

6-1 1-1 3-4 3-3

D 3-3 W W L W

5-2 2-1 1-4 5-4

W 2-1 W 3-2 L W D W

4-5 5-0 1-1 4-2

W 3-0 L 1-2 L 2-4 L 0-5

71

women Name

u21s

Apps

Goals

Name

u18s Apps

Name

Apps

9

Kai-Reece ADAMS-COLLMAN

18

Asher AGBINONE

10

Cormac AUSTIN

12

Luke BROWNE

1

Rio CARDINES

20

Freddie COWIN

9

Matteo DASHI

20

3 14

Chloe ARTHUR

17

1

Tayo ADARAMOLA

Izzy ATKINSON

3

1

Asher AGBINONE

1

Victor AKINWALE

18

Keira BARRY

1

1

Annabel BLANCHARD

16

9

Araya DENNIS

20

3

Polly DORAN

8

Cormac AUSTIN

1

Justin DEVENNY

23

Chima EZE

2

1

Craig FARQUHAR

5

Chris FRANCIS

15

Goals

3

1

Aimee EVERETT

20

2

Anna FILBEY

16

1

Felicity GIBBONS

17

Shauna GUYATT

17

1

Shanade HOPCROFT

21

4

Zach MARSH

6

21

Roshaun MATHURIN

28

9

Hindolo MUSTAPHA

6

1

Adler NASCIMENTO

6

Elise HUGHES

21

Annabel JOHNSON

4

Frances KITCHING Demi LAMBOURNE

17

2

Jesse DERRY

20

Danny IMRAY

28

8

Billy EASTWOOD

21

Jackson IZQUIERDO

4

Leon ELLIOTT

4

Caleb KPORHA

3

Joe GIBBARD

11

Jake GRANTE

20

Zack HENRY

2

Marcus HILL

1

Mofe JEMIDE

16

Ademola OLA-ADEBOMI

18

13

12

David OZOH

12

2

2

Luke PLANGE

5

4

George KING

21

10

Jesurun RAK-SAKYI

3

1

Caleb KPORHA

1

Jadan RAYMOND

22

3

Finley MARJORAM

Dylan REID

15

Kaden RODNEY

16

Joe SHERIDAN

20

Abbie LARKIN Natalia NEGRI

Sean GREHAN

Ellie NOBLE Hayley NOLAN

20

Ria PERCIVAL

6

Alexia POTTER

15

1

Franco UMEH

24

Kirsten REILLY

18

1

Noah WATSON

21

Molly SHARPE

21

6

Isabella SIBLEY

7

Lucy WATSON

5

3

9

Goals

3

1

Joseph KHOSHABA 6

Zach MARSH

19

24

Hindolo MUSTAPHA

16

4

David OBOU

1

1

Olaoluwa OMOBOLAJI

6

Caleb REDHEAD

13

Jack WELLS-MORRISON

21

Joe WHITWORTH

24

Charlie WALKER-SMITH

2

1

Tyler WHYTE

9

1

1

Sebastian WILLIAMS

21

3

F

A GD Pts

Tyler WHYTE Vonnte WILLIAMS

5

All statistics correct as of 17:00 Thursday, 7 March – see full tables at cpfc.co.uk. th

pos CLUB P W D

L

1

F

A GD Pts

pos CLUB P W D

L

10 sun

4 28 21 +7 21

13 6

3

F

A GD Pts

pos CLUB P W D

L

3

5 50 40 +10 31

sun

17 10 4

3 23 13 +10 34

tot

16 10

1

2

cry

15 9

3

3 43 17 +26 30

11

mid

14 6

3

5 25 27 -2 21

4

ful

16 9

0

7 45 35 +10 27

3

sou

17 10 0

7 28 19 +9 30

12 mun

13 6

2

5 42 31 +11 20

5

ars

14 7

4

3 35 24 +11 25

4

cha

15 8

6

1 22 13 +9 30

13 cry

14 6

2

6 35 32 +3 20

6

cry

14 6

4

4 39 31 +8 22

5

bir

15 8

2

5 25 14 +11 26

14 stk

15 6

1

8 32 42 -10 19

7

bha

14 5

4

5 31 35 -4 19

6

dur

17 5

5

7 19 32 -13 20

15 avl

13 5

3

5 29 28 +1 18

8

wba

14 6

1

7 27 37 -10 19

7

bla

15 6

1

8 13 24 -11 19

16 nor

15 5

2

8 36 35 +1 17

9

lei

16 4

6

6 30 39 -9 18

women/u21S/u18S

31,194

W

1-0

5th

Arsenal

24,189

L

0-1

11th

Sat 26

Brentford

16,997

D

1-1

11th

Tue 29

Plymouth Argyle

15,826

W

4-2

Second round

Sun 3

Wolverhampton Wanderers

24,741

W

3-2

7th

Sat 16

Aston Villa

40,809

L

1-3

9th

Sat 23

Fulham

25,072

D

0-0

10th

Tue 26

Manchester United

72,842

L

0-3

Third round

Sat 30

Manchester United

73,428

W

1-0

9th

Sat 7

Nottingham Forest

25,125

D

0-0

9th

Sat 21

Newcastle United

52,189

L

0-4

11th

Fri 27

Tottenham Hotspur

25,074

L

1-2

13th

Sat 4

Burnley

21,578

W

2-0

11th

Sat 11

Everton

25,103

L

2-3

13th

Sat 25

Luton Town

11,029

L

1-2

13th

Sun 3

West Ham United

62,459

D

1-1

12th

Wed 6

Bournemouth

24,104

L

0-2

14th

Sat 9

Liverpool

25,103

L

1-2

15th

Sat 16

Manchester City

53,384

D

2-2

15th

Thu 21

Brighton & Hove Albion

24,171

D

1-1

15th

Wed 27

Chelsea

39,618

L

1-2

15th

Sat 30

Brentford

25,472

W

3-1

14th

Thu 4

Everton

24,489

D

0-0

Third round

Wed 17

Everton

37,796

L

0-1

Third round

Sat 20

Arsenal

60,284

L

0-5

15th

Tue 30

Sheffield United

23,644

W

3-2

14th

Sat 3

Brighton & Hove Albion

31,345

L

1-4

14th

Mon 12

Chelsea

25,110

L

1-3

15th

Mon 19

Everton

38,164

D

1-1

15th

Sat 24

Burnley

24,042

W

3-0

13th

Sat 2

Tottenham Hotspur

61,339

L

1-3

14th

Sat 9

Luton Town

15:00

Jefferson Lerma

Sheffield United

Mon 21

Michael Olise

Sat 12

Marc Guéhi

Position

James Tomkins

Result

Rob Holding

Opposition

Tyrick Mitchell

attendance/ KICK-OFF

Date

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Nottingham Forest

15:00

Bournemouth

19:45

Sat 6

Manchester City

12:30

Sun 14

Liverpool

14:00

Sat 20

West Ham United

15:00

Sat 27

Fulham

15:00

Sat 4

Manchester United

15:00

Sat 11

Wolverhampton Wanderers

15:00

Sun 19

Aston Villa

16:00

TBC

TBC

Newcastle United

TBC

palace Career Appearances

33 354 133

1

135 108 82 25

palace Career goals

0

0

10

may

april

Sat 30 Tue 2

ALL-TIME

march

february

january

december

nov

october

september

AUGust

Home fixture Away fixture Cup fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first) Started Used sub Unused sub Goal(s) Yellow card Red card

Joel Ward

23/24 FIXTURES & RESULTS

Sam Johnstone

72

fixtures & results

6

2

5

12

1

Jordan Ayew Eberechi Eze

9 10

201 114

23 Daniel Muñoz Jean-Philippe Mateta Jeffrey Schlupp Joachim Andersen Nathaniel Clyne Will Hughes

21 Matheus França

11 12 14 15 16 17 19

12

5

95 222 101 210 73

0

0

17

18

3

1

29 30

5

92

5

32

47

26

10

0

20

0

1

0

0

0

48

1

1

2

91

2

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

fixtures & results

Jadan Raymond

45

Franco Umeh

44

Ademola Ola-Adebomi

41

David Ozoh

36

Kaden Rodney

31

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Luke Plange

Dean Henderson

28

Tayo Adaramola

Naouirou Ahamada

26

Jairo Riedewald

Cheick Doucouré

23

Joe Whitworth

Chris Richards

22

Nathan Ferguson

Malcolm Ebiowei

20

Remi Matthews

Odsonne Edouard

2

Adam Wharton

73

49 51 52 53 55 60

10

1

12

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

74

23/24 PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

pos

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Club liverpool

27

19

6

2

64

25

+39

63

2

manchester city

27

19

5

3

62

27

+35

62

3

arsenal

27

19

4

4

68

23

+45

61

4

aston villa

27

17

4

6

59

37

+22

55

5

tottenham hotspur

26

15

5

6

55

39

+16

50

6

manchester united

27

14

2

11

37

39

-2

44

7

west ham united

27

12

6

9

43

47

-4

42

8

newcastle united

27

12

4

11

57

45

+12

40 39

9

brighton & hove albion

27

10

9

8

49

44

+5

10

wolverhampton wanderers

27

11

5

11

40

43

-3

38

11

chelsea

26

10

6

10

44

43

+1

36

12

fulham

27

10

5

12

39

42

-3

35

13

bournemouth

26

8

7

11

35

47

-12

31

14

crystal palace

27

7

7

13

32

47

-15

28

15

brentford

27

7

5

15

39

50

-11

26

16

everton*

27

8

7

12

29

37

-8

25

17

nottingham forest

27

6

6

15

34

49

-15

24

18

luton town

26

5

5

16

37

54

-17

20

19

burnley

27

3

4

20

25

60

-35

13

20

sheffield united

27

3

4

20

22

72

-50

13

*Everton deducted 6 points following a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules All statistics correct as of 17:00 Wednesday, 6th March.

ASton villa spurs

bournemouth sheffield utd

brighton nott’m forest

crystal palace luton

west ham burnley

wolves fulham

liverpool man city

arsenal brentford

chelsea newcastle

12:30 – Saturday, 9th March

13:00 – Sunday, 10th March

15:00 – Saturday, 9th March

14:00 – Sunday, 10th March

15:00 – Saturday, 9th March

14:00 – Sunday, 10th March

15:00 – Saturday, 9th March

15:45 – Sunday, 10th March

17:30 – Saturday, 9th March

20:00 – Monday, 11th March

premier league

this week’s fixtures

man utd everton

Crystal palace f.c.

Sam JOHNSTONE (GK) Joel WARD Tyrick MITCHELL Rob HOLDING James TOMKINS Marc GUÉHI Michael OLISE Jefferson LERMA Jordan AYEW Ebere EZE Matheus FRANÇA Daniel MUÑOZ Jean-Philippe MATETA Jeffrey SCHLUPP Joachim ANDERSEN Nathaniel CLYNE Will HUGHES Adam WHARTON Odsonne EDOUARD Chris RICHARDS Cheick DOUCOURÉ Naouirou AHAMADA Dean HENDERSON (GK) Remi MATTHEWS (GK) Nathan FERGUSON Joe WHITWORTH (GK) Jaïro RIEDEWALD Luke PLANGE Jesurun RAK-SAKYI David OZOH

Luton Town f.c.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 26 28 29 30 31 36 41 44 48 49 52

S. Singh Gill E. Smart N. Greenhalgh T. Robinson P. Bankes M. Wilkes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 23 24 27 28 29 30 38 43 44 45

James SHEA (GK) Gabriel OSHO Dan POTTS Tom LOCKYER Mads ANDERSEN Ross BARKLEY Chiedozie OGBENE Luke BERRY Carlton MORRIS Cauley WOODROW Elijah ADEBAYO Issa KABORÉ Marvelous NAKAMBA Tahith CHONG Teden MENGI Reece BURKE Pelly Ruddock MPANZU Jordan CLARK Jacob BROWN Tim KRUL (GK) Thomas KAMINSKI (GK) Daiki HASHIOKA Albert Sambi LOKONGA Amari’i BELL Andros TOWNSEND Joe JOHNSON Zack NELSON Axel PIESOLD Alfie DOUGHTY

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