Crystal Palace v Aston Villa matchday programme

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Sunday 16th May 2021 // 12:00pm

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Directors Steve Parish, Chairman David Blitzer Joshua Harris Chief Executive Phil Alexander Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin Sporting Director Dougie Freedman Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell Head of Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning Scott Guyett Head of Medical Dr. Zaf Iqbal Academy Director Gary Issott Director of U23 Development Mark Bright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott Commercial Director Barry Webber Operations Director Sharon Lacey Head of Consumer Sales Mike Pink Head of Ticketing Dan Clarke Head of Legal David Nichol Chief Marketing and Communications Officer James Woodroof Head of CRM & Campaigns Tom McGuiness

palace √ aston villa 16.05.21

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Editor Ben Mountain Design Billy Cooke, Luke Thomas, Stu Ellmer Contributors Dan Blazer, Will Robinson, Ian King, Daniel Storey, Darren Ambrose, Tash Stephens Photography Neil Everitt, Seb Frej, Reuters, Dan Weir (PPA), Rex Features, Printer Bishops Printers

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palace for life

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1990/91 season

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shaun derry

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chloe Morgan

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fixtures & results

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premier league

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luka milivojevic

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steve parish

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darren ambrose

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junior eagles

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Daniel storey

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stephanie Fuller

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official matchday programme

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I am delighted that this is the last match for which I will have to walk out of the tunnel to an empty stadium

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elcome to Dean Smith, his staff and

talent and hunger he showed in this game.

players and good morning to each

We encourage him to play with freedom and

of you reading this. Hopefully today

to show off his personal skills and I sincerely

is the final time that I will be writing these notes

hope to see more instances of that in the final

knowing you will not be at the match itself.

few games.

I shall begin with our recent victory

Mathematical safety is always a worthy

against Sheffield United, an afternoon that

achievement and it is the first goal of any

secured us the points total required to

Premier League season, however I feel that

guarantee Crystal Palace’s place in the Premier

we have been relatively secure throughout the

League next season. The performance against

last nine months. Safety, I feel, was a matter

Sheffield United was more than satisfying and

of when, not if, this season, even though it still

we can certainly claim that the victory was

feels good to pass the 40-point mark.

well deserved.

We knew that with the talented attacking

However, one topic that has at times seemed less assured has, of course, been the

players we have, we could put Sheffield United

return of supporters to Selhurst Park, and I am

under serious and sustained pressure and, due

delighted that this is the last match for which I

to the fact our defensive structure is solid from

will have to walk out of the tunnel to an empty

front to back, knew that we could do so in full

stadium. Having your support in the Tottenham

confidence that we would not leave ourselves

Hotspur game last December was a wonderful

exposed to any particularly threatening

lifting of the spirits, and I keenly await seeing

counter-attacks.

you in person again soon.

I was delighted for Christian to score so

We have just two games remaining after

soon after kick-off and for him to add another

today and both are against two of the top

goal to his tally in what he can reflect on

teams in the league. We intend to finish the

as a successful personal campaign this

season as strongly as possible and to reward

season. With our second goal, one can only

those of you able to attend our Arsenal

feel relief in this league when a victory is

match with a wholehearted performance

confirmed by a more comfortable margin and

next Wednesday.

I must commend Eberechi for the natural

Until then, stay safe, and enjoy today’s game.

The manager

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When we walked out against Tottenham Hotspur and saw just a small number of you in person, it made such a difference for us

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e are finally just one game away

difficult task. To get enough to make sure that

from seeing our supporters back at

you are watching us in football’s top league

Selhurst Park and I cannot wait for

is very big for this club, and I am glad we did

this to happen. It has been too long that we last

this with some games remaining. We can now

saw each other.

push hard to get further up the table, get some

When we walked out against Tottenham Hotspur and saw just a small number of you in person, it made such a difference for us

more points and give you a big welcome back to Selhurst.

I spoke with the media team for this

mentally and we were able to fight very hard

programme, and further on talk about why

to get a big point from this game. With even

supporters should have been back already

more of you there to watch us against Arsenal,

by now and how important you are for us.

I know that we will have an even bigger lift and

It can be difficult in these interviews to not

be able to play even harder to make sure we

repeat what you and other players have said,

show the performance you deserve.

but I mean everything I say: you being in the

We did well against Sheffield United last week, at a ground where the fans are usually very loud. But, again, in front of no supporters,

stands makes a big, big difference. I hope you know this.

But we still have one more game to play

we found our own strength and attacked them

before you come back and that is what we

straight away from kick-off. Our attacking

must focus on. Aston Villa have had a good

boys are very talented, so we know on our day

season, particularly early on, and will be

that we can come to teams, put them under

difficult to get points from today. They are in the

pressure and get results.

position we must try to reach in the league this

To now be safe mathematically in the Premier League is a big achievement. I say it often, the Premier League is the hardest league in the world and to get just three points is a

season, so the boys and I know how important this game is in having a strong finish.

For us and for you, I hope we can manage it. I cannot wait to see you soon.

The captain

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Huge congratulations must go to Roy, the coaching staff, support staff and of course all of the players. I would like to thank them all

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elcome to the players, staff and

our Under-18s won their final match of the

directors of Aston Villa to Selhurst

season in emphatic fashion. Depending on

Park today, and thank you for buying

Fulham U18s’ result today away at Chelsea,

this matchday programme.

It is immensely pleasing to be penning

our boys will finish as champions and go on to play against the winners of the North group,

these notes knowing that we are mathematically

or finish as runners-up on goal difference.

safe, and will enjoy our ninth consecutive

Whatever way it falls, I am so proud of Paddy,

season in the Premier League – a club record.

his coaches and the players. It has been simply

Huge congratulations must go to Roy, the

wonderful to watch the players’ development,

coaching staff, support staff and of course all

and the results and performances have been

of the players. I would like to thank them all for

fantastic, especially considering it’s our first

their commitment and professionalism, it’s been

season competing at Category 1 level.

a pleasure and a privilege to work with this group of people in the most difficult of times.

It has been a season like no other without

Congratulations to Shaun and the U23s too who secured a play-off position, with back to back wins over Middlesbrough in the final

supporters, and hopefully one we will not

week – who were also vying for a play-off

witness again. After the recent government

spot. The team have really come on in recent

update, we are excited to be welcoming 6,500

weeks, and will go into the play-offs full of

supporters back on Wednesday night for our

confidence. Everyone involved in the squad

final home game of the season against Arsenal.

should be enormously proud, and know that

It will be a joyous occasion for all involved. I

we are all behind them going into the play-off.

was blown away to learn this week that we’ve

Don’t forget - you can now vote for your

already sold 10,000 Season Tickets, which is a

Player of the Season and Goal of the Season

record at this stage of the season. Thank you for

awards in the club’s official app.

your continued support and loyalty.

The work at first-team level has enabled the club to make fantastic progress in other areas. Playing at our new Academy facility

Enjoy the match today, and I very much hope to see you in the stands on Wednesday night.

Up the Palace.

The chairman

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official matchday programme

11 After one of the most turbulent seasons in on- and off-pitch footballing history, Luka Milivojevic tells Ben Mountain how he’s found a testing campaign, what happens inside a Premier League captains’ meeting and why the football authorities must take note of their players.

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or everyone it was the season we will never believe can happen in football,”

Luka Milivojevic says after a day’s testing and training.

It’s a neat summary of a chaotic nine months. The raw components of football – the bawling, red-faced passion of both agony and despair – are what once seemed most steadfast. Balls, pitches, players and stadia may change, as might haircuts, wages and LED hoardings, but standing in the rain from local parks to European arenas and vociferously reacting to success and failure felt like the sport’s constants.

And then English football’s terraces changed: from dense, throbbing throngs to eerie stretches of concrete, metal and plastic, the people that brought them to life disbanded and scattered as in-stadium music pumped along empty aisles.

“I cannot believe that we went through all season without fans,” Milivojevic continues, unprompted.

“That [fans] is something why we’re all playing football… I hope that we’re going to beat this disease and from next season to have fans back because this season, honestly, was very strange for all of us.”

And yet, for a Premier League captain at least, the overnight prohibition of 25,000 people from a 96-year-old ground perhaps

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became one of the more natural parts of the last year. Football retained its usual drama – with both memorable victories and dispiriting defeats alike – but also battled on new frontiers: becoming involved in social movements, groundbreaking public health and forcefully opposed political landgrabs.

While handling the usual strains of professional football, Luka Milivojevic found ensuring the sport safeguarded its future and protecting his teammates easy burdens to carry.

“I think it’s very straightforward and very simple,” he says,

I hope that we’re going to beat this disease and from next season to have fans back because this season, honestly, was very strange for all of us

referring to his off-pitch duties as Palace captain, including the league-wide meetings he and his 19 top-flight peers have arranged.

“Those captains’ meetings are not just for captains. They’re for all the players in the Premier League.

For example, I represent my 25 teammates and the others. Those meetings show the strength of the players in those situations.

“It’s like every other meeting you have: you’re on Zoom, we’re all there and try to say our opinions. Of course there are 20 different people, 20 different captains and different opinions.

I respect every opinion. But at the end that’s why we are there, if there are different opinions we can discuss and the point is to sort it out.

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“It’s like the opinion of the dressing room so

When the others speak, we all listen to their opinion. It’s very open, very helpful for everyone and at the end you can see how other dressing rooms are thinking

we can see where we are. But always at the end of the meeting, I must say that 100% - there is no 99% - 100% of the players finish in the same way, which I think is the most important and the aim of the meeting.

“We are all involved, everyone can say how he feels. With the situation about COVID, I said my opinion and they all listened to my opinion. When the others speak, we all listen to their opinion. It’s very open, very helpful for everyone and at the end you can see how other dressing rooms are thinking. We didn’t have a lot of meetings but some of the players who set up this group, when they feel it is necessary to maybe be involved in something, we organise a meeting.”

This season more than any, players have been forced into situations where their involvement has been paramount. Most recently, that has seen captains unite to agree on a response to the proposed European Super League.

Milivojevic explains: “In the beginning we were attacked by COVID and the situation was very difficult. The first moment was: are they going to cut our salaries or stop something?

Even now, this Super League, they said if players go and play in the Super League, they will not be able to play for national teams. I think those people in big federations, in big associations of football, they’re thinking that we are weak points.

“With this Super League, it’s not proper what the president of UEFA said and put a lot of pressure on players, in terms of ‘if those players were playing in the Super League, they will not be able to play for national teams’. In the end, I can say the players saved him and saved the football and the fans from those clubs.

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In those kinds of situations, they don’t have to attack players; I think they need shelter from the players.

“The discussions that they had to have is with the ones who decide to play those leagues, not about players. That’s why we organise those meetings to see the opinions of the other players and, in the end, to see what is best for ourselves and football. So I think in future they will change their opinion about footballers because footballers can help them massively. It shows them even now, when the Super League was nearly ready, I think players stepped up from those clubs and did an amazing job for UEFA, for football in general.

“I think it [the Super League] is a ridiculous decision, honestly. I know that system because I follow basketball a lot and I know in basketball they’re doing exactly the same sort of competition. EuroLeague is the name. I believe they’re trying to do the same in football. We [players] can just give a comment, we cannot change nothing but if we are strong and we are together, I think we are strong enough to maybe say how we feel and maybe change something. But as individuals it’s very difficult - that’s why we have these meetings.”

That rallying diplomacy, Milivojevic says, comes first from organisers such as Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, is then discussed among teams by each captain and returned to the league-wide discussion for debate. But it’s not just football’s recent, relatively niche issues whereby Milivojevic and his peers have put their heads together. Instead, the captain reveals, players have hashed-out concerns on more commonplace issues, namely through the meeting held after defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa last December.

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if we are strong and we are together, I think we are strong enough to maybe say how we feel and maybe change something

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we have to motivate ourselves always.

That’s part of the personality and character of a person. If you want to be successful, you have to be hungry every single time official matchday programme

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“Honestly, managers can

lift as expected, and the pandemic remains under

motivate the players but I think

control over the coming months and years, SE25

we have to motivate ourselves

will never again play home to empty terraces

always. That’s part of the

mid-match.

personality and character of a person. If you want to be successful, you have to be hungry every single time.

“It’s true, in some period

The thought pleases Milivojevic, but doesn’t stop him from wanting a swifter return: “Today, when we are talking on 3rd May, everything is open. People can go out, have lunch, dinner, breakfast in gardens, shopping

when we had difficulties, that

centres are open. So what’s the problem putting

meeting happened. But you know

fans in a stadium? Honestly, I don’t see a problem

what? I cannot honestly speak

at the moment.

to you about myself, what I say

“I just don’t see sense that people can walk

to the players or what I’ve done.

and meet in shopping centres but can’t sit and

I don’t like to talk about myself

watch football from a social distance outside.

but I can say we as a group had

For me, I think when they start opening all the

a meeting where we say a lot of

stuff, they should [have started] opening the

things which should be said and

stadiums as well because the fans really want to

from that moment I think we all

see football and miss football. We miss them. It’s

went out with a different view. A

going to be a massive difference for us, I’m sure,

view on things on the pitch and

as it was against Tottenham when we had just

out of the pitch, so those kinds

2,000 fans.”

of meetings help you a lot for the chemistry between us.

“I think that’s why we have a strong group of players with a lot of experience and we are

With that, and a word commending football’s internal handling of the pandemic, in which he credits the doctors involved in organising a return, Milivojevic is almost done for another season.

The yearly programme feature finished, and 35

not afraid to say sometimes to

out of 38 matches behind him, the Palace captain

someone how we feel or what we

has just one last thing on his mind.

could have done better. Those

“If this is my last interview from this season,”

kinds of meetings help us a lot,

he says, “I just want to wish all our fans a lot

happen, and I can say I was

of health, a lot of luck. I want to thank them for

in that meeting and one of the

support, as always they had for us, and as well I

players who tried to help us and

really want them back for the new season because

the club.”

we really need them.”

There is one issue persisting

Despite involvement with social movements,

in football this season, however,

groundbreaking public health and forcefully

as Palace’s Villa clash today sees

opposed political landgrabs, one thing remains

Selhurst Park empty for one final

front and centre for Premier League captains and

game. If restrictions continue to

Luka Milivojevic. One more game to go…

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copers cope

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NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION ENERGY official matchday programme now available countrywide

for SPORT

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Club legend Darren Ambrose has gone from the squad list on the back page to guest columnist. The Eagles icon brings you his opinions, insight and untold stories throughout the 2020/21 season.

darren ambrose

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T

he only thing I wanted as a kid was to become a professional footballer. No one could tell me otherwise. Today, my nine-

year-old son is part of Ipswich Town’s Academy and, after 15-years in the game, I can see all the difficulty ahead of him that I didn’t realise at his age.

I played and lived the game; I know the ups, I know the downs - and there are a lot of them, believe it or not. On this page I normally look back at some of the highs I enjoyed in football. But this once, during Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s the lows I’m going to focus on today. I hope my son doesn’t experience them like I did throughout periods in my career.

I’m not writing this for the sake of it, or for sympathy, and I’m definitely not trying to stop supporters from expressing themselves about football, but around 6,000 people took their own life in 2020, with many of them football fans. If

My first encounter with that was when I

just one person reads this and then feels more

signed for Newcastle having just turned 19. I got

comfortable discussing mental health, that’s

in my car and a show called The Three Legends

reason enough for me.

was playing on the radio. They were absolutely

The first challenge my son and every other

destroying me. I switched the radio off but it stayed

young footballer has to handle is the threat of

on my mind for a long time. I’d come through the

rejection. He’s been with Ipswich since he was

ranks at Ipswich and everyone loved me, so when I

six; if he continues to the age of 18 and gets

started getting stick I couldn’t handle it.

told he’s not good enough, that’s going to have

I steadily became a lot tougher mentally

a massive, massive effect. I had a lot of friends

over two years with Newcastle but started to find

who wanted to become professional footballers

abuse difficult again towards the back end of my

and when they were released at 14 or 15, they got

Charlton career. I played in a way I thought would

into the wrong crowds, into drugs and couldn’t

please faceless people online and would read their

handle the situation.

criticism straight after a game. I wasn’t even on

But if you do make it, you’ll still hit setbacks

social media but I’d write my name in the search bar

soon enough. Throughout the youth system, you’re

and that became a habit for six months or so. My

told you’re the best player by parents and coaches.

family knew what I was doing and found it silly, but

You spend years hearing that. Then when you reach

reading what these people said was an addiction.

the first-team, it takes a couple of bad games and

Being told you’re crap or had a bad game is

reading a few things online and suddenly you’re

easy enough to handle though. It’s when things

being told the opposite. That’s really tough to take

spill into your personal life that your mental health

and wasn’t something I dealt with greatly.

is at risk. My family, who haven’t put themselves in

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the public eye, have to put up with abuse just

were not up for discussion and, if you spoke

as I do. I faced Charlton for the first time after

about it, you’d be ridiculed.

joining Birmingham up at St Andrew’s and

Keeping your feelings to yourself isn’t tough

my box was directly behind the away fans. A

though; it’s not weak to say how you are. It’s

group of ‘lads’, 16-20-year-olds, got to know

difficult for me to say this because I’m like most

that behind them was my box with my family:

men, as is my dad and a lot of men I know, but I’m

my wife and kids. They started giving my

getting there and trying to share my feelings.

wife abuse and she’s not one to ignore it, so

I was in the same team as Gary Speed. He

was understandably giving it back a bit. Then

was someone I would go to if I was struggling

something popped up on Twitter - it said:

or had an issue. He was the leader of the team.

‘Had a row with Ambrose’s wife today. Ended

You would never have said he was struggling

up spitting in her face.’ The replies back

mentally, never the person to take his own life,

were all: ‘Brilliant. Buzzing that happened.’

but no one knows what’s going on when the door

Another time, I found myself walking around Bluewater Shopping Centre looking

shuts at the end of the day.

The only advice I can give is this: let people

out for a person who’d said something like

know what’s going on. The pubs are open now

‘I’ve just headbutted Ambrose in Bluewater.’

– take the time to go with your mates and chat

He’d obviously seen me there with my

about your life and how you are mentally. There’s

missus and two young daughters, so I was

still a stigma around mental health and people

looking around in case he was nearby. Stuff

are still uncomfortable talking about it, but it’s

like that can get to you.

got to become a part of daily life.

Even today, my four children have

I’ve gone on about footballers’ mental health

Instagram and TikTok and we have to keep an

because it’s my own experience, but everyone

eye on their Direct Messages; they get abuse

has their personal battles. My son and every other

because their dad’s an ex-pro-turned-pundit.

young, aspiring footballer is going to face huge

Sometimes it’s about me, sometimes it’s not.

challenges whether they make it in the game or not.

I probably receive one-two percent of

Whatever happens to them, I can only hope they

what some footballers get, but I’m not ashamed

grow up in a world where taking care of your mental

to admit that me or my family being abused

health is completely normal.

affected my career. A lot of people who knew

Footballer or not, we’re all human beings and

me at a young age say I should have played for

all need a bit of help. Please do talk to those around

England. But the mental strain of football held

you and, if you need a professional hand, don’t

me back. I didn’t realise I wasn’t tough enough

hesitate to use the free services below.

mentally until it was too late, and I couldn’t handle the abuse that followed.

Players, including me, get death threats.

Our families are targeted. That – on top of normal pressure – can be detrimental to your mental health, but the topic was taboo in my

Samaritans, open for anyone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org CALM, open 5pm-midnight every day for men: 0800 58 58 58

changing rooms. Men’s feelings in particular

darren ambrose

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Junior EAgles

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foundation in focus Palace for Life Foundation have been busy

Our Wildcats programme is back in eight schools

delivering back in person to a number of local

and at two weekend hubs, engaging young girls

schools over the past few weeks, after almost a

within football.

term of virtual delivery. Various projects are back up and running supporting young people in a variety of ways.

Our Premier League Primary Stars programme is back in 19 schools, and includes our Reading Stars programme, supporting young people with their literacy, as well as our Equality unit, which focuses on educating young people on the key topics of diversity, social media and discrimination.

Our early stage mental well-being intervention Team Mates is back in 13 schools, supporting young people through small group sessions, focusing on themes such as positiveself, gratitude and happiness.

Guess who

Badge jumble

Can you guess the four players from today’s

Can you work out four of Christian Benteke’s

opponents in the below face mash-up?

previous clubs from the mixed-up badges?

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31 Check out the answers at the bottom of this page!

wordsearch

spot the difference

Can you find the six hidden football-themed

Can you find the five differences in these

words below?

two Palace pictures?

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Six words to find:

Villans, Smith, Bolasie, Barkley, claret, blue.

Now make a sentence that includes all of the words you’ve found!

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number on shorts.

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colour 4 Missing W88 on Joel Ward 5 Jeffrey Schlupp missing

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Kean Bryan 2 Joel Ward's bandage red 3 Joel Ward's boot wrong Liverpool Spot The Difference: 1 Back of shirt number missing on McGinn Badge Jumble: 1 Genk 2 Standard Liège 3 Aston Villa 4

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Junior EAgles

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Guess Who: 1 Jack Grealish 2 Ollie Watkins 3 Tyrone Mings 4 John

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Est.

1874 opposition

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aston vil match preview After a stunning start to the season, injuries to key players have seen Aston Villa fail to maintain their early form, but they remain a talented side with the ability to beat any in the Premier League.

Sitting in 11th place but with a game in hand on Arsenal and Leeds United ahead of them, their hopes of finishing in the top-half are very much alive – although a tough run-in awaits, with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea their final two fixtures.

Defeat to Manchester United last time out was compounded by a red card to their club-record signing and top scorer Ollie Watkins. Although they were forced to be without Watkins for their clash with Everton midweek, he will be available once again for the visit to Selhurst Park.

Palace will be determined to prevent him from firing, and will hope Villa’s former striker Christian Benteke can prove the star of the show.

With the possibility of talisman Jack Grealish returning against Palace, Daniel Storey analyses how the visitors could threaten both with or without the England midfielder on Page 44 and you can test your knowledge of the visitors on Page 47!

official matchday programme

Dean Smith:

We know we’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got the youngest average-age squad in the Premier League. There’s a lot of players still learning, but I believe we are getting better recent outings

1-2

w {a) 01.5.21

2-2

d {h) 25.04.21

1-2

l {h) 21.04.21

lla

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The villa

premier league wins

all-timers Gareth Barry

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Alan Wright

107

Gabriel Agbonlahor

102

Steve Staunton

99

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Dwight Yorke

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Dion Dublin

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Juan Pablo Ángel

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premier league goals

Gabriel Agbonlahor

last time out 26 02 04 05 18 07 06 15 20 21 11

Martinez Cash Konsa Mings Targett M©Ginn Luiz Traoré Barkley El Ghazi Watkins

1-3 26 02

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opposition

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player profile

36

Age

28

Height

1.95m

Joined

16th September, 2020

Debut

21st September, 2020 v Sheffield United

PREVIOUS CLUB: Arsenal

01

Emiliano Martínez POSITION: GOALKEEPER NATIONALITY: ARGENTINA

02

Martínez spent 10 years at Arsenal, including loan moves to six different clubs, before joining Aston Villa on a permanent deal in 2020.

His final two matches for the Gunners were both at Wembley, winning first the

Tom Heaton

Matty Cash

POSITION: GOALKEEPER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

FA Cup against Chelsea, and

03

then the Community Shield against Liverpool.

49 apps 20 clean sheets official matchday programme

Neil Taylor

Erzi Konsa

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: WALES

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

04

37

18

27

Matt Targett

Ahmed Elmohamady

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: EGYPT

30

83 apps 19 clean sheets

05 06 Tyrone Mings

Kortney Hause

Douglas Luiz

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: BRAZIL

POSITION: DEFENDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

player profile

A key part of Bournemouth’s five-year stay in the Premier

Age

28

Height

1.96m

Villa in the Championship and

Joined

31st January, 2019

the top-flight. He continued

Debut

2nd February, 2019 v Reading

League, Mings joined Aston helped guide them back to to impress and has earned regular England call-ups under Gareth Southgate, keeping six clean sheets in eight international games.

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Ipswich Town, AFC Bournemouth

opposition

38

10

19

Jack Grealish

Marvelous Nakamba

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: ZIMBABWE

20

61 apps 05 wins

07 41

Jacob Ramsey

John M©Ginn

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: SPAIN

player profile

Ross Barkley

The Scot has become a crucial

Age

26

Height

1.78m

working hard to add to his sides’

Joined

8th August, 2018

He has an eye for goal, with

Debut

11th August, 2018 v Wigan Athletic

player for both club and country, attacking and defensive efforts. two in the Premier League this season and a stunning overhead kick for Scotland v Czech Republic in March.

PREVIOUS CLUBS: St Mirren, Hibernian

official matchday programme

11

player profile

39

Age

25

Height

1.7m

Joined

9th September, 2020

Debut

15th September, 2020 v Burton Albion

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Exeter City, Brentford

25

Ollie Watkins POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

15

Aston Villa’s club record signing has made a flying start to his Premier League career, the highlight being a hattrick against Liverpool in a 7-2 triumph. He capped a remarkable year with his first England call-up in March, scoring on his debut against

Morgan Sanson

Bertrand Traoré

POSITION: MIDFIELDER NATIONALITY: FRANCE

POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: BURKINA FASO

21

San Marino at Wembley.

34 apps 13 goals

39

Anwar El Ghazi

Keinan Davis

POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: NETHERLANDS

POSITION: FORWARD NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

opposition

40

#24

#05

Cahill

Mings

player comparison

Age 35

position Defender

nationality eng

Age 28

position Defender

nationality eng

apps

clean sheets

goals

apps

clean sheets

goals

Assists

Tackle success %

Clearances

Interceptions

Accurate long balls

4

Accurate long balls

19

Interceptions

83

Clearances

28

Tackle success %

103

Assists

391

11

75%

2,924

461

891

4

66%

404

88

272

official matchday programme

41

#04

#07

Milivojevic

M©Ginn

player comparison

Age 30

position Midfielder

nationality SRB

Age 26

position Midfielder

nationality eng

apps

goals

assists

apps

goals

assists

Passes per match

Accurate long balls

Tackles

Interceptions

Shooting accuracy

8

Shooting accuracy

5

Interceptions

61

Tackles

5

Accurate long balls

28

Passes per match

149

45.87

466

328

258

38%

31.67

189

105

64

31%

opposition

42

officialLOCK matchday programme

EXPLODE

PLAY

43

Palace have lost just one of their last 12 home league games against Aston Villa (W6 D5), going down 0-1 in December 2014

41

Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Crystal Palace since the 198081 season, when the Villans last won the top-flight title

55 2

4

season so far

36

49

GOALS

298 462 SHOTS

29

49

56

41

EXPECTED GOALS

GOALS CONCEDED

40

12

48

AVERAGE POSSESSION %

53

44

EXPECTED GOALS AGAINST

10

5

SHOT CONVERSION RATE %

5

POINTS GAINED AFTER TRAILING

8

14

CLEAN SHEETS

12

16

POINTS DROPPED AFTER LEADING

goal times time

SCORED

CONCEDED

time

SCORED

CONCEDED

0-15

9

11

0-15

12

2

16-30

6

9

16-30

4

8

31-45

5

3

31-45

5

6

46-60

4

13

46-60

6

12

61-75

5

5

61-75

8

5

76-90

7

15

76-90

14

8

opposition

44

what’s the storey @danielstorey85

But they have slipped badly from that position. Since January 1st, Villa have won only five of their 19 league games and failed to win consecutive matches. Their chance creation is down, their goalscoring is

This season at Villa, Grealish ranks first for dribbles and passes ending in the final third of the pitch

down and they are making Columnist Daniel Storey can be

individual defensive mistakes

Premier League’s so-called ‘Big

heard on The Totally Football Show

that have cost them points.

Six’ – that’s now more a measure

and seen in the Irish Examiner, the

There are various

of financial strength than league

i paper and many more.

Slipping after a brilliant half-season

explanations for that drop in

performance – his dominance

form: an inevitable regression

causes an issue when he is

to the mean, Barkley struggling

absent. Grealish has missed

to maintain his early-season

Villa’s last 10 matches with a shin

form, a relentless schedule

injury and they have taken only

hampering a small squad

nine points from those 10 games.

Now Grealish is ready to

Aston Villa were the surprise

and opposition managers

team in the Premier League

working out Villa’s new style.

return and stake a claim for a

over the first half of the season.

But really it comes down to

place in Gareth Southgate’s

Dean Smith’s side won their first

the absence of one man...

European Championship squad

four league games, including

by impressing once more in

defending champions Liverpool

The return of Grealish?

that ranks as one of the most

There may be no player in the

and they are desperate for him

shocking scorelines in Premier

Premier League who makes

to once again demand the ball,

League history. New signings

a bigger difference to their

draw opposition defenders and

Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash and

club’s performance than Jack

create space for teammates

the on-loan Ross Barkley settled

Grealish. This season at Villa,

in the final third. Villa are an

in quickly and Villa looked

Grealish ranks first for dribbles

entirely different proposition

like European contenders.

and passes ending in the final

with and without their captain.

a crushing 7-2 victory over

In their first 18 league

third of the pitch. He has double

Villa’s final matches of the season. He is desperate to return

games of 2019/20, Villa collected

the number of assists of any

only 15 points and became

teammate and has created

Direct, counterattacking football

embroiled in a relegation fight

22% of all Villa’s chances in

Aston Villa’s attacking plan

that they would not escape

the Premier League. That

with Grealish in the team is

from until the final day. This

comes despite him missing

pretty simple. They look to

season, Villa reached that

30% of their league season.

sacrifice possession (11th in

same points total after just seven league matches.

official matchday programme

But if Grealish is probably the best player outside the

the league by that measure) and then transition to quick

45

counter attacks when they win the ball. The success of those counter-attacking transitions is the key to Villa’s improvement this season; they rank behind only Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United for shots per game.

But it’s a little more nuanced than simply giving the ball to Grealish and letting him run. Watkins is instructed to make runs predominantly down the left channel, drawing away a full-back from Grealish and allowing him to drop deep or drift infield to find space.

Barkley or John McGinn push up from central midfield to offer box. On the right wing, Cash overlaps and allows Bertrand Traore to move centrally.

Suddenly Villa have overloads in attacking areas and suddenly Grealish isn’t having to beat two players just to create a chance.

If Grealish’s consistency was the platform for Villa’s rapid improvement, the arrival of Watkins complemented it perfectly. Last season, Grealish carried the responsibility for creating and taking chances - he ranked first for shots and shots on target. Watkins had

Still plenty to play for At this time of season, certain clubs can often be seen to coast towards the end of the campaign and that’s particularly true before a major international tournament. Neither Crystal Palace nor Villa have any jeopardy left in their seasons: they are both safe, will not qualify for Europe and have no cup competitions to focus on.

But that shouldn’t really apply here. The structure of the Premier League’s merit payments dictates that each position in the division is worth around £2m to clubs. With finances - and therefore transfer budgets - likely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a clear incentive to finish as high as possible.

With seven points currently separating the two

already comfortably surpassed

teams, Villa have an outside shot of a top-eight finish.

both of Grealish’s totals from

Victory for Palace could still make a top-half finish

the whole of last season with

possible. This fixture could be literally worth millions.

six games still remaining.

daniel storey

Statistics correct as of April 30th

an option on the edge of the

146 LIVE GAMES 46

47

Questions linking Palace and today’s opponents that will test even the biggest Eagles fan. Time to earn your ‘Palace Encyclopaedia’ nickname.

01

06 From which club did Crystal Palace sign

Crystal Palace currently sit 19th in the all-time

Mile Jedinak?

Premier League table. Where are Villa?

07

02

Just showing his English clubs, which retired

Three penalties were awarded the last time

Eagle and Villan’s career went: Crystal Palace

Palace and Villa played in the FA Cup. All

– West Ham United – Aston Villa – Burnley –

three were successful. Who scored them?

03 True or false: Christian Benteke scored more

Fulham?

08

Premier League goals in his debut season for

Palace’s first trip to Villa Park in the 2010s

Palace than he did for Villa.

ended in a 1-0 victory. Who scored the game’s only goal?

04 Palace’s Gary Cahill started his career at

09

Aston Villa and has played for three other

Which manager brought Yannick Bolasie to

current Premier League teams. Who are they?

Selhurst Park?

10

05 Name the Palace goalscorers in the 1989/90

Bolasie scored Palace’s first Premier League

FA Cup semi-final win at Villa Park.

hat-trick in how many minutes?

answers 7 Gábor Király 8 Dwight Gayle 9 Dougie Freedman 10 11 Sheffield United and Chelsea 5 Mark Bright, Gary O’Reilly, Andy Gray and Alan Pardew 6 Ninth 1 Gençlerbirliği 2 Darren Ambrose and John Carew (x2) 3 False (19 for Villa, 15 for Palace) 4 Burnley, opposition quiz

48

49

fantasy dinner party This week, Andros Townsend invites

LEBRON JAMES I’m a big basketball fan and Lakers fan, and he’s the best ever to do it.

michael jackson Loved his music. I was a big fan as a kid when growing up and was never able to

inspirations from all walks of life to

see him perform live, so I’d love to get

join him at a party you wouldn’t want

the opportunity.

to miss.

lewis hamilton

ownsend

I’m a big Formula One fan. He seems like the life and the soul of the party in Formula One, so I’d love to have an evening with him.

ronaldo He was a big idol of mine growing up. The best striker ever to play the game for me.

I had all his boots as a kid. Unfortunately, I never got to see him play live or play in his era, but for me he’s one of the best players to ever play the game.

(a young) eddie murphy Can we go back in time as well? His comedy sketches as a kid – Eddie Murphy Raw and stuff like that – would definitely have us in fits of laughter at the dinner party! You can’t be all serious, can you?

fantasy dinner party

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51

Over the road at Copers Cope

aidan steele Copers Cope Road is home to Palace’s firstteam Training Ground and, just a few steps down on the other side of the road, you’ll find the Eagles’ Category 1 Academy complex.

over the road at copers cope

52

m

aking the leap to a Premier League Academy takes talent, but it also takes something

else: self-confidence. It’s something that, whether or not we are naturally selfassured, can be coaxed out by the very best coaches in the game. At least, that’s how Aidan Steele sees it.

“The coaches definitely help,” he says, “because when you arrive somewhere and you don’t know anybody, and you don’t know any players, the coaches making you feel welcome helps you a lot. It allows you to play at your best, and give a really good impression of yourself.”

First signing for then-Premier League Watford after leaving Northern Ireland, Steele was taken aback by the high standards of the top-level academies. “I have to be honest: I was a bit shocked by it and possibly intimidated,” he remembers. “I’d never experienced anything like that before, but I think after a while when I got used to it, I started to take it in my stride.

“At the time, when I was in Northern Ireland, I didn’t really play at that high level, so when I came over it was a big shock. Everything is completely different: how much you train, how you train, and the players in general are just so much better. The quality is so much higher.”

Steele felt out of sorts at the Hornets, but any doubts creeping in around his own abilities soon evaporated when he made the move to south London. “If I’m being honest, it was when I left Watford and went to Palace,” he says. “That’s when I

official matchday programme

When I came on trial, everybody around the club – including the players – made me feel welcome

53

started to think that I do belong here,

we’re such a tight-knit group of players. We’re

that I’m at this level.

a tight group with the staff, and we all get along

“I think just the way I was welcomed by the coaches. When I came on trial,

with each other well, and I think that kind of bond helped me perform more on the pitch to be honest.

everybody around the club – including

“Maybe at first you don’t know them and

the players – made me feel welcome.

they don’t know you, and it is hard. But once you

Once I started to really believe in myself

become a scholar and you’re in with each other

it became more natural, and I started to

every day, you get to know people more. The more

come out as the type of player that I was,

you get to know them, the more you like them and

and the type of person that I was.”

it’s easier to be friends with them, and then play

But what type of player is that? For inspiration, Steele looks not to someone

with them on the pitch.”

That team spirit has been necessary in a

in his position, but someone whose

tough year for the Under-18s, with the pandemic

attitude he hopes to replicate week-in,

compounded by a new training group being built

week-out. “When I was growing up,

around them. “It’s been a very challenging season,”

I loved watching players like Wayne

Steele admits. “Last year we were in every day

Rooney. I’ll always say that Rooney is my

quite early and then leaving late, whereas this year

hero, because I loved the way he played.

we’re only in for a few hours before going home.

“He was so tenacious, he played

“Maybe you could say we missed out on

with so much passion, and you could

certain aspects of being a scholar, but realistically

just tell that he loved football. It’s that

we just had to adapt because that’s the way the

type of player – even though he’s a

world is and we can’t do anything about it at the

completely different player to me. I

minute. Hopefully next season, when we’re in with

loved the way he was.”

the better facilities, we’ll only develop more from it.”

The ultimate aim, as with all it this level, is to make it to the first-team. Playing with the Under-23s, Steele has been able to experience matchday at Selhurst Park. “Being in Selhurst around the first-team players who come down is a great experience, because you just want to learn from them, you want to see what they’re doing and you want to add it to your game. Even if they don’t play in the same position: it might be their professionalism, how they approach the game,

Captaining the Under-18s side to a chance of title-winning success, Steele

how they talk to everybody.”

For now, Steele leads his successful Under-

has benefited from the close unit that

18s side into the new season that promises so

has developed among the Academy

much, from the new facilities off the pitch to the

prospects. “I think you can tell this is a

talented players on it. In the near future, he will

community club. Even within our team,

hope to progress much further still.

over the road at copers cope

21/22 season tickets Direct debit now available!

On sale to 19/20 & 20/21 Season Ticket holders!

Save your seat before 18th June

search: cpfc tickets

55

From the club’s current or past employees to unsung heroes, people looking to make a difference to those who have found fame: south London is a special place to live, work and experience.

This week, Proud and Palace founder Stephanie Fuller explains how football is making strides in its fight against LGBT+ phobia within the sport.

Voices of south london

56

L

ike most Crystal Palace fans, Stephanie

After a few years away, Stephanie decided

Fuller’s fandom is a family thing. Like

to return to football but, upon doing so, her fears

most Palace fans, the club is an integral

about hostile comments towards LGBT+ people in

part of her identity. But, unlike most Palace fans, she has, at times, been made to feel unwanted in the stands.

“I was aware there was negative language

the sport were reinforced.

“I was anxious, if I’m honest,” she says.

“We were playing someone like Stoke and their ‘keeper was taking ages over a goal-kick, so the

about LGBT+ people used [at football] but I

guy in front of me jumped up and shouted really

wouldn’t have described it as that because I

loudly: ‘Hurry up, you f------ f-----.’

didn’t have a name for it… I don’t think that

“[He said that] like it was completely all right;

words like homophobia were in the public

nobody should have a problem with it and, what’s

consciousness 25 years ago.

worse, nobody did. Nobody had a problem or, if

“And so this negativity and language

they did, they didn’t say anything. I just remember

pervades your environment and you know it’s

thinking: ‘That’s exactly it.’ It’s part of the reason I

aimed at you. You don’t know what it’s called but

later started Proud and Palace.”

you know it’s bad and that, actually, what you

Proud and Palace, the club’s official LGBT+

represent within that [crowd] is not a good thing

fan group, began in 2014 after Stephanie set-up a

and it’s something people don’t like, don’t want to

Twitter account. She says she initially “got quite

see, hear or have around them.

a lot of abuse back,” but soon received contact

“There was a period of time shortly where,

from fellow fans, Emma and Deano. It wasn’t long

as I was coming to terms with how I felt about

until the club reached out and, after meeting staff,

myself, I didn’t feel like that and football could

Proud and Palace was officially recognised by

coexist. So there were a few years where I

Crystal Palace.

stopped going. I missed it so much. Football is

“The thinking [behind Proud and Palace]

so much a part of who I am – it’s really, really

was: when that guy jumped up in front of me

important to me.”

and shouted what he shouted, he had no idea

official matchday programme

57

whether the person sat next to him was straight,

“One of the big fears we [Proud and Palace]

bi, gay or trans. When LGBT+ people go to

had when Brighton eventually got into the

football grounds, they don’t all sit in the same

Premier League was that first game. We put a

section with a big rainbow flag in front of them –

statement together around it… which was called

they’re all spread right through the stadium and

‘99 reasons to hate Brighton, but homophobia

have always been there.

isn’t one.’ That went live and then what happened

“Palace, along with every club in the country,

was what we thought would happen: broadly

does have fans from the LGBT+ community and

speaking, there was a good response, but there

they’re important parts of the fabric of the club.

were quite a few negative ones.

Many have been going for more years than I

“But it wasn’t us responding to them – it

care to remember and have been there when the

was other groups saying: ‘Actually, you’re

club needed them. And yet they go to Palace and

embarrassing yourself coming out with this

their identity is used as a form of abuse. That just

claptrap. Do you not know what decade we’re in?’

cannot be right.”

Away from football, Stephanie is General

“[Proud and Palace Co-Chairs] Mark, Emma and I spoke recently and commented on the

Manager of the national LGBT+ helpline,

Brighton game that’s just passed (when we had

Switchboard. She says the world is “a long

stopped laughing at Benteke’s winner): we didn’t

way away” from “this panacea of everything

see any significant homophobia online.

being great, fair and equal,” but still holds a

“It’s credit to Palace supporters – it [LGBT+

positive outlook on increasing support for the

phobia] is not part of the landscape to the extent

LGBT+ community.

it was. I’m not naïve enough to say it’s gone completely, we know it hasn’t, but we have to say it’s improved.”

Football is so much a part of who I am – it’s really, really important to me

During one of many football-focused parts of this interview, Stephanie says: “The Monday night game against Brighton reminded me of how much I love football.” She was talking solely about the on-pitch triumph. But, to a little less fanfare, the drop in LGBT+ phobia between Brighton games just four years apart is as easy to celebrate.

There is undoubtedly a long way to go before LGBT+ phobic behaviour is eradicated in football and beyond. But, thanks to the work of people like Stephanie, organisations like Switchboard and Proud and Palace, and everyday people educating themselves and re-shaping their outlook, one day no one will feel excluded from the sport again.

That day can’t come soon enough.

voices of south london

58

palace for life Jack Butland Visits Holiday Camp Jack Butland surprised

Speaking about meeting the children and the importance of the holiday courses, Butland said: “It was great to meet all the children albeit through a video link and see how

children at a Palace for Life

much fun they were having and how happy

Easter Holiday Camp by

they were!

chatting to them via video link

“Courses like this are so important as

and finding out how they had

they make sure children can have a healthy

been spending their holidays.

hot meal every day, whilst getting active and

Butland was greeted by the excited group of

socialising with friends – something they may have missed out on over the last year.”

youngsters who had prepared several questions for him to answer, such as who his best friend at Palace was – whether playing in goal is the hardest position on the pitch!

official matchday programme

It was great to meet all the children albeit through a video link and see how much fun they were having and how happy they were

59

The holiday camp ran at Heavers Farm Primary School, just down the road from Selhurst Park, with 60 children aged five to 11 attending each day. Activities ranged from football and tennis to laser tag and science workshops learning about space and making slime. All children also received a hot, healthy lunch each day.

Community Sports Manager at Palace for Life Roxanne Bennett explained was particularly important: “We want children to enjoy their time with us, have fun and make new friends, but we also wanted to encourage them to eat healthily, learn new things and take part in daily exercise.

“It was fantastic to have Jack with us and tell the children about his football journey. He’s a real role model for them to look up to.”

We have charity places available to run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon for Palace for Life!

To apply for a place visit palaceforlife.org and search:

You can find out more about the work Palace for Life does to support young south Londoners by visiting palaceforlife.org.

virtual london marathon palace for life

GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

61

game that changed my career 4-0

A footballer’s debut is, understandably, usually the game that means the most to them; hard work rewarded and a dream achieved. However, that footballing bow doesn’t necessarily represent the 90 minutes that had the biggest impact on a player’s career.

man united v cardiff City 1st march, 1975 footbALL LEAGUE 2ND DIVISION

Throughout this season, we will be talking to past and present Eagles to find out which match has had the biggest bearing on their life.

This week, Steve Coppell picks the game that changed his career as a player. If you’re wondering, the Liverpool FA Cup semi-final makes

oppell

the grade from a management perspective.

As a student who’d never trained in the first-team, if I’d have come on that game and we’d have been beaten, I would have been consigned to the reserves to learn my trade I was a student at university. We were playing Cardiff at Old Trafford and I replaced Willie Morgan, who was a huge hero with the United faithful. After an hour it was 0-0. I came on for Willie and we ended up winning the game 4-0 and I had a hand in a couple of goals.

As a student who’d never trained in the first-team, if I’d have come on that game and we’d have been beaten, I would have been consigned to the reserves to learn my trade.

We won and I ended up playing the rest of the season – I missed one game for a grumbling appendix – but apart from that I played every game. That was a huge, huge turning point in my playing career.

game that changed my career

62 @pnm1979

official matchday programme

63

2016/17 The good, the bad and the ugly: Kit or Miss reviews those desirable gems, those best-forgotten strips and does a bit of market research for those of you looking to snap up some of the Eagles’ iconic shirts.

This week, Jack Butland models the goalkeeper kit from 2016/17.

kit or miss

64

2016 g oalkeeper kits are cruelly

overlooked time and again in

modern football. Despite clubs

producing multiple designs a season and

various ranges throughout the year, ‘keeper shirts often seem a bit of an afterthought.

Not in 2016/17, however. Palace shot stoppers Wayne Hennessey, Julián Speroni

What we like: Palace and designers Macron could have played it safe and gone with all-black as a reliable look, but the grey trim around the sleeves works as a nice touch.

and Steve Mandanda didn’t wear this effort as much as its green counterpart, but they would have been glad to see it hanging in the changing room.

Unless it’s the bedlam of the 90s’

Even better if: Goalkeeper kits are a free pass. Let the proverbial ponytail down and go wild.

goalkeeping experiment, black is undoubtedly the smartest colour for the No.1 jersey – popularised by Lev Yashin in

Wore it best:

the 1950s and thankfully continued today.

Steve Mandanda.

Clearly, however, the kit was popular with opposition frontmen, too, as Palace conceded more in 2016/17 than any season since 2010/11.

Story of the season The 2016/17 season began well for Palace, with the Eagles’ 2016 dip in form seemingly reversed coming

2017

in to the new campaign. The south Londoners secured 11 points from the first seven matches after a pre-season that saw them defeat Valencia 3-1.

And then things took a turn for the worse. A string of six consecutive defeats and collecting just four points from 10 games led to Alan Pardew departing the club, with Sam Allardyce taking over the reins.

In characteristic style, Allardyce did what he does best and, after

3-0 Crystal Palace √ arsenal 10th April, 2017

earning just four points from eight games, the manager steered Palace to safety by picking up 22 from his final 11 – including wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Eventually, the club finished a relatively comfortable 14th – five

Where are they now?

Mandanda returned to Olympique de Marseille in summer 2017. He was part of France’s World Cup winning squad in 2018 and played his 500th match for Marseille the same year.

points clear from the drop.

The finest hour:

Buyers’ guide:

The night may be remembered for Andros

You’ll have a painless time finding the

Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milivojevic’s

green jersey from this season – which is

attacking heroics in this remarkable victory under

fairly easy to nab at a good price. They’re

the Selhurst lights, but Wayne Hennessey clad

online for £25-35, but we couldn’t find

in black kept the high-flying Gunners quiet for a

a black shirt for love nor an expenses-

crucial clean sheet.

friendly amount of money when checking.

kit or miss

65

66

We’ve made the beer better.

Worth a try? Probably.

Carlsberg Danish Pilsner.

Rebrewed for a crisper taste.

67

Club Historian, Ian King, looks back at the 1990/91 campaign that saw a Wembley return and confirmed Palace, for one season at least, as the third-best club in the country.

1990/91 season

68

victory at Leeds made second place virtually unachievable but strengthened our

r

eports were already beginning to

third position.

Four days later saw the re-arranged

surface about the Football Association’s

game against FA Cup finalists Tottenham,

plan for a ‘Super League’ – or Premier

also at Selhurst Park, and a sizeable

Division – that would start in 1992/93, with

increase in the number of spectators.

22 clubs then reducing to 18 over a three or

Again, Alan Pardew took Gray’s place while

four year period, minimising the chances

Richard Shaw’s ankle injury meant a First

of relegation. Palace were not among the

Division debut for Paul Bodin.

reported 12 clubs in preliminary talks with the FA that had angered the Football League.

Following the euphoria of the previous Sunday, it was back to the more mundane job of garnering a victory over visitors Aston Villa.

Steve Coppell was against the team parading the Zenith Data Systems Cup before the start, speaking of the danger of the game being “after the Lord’s Mayor Show”; in a way he was proved correct, instead it was Palace juniors who did the honours at half-time. The knee injury that Andy Gray sustained in the final would keep him out of the team until the final game of the season, and his drive from

It was a much improved performance

midfield was missed against his former club

helped in no small part by an early Palace

as the game meandered to the inevitable

goal: in the sixth minute John Salako’s

goalless draw. The final disappointment was

free kick was dropped by the goalkeeper

the attendance, which was almost half that of

for Eric Young to push home. But shortly

the Eagles’ contingent at Wembley. Liverpool’s

afterwards Mark Bright was forced to

official matchday programme

69

withdraw with a hamstring injury, allowing Simon Osborn to make his league bow.

A third home game in a week came against

SIMON OSBORN

ZDS Cup opponents Everton, who made another trip to London following the acrimony built up during the Wembley game. In an afternoon punctuated by bright sunshine and the odd hail shower, Bright’s injury meant a start for Garry Thompson. There was more physical action than skill: Thorn was booked for a foul on Pat Nevin, Wright was involved in a flare-up with ‘keeper Neville Southall (who was roundly booed by the crowd), and Thompson collided with Watson and suffered a concussion. When Martin Keown launched himself into Young with eight minutes left, the inevitable red card reduced both sides to 10 men, as Coppell helped the injured Young off the pitch having already used both substitutes.

The previous day had brought the news that UEFA had decided to readmit Liverpool early from their European ban, which meant that only the Merseyside club and Arsenal would contest in the two places available for the following season.

Steve Coppell could barely contain his anger, as he criticised the FA for “passively sitting there like dummies and taking it,” referring to them as “chocolate soldiers”. They were words no doubt echoed by everybody connected with the club, not in the least the thousands of supporters.

Joined from: Juniors – signed professionally January 1990 Debut: 18th February, 1991 v Brighton & Hove Albion (A) Final Palace game: 8th January, 1994 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) Left for: Reading – August, 1994 Palace appearances: 72 Palace goals: 5

1990/91 season

shau

70

official matchday programme

derr

71

To play at the main stadium and for it to smell like a big game for the players should give them a lot of focus on wanting more

t

his year has been a real challenge,

minutes, but for the young players having that

from making that transition from a

opportunity to learn from them is better than

Category 2 to a Category 1 Academy,

any coaching session, that’s for sure! To hear

to being in a training ground that’s constantly

their communication and see some of the

changing and developing around you with all

experience they have got will be invaluable for

the construction that’s taking place. But for us

people like Jake and some of the other young

to be able to take our season into the final day

players as well.

means I’m delighted for the players and the coaching staff as well.

I enjoyed last week’s dramatic victory

The opportunity to play at Selhurst Park has been great for us this year. To play at the main stadium, to be inside the dressing

over Middlesbrough. Of course it wasn’t

rooms, and for it to smell like a big game for

our best performance, but we showed that

the players should give them a lot of focus on

character and that resilience to score the

wanting more. When you go to some of the

winner in the final minute. I was particularly

non-league grounds – with respect – you’ve

pleased for Jake O’Brien who scored twice.

got to play at that level, but when you go into

He’s shown some real desire to get his head on

the bigger stadiums and win like we did last

the end of crosses in both boxes. He’s a real

week, it can provide a lot of growth in the

threat, and he’s got fantastic determination to

players’ development.

score goals. Being a defender, he’s got to do

This year has been a learning curve. It’s

that side of the game right, but if you can get

shown us that we have to keep pushing the

some goals and it’ll really push you forward.

boundaries for young players and present

He’s learning, and he’s still in the infancy

different problems for them, and that’s what

of coming over from a completely different

we have done with this change of category.

level of football, so he’s going to grow. It’s

It’s why Middlesbrough was a highlight for me:

why it’s so good having some of the senior

showing that resilience, bleeding new players

players play for us, as James Tomkins and

into the group with Under-18s getting valuable

Nathaniel Clyne did against Middlesbrough.

minutes as well. But it’s just one of many

Of course, their objective is to get valuable

satisfying moments this season.

shaun derry

chlo

72

official matchday programme

morga

73

there are so many elements that need to be femalefocused. I hope we can start to address that

i

recently ran for the Professional

mental health support of any league. The PFA

Footballers' Association’s players’ board,

offer all of those things and they’d be absolutely

which is a difficult process. You first draft an

amazing in the Women’s Championship, where it

application to the PFA board which is sent to an independent panel to decide who goes into the

is critically needed.

More recently, I launched M-Power, a

pool that can be voted on by current members.

female-only - inclusive of trans and non-

Every professional footballer gets one vote.

binary - coaching company for goalkeepers.

Women’s Championship players are not

Its focus is on coaching and education, female

currently classed as professional by the PFA,

empowerment through goalkeeping. There are

however, so after speaking with them, I had

so many companies that focus on both or just

to run in the former players category. I feel

the men’s game, but girls at every level from

quite disappointed by the PFA’s stance on this:

elite to grassroots are lacking attention just

I’ve been professional with Spurs and we still

on them.

consider ourselves to be professional players

Sophie Harris and Sophie Baggaley,

in the Championship – we’re definitely classed

goalkeepers for Leicester City and Bristol City

as elite by the Government, given we’ve played

respectively, are on board as well as a coach

throughout the pandemic.

from a Wildcats setup to offer player welfare

However the PFA only consider you

support. There was nothing like this when I

professional in the women’s game if you play

was coming through. You’d struggle to find a

in the Women’s Super League – the top-flight –

women’s team 20-25 years ago and, if you did,

which is not the position for men. Added to this,

the focus was always on outfield players, so I

as ‘non-professionals’, Palace’s squad couldn’t

never had any support and came to goalkeeping

vote. That makes things difficult.

quite late in my career.

Ultimately, of three women and five men

What we’d like to do going forward is to

running for the three ‘former player’ spots,

look at different areas of female goalkeeping:

three men were elected, and the Women’s

different body shapes, different strengths and

Championship has no representation. The

abilities, different weaknesses, mental stresses,

Championship is one of the least-funded areas

the menstruation cycle; there are so many

of the professional game; it probably needs the

elements that need to be female-focused. I hope

most in terms of injury, rehab, legal advice and

we can start to address that.

chloe morgan

74

First-team sponsors

Roy Hodgson

Joel Ward

2020/21

Patrick van Aanholt

Luka Milivojevic

Scott Dann

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

PALACE DETECTIVES Proud supporters of CPSCC

01737 225 711 |

W S PA . C O . U K

logo-crystal-palace-dec-2017.indd 1

29/12/2017 09:17

Cheikhou Kouyaté

Jordan Ayew

Andros Townsend

Wilfried Zaha

Wayne Hennessey

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Jeffrey Schlupp

James McArthur

James McCarthy

Michy Batshuayi

Gary Cahill

Eberechi Eze

Tyrick Mitchell

Vicente Guaita

Martin Kelly

Jaïro Riedewald

Steve Watts a Palace fan from the 70s and has been taken from us too early in May 2021. He had attended many games both home & away even though he lived in Shepton Mallet. He is pictured here 2nd from the left, with his son and the other S/M Eagles, Ron, John & Mike.

Contact liam.connery@cpfc.co.uk to discuss our player sponsorship packages.

official matchday programme

Sep

oct

nov

dec

jan

feb

mar

apr

may

0-2 1-4 0-3 2-4 3-1

0-0 0-1 2-2 5-0 0-1 0-1 1-1 0-3

London Bees

Lewes

Durham

Leicester City

Sheffield United

Bristol City

Coventry United

London Bees

Liverpool

Lewes

London City Lionesses

Leicester City

Durham

Blackburn Rovers

London Bees

Leicester City

Liverpool

Charlton Athletic

Sheffield United

Sun 4

Wed 7

Sun 11

Sun 18

Sun 1

Thu 5

Sun 8

Thu 19

Sun 6

Sun 13

Sun 10

Thu 14

Sun 17

Sun 7

Sun 14

Sun 28

Sun 7

Thu 25

Sun 4 5-2 2-1

Coventry United

Lewes

Arsenal

Sun 25

Sun 16

3-0

0-1

2-0

0-4

6-1

2-1

Sun 2

London Bees

2-3

Blackburn Rovers

Sun 27

Sun 18

1-1

London City Lionesses

Sat 12 4-1

2-2

Charlton Athletic

Result

Opposition

Sun 6 Sep oct nov JAN

dec FEB

0-3 0-1 1-0 2-1

Norwich City Aston Villa Burnley

Fri 25 Fri 2 Mon 19

3-0 2-3 4-0 4-4 1-0 0-2 2-0 1-2 1-2 2-1 2-2 0-2 3-2

Stoke City Fulham Newcastle United Fulham Norwich City Aston Villa Burnley Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds United Reading Sunderland West Bromwich Albion Stoke City Newcastle United Middlesbrough

Mon 23 Mon 30 Fri 4 Mon 21 Mon 18 Mon 1 Fri 5 Mon 15 Mon 22 Mon 1 Fri 12 Mon 22 Mon 29 Mon 12 Mon 26 Mon 3

1-0

1-0

Home Fixture Away Fixture Cup Fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)

Middlesbrough

2-5

Sunderland

Mon 9

Fri 7

6-0

Reading

Sun 1 3-4

1-4

Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds United

Mon 26

3-3

West Bromwich Albion

Mon 21

Result

Opposition

Date Sep oct Nov dec Jan feb MAR APR may

MAR APR may

Date

1-0 2-1 1-5 1-2 2-1 4-1 3-2 2-0 3-5

2-2 2-1 4-0 5-1 3-1

Norwich City Leicester City Reading West Ham United Aston Villa Tottenham Hotpsur Fleetwood Town Brighton & Hove Albion Fulham Arsenal Fulham Norwich City Leicester City West Bromwich Albion Reading Chelsea Southampton West Ham United Aston Villa Tottenham Hotpsur Brighton & Hove Albion

Sat 17 Sat 24 Sat 31 Sat 7 Sat 28 Sat 05 Fri 11 Sat 19 Sat 16 Sat 30 Sat 06 Sat 20 Sat 27 Sat 6 Sat 13 Tue 16 Sat 3 Wed 7 Sat 17 Sat 24 Sat 1

West Bromwich Albion

1-0

Chelsea

Fri 2

Sat 8

3-2

Arsenal

Sat 26

7-1

5-1

3-0

7-1

1-1

2-1

1-0

2-3

2-1

Southampton

Sat 19

Result

Opposition

Date

75

STATS

May

April

March

February

January

December

November

October

September

Date

Opposition

Result

Position

Sat 12

Southampton

1-0

7th

Tue 15

Bournemouth

0-0

Sat 19

Manchester United

3-1

Sat 26

Everton

1-2

6th

Sat 3

Chelsea

0-4

12th

Sun 18

Brighton & Hove Albion

1-1

14th

Sat 24

Fulham

2-1

8th

Fri 30

Wolverhampton Wanderers

0-2

13th

Mon 8

Leeds United

4-1

8th

Mon 23

Burnley

0-1

11th

Fri 27

Newcastle United

0-2

15th

Sun 6

West Bromwich Albion

5-1

11th

Sun 13

Tottenham Hotspur

1-1

11th

Wed 16

West Ham United

1-1

12th

Sat 19

Liverpool

0-7

13th

Sat 26

Aston Villa

0-3

13th

Mon 28

Leicester City

1-1

13th

Sat 2

Sheffield United

2-0

14th

Fri 8

Wolverhampton Wanderers

0-1

R3

Thu 14

Arsenal

0-0

13th

Sun 17

Manchester City

0-4

13th

Tue 26

West Ham United

2-3

13th

Sat 30

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1-0

13th

Tue 2

Newcastle United

2-1

13th

Sat 6

Leeds United

0-2

13th

Sat 13

Burnley

0-3

14th

Mon 22

Brighton & Hove Albion

2-1

13th

Sun 28

Fulham

0-0

13th

Wed 3

Manchester United

0-0

13th

Sun 7

Tottenham Hotspur

1-4

13th

Sat 13

West Bromwich Albion

1-0

12th

Sat 3

Everton

1-1

12th

Sat 10

Chelsea

1-4

13th

Mon 26

Leicester City

1-2

13th

Sat 1

Manchester City

0-2

13th

Sat 8

Sheffield United

2-0

13th

Tue 11

Southampton

Sun 16

Aston Villa

Wed 19

Arsenal

Sun 23

Liverpool

official matchday programme

(10-11)

R2 5th

Jordan Ayew

Card Red Card

Cheikhou Kouyaté

Yellow

Scott Dann

Goal(s)

James Tomkins

Unused Sub

Luka Milivojevic

Used Sub

Patrick van Aanholt

Started

Joel Ward

Home Fixture Away Fixture Cup Fixture - Palace score shown first.

Jack Butland

76

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

Andros Townsend Wilfried Zaha Mamadou Sakho Wayne Hennessey Jean-Philippe Mateta Jeffrey Schlupp Nathaniel Clyne James McArthur Stephen Henderson Christian Benteke Connor Wickham James McCarthy Michy Batshuayi Gary Cahill Eberechi Eze Tyrick Mitchell Vicente Guaita Jaroslaw Jach Martin Kelly Sam Woods Nathan Ferguson Nya Kirby Reece Hannam Jaïro Riedewald

77

10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 31 33 34 35 36 37 38 44

Fixtures & results

78

Club

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD Pts

1

Manchester City

35

25

5

5

72

26

46

80

2

Manchester United

34

20

10

4

67

36

31

70

3

chelsea

35

18

10

7

55

32

23

64

4

Leicester City

35

19

6

10

63

43

20

63

5

West Ham United

35

17

7

11

55

45

10

58

6

liverpool

34

16

9

9

57

39

18

57

7

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

35

16

8

11

61

41

20

56

8

EVERTON

34

16

7

11

46

42

4

55

9

arsenal

35

15

7

13

49

38

11

52

10

leeds united

35

15

5

15

53

53

0

50

11

Aston villa

34

14

6

14

49

41

8

48

12

wolverhampton wanderers

35

12

9

14

35

47

-12 45

13

Crystal Palace

34

11

8

15

36

56 -20 41

14

burnley

35

10

9

16

33

47

-14 39

15

newcastle united

35

10

9

16

40

58

-18 39

16

Brighton & Hove Albion

35

8

13

14

36

41

-5

17

southampton

34

10

7

17

41

61

-20 37

18

Fulham (r)

35

5

12

18

25

47 -22 27

19

West Bromwich Albion (r)

35

5

11

19

32

68 -36 26

20

Sheffield United (r)

35

5

2

28

18

62 -44

Gameweek 36

premier league

37

17

All statistics correct as of 4pm Tuesday 11th May

MAN UTD √ leicester

brighton √ west ham

11th May 18:00

15th May 20:00

chelsea √ arsenal

crystal palace √ aston villa

12th May 20:15

16th May 12:00

newcastle √ man city

spurs √ wolves

14th May 20:00

16th May 14:05

burnley √ leeds

west brom √ liverpool

15th May 12:30

16th May 16:30

southampton √ fulham

everton √ sheffield utd

15th May 15:00

16th May 19:00

Crystal Palace and the rest of the Premier League will not tolerate racism, anywhere, and we are taking action to combat all forms of discrimination.

But we can all do more.

Challenge it, report it, change it, and together we can make a positive impact.

Visit premierleague.com/noroomforracism to find out more. #NoRoomForRacism

Challenge it.

Report it. Change it.

Crystal palace f.c.

(GK) Jack BUTLAND Joel WARD Patrick VAN AANHOLT Luka MILIVOJEVIC James TOMKINS Scott DANN Cheikhou KOUYATÉ Jordan AYEW Andros TOWNSEND Wilfried ZAHA Mamadou SAKHO (GK) Wayne HENNESSEY Jean-Philippe MATETA Jeffrey SCHLUPP Nathaniel CLYNE James MCARTHUR Christian BENTEKE Connor WICKHAM James MCCARTHY Michy BATSHUAYI Gary CAHILL Eberechi EZE Tyrick MITCHELL (GK) Vicente GUAITA Martin KELLY Nathan FERGUSON Jaïro RIEDEWALD

01 02 03 04 05 06 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 31 34 36 44

aston villa f.c.

Match Sponsor

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Tom HEATON (GK) Matthew CASH Neil TAYLOR Ezri KONSA Tyrone MINGS Douglas LUIZ John McGINN WESLEY Jack GREALISH Ollie WATKINS Jed STEER (GK) Bertrand TRAORÉ TRÉZÉGUET Matt TARGETT Marvelous NAKAMBA Ross BARKLEY Anwar EL GHAZI Björn ENGELS Morgan SANSON Emiliano MARTÍNEZ (GK) Ahmed ELMOHAMADY Kortney HAUSE Keinan DAVIS Jacob RAMSEY Jaden PHILOGENE-BIDACE Carney CHUKWUEMEKA Kaine KESLER