06-01-2000, 07:37 PM
By Dave McLelland, former Sports Editor, Croydon Advertiser
MY FIRST visit to Selhurst Park was a painful experience for my mother. I wasn’t paying attention to the potential dangers in the pre-match kick-in and she used a hand to prevent me receiving a bloody nose from one of Bert Robson’s wayward shots. She complained of an aching wrist for weeks after.
The game was against Bournemouth in March, 1947, Palace lost 1-0 and finished 18th that season. Things haven’t changed, I hear the cynics saying. The natural reaction is still to duck if you’re behind the goal Palace are shooting at.
Of course, that’s not quite true. There have been the good times and when I was asked by my successor at the Advertiser to pick the top ten matches to mark the end of the century I was happy to blow the dust off the record books and look down memory lane.
As the bells rang in the new Millennium last week, Palace had played 3,535 League and Cup games in their 80 chequered years since joining the Football League, so I know my ten will be open to contradiction, especially from the old stagers who remember the pre-war days.
For their benefit, therefore, I have included two from that period and thank Mike Purkiss, the Rev Nigel Sands and John McBride, who have all made major contributions in their own way in compiling accurate and comprehensive records of Palace’s history.
Half of Merseyside suffered at the hands of Palace in a certain cup-tie at Villa Park in 1990 (more of which later), but the other half draw a veil over a first-round FA Cup ties at Everton in January, 1922.
Newly-promoted Palace were still finding their feet in the Second Division and went into the game with only one win from their previous eight outings. They weren’t given a chance at First Division Everton.
However, Palace had gained a giantkilling tag after beating First Division runners-up Manchester City the previous year, and they rose to the occasion again with a stunning 6-0 victory.
It still stands as an away record in the competition and the record book tells us that the Palace goalkeeper Jack Alderson had so little to do that he peeled himself an orange.
Unfortunately the celebrations were short. They were knocked out by Millwall, of the Third Division South, in a next round replay. Yes, Palace were an unpredictable lot in those days, too.
Still, they always sustained interest, never more so than four years later when they pulled back a three-goal deficit in the last 15 minutes of a cup-tie at Northampton and then won the replay to earn a fourth-round clash with Chelsea.
Once again Palace were the underdogs but a record 41,000 crowd at their new home Selhurst Park witnessed a famous victory as new manager Alec Maley’s glory men won 2-1, goalkeeper Billy Callender performing heroics by keeping Chelsea at bay.
Another star was Percy Cherrett, whose 65 goals in 81 appearances during his two years still stands as the club’s most prolific scoring record.
Cherrett netted in all of Palace’s ties that season, including a brace in the next round at Manchester City. Sadly, City were in no mood to be the victims of another upset and won 11-4.
Such scorelines are a rarity these days when managers and coaches would be regarded as barmy to contemplate playing a 2-3-5 formation. But in the early post-war days, before line-ups of 4-4-2 and the like enveloped the modern game, spectators were often treated to goal feasts.
Season totals of three figures were not uncommon. Peterborough rattled in 134 to win the Fourth Division in 1961 with Palace finishing runners-up with 110 - a season which began with a thumping 9-2 trouncing of Accrington Stanley.
But the game I remember particularly came in the season before that. Palace, who had put eight past Watford in late September, welcomed Barrow to Selhurst three weeks later and ran up a record 9-0 score. Surprisingly, Palace were only one up going into the last few minutes of the first half.
Then three came in quick succession before the floodgates opened in the second half. The legendary Johnny Byrne and the ex-Sutton amateur Ray Colfar got two apiece and Johnny Gavin curled one in direct form a corner.
But pride of place went to Roy Summersby, who bagged four. It was one of the most outstanding Fourth Division displays of that period and put more than 5,000 on the gate for the next game.
No Palace Top Ten would be complete without mention of Real Madrid’s historic visit in April, 1962. The Spanish champions had won the European Cup in five successive seasons, the last being against Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in the most famous of all matches.
They were preparing for another final, this time against Benfica, and chairman Arthur Wait persuaded them to make their first visit to London.
Typical of the man, Wait took a huge gamble by paying Real Madrid £10,000 up front plus a swell dinner to follow. The deal paid off handsomely.
More than 25,000 turned out in heavy rain to see world-class stars such as Puskas, Di Stefano, Geno and Santa-Maria. Wait also did a deal with West Ham and got Byrne back to guest for Palace just a month after his record transfer move to the east London club.
It was a tremendous occasion to mark new floodlights for the ground and matched by a feast of football which Real won 4-3.
An equally historic match followed in August, 1969, when Manchester United opened Palace’s programme in their first-ever First Division season. The Arthur Wait Stand had gone up in the summer and a crowd of 48,610 jammed the ground for an unforgettable game.
United included Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law but were shaken by Mel Blyth’s 11th-minute goal.
Charlton fired in an equaliser, but Palace’s newly-purchased flying Scot, Gerry Queen, restored the lead. United had to call on all their resources to salvage a draw through Willie Morgan in the second half.
It was a thriller that launched Palace into four desperately hard years in the top flight and the spell ended dismally in 1973, although not before on inspired flourish just before Christmas of that season. Savour the scoreline: Palace 5, Manchester United 0.
Admittedly there was no Charlton, Best or Law this time and United were languishing at the bottom of the table. But it was still a prestigious victory in which Don Rogers, from Swindon, as well as Alan Whittle, ex- Everton, made their debuts.
Paddy Mulligan grabbed two goals from right back, and direct-running Rogers also got a brace, while the impish Whittle netted the other as United were torn apart by Palace’s storming display.
The United board were so embarrassed that they sacked manager Frank O’Farrell the following week.
Big John Hughes, whose explosive goals, I remember, had blown away Sheffield United in a high-scoring game the previous year, and the talented Charlie Cooke were also in the ranks at this time.
Palace had never had so much character, experience and skill, yet amazingly they only won another five matches that season and were relegated.
One of Palace’s best post-war away wins has to be that sixth-round FA Cup-tie at Sunderland in 1976. Riding high after victories at Leeds United and Chelsea - which may be among your top ten selections - Palace entered the intimidating atmosphere of Roker Park and played one of the most professional and committed games I have ever seen them play.
A capacity crowd of 50,900 saw a gripping clash, although I was among the hundreds on a Palace special train that arrived late and missed the kick-off. However, the only goal of the game was worth the dash to the ground.
Goalkeeper Paul Hammond released Peter Taylor on the right. He sped away, beat two men, and crossed to Whittle, who spun and fired home a magnificent shot that must surely be etched in the memories of all those who made the long journey.
Such a pity that Malcolm Allison’s predictions of leading the first Third Division team to an FA Cup final were dashed in the semis at the hands of Southampton.
Three years on saw Palace, now under Terry Venables, climbed back to the First Division and the climax to an outstanding season came on a warm May evening against Burnley. No one anticipated the interest the game aroused.
The turnstiles registered 51,482 and stopped clicking 45 minutes before the start.
Amazingly, there were no serious injuries, even when fans clambered on to the pitch, demolishing the coaches’ huts, after the 2-0 win that gave Palace the Second Division championship. Ian Walsh and Dave Swindlehurst scored the goals but all 11 were heroes on that night of drama.
Ten years later saw Palace celebrate another return to the First Division, this time in a thriller against Blackburn in the play-offs. And the victory over Sheffield United in the Wembley play-off final in 1997 when David Hopkin blazed in that breathless last-minute winner, holds more special memories.
But I have only two matches left and those places have to be reserved, without question, for Steve Coppell’s Cup fighters of 1990. First, picture the scene again ... a sunny April Sunday at Villa Park ... a high noon confrontation with the seemingly unstoppable Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the odds stacked heavily against Palace.
They were constantly being reminded of that 9-0 drubbing they had suffered at Anfield earlier in the season; Liverpool were marching towards the First Division championship; and Palace still had key man Ian Wright laid up with a fractured leg.
Indeed the game looked like going to plan as Ian Rush put the Merseysiders ahead. But suddenly and unexpectedly, just seconds after the interval, Palace hit back through Mark Bright’s powerful left-foot shot.
It set up a pulsating battle which engrossed the whole country as it went out live on television. Physically stronger and superior in their set-piece skills, Palace won in sensational style 4-3 in extra time and the rush and chaos to get Wembley final tickets was on.
Manchester United awaited them, but how could Palace possibly put on a repeat performance? Well, they nearly did. Once again, Palace showed all their courage and resourcefulness, leading twice and having one hand on the treasured trophy before United squared it at 3-3 late into extra time.
Wright came off the subs’ bench to net two brilliant goals, to follow Gary O’Reilly’s opener, and some 40,000 Palace fans made their way back to the twin towers on the Thursday confidently believing Coppell’s men could complete the job.
Sadly, it was not to be. It was a poor, disappointing replay. But the Eagles were proud to have played their part in one of the best Wembley finals since the Matthews’ classic of 1953.
So there are my top ten. Nearly a decade on, the Palace scene is now one of degeneration and doubt.
Due to one man’s misjudgement and mismanagement, the club are fighting a different battle, one to preserve their very existence.
------------------
MY FIRST visit to Selhurst Park was a painful experience for my mother. I wasn’t paying attention to the potential dangers in the pre-match kick-in and she used a hand to prevent me receiving a bloody nose from one of Bert Robson’s wayward shots. She complained of an aching wrist for weeks after.
The game was against Bournemouth in March, 1947, Palace lost 1-0 and finished 18th that season. Things haven’t changed, I hear the cynics saying. The natural reaction is still to duck if you’re behind the goal Palace are shooting at.
Of course, that’s not quite true. There have been the good times and when I was asked by my successor at the Advertiser to pick the top ten matches to mark the end of the century I was happy to blow the dust off the record books and look down memory lane.
As the bells rang in the new Millennium last week, Palace had played 3,535 League and Cup games in their 80 chequered years since joining the Football League, so I know my ten will be open to contradiction, especially from the old stagers who remember the pre-war days.
For their benefit, therefore, I have included two from that period and thank Mike Purkiss, the Rev Nigel Sands and John McBride, who have all made major contributions in their own way in compiling accurate and comprehensive records of Palace’s history.
Half of Merseyside suffered at the hands of Palace in a certain cup-tie at Villa Park in 1990 (more of which later), but the other half draw a veil over a first-round FA Cup ties at Everton in January, 1922.
Newly-promoted Palace were still finding their feet in the Second Division and went into the game with only one win from their previous eight outings. They weren’t given a chance at First Division Everton.
However, Palace had gained a giantkilling tag after beating First Division runners-up Manchester City the previous year, and they rose to the occasion again with a stunning 6-0 victory.
It still stands as an away record in the competition and the record book tells us that the Palace goalkeeper Jack Alderson had so little to do that he peeled himself an orange.
Unfortunately the celebrations were short. They were knocked out by Millwall, of the Third Division South, in a next round replay. Yes, Palace were an unpredictable lot in those days, too.
Still, they always sustained interest, never more so than four years later when they pulled back a three-goal deficit in the last 15 minutes of a cup-tie at Northampton and then won the replay to earn a fourth-round clash with Chelsea.
Once again Palace were the underdogs but a record 41,000 crowd at their new home Selhurst Park witnessed a famous victory as new manager Alec Maley’s glory men won 2-1, goalkeeper Billy Callender performing heroics by keeping Chelsea at bay.
Another star was Percy Cherrett, whose 65 goals in 81 appearances during his two years still stands as the club’s most prolific scoring record.
Cherrett netted in all of Palace’s ties that season, including a brace in the next round at Manchester City. Sadly, City were in no mood to be the victims of another upset and won 11-4.
Such scorelines are a rarity these days when managers and coaches would be regarded as barmy to contemplate playing a 2-3-5 formation. But in the early post-war days, before line-ups of 4-4-2 and the like enveloped the modern game, spectators were often treated to goal feasts.
Season totals of three figures were not uncommon. Peterborough rattled in 134 to win the Fourth Division in 1961 with Palace finishing runners-up with 110 - a season which began with a thumping 9-2 trouncing of Accrington Stanley.
But the game I remember particularly came in the season before that. Palace, who had put eight past Watford in late September, welcomed Barrow to Selhurst three weeks later and ran up a record 9-0 score. Surprisingly, Palace were only one up going into the last few minutes of the first half.
Then three came in quick succession before the floodgates opened in the second half. The legendary Johnny Byrne and the ex-Sutton amateur Ray Colfar got two apiece and Johnny Gavin curled one in direct form a corner.
But pride of place went to Roy Summersby, who bagged four. It was one of the most outstanding Fourth Division displays of that period and put more than 5,000 on the gate for the next game.
No Palace Top Ten would be complete without mention of Real Madrid’s historic visit in April, 1962. The Spanish champions had won the European Cup in five successive seasons, the last being against Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in the most famous of all matches.
They were preparing for another final, this time against Benfica, and chairman Arthur Wait persuaded them to make their first visit to London.
Typical of the man, Wait took a huge gamble by paying Real Madrid £10,000 up front plus a swell dinner to follow. The deal paid off handsomely.
More than 25,000 turned out in heavy rain to see world-class stars such as Puskas, Di Stefano, Geno and Santa-Maria. Wait also did a deal with West Ham and got Byrne back to guest for Palace just a month after his record transfer move to the east London club.
It was a tremendous occasion to mark new floodlights for the ground and matched by a feast of football which Real won 4-3.
An equally historic match followed in August, 1969, when Manchester United opened Palace’s programme in their first-ever First Division season. The Arthur Wait Stand had gone up in the summer and a crowd of 48,610 jammed the ground for an unforgettable game.
United included Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law but were shaken by Mel Blyth’s 11th-minute goal.
Charlton fired in an equaliser, but Palace’s newly-purchased flying Scot, Gerry Queen, restored the lead. United had to call on all their resources to salvage a draw through Willie Morgan in the second half.
It was a thriller that launched Palace into four desperately hard years in the top flight and the spell ended dismally in 1973, although not before on inspired flourish just before Christmas of that season. Savour the scoreline: Palace 5, Manchester United 0.
Admittedly there was no Charlton, Best or Law this time and United were languishing at the bottom of the table. But it was still a prestigious victory in which Don Rogers, from Swindon, as well as Alan Whittle, ex- Everton, made their debuts.
Paddy Mulligan grabbed two goals from right back, and direct-running Rogers also got a brace, while the impish Whittle netted the other as United were torn apart by Palace’s storming display.
The United board were so embarrassed that they sacked manager Frank O’Farrell the following week.
Big John Hughes, whose explosive goals, I remember, had blown away Sheffield United in a high-scoring game the previous year, and the talented Charlie Cooke were also in the ranks at this time.
Palace had never had so much character, experience and skill, yet amazingly they only won another five matches that season and were relegated.
One of Palace’s best post-war away wins has to be that sixth-round FA Cup-tie at Sunderland in 1976. Riding high after victories at Leeds United and Chelsea - which may be among your top ten selections - Palace entered the intimidating atmosphere of Roker Park and played one of the most professional and committed games I have ever seen them play.
A capacity crowd of 50,900 saw a gripping clash, although I was among the hundreds on a Palace special train that arrived late and missed the kick-off. However, the only goal of the game was worth the dash to the ground.
Goalkeeper Paul Hammond released Peter Taylor on the right. He sped away, beat two men, and crossed to Whittle, who spun and fired home a magnificent shot that must surely be etched in the memories of all those who made the long journey.
Such a pity that Malcolm Allison’s predictions of leading the first Third Division team to an FA Cup final were dashed in the semis at the hands of Southampton.
Three years on saw Palace, now under Terry Venables, climbed back to the First Division and the climax to an outstanding season came on a warm May evening against Burnley. No one anticipated the interest the game aroused.
The turnstiles registered 51,482 and stopped clicking 45 minutes before the start.
Amazingly, there were no serious injuries, even when fans clambered on to the pitch, demolishing the coaches’ huts, after the 2-0 win that gave Palace the Second Division championship. Ian Walsh and Dave Swindlehurst scored the goals but all 11 were heroes on that night of drama.
Ten years later saw Palace celebrate another return to the First Division, this time in a thriller against Blackburn in the play-offs. And the victory over Sheffield United in the Wembley play-off final in 1997 when David Hopkin blazed in that breathless last-minute winner, holds more special memories.
But I have only two matches left and those places have to be reserved, without question, for Steve Coppell’s Cup fighters of 1990. First, picture the scene again ... a sunny April Sunday at Villa Park ... a high noon confrontation with the seemingly unstoppable Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the odds stacked heavily against Palace.
They were constantly being reminded of that 9-0 drubbing they had suffered at Anfield earlier in the season; Liverpool were marching towards the First Division championship; and Palace still had key man Ian Wright laid up with a fractured leg.
Indeed the game looked like going to plan as Ian Rush put the Merseysiders ahead. But suddenly and unexpectedly, just seconds after the interval, Palace hit back through Mark Bright’s powerful left-foot shot.
It set up a pulsating battle which engrossed the whole country as it went out live on television. Physically stronger and superior in their set-piece skills, Palace won in sensational style 4-3 in extra time and the rush and chaos to get Wembley final tickets was on.
Manchester United awaited them, but how could Palace possibly put on a repeat performance? Well, they nearly did. Once again, Palace showed all their courage and resourcefulness, leading twice and having one hand on the treasured trophy before United squared it at 3-3 late into extra time.
Wright came off the subs’ bench to net two brilliant goals, to follow Gary O’Reilly’s opener, and some 40,000 Palace fans made their way back to the twin towers on the Thursday confidently believing Coppell’s men could complete the job.
Sadly, it was not to be. It was a poor, disappointing replay. But the Eagles were proud to have played their part in one of the best Wembley finals since the Matthews’ classic of 1953.
So there are my top ten. Nearly a decade on, the Palace scene is now one of degeneration and doubt.
Due to one man’s misjudgement and mismanagement, the club are fighting a different battle, one to preserve their very existence.
------------------