Having missed a week on here, it is time to have a catch up.
Firstly a quick catch up on recent matches and then a festive piece that I hope you enjoy further down my article called “The Crystmas Story.”
On Saturday 14th December myself and my mate Chris (@pengemypenge) went up to Stamford Bridge to see the mighty Eagles with as good few thousand other Palace fans. In all honesty, it felt that we could either get something from the game or get walloped by a team full of top rate international stars. What happened was neither of these.
We were very unlucky to lose 2-1 after a very plucky, hard fought and confident performance from the lads. Chelsea had their backs against the wall for periods of the game as Palace grew in confidence and pushed on hard right up to the final whistle.
The performance from the lads was a highlight as was the amazing travelling support that I was again honoured to be amongst that day. There were many great songs along the way as the Palace fans got behind the team whilst having time available to wind up the Chelski fans.
The chants and songs from the Palace fans read like your favourite 1970s/1980’s KTEL compilation album with some great Palace favourites mixed with a good few aimed at the opposing fans.
Other than the Palace ones, favourites included “Can you hear the Chelsea sing,” “You’re not special anymore,” “Is this your first time at Chelsea” and a very loud and funny rendition of “Sit down –shut up” which is not to be confused with the track by James. Some of these are included in the link below which is all well worth a watch with the aforementioned “sit down” chant from six minutes onwards, courtesy of PalaceFanTV (well worth a follow).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXQSbO1-Aco
Most Palace fans wandered off really pleased with what they had seen and it was also great that Jose Mourinho gave the Palace fans some recognition as he applauded us before he walked off down the tunnel. This acknowledgement appeared to be a level of him being impressed with what he saw from us Palace fans and a level of being un-impressed with the lack of noise generated from the home fans during the game. Stamford Bridge really is a soulless place, a stadium built for business and not for fans and I wouldn’t swap it for all the tea in China with Selhurst Park.
Impressing Jose. Palace fans do “We love you” at Stamford Bridge. Just awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bApQRBavS7k
I also had the pleasure to meet and have a good chat with Dwight Gayle’s dad, Devon. Really lovely bloke and very interesting to hear what he had to say about his son and his aspirations at the Palace.
On Saturday 21st December, Palace were to entertain an in form Newcastle side at Selhurst. At home and after the last performance expectations were high as the players took to the field. I was mythed to see that Joel Ward had been slotted into midfield due to injuries to SOK and KG. Newcastle attacked us from the outset and we were never really in the game.
It was good to see and hear the Newcastle fans as they brought great support and they are truly the first away fans that have been heard in the Upper Holmesdale this season.
Not going to carry on. It was wet, windy and a little hard to take after the performance the week before. It was very obvious within minutes that the team was set up incorrectly. Ward should have stayed at right back where our back four have been impressive. Bannan (or Williams) should have taken the centre midfield spot alongside Jedi and Bolasie should have started wide right.
Seen plenty of tweets on Saturday and Sunday this week from Newcastle fans saying that they hope we stay up, that they were impressed by our fans and that they loved coming to Selhurst Park for the atmosphere and because of our old style stadium too.
Stars of the show were Cabaye who was very good and of course the referee (Swarbrick) for Newcastle. Not taking anything away from Newcastle who deserved the win but the referee was dreadful. The ‘Mr Swarbrick’ gave what must surely have been the worst performance by an official ever seen at Selhurst Park and his linesmen were not much better. Absolutely appalling decisions throughout.
We now move onto a little festive story that may still be doing the rounds in about 2,000 years. You might laugh but it is not un-heard of ….
The Story of Crystmas
A long time ago in the year 1905 on the outskirts of two towns called Bromley and Croydon, a new club was formed under the name of Crystal Palace.
The mothers of the club were from the area around these great towns and the fathers of the club were Glaziers who has helped to construct the great glass Palace.
Years later in 2010, the club was in great difficulties but, one day, some angels appeared before the club and told them that they had been chosen to be in receipt of a very special gift.
Soon after the angel’s visit, the club had to go on a very hard and arduous journey (on a donkey) selling many of their posessions and assets along the way. The club was due to be given this very special gift but before this would happen they were told they had to go to the City of London which was an area just to the North of where the club came from but seemed a million miles away.
The journey had to be made because they had to pay a special tax for which they had to negotiate and register. At last the club arrived in the great city. It was very crowded with other people but the club were tired and needed a place to stay.
The club tried a number of places but at each institution they knocked at, they were told the same story. There was no room for them.
Eventually, the club arrived at a very well-known establishment that had a black horse hanging above the door and the owners said that they were welcome to come in and stay there that afternoon.
And so it was that a few hours later, Crystal Palace were saved as they gave birth to a new future under the leadership of the gift called ‘CPFC2010‘. They were the clubs saviours which was fitting as they were all great sons of the club. At the same time, on a hillside overlooking London, some followers of the club were watching over the City.
It was very late in the day but a bright light appeared in the sky. The fans and followers of the club were very afraid at first but it was an angel with a message from the club. The angel’s message told them not to be afraid, because there was going to be some good news.
The fans wanted to go and see what was happening for themselves. After a long journey and a long wait, they were filled with joy at seeing the club saved. They knelt down and worshipped the club and its new owners. They sang of how a guardian angel had appeared in the sky and told them there would be good news for the club.
A few years later and far away, three wise men saw a new star shining high in the sky. These men studied the stars and they knew this was a very special star. They studied their scrolls where it said that whenever a bright new star appeared it meant that a bright and great future had been born.
The wise men decided to set off and follow the star. One wise man (Pulis) set off from the North and the other wise men (Moody & Millen) came from the West.
They headed to the outskirts of Croydon to see the club as they thought the star would be above the Palace. The wise men were guided and finally arrived in stages to see and behold the great club at Selhurst Park, London, SE25.
They bought with them gifts.
The wise man from the North bought with him an excellent track record in this kingdom, leadership and experience; the second wise man bought with him experience, connections across the footballing world and the ability to deal with agents and merchants; the third wise man bought with him respect, love of the club and the hearts of the fans.
And so it was that the great club had a bright future which was in many ways very similar to the star that guided the club to great things in the City of London, the star that guided the fans that same day and the star that guided the 3 wise men to Selhurst Park. That star still shines and it is the star that guides us to Selhurst Park on Saturdays and the odd Tuesday for many fans. The star can now also be seen occasionally shining brightly on the odd Sunday and Monday thanks to our friends at Sky Sports.
The star did and continues to shine like a beacon of hope to the fans, owners, players and all at Crystal Palace F.C.
That only leaves a final word to say thanks for reading this and any of my previous articles. I personally hope that you have a great Christmas period and that you, your families and the club have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014.
Article written by Paul Price
