Destiny or terrible misfortune?
You know they put those warnings on cigarette packets ‘smoking is seriously bad for your health‘? I think the club need to start putting similar warnings on Crystal Palace tickets and merchandise.
Seriously, Palace what are you doing to me? I am overweight and unfit as it is, all this craziness is tipping me over the edge. Supporting Palace is a challenging affair, it is a surprise our support is so good given the constant roller coaster of emotions that is thrown at us.
2014 was a bonkers year for the club. We went from relegation fodder to our highest ever finish in the Premier League. Survival for the first time in the clubs history, good times.
We ended 2014 in true Palace style without a manager and in the bottom three, patiently waiting for news on who would be our new boss.
So we ask ourselves, why do we do this ? Are we all a bit crazy? Have we been brain washed?
Here is a bit of an insight into why I am part of this madness.
Crystal Palace are a family club and it is through my family that I came to support them. When I was in my early teens I recall having a strop at my parents after a Palace defeat. Why did you make me support Palace? It is not fair!
None of my other friends supported Palace. After they had finished laughing , I was politely told I had no choice. Growing up in my family supporting Palace was like eating fruit and vegetables and doing your chores. You had better tow the line or there will be trouble. Except I did not eat my fruit and vegetables or do my chores but I still went to Palace every week.
With the exception of a couple of renegades, every member of my family supports Crystal Palace on both my Mum and my Dads side. Some are season ticket holders, some are not, but all of us are passionate about our club. It was never a choice, I was always going to follow this path.
My parents actually first met on a supporters coach going to Sheffield Wednesday away in the FA Cup. So one might say it was written in the stars before I was even put on this earth, it was my destiny. Others might say it was a terrible misfortune.
When my great Uncle Pete was given the earth shattering news that he had terminal cancer and did not have long to live, one of the first things he said was ‘but I have already renewed by season ticket!’
He sadly did not recover. His funeral was the same day as we played Watford away in the second leg of the play-off semi-final in 2006. I still do not know to this day if it was done intentionally but his funeral was very early in the day, conveniently allowing ample time to travel up to Watford and get to the game. I am sure Uncle Pete would not have wanted us to miss the football on his account.
Being a Palace fan is ingrained into my family, it defines us. Although I may moan and at times complain, I would not change anything. I love my dad texting me at all hours of the day sharing Palace gossip. I love sitting next to my Mum at games even when she points to a player and asks me ‘Who is he?‘. For the hundredth time. It is part of my Saturday.
Through Crystal Palace I have met so many wonderful people, many people I am proud to call my friends. Crystal Palace is in the ink that is in my skin. Crystal Palace brings out the best and the worst in me and although they give me regular health scares I would not change a thing.
Here is to a successful and prosperous New Year for us all.
C’MON YOU PALACE!
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