Crystal Palace v Chelsea 22/23 matchday programme

Crystal Palace √ chelsea saturday, october 01 2022 | 15:00

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palace √ chelsea sat 1 oct | 15:00

08 captain 10 chairman 34 pub talk 40 Ben Bailey Smith 44 karl eccleston 46 over the road 49 south of the river 54 ABCD epl 56 2012/13 revisited 58 from the archive 69 beat brighty 70 stats & results

Directors Chairman Steve Parish, David Blitzer, Joshua Harris, John Textor Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin Sporting Director Dougie Freedman Club Secretary Christine Dowdeswell Head of Sports Medicine Dr. Zaf Iqbal Academy Director Gary Issott Director of U21 Development Mark Bright Chief Operating Officer Sharon Lacey Chief Commercial Officer Barry Webber General Counsel David Nichol Head of Ticketing Paul McGowan Head of Retail Laura Holland Chief Marketing and Communications Officer James Woodroof Head of Safeguarding Cassi Wright Head Groundsman Bruce Elliott Editor Ben Mountain Design Billy Cooke, Luke Thomas, Stu Ellmer Contributors Will Robinson, Ian King, Ben Bailey Smith, Toby Jagmohan, Tommy Macarthur, Karl Eccleston, Annabel Blanchard, Ramzi Musallam Photography Neil Everitt, Sebastian Frej, Pinnacle Photo Agency, Getty Printer Bishops Printers

contents

I was very short, I was five foot eight. I moved to Texas and {dad} came out to see me, and I was six foot one within two months.

He said: ‘Maybe you should play basketball!’

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palace √ chelsea sat 1 oct | 15:00

Palace join FA’s Play Safe initiative This weekend marks the second iteration of the FA’s national safeguarding campaign, Play Safe, which brings together football clubs and organisations to promote safeguarding at all levels of the game. The campaign is officially supported by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) as well as every level of the game across England.

This year’s focus is the key role of parents and carers in

safeguarding, with the FA launch of a safeguarding awareness course specifically for parents and carers of children and young people engaged in football.

At Palace, our safeguarding mission is to provide a safe, positive and enjoyable environment for all involved with the club. We work together to empower and protect individuals, and listen and respond to their needs to ensure safeguarding is embedded throughout the club.

We have a dedicated safeguarding team on hand to

provide advice and support, ensuring there are robust measures in place across all aspects of the club and Palace for Life Foundation.

This includes an Event Safeguarding Officer who is present at all home games to assist with any concerns.

To access the safeguarding team at a home game, you can approach a steward and ask for the safeguarding officer. Away from the game, you can contact Head of Safeguarding, Cassi Wright, on cassi.wright@cpfc.co.uk.

Fan update

On this day: October 1st

Driving on several residential streets surrounding Selhurst is now permit holders only. This will affect supporters who typically drive to or park near the stadium.

John Salako scored a brace against Arsenal to secure Palace’s first win of the 1994/95 campaign. Two games later and the Eagles began a fourgame winning run, but were relegated on 45 points regardless.

What’s inside Find out… how Chris Richards rose from soccer with friends to the Bundesliga in two years (Page 12), Ben Bailey Smith’s alternative chants (Page 40), and why Roy Hodgson may never have become a coach – as told by his former pupil (Page 50). briefing

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manager

07

Welcome to Selhurst Park to everyone supporting us today, and welcome also to Graham Potter, the Chelsea directors, staff, players and visiting fans.

b

efore a lengthy pause in matches we earned two points from our last two matches, with different performances in each. The Brentford game wasn’t our best in possession and we didn’t play as well as we’d planned to, but the opposition did well. We needed something special to get ahead that night and Wilfried delivered it, but it was an even match until that point and overall I don’t think we did enough to win.

We want to be ambitious in every game and compete at stadiums like St James’ Park.

So although I was happy to keep a clean sheet and earn a point against Newcastle, I think we could have created more, and made more of good the quality chances we did produce. At the start of the month I saw togetherness, team spirit, and a group of players that knew the importance of defending as a unit.

The players stuck together through difficult periods and showed determination to compete.

Vicente and Jordan had particularly good afternoons.

Vicente was fantastic at

dominating his box, being strong in the air and making important saves, giving a brilliant performance for the team. Jordan, too, showed personality and character and had an unbelievable

At the start of the month I saw togetherness, team spirit, and a group of players that knew the importance of defending as a unit

game. What I like about Jordan is that he’s a team player: I can play him anywhere and he’ll do his best for the collective.

I gave Vicente our Player of the Month award for September manager

because of his fantastic game against Newcastle, and he was as brilliant as ever in training. I also saw at the start of the month that Wilfried won or was nominated for several Player of the Month awards. He has now scored four goals from five, but there is a lot more to come from him; what the team needs is consistency. He’s in a really good place and knows how important he is to the team – and how important the team is to him.

It was good to see so many players represent their country in recent weeks too, and I was glad to see them all return to training fit and ready to compete in the Premier League.

Finally, I want to add my voice to the many in this country and globally paying tribute to Her Majesty the Queen. As a club we are showing our respect in the first home men’s fixture we have, and I think this is fitting. I met King Charles at times while I was a player and was honoured to be in his company. I can only share my condolences with him and all other members of the Royal Family.

Thank you for your support

.

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captain

09

It has been a long time since we last played football together and we now come into a very busy period well prepared, with energy for a fight and knowing that there are some challenging weeks ahead.

i

n our two matches before the break we could have taken more than two points, definitely. But we could also have taken less – we had to defend very hard against Newcastle, and Brentford did not make the game easy.

I think along with the supporters we were frustrated by conceding against Brentford after a very good strike from Wilfried. We did not dominate this game in the way we want to at home, so I think a point overall is not completely unfair, but we conceded in a disappointing way.

We then went away from home to play an in-form team with very strong attacking players, so of course the most important thing was about whether we could shut them out through some difficult defensive times and show the focus, determination and organisation as a unit that we know is important.

I think we did this very well. There were times in the Newcastle game where we had to sit back and work as hard as we could to keep them out of our

goal. At the end of the first-half especially we had 11 players all fighting for this and that meant we left St James’ Park with a draw rather than what could have been a loss.

I feel like the ability we showed to earn a point against Newcastle highlights a strength that we have improved

Then at the other end I saw their goalkeeper make a number of good saves – if he had a less good game, we could have even left with three points. captain

We know we can’t win every time – but those matches we don’t win we don’t want to lose, either. I feel like the ability we showed to earn a point against Newcastle highlights a strength that we have improved: taking something from a match even when we are not always on top. I was pleased to see that.

After today we play eight matches in 34 days – four of which are quite distant away trips. Then it is another break for the World Cup. This season was always going to be a little different and have more interruptions than usual, but we have built up our unity and energy over the last few weeks and are ready for the chances for points the congestion gives us.

After several lads played with their countries we are back together as a group to prepare for a busy and important period, and are all excited to play in front of you four times in one month. That is a lot of programme notes to write!

Make some noise

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chairman

11

A warm welcome to today’s hugely anticipated match after an extended break, as we also welcome the directors, staff, players and supporters of Chelsea to Selhurst Park.

a

s today’s fixture is our first since the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it is only fitting that we pay our respects in this matchday programme. She was a remarkable woman, and her funeral was an example of Britain at its absolute finest.

It has been four weeks since our last match, and longer still since my last set of notes, which preceded Patrick’s side securing two draws. We all feel we should have taken three points against Brentford, but it was probably a fair result at Newcastle with a fine defensive display. A special mention to Vicente, who made some outstanding saves.

We also witnessed an excellent performance at Man City which we really deserved more from. We feel a little aggrieved at some of the incidents in that game that didn’t warrant intervention, but City with the addition of Erling Haaland are an incredible team and we more than gave them a game. Let’s hope we can gain revenge at Selhurst.

Our Under-21s are doing magnificently well, sitting top of the Premier League 2. In the last few weeks, they’ve secured four wins: over Spurs and Wolves in the league, overcoming Swindon Town’s first-team in the Papa

I’d like to thank each and every one of the 148 supporters who completed Palace for Life Foundation’s Marathon March, raising more than £60,000 in the process Johns Trophy, as well as a win over Hertha Berlin. While these have all been excellent team performances, a special mention must go to John-Kymani Gordon for his five goals. chairman

Elsewhere, our Under-18s have won four on the spin: Villa (0-4), West Brom (0-3), Brighton (3-0) and Southampton (3-2). They are extremely exciting to watch, and it is shaping up to be yet another fantastic season for the group.

Our Women’s team are one point off top spot too, and it was fantastic to see more than 1,800 supporters come to Selhurst to watch them. There will be more matches at Selhurst this season – the next being November 20th against local rivals Charlton – but in the meantime you can support them at Bromley’s home ground Hayes Lane as they continue their push for promotion.

I’d like to thank each and every one of the 148 supporters who completed Palace for Life Foundation’s Marathon March, raising more than £60,000 in the process. It is such a wonderful event, and to see the beneficiaries of their community work handing out the medals made it all the more special. Well done to all involved, and thanks to those who donated.

Up the Palace

.

Chris Richards has walked the largely untrodden path from American protégé to English Premier League professional. Here, he tells Will Robinson how he rose from rejecting basketball for an out-of-favour sport to being at the top of the game.

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Once I moved away from home, that’s when (my dad) realised how big the sport was main interview

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i

n many ways, Chris Richards had a very normal childhood. He tossed a football around with his friends as he walked home from lessons, he ran track during afternoons and he sang hymns on a Sunday. A normal childhood for an all-American high-school star, that is; not so much for a Premier League footballer.

To say Richards’ story is unique is something of an understatement. In two years he went from playing ‘soccer’ on Saturdays in Hoover, Alabama, with his school friends to assisting Robert Lewandowski and playing in the UEFA Champions League. If that doesn’t make you pause for thought, nothing will.

It may have taken just a few years, but it was far from plane sailing; it’s a story that encompasses rejection, risk and rejuvenation, from Alabama to south London via Texas and Munich.

Hollywood, eat your heart out.

Mostly, though, the story is just plain odd. Richards grew up in a town where soccer – if you’ll forgive the term for now – was a mere afterthought. “In Alabama, especially in Hoover, American football is the biggest,” he remembers. “They have the number one high school team in the nation almost every year, and that was the high school I went to… So everything revolved around it.”

Everything revolved around a high school team? Not as peculiar as you might think – this isn’t the same as the sixth form first XI, talented as yours may have been.

“It’s huge, it’s crazy,” Richards explains. “Our high school football games would probably get a similar crowd to what we get at Selhurst – and these kids are between 14- and 18-years-old.”

Despite playing some American football in his early years, Richards was more committed elsewhere. “I played basketball until I was 16 and I ran track until

They have the number one high school team in the nation almost every year, and that was the high school I went to…

So everything revolved around it

I was 14. The 400m and long jump were my two events. I played a little bit of baseball. You name it, I probably played it.”

He had a reason to favour basketball, too: his father was a professional who competed in countries across the world. Not a football fan, he was initially confused by his son’s obsession with this strange, low-scoring sport. He even attempted to persuade Richards Jr back onto the court.

“He didn’t really know much about football,” the 22-year-old defender laughs. “Once I moved away from home, that’s when he realised how big the sport was.

Chris Richards

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I played it growing up and I was always good at it, and it got to a point where I had to choose between basketball and football. I thought: ‘I’m better at football.’

“I was also very short; I was five foot eight at the time. I moved to Texas and he came out to see me, and I was six foot one within two months. He said: ‘Maybe you should play basketball!’”

After trialling for F.C. Dallas and being rejected, Richards moved to Houston for one reason: revenge.

“It was definitely tough because at a young age you’re quite used to getting everything you want,” he said. “They basically told me I wasn’t good enough.

“That’s why I decided to go to Houston, because we got to play Dallas twice a year. We ended up beating them and winning the national championship for academies. They called me back and said: ‘We want you to come back this year.’

“I was a little bit hesitant at first. It was very satisfying. It almost got to the point where I wanted to tell them no, but I knew that if I wanted to become a professional that was the path I was going to have to take.”

It was the right decision, and now Richards can be thankful for the fortuitous circumstances it created. In Major League Soccer, a player from the Academy can only feature in the first-team when they have served a year in the youth set-up.

With Richards just six months into his career, he had to bide his

time. Then opportunity knocked: “[Dallas] had just signed a partnership with Bayern [Munich] as their North American affiliate, so I got the chance to go over there for 10 days with a few other guys.

“We just trained. I just figured it was one of those things – people talk about partnerships but nothing really comes of it.

“Then [Dallas] said: ‘They called and they want you to go back again.’ I didn’t think much of it. But they said: ‘No, they want you to go back for six months on loan.’ I was like: ‘What do you mean?’ Things

People were like: ‘You’re moving to Germany? For what?!’ It was quite a weird situation because they don’t quite know the quality

don’t just happen like that!”

It was a dream come true, but a tricky one to take in. At home, where football was an unknown, the size of the opportunity took some explaining. “People were like: ‘You’re moving to Germany?

For what?!’

“It was quite a weird situation because they don’t quite know the quality that Bayern Munich is.

But my family and my soccer teammates were really ecstatic for me.

“I graduated high school and the next week I was gone. I got Chris Richards

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I didn’t think much of it.

But they said: ‘No, (bayern) want you to go back for six months on loan’ main interview

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to have gone from there to playing with Lewandowski, David Alaba and others in two years, It almost felt like it wasn’t real main interview

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there and I knew zero German.

I went from living by myself to living in a facility with 40 other kids with very traditional German rules.

“I was homesick, because a lot of my friends were going off

I went from living by myself to living in a facility with 40 other kids with very traditional German rules

to university. When you woke up in the morning you would see the stuff they had done the day before [on social media] and it was kind of tough. I was used to living away from home, but not living halfway around the world. It was a struggle for the first few months.”

As soon as Richards got onto the pitch, however, his concerns soon melted away. “It’s weird to think that when I first went to Bayern it was the summer of 2018,” he says, reflecting on the journey.

“In the summer of 2016 I was still playing in Hoover, Alabama, with these kids I grew up with.

“These kids were all content playing in Alabama, so it is weird to have gone from there to playing with Lewandowski, David Alaba and others in two years. It almost felt like it wasn’t real.”

The only objective left was a move to the Premier League; Richards had watched the competition as a child.

Chris Richards

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it also gives us that chip on our shoulder where we think: ‘All right, we need to prove ourselves’ main interview

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“The American market was very much based around American players: there was Landon Donovan at Everton, Clint Dempsey at Fulham and Tim Howard at Manchester United and Everton. Those games were always shown on TV.” Players like that, and now Richards himself, go a long way to overcoming the snobbery many Europeans still have when it comes to Americans and ‘soccer’.

“Europeans definitely have that perception of Americans in general that we’re lazy, that we’re behind the ball when it comes to football.

“But it also gives us that chip on our shoulder where we think: ‘All right, we need to prove ourselves.’”

Richards’ Palace teammates have been sure to tease him – but he has a pretty good riposte. “The guys here made me feel welcome, and they throw jokes around: ‘You shouldn’t be able to play football, you’re from the US!’ “If they came to the United States to play any other sport, they would have big problems!” Fair point.

Now six years into his journey from Alabama to the top of the game, Richards will reach another personal achievement in the Premier League. “I watched guys like Cristiano Ronaldo when he was first at Man United,” he remembers.

“Me and him had the same initials, so growing up that was the player I wanted to be.

“I was a big Ronaldo ‘stan’ [slang for fan]. That was my guy.

I had every boot that he wore.

It’s just crazy what can happen in the span of a few years.” Surely if Richards faces Ronaldo this season he’ll want to give him a good battle? “Oh I definitely will,” he says, relishing the thought. “If I get on the field, that’s definitely happening.”

The guys here made me feel welcome, and they throw jokes around: ‘You shouldn’t be able to play football, you’re from the US!’ If they came to the United States to play any other sport, they would have big problems!

They often say not to meet your heroes. If Richards meets his it won’t be as a star-struck fan, but as an equal, as a Premier League professional who has worked and sacrificed to make it to the very top.

The all-American high school star has come some distance since his days playing soccer in front of family and friends, as thousands crammed in to watch the American football game next door.

He has left those who rejected him rueing their snap judgement, has made his mark on the world’s most prestigious club competition, and now followed in the path of his heroes to make it to the Premier League.

In south London, Richards is living his very own American dream Chris Richards

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the follow -up

Chris Richards inhabited two worlds as a young American footballer. Here, answering a random five of 60 questions, he wraps his head around cricket, and reveals his disdain for flying.

#32: What is your pre-match meal?

I would say pasta with tomato sauce and some spicy red chilli flakes. I love spicy stuff. Add in some sweet potato wedges.

#22: Cricket: yes or no?

#54: Which superpower would you choose?

To teleport. If you can be anywhere you want to with a snap of the fingers, that would be the best one.

I hate long car rides but I hate flying more. You are just sitting there, you can’t move. It’s not good.

I can respect it but I don’t understand it, so I’ll have to go with no! They go on for days. I saw something on Sky Sports and it said: ‘They had a pause at tea time on the third day.’ I was like: ‘What do you mean the third day?!’ That makes zero sense.

#20: Favourite #06: Favourite Formula One driver? sport to watch, apart from Lewis Hamilton, it’s got to be. I football? just got into F1 towards the end of COVID when Drive to Survive came out on Netflix. I want to go to Silverstone. Lewis is definitely my favourite driver. the follow-up

I would probably say basketball, but I’ve heard that ice hockey is quite cool in person, so I want to go and watch that

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Worth a try?

Probably.

Discover the refreshing, crisp and perfectly balanced taste of Carlsberg Danish Pilsner.

Brewed in the UK, the Danish way. Enjoy responsibly.

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Did you know?

Chelsea are the only club in history to appoint three consecutive player-managers (Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli). Both Hoddle and Gullit signed their successors, and Vialli won the FA, League, Cup Winners’ and Super Cup.

chelsea

opposition

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chelsea Chelsea are entering a new spell under the management of Graham Potter, with former boss Thomas Tuchel sacked at the end of August.

match preview -

Last season

Tuchel won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup while in south-west London, but was succeeded by ex-Brighton manager Potter after a lower-thanexpected three wins in his opening seven games.

Potter left the Seagulls sitting pretty in fourth having been on the south coast for a little over three years, signing a five-year deal with Chelsea. He said after arriving: “You have to look at the football club here: the tradition, the quality, the size and ambition of the club, to compete in the Champions League and at the top of the Premier League… It’s a completely different challenge to the one I’ve had.”

The manager began his time with Chelsea by drawing 1-1 against RB Salzburg and due to postponements has since had two weeks to settle.

Home

away

classic

recent matches Opposition

Position

3rd

Points

74

most recent = bottom

score

h/a

position

2-1

H

6th

1-2

A

10th

2-1

H

6th

0-1

A

cl group stage

1-1

H

cl group stage

raheem Sterling

Top scorer

Mason Mount (11)

Most assists

Mason Mount (10)

Most passes

Thiago Silva (2,622)

opposition

Talisman

Having joined from Man City Sterling has scored three goals from his opening six games, including a brace against Leicester.

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last five √ palace

most recent = bottom

Patrick van Aanholt

fixture

0

4

October 3rd, 2020

1

4

April 10th, 2021

0

3

August 14th, 2021

0

1

February 19th, 2022

0

2

April 17th, 2022

Stamford Bridge

Van Aanholt began his career in his native Holland, but moved to Chelsea as a teenager.

He was loaned to five clubs and made eight senior appearances for the Blues, joining Palace via Sunderland in 2016/17.

Selhurst Park

Stamford Bridge

Selhurst Park

Wembley

last time out

1-1 Wed Sep 14th Stamford Bridge

starting xi 1

K. Arrizabalaga

32 M. Cucurella 6

17

T. Silva

32

28 C. Azpilicueta 17

R. Sterling

8

M. KovaCiC

5

Jorginho

19

M. Mount

8 29 1

6

5 9

28

19

24 R. James

24

29 K. Havertz 9

P.E. Aubameyang

subs

10 12 13 14 18 20

C. Pulisic R. Loftus-Cheek M. Bettinelli T. Chalobah A. Broja D. Zakaria

21

B. Chilwell

22 H. Ziyech 23 C. Gallagher 26 K. Koulibaly 30 C. Chukwuemeka 33 W. Fofana

opposition

Boot in both camps

16

28

06 Thiago Silva

21 Ben Chilwell

POS DEFENDER

POS DEFENDER

NAT BRAZIL

NAT ENGLAND

24 26 Edouard Mendy

Reece James

Kalidou Koulibaly

POS GOALKEEPER

POS DEFENDER

POS DEFENDER

NAT SENEGAL

NAT ENGLAND

NAT SENEGAL

148 saves

31 clean sheets

Age

30

Height

1.97m

Joined

24th September, 2020

Debut

29th September, 2020 v Tottenham Hotspur

Africa Cup of Nations winner Edouard Mendy has been Chelsea’s first choice since arriving from Rennes in 2020/21. He was named UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and Best FIFA Goalkeeper as he kept a Champions Leaguerecord nine clean sheets in his first season.

player profile

71 apps

career history:

Cherbourg, Marseille B, Reims and Rennes.

opposition

29

28 33 César Azpilicueta

Wesley Fofana

POS DEFENDER

POS DEFENDER

NAT SPAIN

NAT FRANCE

32

05 08 Jorginho

Mateo KovaCiC

Marc Cucurella

POS MIDFIELDER

POS DEFENDER

NAT ITALY

NAT CROATIA

NAT SPAIN

player profile

POS MIDFIELDER

08

Age

24

Height

1.72m

Joined

August 5th, 2022

Debut

August 6th, 2022 v Everton

career history:

Barcelona, Eibar, Getafe and Brighton.

clean sheets

41 apps 1 GOALS

Cucurella joined as a big-money signing from Brighton this summer, and seems to have established himself as a starter already. Having developed at Barcelona, the left-back continued his career in Spain before moving to the south coast, where he won Players’ Player of the Season and Player of the Season in 2021/22. opposition

17

30

10

12

Christian Pulisic

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

POS MIDFIELDER

POS MIDFIELDER

NAT UNITED STATES

NAT ENGLAND

19

20

Mason Mount

Denis Zakaria

Raheem Sterling

POS MIDFIELDER

POS MIDFIELDER

NAT ENGLAND

NAT SWITZERLAND

NAT ENGLAND

player profile

POS MIDFIELDER

Age

27

Height

1.70m

Joined

July 13th, 2022

Debut

August 6th, 2022 v Everton

career history:

Liverpool and Manchester City.

112 goals

326 apps

57 assists

Winger Sterling added Chelsea to his CV in summer having previously represented Liverpool and Manchester City. He played 339 times for City and won four Premier League titles. Sterling received an MBE in 2021 for services to racial equality in sport.

opposition

09

31

22 23 Hakim Ziyech

Conor Gallagher

POS MIDFIELDER

POS MIDFIELDER

NAT MOROCCO

NAT ENGLAND

18 29 p.e. Aubameyang

Armando Broja

Kai Havertz

POS FORWARD

POS FORWARD

POS FORWARD

NAT GABON

NAT ALBANIA

NAT GERMANY

16 Assists

68 goals

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Height

1.87m

Joined

September 2nd, 2022

Debut

September 6th, 2022 v Dinamo Zagreb

Having left Arsenal after four years in February 2022, Aubameyang returned to London and the Premier League on a two-year contract with Chelsea. During his brief spell with Barcelona he showed he is more than capable still, scoring 13 goals in 24 appearances.

opposition

player profile

128 apps

Age

career history:

32

33

stat pack Only against Portsmouth (10), Sunderland (11) and West Brom (12) have Chelsea had longer winning runs in their league history than Palace (nine). Tough stuff.

Since a 2-1 win against Chelsea in October 2017, Crystal Palace have lost each of their last nine league games against the Blues.

12 00

08

02 12

397

Passes per match

554

68

shots

70

42

Possession %

61

09

goals conceded

09

01

clean sheets

01

28

07

Cheick Doucouré

Jorginho

Tackles

Tackles

14 10 opposition

05

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It’s the weekend, kick-off is ticking closer and you're first to the pub. Before long hazy memories and almost-accurate stats will be filling the air. Brush-up for your Chelsea pre-match below.

Aren’t they…

Under new ownership. Chelsea were taken over by a consortium led by Todd Boehly on May 30th after Roman Abramovich’s sale.

Boehly is an American businessman and investor who co-founded holding company Eldridge Industries, and has a heavy involvement in sport: co-owning baseball team the Los Angeles Dodgers, basketball teams Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Lakers, fantasy sports company Draft Kings and e-sports organisation Cloud9. He attempted a purchase of Chelsea in 2019 but was blocked by then-owner Abramovich.

His consortium’s takeover has led to wide-ranging changes

they won their first major trophy, Svenska Cupen, in 2017 and subsequently qualified for the Europa League

behind the scenes, with former manager Thomas Tuchel not the only man to leave Stamford Bridge lately: Director Marina Granovskaia, Chairman Bruce Buck and Technical Director Petr Čech have also departed. Graham Potter’s arrival under the new board marks a new era.

Potter’s success became a globally-known story thanks to a round of 32 win at the Emirates stadium

Didn’t he once…

Stun Arsenal with a Swedish side. Potter’s name hit the English headlines when he led Swedish outfit Östersund to a 2-1 Europa League victory over Arsenal.

His time in Scandinavia began in the fourth tier, to which Östersund had been relegated for the first time. Potter arrived with limited coaching experience that consisted largely of universities and a spell with Leeds Carnegie in the Northern Counties East League Division One. Once in Sweden the now-Chelsea manager led a remarkable change in fortune, guiding Östersund to successive promotions and eventually into the pub talk

top-flight for the first time in history. They won their first major trophy, Svenska Cupen, in 2017 and subsequently qualified for the Europa League.

In doing so, Potter’s success became a globally-known story thanks to a round of 32 win at the Emirates stadium. (Östersund did, however, lose the reverse leg 3-0.)

Potter’s journey from modest footballer to Swedish triumph via the educational system has drawn plenty of parallels with former Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who earlier this year called Potter “outstandingly good”. Hodgson’s first managerial role came at Halmstads BK, who he joined after leaving a role as a teacher at Monks Hill school. Find out more about that on Page 50.

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Pub talk tidbit: Potter may have played only one game in his first month and so seem well prepared, but eight of his most recent starting XI were on international duty. The manager actually had 17 regular first-team players playing overseas recently, so he didn’t have that much time to implement his style.

I was there for...

Although Chelsea have very much had the rub of the green lately after a relatively enjoyable run of four Palace wins from eight, supporters will fondly remember back to back triumphs at Stamford Bridge between 2015-2017.

In 2015 Palace hadn’t won in south-west London since 1982 – a 1-2 victory in Division Two – and arrived for José Mourinho’s 100th match at Stamford Bridge, with the manager having lost just once during the century.

Bakary Sako put the south Londoners ahead only for Radamel Falcao to equalise 10 minutes from time. Despite having a point to be content with, Palace’s attitude at the time was geared towards going for broke, so they pushed for victory nonetheless and found it almost immediately through Joel Ward.

The next came with the action confined to an 11-minute burst in 2017: Cesc Fàbregas put his side ahead only for Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke to bag one apiece six minutes later.

You having a laugh?!

Former Chelsea manager Mourinho caught music fans by surprise when he appeared in the video for Mel Made Me Do It, the latest release by Croydon-born grime artist Stormzy.

Stormzy, a Manchester United fan, pulled in a roster of famous faces for his 10-minute single, including Ian Wright, Jonathan Ross, Usain Bolt, Dina Asher-Smith and Louis Theroux.

Mourinho appears with a finger over his lips as Stormzy says “I prefer not to speak like I’m José,” and the manager’s famous interview answer is played: “If I speak I am in big trouble.”

Mourinho uttered the muchquoted phrase after Chelsea lost to Aston Villa in 2014 following the sending off of Willian and Ramires.

Despite the 30 years separating Stormzy and Mourinho, the Roma manager seemed to enjoy himself. “Was great fun doing this cameo for Stormzy’s new music video,” he posted on Instagram. “I had a great time.”

What’s the deal with...

Palace signing Chelsea players.

In recent years the south Londoners have fielded a number of Chelsea loanees or former players, including Marc Guéhi in the current setup – and Michael Olise and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi if you consider exacademy prospects. pub talk

In the last five years alone the habit has seen Palace utilise nine players from Chelsea: Michy Batshuayi, Gary Cahill, Conor Gallagher, Marc Guéhi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Levi Lumeka, Michael Olise, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Patrick van Aanholt.

Between them the nine played 368 games in club colours and scored 41 goals.

This tendency seems to stretch back through history somewhat too, with David Hopkin, Mikael Forssell (on loan), Bobby Tambling and Alan Birchenall signing from the Blues

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Pre-match pint Cronx’s Lemon Saison.

A Belgian Saison-style ale brewed with lemons, coriander seeds and black peppercorns. Columbus hops compliment zingy citrus notes, brought together alongside a crisp and clean finish for a complex yet refreshing beer. Available in the Lower Holmesdale’s Tap Room

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30 YEARS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE

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Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool – May 5th, 2014 Dwight Gayle celebrates in front of the Holmesdale as Palace secure what fans voted as their greatest Premier League result.

30 years of the Premier League

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THE WORLD’S GAME P OW E R E D BY F O O T BA L L

TM

©2022 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, and the EA SPORTS logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Official FIFA licensed product. © FIFA and FIFA’s Official Licensed Product Logo are copyrights and/or trademarks of FIFA. All rights reserved. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. All UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League names, logos and trophies are the property, registered trade marks, designs and/or copyright of UEFA. All rights reserved. “1”, “PlayStation”, “5” and “Play Has No Limits” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. In-game Purchases (Includes Random Items)

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doc brown Ben Bailey Smith draws on his inner composer. Take note

40-41

ELISE HUGHES 42-43

Elise Hughes explains Wales’ recent success

karl eccleston The Head of Academy operations talks international opposition

44-45

Billy Eastwood 46-47

We introduce Channel 4 documentary focus Billy Eastwood

viewpoint

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

All together now Here’s the thing – I’m a grown man.

A father of two teenagers with a grown up mortgage, grown up concerns, grown up responsibilities.

And yet, at any given time on any given day – without knowing how or why – I’ll start singing: “Yannick Bolasie (Yannick Bolasie), Yannick Bolasie (Yannick Bolasie), Yannick, Yannick Bolasie runs down the wing for me,” like some demobhappy eight-year-old, hopped up on Sherbet Dib Dabs.

The unbridled, childlike joy that washes over me as I hoover the stairs, belting out “Jobi McAnuff, McAnuff! Jobi McAnuff!” is an experience I happily accept will nanananananananana-never leave me. It makes me wonder – how on earth do these incongruous ditties come into being and cement their place? I mean, who the heck saw Jobi doing his thing in red and blue and thought of KC and the Sunshine Band?

Honestly, it blows my tiny mind.

Back in the late eighties when my mind was even tinier, like most childhood football fans I dreamt of being a professional footballer.

When it became patently obvious

that I was equally passionate about salted snacks and sitting down, my sporting focus switched to football’s soundtrack. The mysterious, enigmatic football chant.

Some are surprisingly nonpartisan, one-size-Fitz-Hall classics shared by everyone for decades: “And it’s innn-sert my team Insert my team F.C. We’re by far the greatest team The world has ever seen.”

I mean, how antiquated is the phrase ‘by far’? That chant must be approaching a century old. And how beautiful is it that every single fan – despite 99.9% of us very much Ben Bailey Smith

how beautiful is it that every single fan – despite 99.9% of us very much not supporting the greatest team the world has ever seen – sings it without irony whenever three points look secured? not supporting the greatest team the world has ever seen – sings it without irony whenever three points look secured?

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In 30 years of going to Selhurst it’s long been my dream to get a new chant started – one that actually endures. I mean, talk about legacy! That’s almost as good as having children – maybe better because it costs less

Some chants come and go in the blink of an eye. I imagine there was one for Shefki Kuqi that barely survived half-time.

But my biggest source of wonder is who the heck originates a chant. Just for a second, imagine the jeopardy. You’ve picked a popular tune – in your head. You’ve got the perfect lyric – in your head. You’ve got a beautiful singing voice – in your head. But now the Holmesdale has hit a brief lull: you’ve got to get it out of your head and into your neighbours’, and just pray they back you up. It reminds me of my days trying out new material on the standup circuit. *pause for shudder* Picture yourself in Row C, squeezing your hopeful eyes shut, and gleefully belting out: “I want to Joachim,” to the tune of Queen’s I Want to Break Free. You open your eyes only to see 60 people around you, staring in confused silence, chuckling, turning back to watch the game, and taking a sizeable chunk of your soul with them.

In 30 years of going to Selhurst it’s long been my dream to get a new chant started – one that actually endures. I mean, talk about legacy! That’s almost as good as having children – maybe better because it costs less.

But even as a professional public speaker, I’ve never had the guts to try… until today. Today I can start chants with confidence. Why? Because I can propose them AND embarrass myself in the privacy of my own column. So here’s to you, the famous red and blue: here’s some silly lyrics you can say. Waheeyyyy.

Ben Bailey Smith

Melody: Blue Moon by Richard Rodgers Will Hughes I saw you standing alone About to pass to Zaha Assisting another goal Melody: Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper Win the ball, play it forward, you will find me Nathaniel Clyne If you fall, they will VAR it Holmesdale is waiting!

Nathaniel Clyne Melody: That’s Amore by Dean Martin When we sing you a song as if you just left Lens That’s Doucouré Melody: Say You, Say Me by Lionel Richie Gué-who? Guéhi Guéhi for always That’s the way it should be Gué-who? Guéhi What a defender, naturally There you have it. Take your pick and out-sing Chelsea today, please.

And if you find any of them too singular in their lone player focus, you can encore with this multi-celebratory future classic: Melody: Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes If you like the Wilfried Zaha And Mi-chael Olise I’m not much into Brighton I am into Eze If you love Jean-Philippe and Jimmy Mac Or Malcolm Ebiowei Come and hang in the Holmesdale Selhurst Park is the place *Holds for applause*

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cpfc women Crystal Palace Women broke club records in 2021/22, and are looking to do the same this season. In each edition, we hear directly from one of the squad, with Wales international Elise Hughes explaining how the Red Dragons have made history.

Elise Hughes Age

21

Joined

Summer 2022

Position

Forward

Apps

4

Clean sheets:

4

Career highlights

Being named Young Player of the Year with Wales aged 17.

Take note of

Hughes is a multitalented player who, due to her experiences in international football, can play across a team. Her natural position is up-front.

Elise Hughes

At the start of the month Wales reached the play-off stage of the Women’s World Cup qualifiers, the furthest we’ve ever been in a major tournament.

I lived in north Wales for most of my life, even while playing with Everton and Blackburn Rovers, so moving down to London with Charlton Athletic was a massive change. I was used to a village in north Wales, and now I live in the biggest city in western Europe.

But I think it’s cool and, having made the move at a young age, believe it’s a really good life experience. Football takes you all over the world, so I’m glad I moved when I did.

I started with the national team through a regional setup, which is how it works in Wales. They split the country into sections – mine was north-east Wales – and you play as part of that squad against north-west Wales, or teams from England. If you do well enough you go on to play with north or south Wales, and then the national team pick players from there.

I got my opportunity at an early age and was playing in the Under16s at 14, moving up an age group with every year. When I earned my

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got my opportunity at an early age and was playing in the Under-16s at 14, moving up an age group with every year.

When I earned my first senior cap I was too young to represent the Under-19s, so ended up making that debut after my first-team one!

first senior cap I was too young to represent the Under-19s, so ended up making that debut after my firstteam one!

A few months later I was named Wales’ Young Player of the Year which, to this day, still hasn’t sunk in. Because I was around Everton’s first-team from a young age I was able to mature quite quickly and make the step up, but I still see myself as one of the younger ones at Wales despite having been there for several years.

It’s a bit of a cliché but the Wales squad is a massive family. From the oldest to the youngest player we’re all there for the same reason. You link-up with players you’ve admired for years and all of a sudden they’re your teammates. They soon become your friends, and then family.

Competing with players like that made me want to stay part of the senior setup. I didn’t want to be anywhere but there again, so I was motivated to keep going back to be among those teammates and staff.

My experience with Wales has helped to shape my game, too.

Although I’m an attack-minded player, when I started international football everyone at Wales was defensive. My then-manager Jayne Ludlow saw me as having defensive traits, so initially lots of my caps came in defence or defensive midfield. I didn’t mind that at all – when I’m playing for the country I’d play in goal if needed!

Those games in defence were an experience I’ll always remember, because I was playing in direct opposition to my usual role. So when I switched back to being a centre-forward I knew what centreElise Hughes

backs hate, and tried to take that into my game.

Now Wales women have made history like the men have recently, I think we’re starting to become a prouder footballing nation. The men had success in 2016 and have now qualified for back-to-back tournaments. The women are trying to replicate that success, and in our last World Cup qualifier we had a recordbreaking crowd filled with young boys and girls who were inspired by the country’s football.

it’s a really good life experience.

Football takes you all over the world, so I’m glad I moved to london

I was in France for Euro 2016 but before that there weren’t many opportunities to watch Wales at a major tournament. So seeing what the men did has helped, and you think: ‘Imagine us doing that. Imaging us in a major tournament, going away for five or six weeks as a little Welsh family competing with the top teams.’

We’re looking ahead now but need to remember how far we’ve come. We’re very proud of all the smaller things we’ve achieved, and the next step is making a major tournament

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Karl Eccleston

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academy Karl Eccleston: Head of Academy Operations We missed out on all Academy teams going abroad for almost three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last trip would’ve been Israel, which we’re working on again, but we’re aiming to get every Under-9-16s team away at least once this year.

h

aving been Assistant Club Secretary since 2012, my role, Head of Academy Operations, came up just before the start of the pandemic. Obviously we went into lockdown almost straight away, so for the first six months I was trying to work out what the job is without actually being there, which was really, really difficult.

In essence the role covers the day to day operations of the Academy and the longer-term picture here. It’s not just week to week, but also further ahead with our Academy Performance Plan (APP) – a document we live and breathe. My job really is to oversee the APP along with Gary Issott, make sure that the departments are achieving what they want with their plans and give them the tools to continue.

Tours certainly tie in to our APP as we try to ensure the lads get to play in other environments. We’ve got the Under-14s and Under-16s off to Barcelona in April, and the Under-12s hopefully going to Dubai as well. We’re trying to make sure every player gets to experience playing foreign opposition, because

you don’t tend to get that until you play first-team football.

We’re playing almost the same amount as a Premier League team for the first time, which was always the plan for this campaign.

We’re stretching the players and that, along with experiencing international opposition, is what they need to improve Last month the boys played Hertha Berlin at Dulwich Hamlet’s ground, which was a chance to face foreign opposition, but this group of lads won’t have played anyone foreign Karl Eccleston

for years because of the absence of international competitions.

This Under-21s season is really exciting for two reasons. Firstly, we’ve got a lot of good players out on loan, so the younger ones get stretched; we’ve got scholars David Ozoh and Kaden Rodney playing in the U21s every week. Also, it’s the most intense games programme we’ve ever had at this club: we’ve got 26 league games along with a minimum of four international games, four Premier League Cup games, and three Papa Johns Trophy games. So now we nearly have a 38-game season.

We’re playing almost the same amount as a Premier League team for the first time, which was always the plan for this campaign.

We’re stretching the players and that, along with experiencing international opposition, is what they need to improve.

With so many players on loan and a lot of matches to cover, we know every player will be tested and a lot will be pulled up into the group above them. That’s what it’s about: players need to be challenged, and they certainly will be this season

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over the road Billy Eastwood

Geing to know Billy Eastwood

Age

16

Joined

Under-9s

Position

Goalkeeper

Apps

0

Clean sheets

0

Highlights so far

Signing his professional contract in summer 2022.

Take note of

Eastwood is a talented passer and communicator, moulding himself very much as a modern ‘keeper.

Billy Eastwood

“I was at a social club and I remember watching the 2013 play-off final on the floor,” says Under-18s goalkeeper Billy Eastwood. “I was about six or seven, and my dad was alive, and that was probably one of my best moments as a fan.”

Eastwood is a lifelong supporter who’s spent half his life with the club. His father, also a devout fan, passed away a few years after the play-off final, having watched his son compete in the Academy for a season.

Eastwood walked his father’s footsteps not just in following Palace, but also in becoming a goalkeeper. “I had no choice, to be honest,” he jokes. “I’ve always been a goalkeeper. I do love it, it was a great choice in the end.

“My dad could’ve been a professional – he had a trial here [Palace], but he didn’t go to it.

“In my second year at Palace he got unwell. He got to see a whole season of me here when I was younger, which is better than nothing. He was a typical dad: quiet on the sidelines, but

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in the car he’d say what I had done wrong and what I needed to improve on. He wasn’t hard on me, but always wanted to help me improve and be better and better at that age. He was very supportive during that time. He was a great dad.”

After his father’s passing Eastwood walked out in full goalkeeper kit – shin pads, gloves, et al – alongside Wayne Hennessey, and says the club allowed him to keep his mind focused on football.

He says now of his mother that “she’s done both roles”, and: “is amazing. She’s just so chilled and relaxed – she doesn’t force me to

do anything, but she would push me and encourage me in anything I do, which is the best thing. She just supports me in everything.”

Supporters who’ve watched Channel 4 documentary Football Dreams: The Academy will know exactly what Eastwood means, as the young goalkeeper and his mother feature heavily in episode two.

That meant allowing a camera crew to film them for a season and giving several interviews throughout that period. Eastwood has a stutter, so he initially felt apprehension about taking part, but now the documentary has aired says he relishes his involvement.

“I’m quite proud of it, because I have a stutter and it’s quite a big thing for me,” he explains.

“I’ve never shied away from it, but me doing [the documentary] has relieved some sort of pressure.

“At the very start I was a bit hesitant, but my mum encouraged me, saying: ‘It would be great for you, it will boost your confidence and make you a better person in general. It would help your speaking skills in general.’ With mates it’s fine, but when you’re with random people in front of lights and a camera it’s quite a big thing.

“From when [filming] started to now, I feel like I’ve got more confident in my speaking skills.

Just around the club, I feel like I’m having more relaxed conversations with people, whereas before it would just be a few short sentences.”

Billy Eastwood

We start to wrap up this interview as Eastwood runs out of time pre-training. With a minute or two left, we ask if he has anything to add. He does – astutely for a 16-year-old, he wants to thank a coach. “[Academy Goalkeeper Coach] Jordan Knight has played a massive role in my development,” Eastwood says. “He’s a very good coach and also just a great guy on

From when [filming] started to now, I feel like I’ve got more confident in my speaking skills. I’m having more relaxed conversations, whereas before it would just be a few short sentences and off the pitch. A big thing that’s not really appreciated is just being able to have a chat with him.

“I’m with Jordan at breakfast and lunch, as he’s a goalie coach I’m literally always with him. He, out of all the coaches, has been the most important and will make me a better person and a better goalie. I feel like I have to thank him for helping me get better and better each day.”

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APSLEY

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Keeping you posted on all things south London. Over the page, Palace fan Ramzi Musallam recalls 50 years of supporting the club – and what Roy Hodgson was like as a teacher.

James Buckley Inbetweeners star Buckley is a Palace fan born in Croydon.

He jokingly applied for the club’s vacant manager position in 2014 and even had a spat on Twitter with Iain Dowie’s son.

finish

Start

London-wide October 2nd Okay, it’s not *quite* Palace territory, but it’s certainly not far. Not as far as the 26.2 miles those taking part in the 2022 London Marathon will run, anyway. Catch it south of the river from Blackheath to Tower Bridge.

SOUTH OF THE RIVER

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r

ecently the day came when I could celebrate supporting Crystal Palace for a full 50 years. I knew the date because I’ve never forgotten my first game, under the floodlights on a balmy summer night: Tuesday, August 29th, 1972. My dad was looking after me that summer as my mum and two siblings were visiting her family in Palestine.

That afternoon my dad turned to me, a few months short of my ninth birthday, and asked if I wanted to see a live football match. I said yes straight away!

Until then I’d only watched the ‘beautiful game’ through a small, fuzzy, black and white TV with an in-built speaker. I used to watch Match of the Day avidly and remember the 1970 FA Cup final when Chelsea beat Leeds.

As I was born in Kensington I decided that Chelsea, with Peter Bonetti, Peter Osgood and Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris, was my team.

For some reason, however, my dad decided my first game in the flesh would be at Crystal Palace. By that point we lived in Forestdale, South Croydon, so it wasn’t far.

That night I experienced something that would change my life forever, birthing a love of football and specifically a small club in south London: Crystal Palace. Maybe it was the pristine floodlit green pitch, or the noise created by thousands of tightly packed fans that wrapped around you better than any surround sound, or the smell of hot dogs, onions and roasting peanuts.

It could have been the 22 men running after a ball and trying to score an elusive goal, but it may also have been the wit and banter of the crowd and the chanting – and swearing – at the referee, opposition, and their fans.

Whatever it was, I never forgot that night: the day I switched allegiance from a team I’d only seen on a small TV to the team in SE25, the one which I have followed through thick and (a lot more) thin for half a century.

Little did I know that later in the season, March 1973, when my dad took me to a game against Chelsea (that also happened to be Steve Parish’s first at Selhurst) the club would be embarking on an experiment that led us to change our heritage, colours, nickname and footballing approach, culminating in us becoming the SOUTH OF THE RIVER

I never forgot that night: the day I switched allegiance from a team I’d only seen on a small TV to the team in SE25, the one which I have followed through thick and (a lot more) thin for half a century

‘Team of the Eighties’. That was an exciting time with amazing players like Don Rogers, Peter Taylor, Vince Hilaire, Kenny Sansom and Jim Cannon.

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In September 1975 I started high school at Monks Hill in Selsdon. Joining at the same time was a 27-year-old man called Roy Hodgson. He was my PE teacher, but also covered a few English lessons as our regular teacher, Mrs Miler, was off with an unexplained illness.

Mr Hodgson was a great teacher and I remember walking with him to the bus stop along Farnborough Avenue on more than one occasion, when I would tell him about my latest experiences at Selhurst Park. At the time he played for Carshalton, so was training on midweek evenings and playing on Saturdays.

Our headmaster at the time was a large, imposing man, Johnnie Johnson. I recently contacted him through Facebook and he recalled that he hired Mr Hodgson for two years, but that as the first ended he came to him with a dilemma: Mr Hodgson had been offered a coaching role in Sweden.

Mr Hodgson knew this meant potentially breaking his contract, and said he would stay for another year at Monks Hill if the headmaster insisted he see out his contract. But Mr Johnson was happy to let Roy leave to

I know that supporting Crystal Palace is an emotional roller coaster that will teach them more about life than any text book

pursue a career in coaching, and he went with the school’s best wishes having been an exemplary member of staff.

Little did the world know that had Mr Johnson kept Roy to his contract he may never have started coaching, preventing a stellar career as a football manager that saw him manage two countries in the World Cup and become the Premier League’s eighth most experienced manager in history…

Of course there are many more experiences and stories I and those from my era could tell about half a century of following the club. But now I can look back to that day in August 1972 SOUTH OF THE RIVER

and confidently say it’s never been better to be a Palace fan.

Now I seem to have passed the baton to my two boys, and

I know that supporting Crystal Palace is an emotional roller coaster that will teach them more about life, justice, loyalty, teamwork, passion, the spirit of the underdog, financial prudence, and the struggle between rich and poor, than any text book.

My love affair with the club hasn’t wavered, though I’ve moved house umpteen times, had various jobs in academic media, banking, technology and consulting, different relationships, two wives, and followed various Formula One teams depending on their driver or the aesthetics or engineering of their latest car.

But the one constant has been my relationship with the team I first encountered in 1972.

Ramzi Musallam Thanks to Ramzi, a keen photographer, for supplying the above images

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THROUGH THE LENS

MICHAEL OLISE v BRENTFORD

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through the lens

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The Premier League celebrates its 30th anniversary this season, with Palace there at the start in 1992/93 and still there today – with a few detours along the way.

Here, we break down the club’s Premier League spells, letter by letter.

d

w

Debuts, dribblers and Derry

hen starting any new job, it’s always good to have a positive first day. Get to know your co-workers, discover where the Penguins are kept, make a round of tea and coffees. Most of us, however, don’t go through our first day watched by 25,000 people.

Making your debut can be an unnerving experience, and it’s not just those in the stands to think about; the Premier League is consumed by billions of fans worldwide, in almost every nation on earth. One mistake and your face will be all over social media.

One moment of madness and you’ll be plastered over the back pages.

For Odsonne Edouard, moving to south London wasn’t easy. “It was a big, big difference,” he remembers. “There was more intensity, it was more technical, more physical.” For a young man still mastering the language – and

after three years in Glasgow, that is no surprise – there were plenty of obstacles to settling down quickly at his new club.

You wouldn’t have guessed it. As Edouard warmed up on the touchline in September 2021, Selhurst Park was rocking. Wilfried Zaha had put Palace 1-0 up, Tottenham Hotspur were down to 10 men, and it looked as though the Eagles were on the brink of Patrick Vieira’s first victory.

And so came the call, off came the bib, and on came Edouard. He was on the pitch for 28 seconds before writing his name into the history books.

With his first touch, he flicked the ball to Wilfried Zaha and raced towards the penalty area. With his second, he steadied himself and controlled Zaha’s return pass. abcd epl

His third saw him roll the ball into the bottom corner, sending the Holmesdale into raptures.

It was the fastest debut goal by a substitute in Premier League history, and sets a record that will be extremely hard to beat.

Moments later he scored his second, and in doing so became the first Palace debutant to score twice since Danny Light at home to Hull City on May 6th, 1967 – the first in more than 50 years.

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dribblers Edouard has not just made a name for himself for finding the back of the net, but also in his ability on the ball. After all, Palace fans have always loved seeing a flying wideman with the ball at his feet.

Since promotion to the Premier League, the Eagles have witnessed plenty. Andros Townsend was famous for his long-range strikes, but could race through the midfield at blistering pace too.

Eberechi Eze has already endeared himself to the Selhurst Park faithful with his ability to set off on mazy runs, jinking away from defenders in the blink of an eye.

His goal against Sheffield United is the perfect example, picking up the ball in his own half and rounding three defenders before slotting into the bottom corner.

But two names will immediately spring to mind: Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie. The two played 96 times together for Palace, and thrilled fans with their dribbling prowess. Indeed, only four players to have played more than 50 games

with Zaha have a better points per game record than Bolasie.

At the end of the 2021/22 season, Palace fans were introduced to the latest tricky dribbler to emerge from south London: Academy product Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

derry Captain, Under-23s manager and now first-team coach, Shaun Derry has done it all at Crystal Palace.

First arriving in 2002 from Portsmouth, he impressed in an initial three-year spell before departing for Leeds United.

Returning in 2007, he led Palace’s recovery from potential relegation and was one of the ‘Heroes of Hillsborough’ in 2010 as the Eagles secured literal survival on the final day against Sheffield Wednesday.

Now a first-team coach, he has been influential in the development of Rak-Sakyi, Tayo Adaramola, Tyrick Mitchell and many more budding youngsters to come through the club’s youth system

.

Kagisho Dikgacoi A warrior in the 2012/13 promotion side, Dikgacoi arrived in English football via an unorthodox route, joining Fulham from South African side Golden Arrows in 2009. He made 114 appearances for Palace and featured heavily in the first season back in the Premier League as the Eagles secured survival to begin their uninterrupted 10-year stay.

abcd epl

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ian king

Having been on the brink of collapse in 2010, Crystal Palace earned promotion back to the Premier League 10 years ago this season. Here, Club Historian Ian King tells the story of a dramatic campaign – with a little help from the stars of When Eagles Dare.

Friday, September 14th: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Palace The Eagles would face three former players in Carl Cort, Rhoys Wiggins and Ricardo Fuller when they took to the field at the Valley with Damien Delaney again teaming up with Peter Ramage at the heart of defence. The Addicks had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside in the first-half but after the break Palace took control with Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha stretching play down either flank.

Six minutes into the secondhalf Kagisho Dikgacoi, returning to the side, netted his third goal of the season by controlling the ball on his chest and slamming it into the net. It was a memorable effort and the only goal allowed in this south London derby.

The result gave Palace their first league victory at the Valley since 1968 (the win in 1989 came when Charlton were ground sharing at Selhurst Park).

Such was the tightness of the Championship table that Palace now moved out of the

bottom three and were just one victory away from sixth place.

Tuesday, September 18th: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Palace Dikgacoi made it two goals from two in virtually the same minute as his goal at the Valley when playing four days later against Nottingham Forest. He headed home Owen Garvan’s corner, but after 15 minutes had to depart due to concussion.

By this point Palace were producing the kind of football fans hoped to witness. When the hosts – a team tipped for promotion – were reduced to 10 men for the last 27 minutes, the Eagles could have killed the contest, but Ramage’s header was disallowed.

An undeserved equaliser nine minutes from time was a cruel

early september

september 14th

Delaney challenges coaching staff to target promotion

a 1-0 win against Charlton sparks a 14-game unbeaten run

2012/13

57

player in focus

ending to the evening; it could have been worse had Julián Speroni not managed to tip away a header on its way into the net.

BORN: January 29th, 1988 Dublin, Ireland

Saturday, September 22nd: Palace 3-2 Cardiff City Dougie Freedman reshuffled his pack with Joel Ward and Dean Moxey giving way to Darcy Blake and Jonathan Parr, while Bolasie and André Moritz returned for Jonny Williams and Garvan. Then against the run of play the Bluebirds netted twice in 90 seconds, but the Palace team refused to buckle.

For the third game in a row the Eagles netted early in the second-half when a Moritz free-kick hit a Cardiff hand in the penalty area and Glenn Murray converted from the spot. Then on the hour mark they drew level thanks to an own-goal after the Cardiff ‘keeper parried Murray’s shot. Ten minutes later and Parr was fouled just inside the area so Murray stepped up for his second successful spot kick – and three points.

Inspired by the volunteer Games Makers at the London Olympics the club introduced its own team at this fixture, forming the Fan Support Team that continues to help at Selhurst today

.

owen garvan

APPEARANCES: 87 GOALS: 11 Following the 2010 administration manager George Burley used his Ipswich connections to sign the likes of Garvan.

He thrived at the start of 2012/13, but a knee injury kept him out from autumn onwards, and the midfielder was loaned to Millwall and Bolton, finally joining Colchester United in August 2015.

I remember Damo saying: ‘Listen, lads, we’re not great individually – apart from maybe Wilf and Yala – so we’ve got to play as a team’ Glenn Murray

september 14th

september 18th

Wilfried Zaha makes his 100th first-team appearance

Danny Gabbidon signs on a free transfer from QPR

2012/13

58

from the

Times have changed over Crystal Palace’s rich and storied history. In each edition, we dust off the archive and reprint a story from one of the club’s historical programmes. This week, we republish interviews with Ghassimu Sow and Douglas Wright, two former Academy players who later became staff.

April 28th, 2012

Ghassimu Sow Joined the club at the age of 11 and has played for the England under 16s. Has this week put pen to paper on a three year deal.

How did you come to join the Palace academy?

I first joined Palace when I was ten from a Sunday league club called Forntam Athletic Lakers.

I think I was spotted by Palace playing for them in a tournament and a couple of Palace scouts just came and saw me and asked me to come along for a six week trial.

Ben Garner, one of the academy coaches, was my manager back tthen and he signed me up for three weeks and it all went from there.

You were only 10 at the time, what was it like being told then that you would be joining the Palace academy?

I was nervous at first, I was thinking wow because I used to watch them playing in the Premier

League. I was a bit nervous in my first session but then I got the hang of it. I was excited to be called up to play for Palace, I couldn’t stop telling my mates.

Looking at people in your career so far, who could you say has helped you the most?

Ben Garner. He was my coach when I signed for the under 11s, then at under 13s, and under 16s. He is now assistant manager of the youth team, so for about four years he’s been my coach and helped me develop in to the player I am. Also my mum and dad they’ve supported me, everyone encouraged me and played a big part.

You have represented England at international level as well. That must have been a great experience?

It was a bit nerve-wracking to be fair when I first got called up for England, I was like wow, that’s pretty big but then like when I came to Palace I just took my chance.

It’s much different playing for England because there are even better players and you’re From the Archive

in a group with similar skill type and level so everyone helps each other out and you feel proud when you say ‘I played for England’.

Gary Issott on Ghassimu Sow Gus came to the club from Liberia as a youngster. In terms of the international stage Gus has been very unlucky. He got in the England setup as an under 16 and had three games cancelled due to the snow in a real bad winter. He has also had problems in travelling to certain parts of the world due to passport restrictions.

The England people decided that if they had to pick him around where he could travel it wasn’t the right situation to be in so they decided to wait until his passport gets sorted which is hopefully in the foreseeable future. It’s something which the first team manager is now helping with.

59

Douglas Wright How did you come to join the Palace academy?

I was picked up by Bernie Dillon when I was 13. I was playing football for Ashford Borough who were a Sunday league team. I went down for a trial a week later and the club signed me soon after.

It must have been quite exciting when the club says to you they’d like you to come on a trial?

It was funny because the first time I heard about it me and my friends were talking about getting taken on by a club and someone mentioned Palace and I got in

the car to go training and my manager suddenly told me I had a trial at Palace! At first I was really nervous but once you’re there a little while you start to settle in and it’s just great!

How are you finding life in the academy?

It’s brilliant to play at this level and see some amazing players and it opens up a lot of opportunities.

At the moment I train during the week, it’s great, you get to train with all the academy players and it helps you to progress.

Obviously it ups the level you’re playing at as does playing with more experienced players to help bring your game on a little more.

You’re from Scotland originally, how did you come to move down here?

My dad’s in the army so I’ve moved around quite a lot; I played out in Germany for a few years, then Ireland, then back to Scotland for a little while then finally down here. I’ve been in England for five years now.

It must have been strange playing in Germany, do you speak German?

It was actually an English team because it was like an army barracks out there so I was playing for them then got approached by German teams but it was hard to get in to them because of the language barrier and moving around but the football was good.

Gary Issott on Douglas Wright Douglas has been with the Academy a number of years and has had a difficult time with injuries. In October he did his cruciate ligament which ruled him out of playing in the Victory Shield competition over Christmas.

When he gets fit, he’s a right back who’s got terrific pace, great hunger and appetite, great desire and is as brave as anyone

.

The above copy is printed verbatim.

Two months after these interviews Sow went on loan to Finnish side F.C. Honka, then Farnborough, and finally moved to St Albans City. He currently represents Carshalton Athletic and is Palace’s Under9s Head Coach. When Wright ended his scholarship he was offered a coaching and analysis role, and is now Head Of Academy Performance Analysis.

From the Archive

60

palace for life

Teenage participant finds her feet at Premier League Kicks Fifteen-year-old south Londoner Ceren, from Harris Academy South Norwood, is one of the many participants who has been positively impacted

by Palace for Life’s girls-only Premier League Kicks sessions.

k

icks uses the power of football and other sports to create safer, stronger, and more respectful communities by developing young people’s potential.

Ceren’s dream is to become a professional footballer. She began her journey at school in South Norwood, where she developed her technical ability, enthusiasm, and passion for the game.

Through participating consistently at school, she was offered an opportunity to play at Palace for Life’s annual Play on

the Pitch event, which gave her the chance to battle it out against other schools on the hallowed turf.

Since playing at her afterschool club and Selhurst Park, Ceren not only found a passion for the game itself but also in taking on a leadership role, assisting her coaches to encourage girls to play more football, which she believes is crucial in the development of the women’s game. She said: “If being a pro footballer doesn’t work for me, I want to get into coaching so I can show girls that it’s not just the boys who can play, we can play too.”

After catching football fever at school, Ceren began attending Kicks sessions on Mondays, but warned her coaches that her temper can rise when playing because she doesn’t like losing – something a lot of footballers, whatever level they are, can relate to.

Kirsty, Ceren’s football coach at school, said: “The teachers and I have been encouraging her to get involved externally to help develop her further, so it’s great to hear she now attends Palace for Life palace for life

sessions. She encourages the girls to do well and never gives up.

“She has great self-belief but does often get frustrated when she misses her shots. All in all, Ceren is a hard-working participant and has a great personality. She shows great leadership skills.”

After attending Kicks sessions, Ceren noticed a change in her attitude: always playing with a smile on her face, ensuring her voice

61

gets heard, and being encouraging to her teammates. Ceren said: “I definitely feel the biggest difference I’ve seen in myself is a change of attitude. I would always get angry when playing the game but now I care much more about how the team is doing and I’ve learned I shouldn’t only rely on myself.”

If being a pro footballer doesn’t work for me, I want to get into coaching so I can show girls that it’s not just the boys who can play, we can play too

Raya Ahmed, Palace for Life’s Female Engagement Officer, added: “I’ve only known Ceren for a couple of months, but what I’ve observed from her is perseverance, determination, and consistency.

She comes to every session ready to play and is always encouraging to her teammates. I can most definitely see Ceren going down the coaching pathway and I know she will be amazing at it.”

For more information on Premier League Kicks, head to palaceforlife.org

Support Palace for Life in our mission to raise £1 million to help us transform thousands of more young south Londoners’ lives.

visit palaceforlife.org or scan below

.

palace for life

62

63

on

Some players you simply forget. Maybe they didn’t play much, or they signed without fanfare and left similarly under the radar. But some are household names who once graced the Selhurst turf in red and blue – and many of us have no recollection of it.

These are the pages to change that.

ON ROTATION

64

s

even years after scoring in the Europa League Ricardo Fuller laced up for the Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup – a knockout tournament whose only professional participants are Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers.

He played 72 times for the Jamaica national team and 16 in its Red Stripe Premier League, stretching his career over two decades from Kingston’s Tivoli Gardens to Staffordshire’s Hanley Town.

Most fans hear ‘Ricardo Fuller’ and picture the forward scoring – or fighting – in a Stoke City shirt. Some will remember his season at Charlton Athletic, or even his troublesome record against Palace (he scored five times in 11 meetings), but very few will remember his days in red and blue.

Fuller first tried to move to south London from Tivoli Gardens in his native Jamaica after trialing with Charlton in 2000. Before he secured the two-week stint the Jamaica Football Federation had fined him $30,000 for kicking opposition player Garfield Brown in the head. Some start.

Fuller scored three times in five reserve games and Charlton brought out the chequebook, with Alan Curbishley willing to spend up to £1million on the frontman’s services. The Addicks then discovered a minor back injury during striker’s medical, signed Finland international

Jonatan Johansson, and sent Fuller back to Tivoli Gardens.

A year passed and Fuller tried again in south London, signing for Alan Smith’s Palace in February 2001. The Eagles saw promise and also splashed up to £1million on the international during Simon Jordan’s first season.

Also trialing and signing at the time was Gregg Berhalter, future USA national team manager.

The fact Palace attracted these two internationals was no surprise in February 2001: they were an attractive prospect, playing with just two league defeats behind them in 17 games and reaching the League Cup semi-final a month before. But

ON ROTATION

the future was less bright, and Fuller was unable to find the net in eight appearances as Palace hurtled towards relegation with six consecutive losses.

He didn’t make the squad for the club’s iconic survival clash at Stockport County and, three weeks later, was released.

Back at Tivoli Gardens, Fuller hit 12 goals in 16 games and secured a loan to Hearts, where as a desperately-needed forward he netted 10 from 29. Finally success in England followed, bagging 31 from 63 at Preston North End, moving to the Premier League with Portsmouth and settling at Stoke via Southampton and Ipswich Town in 2006.

65

“So I go to see him and say: ‘Go, Ric, but make sure you’re back on the Monday. The Wolves game is a massive match for us.’ He says: ‘Gaff, don’t worry about me. I’ll be in Monday.’

“Monday comes, no Ricardo. Tuesday comes, no Ricardo… Wednesday comes, still no Ricardo. Thursday comes, still no Ricardo.

Fuller made the bulk of his career appearances in Staffordshire by helping the Potters reach the Premier League and scoring 50 goals from 208 run-outs.

But his approach still wasn’t that of a seasoned professional, and a left-of-field attitude that caused an infamous fight with teammate Andy Griffin and a stamp on Branislav Ivanovic also produced lighter moments.

Former Palace manager Tony Pulis told BBC Radio 5 Live in 2019: “Ric had been called up for Jamaica… he used to get ‘called up’ and Jamaica didn’t have any games.

“We used to just think Ric was having a week in Jamaica and that was it. Put four Cokes down, have a game on the beach, have a couple of beers and come back a week later.

We used to just think Ric was having a week in Jamaica and that was it.

Put four Cokes down, have a game on the beach, have a couple of beers and come back a week later

“He turns up Saturday at about 12pm for pre-match.

Walks in the room as though nothing has happened. ‘Morning, gaff! Morning, lads!’

“I go over and say: ‘Ric, where have you been?’ He says: ‘You won’t believe it.

I’ve flown in and out of Miami three times. They just wouldn’t let me go through customs so I’ve had to go back and go back.’ Yeah, of course.

ON ROTATION

“Just before kick-off I pull Ric across and say: ‘How long can you give us, Ric?’ He says: ‘20 minutes.’ I’m seething.

Twenty minutes in the biggest game of the season.”

The Wolves game began and Stoke fell behind 2-1.

“I tell Ric to go and have a warm up,” Pulis recalls.

“He walks down the side of the pitch and he can hardly run. He has a stretch and he’s talking to the Wolverhampton supporters down the other end

of the pitch. I’m looking at him and I’m absolutely seething.

“We put him on for the final 20 minutes and he gets the goal which wins us the game. An unbelievable goal.

“I take my cap off and I can’t say a word, I’m absolutely washed out. He walks over to me, sits next to me, puts his arm around me and says: ‘Gaff, no wonder you’ve got no hair – you worry too much.’ I could have strangled him.”

.

66

from the

The page for Palace supporters: taking your comments from the terraces into the programme. This week, we welcome today’s (many) mascots and print your messages.

ELI KENT AGE:

11

THEO WATTS SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

THEO PORTER AGE:

9

AGE:

7

HARVEY FERNANDEZ SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

ROHAN PORTER SCORE PREDICTION:

2-1

AGE:

11

AGE:

10

SCORE PREDICTION:

1-1

ANNALEE CRYSTAL JOHNS SCORE PREDICTION:

2-0

AGE:

11

SCORE PREDICTION:

3-2

Email us on programme@cpfc.co.uk with a message of no more than 200 words with a (printable) opinion or story.

Want to feature as a mascot? Email liam.connery@cpfc.co.uk.

from the terraces

67

Happy Birthday to Helen Rumble, a devoted Palace fan. Love from Mum and brother Tom.

Happy 21st Birthday Rhys Sleeman. With all our love Mum, Dad, Nan, Pops and Lucy

Happy Birthday, Harry. Have a great day. Love, mum, dad and George xxx

Ian and Sarah King celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary this weekend. They have been supporting Palace together for much longer!

Wishing STEVE a very special 60th Birthday! Love from family, friends and Crystal Palace supporters….. “Eagles”!

Email programme@cpfc.co.uk In memory of Sarah Holmes, a devoted Crystal Palace fan who died unexpectedly in July. Much missed by friends and family.

with a message of 30 words or Wishing you a very Happy 16th birthday Corey, love from Mum, Dad, Brother Ollie and all your family xxx

from the terraces

fewer and an image to feature on our messageboard.

68

A small screen star, Roy Hodgson’s former pupil and Palace’s forgotten players. Catch-up on what you might have missed in this edition, prep for the next away trip and pit your wits against Brighty below.

did you spot?

quote of the week “I know that supporting Crystal Palace is an emotional roller coaster that will teach [my sons] more about life, justice, loyalty, teamwork, passion, the spirit of the underdog, financial prudence, and the struggle between rich and poor, than any text book.”

The elephant on Page 65. Find out why this one paraded around Ramzi Musallam Selhurst Park in the 1990s.

Ricardo Fuller pop-up on Page 65. Did you know he began his career at Palace?

Trevor Benjamin Trevor Benjamin played just six times on loan from Leicester at Palace in 2001/02. His career either side was quite remarkable, representing 29 different clubs over 17 years.

Despite playing as a forward he launched sportswear brand Locust Sports that initially specialised in goalkeeper gloves.

round-up

69

Where else are Palace in action?

First, Palace Women take on Bristol City in a 15:00 kickoff on Sunday. The game will take place at the Robins High Performance Centre (BS8 3TN); fans are best placed taking a taxi or local buses from Nailsea and Backwell or Temple Meads stations, both of which can be reached from Paddington.

Staying in the west country, Palace Under-21s then face Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy at the Memorial stadium (BS7 0BF) on Tuesday night. The 73 bus takes fans almost directly there from Bristol Parkway station, which is 90 minutes from Paddington.

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

See how you fare and try to Beat Brighty!

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

Brighty

You

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

round-up

70

team stats: women / U21s / U18s Elise Hughes Hughes bagged a hat-trick to secure three points over Blackburn Rovers.

Cormac Austin Austin represented Northern Ireland U17s over the break, featuring against Finland.

Seán Grehan Grehan netted for Ireland U19s’ 6-0 win over Gibraltar during the break.

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

AUGUST Sun 21

London City Lionesses

W 1-0

Sat 27

Coventry United

W 3-0

SEPTEMBER Sun 18

Southampton

L 1-2

Sun 25

Blackburn Rovers

W 3-1

OCTOBER Sun 2

Bristol City

Sun 16

Sunderland

Sun 23

Bristol City

Sun 30

Durham

NOVEMBER Sun 6

Sheffield United

Sun 20

Charlton Athletic

Sun 27

Lewes

DECEMBER Sun 4

Lewes

Sun 18

Charlton Athletic

JANUARY Sun 15

London City Lionesses

Sun 22

Coventry United

FEBRUARY Sun 5

Southampton

Sun 12

Durham

MARCH Sun 5

Bristol City

Sun 12

Sheffield United

Sun 26

Blackburn Rovers

APRIL Sun 2

Sunderland

Sun 16

Birmingham City

Sun 23

Lewes

Sun 30

Charlton Athletic

TBC TBC

Birmingham City

AUGUST Mon 8 Brighton & Hove Albion Fri 12 Manchester United Fri 19 Fulham Fri 26 Wolves Tue 30 Swindon Town SEPTEMBER Sat 3 Tottenham Hotpsur Fri 16 Chelsea OCTOBER Sat 1 West Ham United Tue 4 Bristol Rovers Sun 9 Everton Sat 15 Liverpool Tue 18 Plymouth Argyle Sat 22 Manchester City Mon 31 Arsenal NOVEMBER Fri 4 Leicester City Mon 14 Sheffield United Mon 21 Newcastle United Mon 28 Bristol City december Sat 3 Bristol City Fri 9 Sheffield United Mon 19 Newcastle United JANUARY Mon 9 Brighton & Hove Albion Mon 16 Fulham Sun 22 Liverpool Mon 30 Manchester City FEBRUARY Mon 13 Leicester City Mon 20 Manchester United Mon 27 Tottenham Hotspur MARCH Fri 3 Everton Fri 17 Arsenal APRIL Mon 3 Chelsea Fri 7 Blackburn Rovers Mon 17 West Ham United Mon 24 Wolves MAY Mon 13 Blackburn Rovers

women/u21s/u18s

W W D W W

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

W 3-0 D 3-3

SEPTEMBER Tue 6 Hertha Berlin Wed 28 Paris Saint-Germain DECEMBER Wed 14 Dinamo Zagreb FEBRUARY Wed 8 SC Braga

AUGUST Sat 13 West Ham United Sat 20 Aston Villa Sat 27 West Bromwich Albion SEPTEMBER Sat 3 Brighton & Hove Albion Sat 17 Southampton OCTOBER Sat 1 Chelsea Sat 8 Sheffield United Sat 22 Leicester City Sat 29 Fulham NOVEMBER Sat 5 Leeds United Sat 19 Norwich City Sat 26 Tottenham Hotspur DECEMBER Sat 3 Brighton & Hove Albion Sat 17 Arsenal JANUARY Sat 7 West Ham United Sat 14 Fulham Sat 28 Aston Villa FEBRUARY Sat 11 Tottenham Hotspur Sat 18 Brighton & Hove Albion Sat 25 Arsenal MARCH Sat 18 Leicester City APRIL Sat 1 Southampton Sat 15 Norwich City Sat 22 Chelsea Sat 29 West Bromwich Albion

W 1-0

L 2-3 W 4-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-2

71

Name

Apps

Chloe Arthur

Goals

3

Paige Bailey-Gayle Kirsty Barton

3

Annabel Blanchard

4

1

Charley Clifford Rianna Dean

Name

Apps

Tayo Adaramola

2

Josh Addae

2

Victor Akinwale

7

Kofi Balmer

6

Ryan Bartley

1

David Boateng

1

Maliq Cadogan

1 6

Polly Doran

4

Owen Goodman (GK)

Aimee Everett

4

John-Kymani Gordon

7

Anna Filbey

4

Seán Grehan

6

Goals

1

8

Jackson Izquierdo (GK)

Shauna Guyatt

2

Fionn Mooney

3

Coral-Jade Haines

4

1

Jake O’Brien

2

Elise Hughes

4

4

Ademola Ola-Adebomi

6

1

Annabel Johnson

4

David Omilabu

6

2

4

David Ozoh

6

1

Killian Phillips

7

2

Fran Kitching (GK) Natalia Negri (GK)

Dan Quick

Leigh Nicol

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

1

Ellie Noble

2

Jadan Raymond

1

Hollie Olding

2

Kaden Rodney

5

Chloe Peplow

3

Laurence Shala (GK)

Kirsten Reilly

3

Cardo Siddik

3

Rob Street

4

Molly-Mae Sharpe

4

1

Isabella Sibley

4

1

2

Lizzie Waldie

pos CLUB P W D

2

Matthew Vigor

Hope Smith (GK)

L

F

A GD Pts

1

bri

4

3

1

0

5

1 +4 10

2

cha

4

3

0

1

11

6 +5 9 3 +5 9

Noah Watson

7

Jack Wells-Morrison

7

Joe Whitworth (GK)

1

pos CLUB P W D 1

cry

6

4

2

L

F

Apps

Goals

Cormac Austin

5

Kalani Barton

4

Freddie Bell

5

Rio Cardines

3

Junior Dixon

5

5

Joseph Gibbard

5

1

Jake Grante

5

Jackson Izquierdo (GK)

4

Eyimofe Jemide

5

Caleb Kporha

5

Giulio Marroni

1

Zach Marsh

3

Hindolo Mustapha

5

Adler Nascimento

5

Laurence Shala (GK)

1

Basilio Socoliche

5

2

Vonnte Williams

5

1

1

William Eastwood (GK)

Danny Imray

Fliss Gibbons

Name

1

4

1

A GD Pts

0 18 9 +9 14

2

ars

6

4

2

0 17 8 +9 14

3

mci

6

4

2

0 13 4 +9 14

4

eve

6

4

1

1

pos CLUB 1

whu

P W D

L

4

0 18 10 +8 12

4

0

F

A GD Pts

2

cry

4

3

0

1

3

che

4

2

1

1

12 5 +7 9 7

3 +4 7

4

nor

4

2

1

1

6

5 +1 7

3

cry

4

3

0

1

8

4

she

4

2

1

1

12 3 +9 7

5

ful

6

2

3

1

11

7 +4 9

5

lon

4

2

1

1

7

4 +3 7

6

liv

6

2

3

1

8

9 -1 9

5

tot

4

2

0

2

6

6

6

bir

4

2

1

1

7

5 +2 7

7

che

6

2

2

2 15 13 +2 8

6

bha

4

2

0

2

6

9 -3 6 7 +2 5

9

5 +4 13

0

6

7

sou

4

1

2

1

5

6 -1 5

8

wol

6

2

2

2

7

11 -4 8

7

ars

4

1

2

1

9

8

lew

4

0

4

0

4

4

9

lei

6

2

1

3

11

11

8

wba

4

1

1

2

7 10 -3 4

9

9

11 15 -4 4

0

4

0

7

10 bha

6

1

2

3

9 10 -1 5

11

6

0

4

2

9 15 -6 4

6

0

3

3

6 13 -7 3

dur

4

1

1

2

4

7 -3 4

10 bla

4

1

0

3

3

8 -5 3

11

sun

4

0

1

3

3

9 -6 1

13 bla

6

1

0

5

12 cov

4

0

0

4

2 15 -13 0

14 whu

6

0

1

5

mun

12 tot

avl

4

1

1

2

10 lei

4

1

1

2

4

4 13 -9 3

11

sou

4

0

2

2

8 12 -4 2

7 16 -9 1

12 ful

4

0

1

3

6 10 -4 1

women/u21s/u18s

8 -4 4

72

Jack Butland

Joel Ward

Tyrick Mitchell

Luka Milivojevic

22/23 FIXTURES & RESULTS 01

02

03

04

Career Appearances

17

310

72

182

Career goals

0

5

1

29

AUGUST

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

ALL-TIME

tbc

MAY

APRIL

March

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

DEC

NOV

OCTOBER

SEP

attendance/ KICK-OFF

Date

Opposition

Fri 5

Arsenal

25,286

L

0-2

17th

Mon 15

Liverpool

52,970

D

1-1

16th

Sat 20

Aston Villa

25,012

W

3-1

9th

Tue 23

Oxford United

9,564

W

2-0

Second round

Sat 27

Manchester City

53,112

L

2-4

12th

Tue 30

Brentford

25,043

D

1-1

13th

Sat 3

Newcastle United

51,863

D

0-0

15th

Sat 1

Chelsea

15:00

Sun 9

Leeds United

14:00

Sat 15

Leicester City

12:30

Tue 18

Wolverhampton Wanderers

19:30

Sat 22

Everton

15:00

Sat 29

Southampton

15:00

Sat 5

West Ham United

15:00

Wed 9

Newcastle United

19:45

Sat 12

Nottingham Forest

15:00

Mon 26

Fulham

15:00

Sat 31

Bournemouth

15:00

Mon 2

Tottenham Hotspur

15:00

Sat 14

Chelsea

15:00

Sat 21

Newcastle United

15:00

Sat 4

Manchester United

15:00

Sat 11

Brighton & Hove Albion

15:00

Sat 18

Brentford

15:00

Sat 25

Liverpool

15:00

Sat 4

Aston Villa

15:00

Sat 11

Manchester City

15:00

Sat 18

Arsenal

15:00

Sat 1

Leicester City

15:00

Sat 8

Leeds United

15:00

Sat 15

Southampton

15:00

Sat 22

Everton

15:00

Tue 25

Wolverhampton Wanderers

19:45

Sat 29

West Ham United

15:00

Sat 6

Tottenham Hotspur

15:00

Sat 13

Bournemouth

15:00

Sat 20

Fulham

15:00

Sun 28

Nottingham Forest

16:00

TBC

Manchester United

TBC

TBC

Brighton & Hove Albion

TBC

Result

fixtures & results

Position

Wilfried Zaha Vicente Guaita Jean-Philippe Mateta Jeffrey Schlupp Joachim Andersen Nathaniel Clyne James McArthur

10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18

124

49

36

140

60

435

132

40

168

45

175

249

9

4

4

15

5

87

0

9

14

1

1

19

26

25

1

37

2

4

1

0

7

0

0

Fixtures & Results

Kaden Rodney

23

Killian Phillips

22

Jaïro Riedewald

21

Nathan Ferguson

19

Cheick Doucouré

Chris Richards

Eberechi Eze

09

Malcolm Ebiowei

Jordan Ayew

07

Odsonne Edouard

Michael Olise

06 Sam Johnstone

Marc Guéhi

05 Will Hughes

James Tomkins

73

28 36 44 55 78

6

1

77

1

1

0

0

3

0

0

74

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE 22/23

pos

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Club arsenal

7

6

0

1

17

7

+10

18

2

manchester city

7

5

2

0

23

6

+17

17

3

tottenham hotspur

7

5

2

0

18

7

+11

17

4

brighton & hove albion

6

4

1

1

11

5

+6

13

5

manchester united

6

4

0

2

8

8

0

12

6

fulham

7

3

2

2

12

11

+1

11

7

chelsea

6

3

1

2

8

9

-1

10

8

liverpool

6

2

3

1

15

6

+9

9

9

brentford

7

2

3

2

15

12

+3

9

10

newcastle united

7

1

5

1

8

7

+1

8

11

leeds united

6

2

2

2

10

10

0

8

12

bournemouth

7

2

2

3

6

19

-13

8

13

everton

7

1

4

2

5

6

-1

7

14

southampton

7

2

1

4

7

11

-4

7

15

aston villa

7

2

1

4

6

10

-4

7

16

crystal palace

6

1

3

2

7

9

-2

6

17

wolverhampton wanderers

7

1

3

3

3

7

-4

6

18

west ham united

7

1

1

5

3

9

-6

4

19

nottingham forest

7

1

1

5

6

17

-11

4

20

leicester city

7

0

1

6

10

22

-12

1

All statistics correct as of 17:00 Tuesday, September 27th

southampton everton

bournemouth brentford

west ham wolves

crystal palace chelsea

man city man united

Saturday, October 1st - 15:00

Sunday, October 2nd - 14:00

fulham newcastle

leeds aston villa

liverpool brighton

leicester nottingham forest

Saturday, October 1st - 12:30

Saturday, October 1st - 15:00

Saturday, October 1st - 15:00

Saturday, October 1st - 15:00

Saturday, October 1st - 15:00

Saturday, October 1st - 17:30

Sunday, October 2nd - 16:30

Monday, October 3rd - 20:00

premier league

this week’s fixtures

arsenal spurs

Supported by

Crystal palace f.c.

chelsea f.c.

Jack BUTLAND (GK) Joel WARD Tyrick MITCHELL Luka MILIVOJEVIC James TOMKINS Marc GUÉHI Michael OLISE Jordan AYEW Eberechi EZE Wilfried ZAHA Vicente GUAITA (GK) Jean-Philippe MATETA Jeffrey SCHLUPP Joachim ANDERSEN Nathaniel CLYNE James McARTHUR Will HUGHES Sam JOHNSTONE (GK) Odsonne EDOUARD Malcolm EBIOWEI Chris RICHARDS Cheick DOUCOURÉ Nathan FERGUSON Jaïro RIEDEWALD Killian PHILLIPS Kaden RODNEY

01 05 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 28 29 30 32 33

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 09 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 26 28 36 44 55 78

C. Kavanagh D. Cook D. Robathan C. Pawson S. Attwell S. Ledger

Kepa ARRIZABALAGA (GK) JORGINHO Thiago SILVA N’Golo KANTÉ Mateo KOVACIC Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG Christian PULISIC Ruben LOFTUS-CHEEK Marcus BETTINELLI (GK) Trevoh CHALOBAH Edouard MENDY (GK) Raheem STERLING Armando BROJA Mason MOUNT Denis ZAKARIA Ben CHILWELL Hakim ZIYECH Conor GALLAGHER Reece JAMES Kalidou KOULIBALY César AZPILICUETA Kai HAVERTZ Carney CHUKWUEMEKA Marc CUCURELLA Wesley FOFANA

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