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Crystal Palace

Full name	Crystal Palace Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Eagles
Founded	1905
Ground	Selhurst Park Whitehorse Lane South Norwood London England (Capacity: 26,309)
Owner	Vacant
Chairman	Vacant
Manager	Paul Hart
League	The Coca-Cola Championship
2008–09	The Championship, 15th
All-time top scorer	Peter Simpson (165)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Crystal Palace Football Club (pronounced /ˈkrɪstl ˈpælɪs/) is an English professional football club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where it has been based since 1924. The club is competing in the second tier of English Football, The Championship for the 2009-2010 season.

Crystal Palace was formed in 1905 by workers at The Crystal Palace. It did not reach the top division of English Football until 1969-70, and did not reach a major final until 1990. It was relegated from the top division in 1973 and once again in the following season. That left the club playing in the third tier of English football for the 1974-75 season, before being promoted back to the top level by 1979-80.

Crystal Palace's most recent successful period began in 1988-89, when the club finished third in the Second Division and was promoted to the First Division. It reached the 1990 FA Cup Final only to lose the replay against Manchester United, and finished 3rd in the First Division in 1990-91. Palace was a founding member of the FA Premier League (1992-93) but was relegated that season. Since then Palace has been relegated from and promoted to the FA Premier League on a number of occasions. Its most recent relegation from the top flight was in the 2004-05 season. All this occurred despite the club almost going bankrupt in July 2000.

In January 2010, the club again went into administration and got deducted 10 points. The current manager is Paul Hart who joined after the departure of Neil Warnock who left to join Hart's previous club, Queens Park Rangers F.C.^[1]

History

Crystal Palace Football Club was formed on 10 September 1905 by the builders of the The Crystal Palace and initially played its home games at the cup final ground at The Crystal Palace.^[2] The club joined the Southern League Second Division in 1905-06 and in its inaugural season was promoted to the First Division, crowned as champions.^[2] It also joined the United Counties League, finishing runners-up to Watford. Henry Colclough became the club's first England representative when he played against Wales in Cardiff on 16 March, 1914^[2]

The outbreak of World War I led to the Admiralty requisitioning the Crystal Palace and the club was forced to move to the home of West Norwood FC, Herne Hill.^[2] Three years later the club moved again to The Nest due to the folding of Croydon Common FC. The club joined the Football League Third Division in its 1920-21 season, finishing as champions and gaining promotion to Football League Second Division. Palace moved to the purpose-built stadium Selhurst Park in 1924, the ground the club plays at today.^[2] The opening fixture at Selhurst Park was against Sheffield Wednesday and, in front of a crowd of 25,000, Palace lost 0-1. Palace finished 21st that season and was relegated to the Third Division South where it would stay until 1957-58 when it finished in the bottom half of the table and then joined the newly formed Fourth Division. This was alongside the other 11 bottom half clubs of Third Division South and 12 bottom half clubs of Third Division North. In 1960-61 Palace was promoted out of the lowest tier of English League Football and this proved a turning point in the club's history as promotions followed in 1963-64 and 1968-69, taking it back to Division 2 and then Division 1.

Despite surviving in the top flight from 1969 until 1972, the club once again experienced great disappointments when it was relegated in consecutive seasons, leaving it playing in the third tier for the 1974-75 season. This proved short-lived as it was promoted in 1976-77 and 1978-79 back up to Division 1. The 1980s began with relegation from Division 1 in the first season under new owner Ron Noades and this is where the club stayed until it achieved promotion via the play-offs in 1988-89. It also reached the 1990 FA Cup Final only to lose in a replay against Manchester United. The club built on the success of the previous season in 1990-91 by achieving its highest league finish of 3rd and returning to Wembley to win the Zenith Data Systems Cup. It beat Everton 4-1 in the final, its only cup win to date.^[2] The following season was an anti-climax with Palace finishing 10th. However this allowed it to become a founding member of the first season of the FA Premier League in 1992-93.

The season was overshadowed by controversy when Palace owner Ron Noades made disparaging comments about the work ethic of the club's black players, although he denies this and insists that his comments were taken out of context. The fall-out led to several black players leaving the club such as 1989-90 club player of the year Mark Bright. The club's relegation followed. It immediately returned to the FA Premier League in the following season after the resignation of manager Steve Coppell. Alan Smith, Coppell's assistant at the club, took over but he was unable to keep the club up and it was relegated once again. In a interesting turn of events, Steve Coppell returned as manager following the sacking of Alan Smith. Yet Coppell was unable to take the club back to the FA Premier League at the first time of asking, losing in extra time to Leicester City the play-off final. The following season Coppell was successful in taking the club back to the Premier League. However in true yo-yo club fashion the club was relegated back to the First Division for the 1998-99 season. This began worrying times for the club as it was plunged into administration when owner Mark Goldberg was unable to sustain his financial backing of the club.^[1]. The next owner was entrepreneur Simon Jordan, who had made his money as an owner of Pocket Phone Shop. But Jordan was unable to put the club on a sound financial footing and it went into administration again in January 2010, owing Jordan himself around £20m. In mid-February 2010 the club's future remained unresolved.

Neil Warnock left the club on March 1, 2010 to join Queens Park Rangers on a three and a half year contract. Paul Hart replaced Warnock bringing Dougie Freedman and John Pemberton. The first match in charge, Crystal Palace won 1-0 against Sheffield United with Alan Lee scoring the winning goal. Hart then played without a striker for their home match against Leicester City, a tactic that baffled most fans, in a match that Palace lost 0-1.

Club records

• Record League Victory: 9-0 v Barrow, Fourth Division, 10 October 1959
• Record Cup Victory: 8-0 v Southend United, League Cup Second Round, 25 September 1989
• Record Defeat: 0-9 v Liverpool, First Division, 12 September 1989
• Record Cup Defeat: 0-9 v Burnley, FA Cup Second Round replay, 10 February 1909
• Longest FA Cup Runs: Final (replay), 1990, Semi-Finals 1976, 1995
• Longest League Cup Run: Semi-finals, 1993, 1995, 2001
• Full Members Cup: Winners 1991
• Longest Unbeaten Run: 18 Games, February 1968 in the Old Second Division (now Championship) - October 1968 in the Football League Second Division (the run was split over two seasons where Palace achieved promotion)
• Highest League Scorer in Season: Peter Simpson, 46, Third Division South, 1930/31
• Most League Goals in Total Aggregate: Peter Simpson, 153, 1930–1936
• Fastest Hat-Trick (League): Dougie Freedman, 11 minutes v Grimsby Town, at Selhurst Park (Football League First Division, 5 March 1996)
• Fastest Hat-Trick (Cup): Danny Butterfield, 6 minutes, 48 seconds v Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Selhurst Park (FA Cup Fourth Round Replay, 2 February 2010)
• Highest Number of League Hat-tricks: 18, by Peter Simpson, 1929–1933
• Highest Number of Aggregate Hat-tricks: 19, by Peter Simpson, 1929–1933
• Most Internationals Caps (while at club): Aki Riihilahti, 35 (66), Finland
• First Player to Appear in a World Cup Match: Gregg Berhalter, 2002, United States
• Most Appearances (any competition): Jim Cannon, 660, 1973–1988
• Youngest League Player: John Bostock, 15 years and 287 days, v Watford, at Selhurst Park (Championship, 29 October 2007)
• Record Transfer Fee Received: £8,600,000 from Everton for Andrew Johnson, May 2006
• Record Transfer Fee Paid: £2,750,000 to Strasbourg for Valerien Ismael, January 1998
• Record Attendance: 51,482 v Burnley, Second Division, 11 May 1979
• Highest league position 1st in the First Division, 29 September 1979 - 6 October 1979
• Highest league finishing position 3rd in the Old First Division (now Premier League) (1990-91 season)

Honours

Players

Current squad

As of 25 January 2010.^[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Julián Speroni 2 DF Nathaniel Clyne 3 DF Clint Hill (vice-captain) 4 MF Shaun Derry (captain) 5 DF Paddy McCarthy 7 MF Darren Ambrose 8 MF Neil Danns 9 FW Stern John 10 MF Nick Carle 14 FW Sean Scannell 15 DF Lee Hills 17 DF Matthew Lawrence

No. Position Player 18 FW Calvin Andrew 19 FW Alan Lee 20 DF Danny Butterfield 21 MF Kieran Djilali 22 DF Johannes Ertl 24 DF Claude Davis 26 MF Kieron Cadogan 28 MF James Comley 33 MF Alassane N'Diaye 34 DF Alex Wynter 35 GK Charlie Mann

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 12 GK Darryl Flahavan (at Oldham Athletic) 25 FW Nathaniel Pinney (at Woking) 30 DF Michael Abnett (at Dover Athletic)

No. Position Player 31 MF Hakeem Adelakun (at Dover Athletic) 32 FW Matthew Wright (at Woking)

Reserves and Academy

See Crystal Palace F.C. Reserves and Crystal Palace F.C. Academy

Crystal Palace "Centenary XI"

To celebrate Crystal Palace's centenary in 2005, the club asked Palace fans to vote for a "Centenary XI". The Centenary XI consists of players whom the Palace faithful have decided were their favourites over the history of the club.

Centenary XI Criticisms

When the Centenary XI was revealed to Palace fans, it came under heavy criticism from fans who felt certain players should not have been in the team or that certain players should have been included.

Fans felt that the Centenary XI only represented the latter years of the clubs history, with the oldest player represented being Jim Cannon, who made his debut in the 1972-1973 season.

Fans felt that players such as record goalscorer Peter Simpson, former goalkeeper John Jackson, Don Rogers and Peter Taylor the latter capped by England whilst Palace were in the third division should have been included. Johnny Byrne was another contentious omission having commanded a record transfer fee when he moved to West Ham United in 1963.

Player of the Year (1972–2009)

Year Winner 1972 John McCormick 1973 Tony Taylor 1974 Peter Taylor 1975 Derek Jeffries 1976 Peter Taylor 1977 Kenny Sansom 1978 Jim Cannon 1979 Kenny Sansom 1980 Paul Hinshelwood 1981 Paul Hinshelwood 1982 Paul Barron 1983 Jerry Murphy 1984 Billy Gilbert (footballer) 1985 Jim Cannon 1986 George Wood (footballer)

Year Winner 1987 Jim Cannon 1988 Geoff Thomas 1989 Ian Wright 1990 Mark Bright 1991 Geoff Thomas 1992 Eddie McGoldrick 1993 Andy Thorn 1994 Chris Coleman 1995 Richard Shaw 1996 Andy Roberts 1997 David Hopkin 1998 Marc Edworthy 1999 Hayden Mullins 2000 Andy Linighan 2001 Fan Zhiyi

Year Winner 2002 Dougie Freedman 2003 Hayden Mullins 2004 Andrew Johnson 2005 Andrew Johnson 2006 Emmerson Boyce 2007 Leon Cort 2008 Julián Speroni 2009 Julián Speroni

PFA Team of the Year

The following have been included in the PFA Team of the Year whilst playing for Crystal Palace:

• 2002 Dougie Freedman (First Division)
• 2004 Andrew Johnson (First Division)
• 2005 Andrew Johnson (Premier League)

Notable Crystal Palace players and Internationals

Staff

Current Members of Staff

Position	Name	Nationality
Chairman:	Vacant
Vice-Chairman:	Vacant
Chief Executive:	Phil Alexander	English
Administrator:	Brendan Guilfoyle	Irish
Administrator:	Christopher White	English
Administrator:	John Russell	English
Manager:	Paul Hart	English
Assistant Manager:	Dougie Freedman	Scottish
First Team Coach:	John Pemberton	English
Reserve Team Manager:	Ronnie Jepson	English
Goalkeeping Coach:	Jim Stannard	English
Fitness Coach:	Chris Short	English
Chief UK Scout	Kevin Randall	English
North American Scout	Jim Cherneski	American
Head Physiotherapist:	Nigel Cox	English
Physiotherapist:	Sangi Patel	English
Doctor:	Bill Jasper	English
Academy Manager	David Moss	English
Under 18 Coach/Assistant Academy Manager:	Gary Issott	English
Academy Physiotherapist:	Stuart Wardle	English
Under 13 Coach:	John Salako	English
Academy Coach:	Mark Bright	English
Communications Manager:	Terry Byfield	English

Managerial history

Name	Nat	From	To	P	W	D	L	%
John 'Jack' Robson		1905	1907	77	35	18	24	45.45%
Edmund Goodman		1907	1925	613	242	166	205	39.48%
Alex Maley		1925	1927	83	36	16	31	43.37%
Fred Mavin		1927	1930	132	63	33	36	47.73%
Jack Tresadern		1930	1935	173	98	44	71	56.65%
Tom Bromilow		1935	1936	44	23	5	16	52.27%
R.S Moyes		1936	1936	23	6	6	11	26.09%
Tom Bromilow		1937	1939	118	48	35	35	40.68%
George Irwin		1939	1947	46	15	11	19	32.61%
Jack Butler		1947	1949	88	23	24	41	26.14%
Ronnie Rooke		1949	1950	62	19	15	28	30.65%
Fred Dawes/Charlie Slade		1950	1951	40	8	10	22	20%
Laurie Scott		1951	1954	145	43	41	61	29.66%
Cyril Spiers		1954	1958	181	52	53	76	28.73%
George Smith		1958	1960	101	42	27	31	41.58%
Arthur Rowe		1960	1962	132	52	32	48	39.39%
Dick Graham		1962	1966	150	68	41	41	45.33%
Arthur Rowe		1966	1966	7	2	2	3	28.57%
Bert Head		1966	1973	328	101	96	131	30.79%
Malcolm Allison		1973	1976	146	52	45	49	35.62%
Terry Venables		1976	1980	189	69	68	52	36.51%
Ernie Walley		1980	1980	6	1	1	4	16.67%
Malcolm Allison		1980	1981	9	1	3	5	11.11%
Dario Gradi		1981	1981	30	7	3	20	23.33%
Steve Kember		1981	1982	30	8	8	14	26.67%
Alan Mullery		1982	1984	98	31	27	40	31.63%
Steve Coppell		1984	1993	442	179	113	150	40.5%
Alan Smith		1993	1995	108	48	25	35	44.44%
Steve Coppell		1995	1996	32	9	14	9	28.13%
Dave Bassett		1996	1997	60	29	15	16	48.33%
Steve Coppell		1997	1998	51	16	13	22	31.37%
Attilio Lombardo/Tomas Brolin	/	1998	1998	7	2	0	5	28.57%
Ron Noades/Ray Lewington		1998	1998	2	0	1	1	0%
Terry Venables		1998	1999	31	11	8	12	35.48%
Steve Coppell		1999	2000	40	17	6	17	42.5%
Alan Smith		2000	2001	55	14	18	23	25.45%
Steve Kember		2001	2001	2	2	0	0	100%
Steve Bruce		2001	2001	18	11	2	5	61.11%
Steve Kember/Terry Bullivant		2001	2001	4	1	0	3	25%
Trevor Francis		2001	2003	78	28	22	28	35.9%
Steve Kember		2003	2003	23	7	6	10	30.43%
Kit Symons		2003	2003	9	3	3	3	33.33%
Iain Dowie		2003	2006	123	50	29	44	40.65%
Peter Taylor		2006	2007	60	21	16	23	35%
Neil Warnock		2007	2010	129	47	39	43	36.43%
Paul Hart		2010	Present	3	1	1	1	33.33%

_{Statistics are correct as of 22:00, 6 March 2010 (UTC)}

Bold Indicates the person has managed the team more than once. Below is a table displaying their managerial statistics over their reign as Crystal Palace F.C. manager.

Name	Nat	From	To	Record
				P	W	D	L	%
Tom Bromilow		1935	1939	162	71	40	51	43.83%
Arthur Rowe		1960	1966	139	54	34	51	38.85%
Malcolm Allison		1973	1981	155	53	48	54	34.19%
Terry Venables		1976	1999	220	80	76	64	36.36%
Steve Kember		1981	2003	59	18	14	27	30.51%
Steve Coppell		1984	2000	596	223	166	207	37.42%
Alan Smith		1993	2001	163	62	43	58	38.04%

Rivalry

Crystal Palace have a number of rivalries. The most prominent rivalries are with Brighton & Hove Albion and Millwall.

Brighton Rivalry

Palace and Brighton are over 40 miles apart and their rivalry did not develop until Palace's relegation to the Third Division in 1974. The clubs had two of the division's biggest followings, communications between Croydon and Brighton were good and many fans were keen to travel to an away fixture. The rivalry reached a climax when the two teams were drawn together in the First Round of the FA Cup in 1976. The first game took place on November 20 at the Goldstone Ground, and Rachid Harkouk came off the bench to score a stunning equaliser and take the match to a replay after a 2-2 draw. Back at Selhurst Park the replay ended up 1-1, with Rachid Harkouk scoring the goal. This meant a second replay being held at Stamford Bridge. The second and final replay ended 1-0 to Palace, with Phil Holder grabbing the only goal but only after a disputed Brian Horton penalty miss. Horton had scored with his first attempt, but the referee ordered the kick to be retaken, which he missed. Brighton supporters and Brighton manager Alan Mullery were understandably outraged, with Palace fans not surprisingly jubilant. Alan Mullery disparaged Palace fans, an act that would never be forgotten by fans of that time, and made his appointment as manager a few years later all the more surprising. However, the two did not play in a league encounter between 1988 and 2002, leading to a lull in the rivalry, and Palace fans turning their attentions to neighbours Millwall during the 1990s. However, the return of Brighton to the second tier saw Brighton lose to Palace 5-0 in a memorable game with club idol Andy Johnson scoring a hat-trick.

Millwall Rivalry

Being the nearest professional club to Palace (6 miles away), Millwall have also been a long standing rival since the 1950s. Being in close proximity a lot of players have also moved between the clubs, for example Derek Possee, Anton Otulakowski, Chris Armstrong, Andy Roberts, Phil Barber, Jamie Moralee, Bobby Bowry, Darren Ward, Ricky Newman and Matthew Lawrence.

Shirt sponsors

• 1905 - 1983 None
• 1983 - 1984 Red Rose
• 1984 - 1985 None
• 1985 - 1986 Top Score
• 1986 - 1987 AVR
• 1987 - 1988 Andrew Copeland
• 1988 - 1991 Fly Virgin
• 1991 - 1993 Tulip Computers
• 1993 - 1999 TDK
• 1999 - 2000 Various sponsors - There was no permanent sponsor due to the club being in administration.
• 2000 - 2006 Churchill Insurance
• 2006–Present GAC Logistics

Stadium information

• Name - Selhurst Park
• City - South Norwood, London
• Capacity - 26,309
• Built - 1924
• Inauguration - 1924
• Pitch size - 110 x 74 yards (68 m)
• Record attendance - 51,801 vs Burnley, 1979

See also

• Crystal Palace L.F.C.
• Crystal Palace Baltimore
• Palace Echo
• History of Crystal Palace F.C.

References

External links

Official Website

• www.cpfc.co.uk

Match Day Radio Station

• Palace Radio 1278am

Crystal Palace Fan Sites

• Holmesdale.net
• CPFC BBS
• Palace Independent Supporters Travel Club
• Ron Noades' Mum
• Five Year Plan fanzine