cover story
cover story#17 #17 Welcome back to Selhurst Park – and welcome back to the matchday programme, where we are celebrating 100 years of football at this very stadium, from 1924 to the present day. Every edition of the programme this season will feature a special handillustrated cover, marking one of the many landmark dates that has made this such a unique place over the last century.
t
oday we mark our final celebration from the 20th century, focusing on 1995 and the opening of the all-seater Holmesdale Stand in August of that year to replace the iconic Terrace which had stood before it. Following the Taylor Report’s dictation that no standing accommodation should be allowed, regulations were introduced for clubs in the top two tiers to comply with. The first game to take place in front of the Stand saw the Eagles draw 1-1 with Charlton. In the 30 years which have passed since, the Holmesdale has become part of the club’s identity, with its towering roof being seen across Croydon for many miles. It was officially opened by the then-Chairman Ron Noades and
manager Steve Coppell, but for this cover, current Palace midfielder and England international Adam Wharton – our feature interviewee – is doing the honours. Keep an eye out, too, for the elephant from Mary Chipperfield’s Circus – famously a guest of Wimbledon’s at Selhurst in 1995 – and red and blue balloons aplenty in the crowd, a symbol of ‘The Last Stand’ match in front of the Terrace the year prior. Remember, you can keep collecting each original illustration throughout the campaign to build out timeline from 1924 to the current day – make sure you get the matchday programme each week, then place them side by side for the full effect!
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contents
Crystal Palace √ bournemouth sat 19 apr 2025 | 3:00pm k.o. Directors Chairman Steve Parish, David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, John Textor Chief Financial Officer Mitesh Velani Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell Head of Sports Medicine Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Academy Director Gary Issott Director of U21 Development Mark Bright Chief Operating Officer Sharon Lacey Chief Commercial Officer Barry Webber General Counsel David Nichol Chief of Staff Noah Abrams Head of Ticketing Paul McGowan Head of Retail Foz Bowers Head of Marketing Matt Franks Head of Safeguarding Laura Baptiste Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott
Editor Jack Lacey-Hatton Design Billy Cooke, Stu Ellmer, Lucas Gough Front cover David Flanagan
06 08 12
25 10 chairman 36 HALL OF FAME 38 EAGLE EYE
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41 STATS 44 DOC BROWN 46 MACCA 50 academy section
Contributors Robin Johnson,
54 PALACE women
Toby Jagmohan, Ed Dowling, Doc Brown, James McArthur, Ian King, Tommy Macarthur Photography Neil Everitt, Peter Hurn, Sebastian Frej, Pinnacle Photo Agency, Kontent Haus, Toby Jagmohan, Getty Printer Bishops Printers
56 PALACE for life
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62 100 years of selhurst park 70 eagle arcade 72 WHAT’S ON?
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From England’s Championship, to the European Championships, in the space of six months; from surgery, to surging form, in even fewer; and from recoveries and recalls to Palace’s starting XI, to widespread calls for international recognition in mere weeks; Adam Wharton is just continuing to take it all in his calm, collected stride… Words: Robin Johnson 12
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FOR THE CLUB captain
PLAY NOW PLAY NOW PLAY NOW
PLAY NOW 24
PLAY NOW
The World’s Game
bournemouth
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CHOOSE YOUR
WIIINGS RED BULL GIVES YOU WIIINGS.
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doc brown & james m©arthur
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round-up
what’son? Every day is a busy one at the Palace, from matchdays – Men’s, Women’s and Academy – to anniversaries, birthdays and events. Keep track of everything happening at the club right here…
palace √ bournemouth
arsenal √ palace
palace √ aston villa
sat 19 apr | 15:00
wed 23 apr | 20:00
sat 26 apr | 17:15
premier league
premier league
emirates fa cup
LIVE audio commentary
LIVE audio commentary
LIVE audio commentary
palace u18S √ brighton
palace √ nott’m forest
tottenham √ palace
sat 03 may | 11:00
mon 05 may | 20:00
sat 10 may | 15:00
u18 premier league
premier league
premier league
LIVE match broadcast
LIVE audio commentary
LIVE audio commentary
To follow Palace’s Premier League clashes, the hunt for Academy silverware and our first season in the Women’s Super League, subscribe to Palace TV+ by scanning here:
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round-up
Palace secure first ever promotion to the top-flight.
My Cato turns 23.
19 april, 1969
25 april
FA Cup semi-final win over Watford at Wembley.
Martin Kelly turns 35.
wednesday, 23 april
24 april, 2016
27 april
Early May bank holiday.
Survival Sunday.
Eddie McGoldrick turns 60.
Monday, 05 may
02 may, 2010
30 april
sunday, 20 april
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Crystal palace f.c. 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 17 18 19 20 21 23 25 26 28 30 31 34 42 46 55 58 63
Dean HENDERSON (GK) Joel WARD Tyrick MITCHELL Maxence LACROIX Marc GUÉHI Ismaïla SARR Jefferson LERMA Eddie NKETIAH Ebere EZE Matheus FRANÇA Daniel MUÑOZ Jean-Philippe MATETA Nathaniel CLYNE Daichi KAMADA Will HUGHES Adam WHARTON Romain ESSE Malcolm EBIOWEI Ben CHILWELL Chris RICHARDS Cheick DOUCOURÉ Matt TURNER (GK) Remi MATTHEWS (GK) Chadi RIAD Kaden RODNEY Franco UMEH Justin DEVENNY Caleb KPORHA Zach MARSH
For Ticketing, reaction and highlights download the Official Palace App
A.F.C. Bournemouth
S. Barrott T. Wood W. Smith A. Davies P. Tierney C. Taylor
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Dean HUIJSEN Milos KERKEZ Lewis COOK Marcos SENESI David BROOKS Alex SCOTT EVANILSON Ryan CHRISTIE Dango OUATTARA Tyler ADAMS Kepa ARRIZABALAGA (GK) Adam SMITH Marcus TAVERNIER Luis SINISTERRA Justin KLUIVERT Julio SOLER Daniel JEBBISON Julián ARAUJO James HILL Antoine SEMENYO Enes ÜNAL Illya ZABARNYI Will DENNIS (GK) Zain SILCOTT-DUBERRY Callan McKENNA (GK) Ben WINTERBURN Remy REES-DOTTIN