We welcome a new regular feature on the site where we look for nominations from fans on former players that should be inducted into The Eagles Beak Hall Of Fame.
By popular demand, we kick things off with one of the true Palace legends and a firm fans favourite.
Fact File
- Born – Glasgow, October 1953
- Palace career – 1970 to 1988
- Palace debut – Chelsea at home in March 1973
- Appearances – 653
- Goals – 34
Jim Cannon is a player that was and still is very much loved by all Palace fans.
He is certainly worthy of the status of being the first former Palace player to be inducted into ‘The Eagles Beak Hall Of Fame’.
The big defender first had a trial at Manchester City which was unsuccessful but a scout for Palace suggested him to then manager Bert Head. He joined the club as an apprecntice in October 1970.
He won Scottish youth internationl honours before Malcolm Allison that handed him his first team chance against Chelsea at Selhurst in 1973. Quite the debut as he scored one and was booked in the only win against the side from Stamford Bridge in the First Division that season.
Unfortunately it was a time that Palace were on the way down, all the way to Division Three eventually. In a team that were trying to win their place back, Cannon was a massive presence in the back line and quite influential. He was ever present in the promotion season of 1976/77. In 1985 he surpassed the club record league appearances that was previously held by Terry Long.
The club gave him a testamonial against Tottenham in March 1988 and he carried on playing for Palace until he was given a free transfer at the end of the 1987/88 season.
He was three time player of the year in 1978, 1985 and 1987 and left the club to join Croydon. he later joined Dartford where he teamed up with former Palace player Peter Taylor who was player-manager.
In his time at Palace he made his name as a no nonsense centre half but was flexible enough to play at left back and also in midfield. A career at the club that spanned fifteen seasons, ten of which he was captain. After retiring from the professional game he set up how own company in the Croydon area. He has also appeared at Selhurst Park in the hospitality department hosting the executive boxes on matchdays.
In 2005 he was voted into the Palace ‘Team Of The Century’ and was only beaten to the ‘Player Of The Century’ award by Ian Wright.
We need your nominations for the next player that deserves to be inducted into The Eagles Beak Hall Of Fame. Send your nominations to us through Twitter, Facebook or email theeaglesbeak@sky.com.
