Academy

[davidcpal_45]

Originally Posted by Woosie

David Gregory has signed a one year deal with Cambridge United and will link up with Shaun Derry there.

After 11 years representing Crystal Palace, it's time for Greggers to move on.
A shame in one way, but so positive in lots of others - With joining Cambridge United, he has been fortunate enough to be given such an exciting opportunity at a great club, and a real chance to go out and show exactly what the past years of dedication, sacrifice and commitment have moulded him in to and a chance to carry on with building a career in a fantastic profession and to be part of a team that is lead by a man like Shaun Derry will no doubt be a brilliant experience.
The very fact that has worked through the years, since the age of 11, as part of the Palace Academy, making it through his Scholarship to becoming a Professional Footballer is something that fills me, his Mum, Granddads and all of his family with great pride and satisfaction - and a contentment in knowing that all of the support and faith, in all of the different ways that we have all given him over the the years has been and continues to be worth it.
Thanks to all of the coaching staff at Palace for their hard work at the Academy - Thanks to the Management team at Cambridge for making us feel so welcome and thanks to Bobby Bowry and his team for making sure all went smoothly over the past couple of weeks.

And Special thanks to Woosie and Gazza2 for all of their positive feedback over the many years.

Good Luck Greggers
Up The Amber Army!!

[cockles]

Originally Posted by Vince Hilaire's Afro

As was Andy Gray, Phil Barber and Ian Cox. And Stuart Massey. And Dennis Bailey. But possibly not Tony Finnegan. But Stan Collymore was.

Tony Finnegan too, was managed by Billy Smith at Corinthian Casuals - in the same team as Pardew and Andy Gray I think.

Originally Posted by davidcpal_45

After 11 years representing Crystal Palace, it's time for Greggers to move on.
....
Good Luck Greggers
Up The Amber Army!!

Best of luck to him!

[orp pisshead1]

Originally Posted by davidcpal_45

After 11 years representing Crystal Palace, it's time for Greggers to move on.
A shame in one way, but so positive in lots of others - With joining Cambridge United, he has been fortunate enough to be given such an exciting opportunity at a great club, and a real chance to go out and show exactly what the past years of dedication, sacrifice and commitment have moulded him in to and a chance to carry on with building a career in a fantastic profession and to be part of a team that is lead by a man like Shaun Derry will no doubt be a brilliant experience.
The very fact that has worked through the years, since the age of 11, as part of the Palace Academy, making it through his Scholarship to becoming a Professional Footballer is something that fills me, his Mum, Granddads and all of his family with great pride and satisfaction - and a contentment in knowing that all of the support and faith, in all of the different ways that we have all given him over the the years has been and continues to be worth it.
Thanks to all of the coaching staff at Palace for their hard work at the Academy - Thanks to the Management team at Cambridge for making us feel so welcome and thanks to Bobby Bowry and his team for making sure all went smoothly over the past couple of weeks.

And Special thanks to Woosie and Gazza2 for all of their positive feedback over the many years.

Good Luck Greggers
Up The Amber Army!!

Very best of luck to your son please keep us posted .

[Woosie]

Originally Posted by eagleborn

Genuine question - do you think his height has something to do with injuries? I know a lot of very tall people who struggled with injuries at a young age, mainly due to height issues. There can be an additional strain on ligaments and muscles etc if you grow too quickly which could be causing issues?

May be something he grows out of?

I'm no doctor but I've seen it in a few young players - Ryan Inniss being another. For sure young players seem more prone to injury as their bodies are still developing, and I suspect height also has something to do with it in many cases, too.

Hopefully it does go away as he gets older, he's nice lad and a good player.

[Woosie]

Missed out a few scholars earlier (the best ones!!)

Joseph Hungbo - could be the next Sullay Kaikai/Aaron Bissaka. Has scored three in about four or five U18 games already and is at most 16, may even have been 15 at the time. I like him, he's quick, good finisher and has a lot of energy.

James Daly - from Sussex so nabbed from Brighton's back yard. Scored twice for the 18s whilst only 16. He's a striker, quite small but strong. Not seen enough to say exactly what kind of player he is.

Tariq Ossai - RB, my MOTM for the U18s 1-0 win over Ipswich in December where Joe Hungbo scored a last minute winner with a brilliant volley.

Francis Baptiste - another striker but not one I've seen enough of to make a proper comment about. Was top scorer in the tournament in India in April though. Tall pacy striker I think

Lewis Bryon - Not entirely sure what position he is but either a CB or a CM, played at least once for the 18s last season

Originally Posted by davidcpal_45

After 11 years representing Crystal Palace, it's time for Greggers to move on.
A shame in one way, but so positive in lots of others - With joining Cambridge United, he has been fortunate enough to be given such an exciting opportunity at a great club, and a real chance to go out and show exactly what the past years of dedication, sacrifice and commitment have moulded him in to and a chance to carry on with building a career in a fantastic profession and to be part of a team that is lead by a man like Shaun Derry will no doubt be a brilliant experience.
The very fact that has worked through the years, since the age of 11, as part of the Palace Academy, making it through his Scholarship to becoming a Professional Footballer is something that fills me, his Mum, Granddads and all of his family with great pride and satisfaction - and a contentment in knowing that all of the support and faith, in all of the different ways that we have all given him over the the years has been and continues to be worth it.
Thanks to all of the coaching staff at Palace for their hard work at the Academy - Thanks to the Management team at Cambridge for making us feel so welcome and thanks to Bobby Bowry and his team for making sure all went smoothly over the past couple of weeks.

And Special thanks to Woosie and Gazza2 for all of their positive feedback over the many years.

Good Luck Greggers
Up The Amber Army!!

Absolute pleasure to speak to you and David throughout the years.

I have an interview with Gregory which I need to write-up from last week, will link here when it's up.

[gold76]

Originally Posted by Woosie

David Gregory has signed a one year deal with Cambridge United and will link up with Shaun Derry there.

Really pleased for him, will hopefully be the start of a great league career, huge Palace fan of course.

[the drexciyan]

Originally Posted by Sp1Eagle

Being of a certain age my first thought on seeing that was son of Ormondroyd!

[gold76]

It's been a while since we've blooded a centre back (Woozley and Sagi Burton the last two I think about 1999?)

The last one I thought looked tidy was Holland (I think at Bromley now?)

[Gazza2]

Ben Wynter, another CB, signed his initial pro deal this week!

[Gazza2]

And, of course, best wishes to David Gregory for the start of the next chapter of his career. You often hear little whispers if one of the lads has stepped out of line or has not been giving 100% in training, but nobody has ever said anything like that about David. Which is a big credit to him considering he's been with the club for over a decade.
Nice bit in the local paper about him joining Cambridge. Would be great to see him win the battle he mentions and claim place in the starting line up..

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[Friskey]

Originally Posted by Gazza2

And, of course, best wishes to David Gregory for the start of the next chapter of his career. You often hear little whispers if one of the lads has stepped out of line or has not been giving 100% in training, but nobody has ever said anything like that about David. Which is a big credit to him considering he's been with the club for over a decade.
Nice bit in the local paper about him joining Cambridge. Would be great to see him win the battle he mentions and claim place in the starting line up..

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Gregory seems like a nice bloke so hopefully it will work out for him. Interesting that he says McCarthy is the best keeper that he trained with at Palace (not in that article).

[Woosie]

Originally Posted by Friskey

Gregory seems like a nice bloke so hopefully it will work out for him. Interesting that he says McCarthy is the best keeper that he trained with at Palace (not in that article).

In the piece I've done with him he says McCarthy has everything you want from a keeper at a relatively young age.

[Latvian Eagle]

Originally Posted by Woosie

In the piece I've done with him he says McCarthy has everything you want from a keeper at a relatively young age.

McCarthy IS a good keeper. But as I have stated before he shouldn't have been thrust in to the first team like he was. I guess Al was hoping he would get through his slump, but his confidence got lower and lower as week after week he made mistakes.

He needed to go on Loan in January. Before Sporting Lisbon he had played two first team games in a year. He needs to go and play regularly for 3-6 months and get his confidence back, which is why I can see us signing another keeper and loaning him out. Jules as the third choice / back up.

[Friskey]

Originally Posted by Woosie

In the piece I've done with him he says McCarthy has everything you want from a keeper at a relatively young age.

I think he'll turn out to be a fair bit better than Speroni was.

[Vince Hilaire's Afro]

Originally Posted by cockles

Tony Finnegan too, was managed by Billy Smith at Corinthian Casuals - in the same team as Pardew and Andy Gray I think.




Best of luck to him!

For some reason, I thought we got Finnegan from Fulham

[Celestial Empire]

Originally Posted by Woosie

In the piece I've done with him he says McCarthy has everything you want from a keeper at a relatively young age.

Except a decent attention span and game concentration ?

[Robson]

Originally Posted by gold76

It's been a while since we've blooded a centre back (Woozley and Sagi Burton the last two I think about 1999?)

The last one I thought looked tidy was Holland (I think at Bromley now?)

Didn't Sagi Burton come from Port Vale?

[Zimeagle]

Originally Posted by cockles

Tony Finnegan too, was managed by Billy Smith at Corinthian Casuals - in the same team as Pardew and Andy Gray I think.




Best of luck to him!

I was playing for the Casuals at this time but can't remember Tony Finnegan being at the club. Mind you, I was in the veterans team by then so might have missed him.

[tony 1947]

Originally Posted by Vince Hilaire's Afro

For some reason, I thought we got Finnegan from Fulham

Tony Finnigan certainly played for Fulham Reserves against Palace 5th March 1981. His number was 11. I do not think he signed for them. For the record Palace won 2-1 with goals from Steve Leahy and Gary Goodchild.

[danpalace07]

Originally Posted by Latvian Eagle

McCarthy IS a good keeper. But as I have stated before he shouldn't have been thrust in to the first team like he was. I guess Al was hoping he would get through his slump, but his confidence got lower and lower as week after week he made mistakes.

He needed to go on Loan in January. Before Sporting Lisbon he had played two first team games in a year. He needs to go and play regularly for 3-6 months and get his confidence back, which is why I can see us signing another keeper and loaning him out. Jules as the third choice / back up.

I hope we don't give up on him yet