contents
Crystal Palace √ leeds united sun 15 mar 2026 | 2:00pm k.o. Directors Chairman Steve Parish, David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, Woody Johnson
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Chief Executive Officer
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Sharon Lacey Chief Financial Officer Mitesh Velani Chief Commercial Officer Barry Webber Academy Director Gary Issott Director of U21 Development Mark Bright General Counsel David Nichol Head of Football Operations Karl Eccleston Head of Ticketing Paul McGowan Head of Retail Foz Bowers
12
25 10 chairman
Head of Marketing Matt Franks
34 Talking tactics
Head of Safeguarding Laura Baptiste Head Groundsman
54
Bruce Elliott
Editor Jack Lacey-Hatton Design Billy Cooke, Stu Ellmer, Joe Hardingham, James Heels
43 Kevin Phillips 48 academy 52 palace women 58 international eagles
Contributors Robin Johnson, Ed Dowling, Joe Turner,
62 ian king
Kevin Phillips, Ian King, Tommy Macarthur, Patrick Rosanio, Sebastian Frej Photography Neil Everitt, Peter Hurn, Sebastian Frej, Pinnacle Photo Agency, Kontent Haus, Getty Printer Bishops Printers
67 Behind the Lens
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72 Eagle Arcade 74 from the terraces
03
04
briefing
weekly briefing
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On this day 15 march 1862 Welcome back to Selhurst Park for today’s match against Leeds United as we return to Premier League action following Thursday’s UEFA Conference League tie against AEK Larnaca. Palace head to Cyprus for the return leg on Thursday, before a weekend off from the Premier League as our original opponents Manchester City are in Carabao Cup Final action. A rescheduled date for that fixture will be announced by the Premier League in due course. As a reminder, if Palace progress against Larnaca next week, the Eagles face a two-legged tie against either Fiorentina or Raków in the quarterfinals. In that scenario, once again
mar
Selhurst Park would host the first leg, before the Eagles travel to either Italy or Poland for the second. Exact timings and ticketing information will be confirmed following the Round of 16. Should we progress to the last eight, please note that our next Premier League home fixture against Newcastle United, currently scheduled for 15:00 BST on Saturday, 11th April, would be rearranged. Palace Women also return to action this afternoon with a WSL2 clash against Nottingham Forest (14:00 GMT kick-off). Remember to check out the official Palace App for score updates and reaction to that game later today.
mar
mar
19
22
29
AEK larnaca (a), UEFA Conference League
Palace Women √ Newcastle United, WSL2 (A)
Palace Women √ Charlton Athletic, WSL2 (h) Selhurst Park
05
164 years ago, the first ever reported football match of the Crystal Palace Club, against a team called The Forest Club, took place in Leytonstone in Essex.
12
A core character at the heart of a golden generation for both club and country, nothing would mean more to Daniel Muñoz than making the world’s stages shake once again in celebration – as the Colombian tells Robin Johnson ahead of the season run-in…
DANIEL
13
Daniel Muñoz
P
lenty has occurred since May 2025 – and yet, don’t memories of FA Cup Final day still come flooding back so easily? Amidst so many highlights, perhaps one of the standout moments of the day – even if it ultimately amounted to naught – was Daniel Muñoz steaming in on 58 minutes and scoring what seemed to be, at the time, Palace’s second goal of the afternoon. Yes, it was disallowed by VAR within two minutes for an offside in the build-up. Yes, that verdict cut short the boisterous celebrations which followed, and meant 30 more minutes of anxiety, defending just a single-goal lead. But the scenes of relief – the scenes of disbelief, even – as shedloads of Eagles, in a shared split second of jubilation, dared to dream of a 2-0 lead over City, in a Cup final… By some considerable margin, Muñoz’s ‘goal’ is the precise moment of the match which – on the FA’s YouTube channel – has been ‘Most Replayed’ ever since. With noise levels from the West end hitting 115 decibels – their highest all day, even more than at the final whistle – it was, simply put, the moment that Wembley shook. And, by goodness, it was beautiful. Almost 10 months have passed, yet Muñoz immediately beams when we bring that moment up. “That feeling was incredible. “When you score in a final and you feel the euphoria of the fans, Wembley shaking… your heart is going at 2,000 beats per hour.
DANIEL
that feeling was incredible. When you score in a final and you feel the euphoria of the fans, Wembley shaking… your heart is going at 2,000 beats per hour. Unfortunately, it was ruled out, but thank God we still achieved our objective, which was to win and lift the FA Cup
14
“Unfortunately, it was ruled out, but thank God we still achieved our objective, which was to win and lift the FA Cup. “For me, winning that trophy was the most important achievement in my career – for what it means to play in England, playing every week against the best players in the world, and because it was Crystal Palace’s first-ever trophy. “That’s a memory I give a lot of value to – and a day I think that all the fans and everyone at the club still loves too. “In reality, it’s not easy to win a trophy in England, nor is it easy to beat a great team like Manchester City. It was such an incredible achievement for all of us.” In the aftermath of the game, drenched in champagne, confetti and golden streamers, Muñoz – along
Chris richards
15
Leeds united
Leeds united Any question marks over whether Leeds United would be competitive in the Premier League have been answered over their first 29 games – the question now is whether Daniel Farke can finish the job and lead his team to survival….
Position
15th
Points
31
Top Scorer
FARKE AT THE WHEEL
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
10
Most Assists B. Aaronson / A. Stach
3
26
away
The festive period gave Leeds a boost up the table, with the team going on a seven-game unbeaten run which included a goalless draw against the champions at Anfield. The goals of Dominic CalvertLewis, a summer signing from Everton, played a big part. The target man went on a run of scoring seven goals in six games before that game against Liverpool. A convincing 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last month put Farke’s side in a strong position to avoid relegation, with further draws away at high-flying Chelsea and Aston Villa seeing them on 31 points after 29 games. But recent defeats combined with the form of West Ham and Nottingham Forest has left Leeds with work still to do to maintain their top-flight status. Based on the spirit, desire and energy they’ve shown so far, few would bet against them staying up.
home
FESTIVE JOY
third
Few promotion winning coaches have been questioned to the extent Daniel Farke was in some quarters last season. Despite achieving 100 points and the Championship title, there was still a debate over whether he would be the right man to lead them in the Premier League. But the German has proven he has the know-how to manage in the top-flight, with Leeds spending most of 2025/26 outside of the relegation zone. A 1-0 win over Everton in the first Monday Night Football of the season set the tone for the Whites’ home record. Farke’s men have made Elland Road something of a fortress over the campaign – and had lost only three times at home, before recent narrow defeats to Sunderland and Manchester City. Summer signings like Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff have upgraded the midfield, while American Brenden Aaronson has shown he has the quality to play at the highest level. A win over West Ham in October further cemented a strong start, but that was immediately followed with four straight defeats including an injurytime loss at the Etihad Stadium.
this season
leeds united
0-1
"If you lose a home game when you are so dominant, you don't allow the opponent one chance and you lose, it's disappointing and frustrating." Daniel Farke
leeds √ sunderland Tuesday, 3rd March / Elland Road
9 Substitutes
11
1
L. Perri
7
D. James
8
S. Longstaff
10
J. Piroe
14
L. Nmecha
B. AARONSON
3 G. GUDMUNDSSON
15
J. Bijol
24
22
A. Tanaka
J. JUSTIN
23
S. Bornauw
29
W. Gnonto
goal cards
D. CALVERT-LEWIN
18 A. STACH
44
4
I. GRUEV
E. AMPADU
5 P. STRUIJK
2 J. BOGLE
6 J. RODON
26 k. darlow
subs
what happened Leeds United suffered just a fifth home loss of the season after a late penalty saw Sunderland claim all three points at Elland Road. In a game that had lacked quality for long periods, the decisive moment came in the 70th minute when the Black Cats were awarded a spot-kick for handball. Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu was adjudged by VAR to have moved his arm to the ball inside the box after blocking an attempt by Wilson Isidor. That allowed Habib Diarra to convert the penalty and win the game – Leeds having had a Joe Rodon goal ruled out for offside only a few minutes earlier.
27
academy
palace academy The Crystal Palace Academy is a place where young talent thrives and throughout this season’s programme, we’re sitting down with a rising star from the next generation. This week, it’s the turn of prolific striker Benji Casey, who has been scoring freely across the U18s and U21s.
Benji Casey I started out as a right winger and played there for a while, but about two years ago, around the U15s/U16s, I switched to striker. The best moment of my career so far has to be making my senior debut in the UEFA Conference League victory over Shelbourne. The biggest lesson I’ve learned? To trust in the process. I was with the first team not long ago, now I’m back with the U18s and U21s, and it’s all about keeping focused, working hard, and being ready when another opportunity comes.
My Inspirations my roots I got into football just playing at school with my friends. It was through those games that I fell in love with it. The first team I played for was Lambeth Tigers when I was eight. The person who supported me most has got to be my mum – she got me to training all the time, even when she had work.
Cristiano Ronaldo is my biggest inspiration because of his work ethic. I model my game on Kylian Mbappé for his speed and directness, and Jamie Vardy in his prime – Robert Lewandowski too, for how he plays around the box.
my Teammates I don’t have a best friend at the Academy; I hang around with
48
age
nationality
18 position
striker everyone. Jasper Judd is the hardest worker in training – he gives 100% every session. Euan Danaher is more talented than he realises; his technique and awareness are incredible, even if he’s a bit shy. Jasper is also the most likely to become a future manager because of his leadership and communication on the pitch. The funniest in the dressing room? Oladotun Lamidi – he’s always doing dances and making everyone laugh. .
my hobbies
I play FIFA, GTA, Call of Duty, but NBA 2K is my go-to. My favourite TV series is Power, my music choice is Afrobeat, especially Asake, and my cheat meal? Definitely Nando’s
.
academy
fixtures&results Home Away Cup International Cup
u21s
u18s AUGUST
AUGUST Fri 22 Fri 29
Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion
W
2-3
D
0-0
SEPTEMBER
31
Sat 30
Tottenham Hotspur
W
2-3
27
SEPTEMBER Sat 13
Ipswich Town
W
8-0
Sat 20
Reading
W
2-0
Sat 27
Aston Villa
L
3-1
26
2
26
11
lei
17
7
4
6
4
25
12
sun
16
7
3
6
4
24
13
cry
16
7
3
6
1
24 23
6
5
6
6
Sat 18
Fulham
W
4-0
15
mid
17
5
6
6
3
21
Sat 25
Brighton & Hove Albion
L
0-4
16
eve
17
6
3
8
-2
21
17
wol
16
6
3
7
-10
21
W
4-2
18
sto
16
16
5
4
-9
19
Leicester City
Sat 8
West Ham United
L
3-2
19
ast
14
5
3
6
-5
18
Sat 22
Chelsea
W
4-0
20
rea
16
5
3
8
-10
18
Sat 29
Southampton
W
4-2
21
new
16
4
5
7
-6
17
22
not
17
5
2
10
-6
17
23
nor
17
4
5
8
-9
17
24
bir
16
4
4
8
-15
16
DECEMBER Fri 5
Bradford City
W
3-0
Sat 13
Norwich City
W
4-2
Sat 17
West Bromwich Albion
L
1-3
Thu 22
Newcastle United
W
Sat 31
Birmingham City
W
JANUARY
25
lee
16
4
3
9
-10
15
0-4
26
wba
17
4
3
10
-15
15
5-0
27
bur
17
3
3
11
-16
12
28
bla
15
3
2
10
-14
11
29
der
16
2
5
9
-18
11
D
1-1
Tue 17
Peterborough United
W
1-3
Sat 21
Leicester City
L
1-0
Sat 28
West Ham United
W
3-2
FEBRUARY
Mon 9
Middlesbrough
D
1-1
Fri 13
Fulham
W
2-1
MARCH
W
2-0
Sat 7
Tottenham Hotspur
W
Tue 10
Aston Villa
W
Sat 14
pos club
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
tot
19
12
4
3
28
40
0-1
2
che
17
11
3
3
28
36
2-3
3
cry
17
10
1
6
23
31
Reading
4
bha
18
9
4
5
14
31
Tue 17
Fulham
5
lei
17
9
3
8
4
30
Brighton & Hove Albion
6
whu
17
9
8
1
7
28
7
ast
17
9
1
7
5
28
Mon 2
Sunderland
L
0-1
Sat 21
Fri 6
Blackburn Rovers
W
1-2
APRIL
Nottingham Forest
7
4
17
Tottenham Hotspur
TBC
6
5
bha
Sat 14
tbc
2
7
14
2-1
Mon 13 Arsenal
8
16
1-3
L
Liverpool
16
ars
W
Fri 30
APRIL
tot
Sheffield United
1-2
Sun 22
9 10
Sat 4
W
Mon 16 Wolves
33
9
Stevenage
MARCH
34
4
Thu 5
3-0
1
6
6-0
W
5
7
W
Mon 23 West Ham United
1
17
Mon 26 Derby County
Wed 18 Borussia M’gladbach
11
whu
4-1
FEBRUARY
17
8
L
Ipswich Town
ips
3-3
0-2
Chelsea
34
5
D
W
Sat 10
35
16
Manchester City
Fri 31
JANUARY
17
2
Tue 26
Sat 1
3-2
2
4
8
NOVEMBER
W
5
10
30
0-2
Wed 26 Nordsjælland
10
16
5
5-2
3-1
17
man
2
L
W
ful
4
1
L
Wed 12 Juventus
3
6
Stevenage
2-2
35
9
Mon 27 Newcastle United
D
19
10
OCTOBER
Stoke City
5
17
4-1
Fri 7
2
16
L
0-1
11
sou
Sat 27
L
18
mci
3-2
Valencia
Liv
7
W
Tue 4
37
2
6
Mon 22 Leeds United
NOVEMBER
Pts
2-4
3-1
Aston Villa
20
0-8
L
Tue 21
4
L
AFC Wimbledon
3-1
GD
1
W
Tue 16
W
L
12
Chelsea
3-3
Birmingham City
D
17
Birmingham City
D
Mon 6
W
che
Sat 23
Bromley
OCTOBER
P
1
Sat 16
Tue 2
Manchester United
pos club
Sat 4
Chelsea
8
wba
17
8
3
6
7
27
Sat 11
Southampton
9
ful
19
8
1
10
-7
25
Sat 18
Arsenal
10
sou
16
7
2
7
3
23
Sat 25
Norwich City
11
ars
17
6
3
8
-8
21
Tue 28
Arsenal
12
nor
20
4
6
10
-11
18
MAY
13
rea
18
4
5
9
-17
17
Wed 6
Ipswich Town
14
bir
20
5
1
14
-45
16
Sat 9
West Bromwich Albion
15
ips
18
4
2
12
-31
14
All statistics correct as of 17:00 Thursday, 12th March.
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Crystal palace f.c. 1 2 3 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 28 29 31 34 38 42 44 55 59 60 63 72 73 86
Dean HENDERSON (GK) Daniel MUÑOZ Tyrick MITCHELL Maxence LACROIX Ismaïla SARR Jefferson LERMA Eddie NKETIAH Yéremy PINO Brennan JOHNSON Christantus UCHE Jean-Philippe MATETA Nathaniel CLYNE Daichi KAMADA Will HUGHES Adam WHARTON Jørgen STRAND LARSEN Jaydee CANVOT Borna SOSA Chris RICHARDS Cheick DOUCOURÉ Evann GUESSAND Remi MATTHEWS (GK) Chadi RIAD Caleb KPORHA Kaden RODNEY Walter BENÍTEZ (GK) Justin DEVENNY Rio CARDINES George KING Zach MARSH Dean BENAMAR Benji CASEY Joél DRAKES-THOMAS
For Ticketing, reaction and highlights download the Official Palace App
leeds united f.c. 1
T. Bramall L. Betts M. Wilkes P. Tierney J. Bell C. Taylor
Lucas PERRI GK)
2
Jayden BOGLE
3
Gabriel GUDMUNDSSON
4
Ethan AMPADU
5
Pascal STRUIJK
6
Joe RODON
7
Daniel JAMES
8
Sean LONGSTAFF
9
Dominic CALVERT-LEWIN
10
Joël PIROE
11
Brenden AARONSON
14
Lukas NMECHA
15
Jaka BIJOL
16
Illan MESLIER (GK)
18
Anton STACH
19
Noah OKAFOR
21
Alex CAIRNS (GK)
22
Ao TANAKA
23
Sebastiaan BORNAUW
24
James JUSTIN
25
Sam BYRAM
26
Karl DARLOW (GK)
29
Wilfried GNONTO
40
Facundo BUONANOTTE
44
Ilia GRUEV