For the last international break we introduced the start of ‘Our Favourite XI’ series where a selection of TEB writers made their choices for Goalkeeper and Right Back.
Now that the international break has returned it is the time to focus on the rest of the back line. Just to clarify, these players may not be the BEST players, the brief was for us to select our FAVOURITE and explain our reasons why.
Here we have the selections that coveted number three jersey, at least used to be when shirt numbering was so much easier.
ASHLEY COLE – Of course, he was never one of our own, but before he turned into Cashley, Mr Cole had a short but successful loan stint in red and blue. In 1999/2000 things were not rosy in SE25 and Cole’s arrival gave a brief lift to the club. His performances were full of heart, skill and passion. He scored one brilliant goal for the club but I’ll remember him most for his ball to Steven Thompson with the outside of the boot at Norwich to set up the winning goal. Sublime. I’d have had him back when we got promoted, that’s for sure.
JONATHAN PARR – The versatile Norwegian was one of many superb purchases by Dougie Freedman in times when money was limited. A complete unknown when he signed, Parr went on to become a favourite very quickly among the Palace faithful. He started his Palace career on the left side of midfield and even scored on his home debut – one of just two goals in his Palace career. He soon settled into the left-back position, displacing Dean Moxey, and was a key part of the promotion winning side. A bad injury towards the end of that season meant that he missed the play-offs and the subsequent start of the following season and unfortunately never really adapted to Premier League football. A couple of cameo appearances as a midfielder under Tony Pulis was his only contribution in the top flight and even the right footed Joel Ward was preferred at left back. Having been released in the summer of 2014, Parr moved to Ipswich where he spent a year and a half before moving back to his homeland where he can currently be found playing for Stromsgodset.
CLINT HILL – I always described Clint as the ultimate ‘Man’s Man’ and I loved his no-nonsense style of play. For me, Clint Hill represents Shaun Derry, Matt Lawrence, Paddy McCarthy, Alan Lee and Johnny Ertl as the band of fighters who saved our club in 2009/10. Watching him swing punches at a bunch of pursuing Yorkshiremen summed up the spirit which that team had. Nothing could have stopped such a hard-working, determined unit of players from giving everything for our beloved Palace from relegation and liquidation. As he told me for my book, The Palace Additiction:
“a few hundred Wednesday fans wanted to fill my head in! In all honesty, no one could have touched me after that final whistle ’cause I was so full of emotion and high on elation from what we had just achieved. A great ending to my Palace career.”
DANNY GRANVILLE – Was at Palace from 2001 to 2007 and the image I always have of him in my head was how excited he was in pictures captured on the day we gained promotion to the Premier League in the 2003/04 season. Before Damo, there was Danny and when he departed for Colchester United in 2007 I was genuinely gutted. He had well over a century of appearances for Palace with a total of nine goals over that time. He wasn’t prolific but he certainly was an integral part of the team for the time he was there. Especially when we beat Wet Spam in the play-offs. He’s not everyone’s favourite left back but I will always have a soft spot for Danny G – the Angel from Islington.
JONATHAN PARR – Bit of a left field choice this one if you’ll pardon the pun. You’re probably thinking ‘of all the fantastic defenders who have played or currently play for our club, why Parr?’ Well, the reason is simple. How many times did we rely on him to dig deep, and keep us in a game? Lots. How many 1-0 wins have we scraped through, 0-0 draws against tough opposition achieved because of his hard work? Many. He may not be the classiest player, nor the best left back to ever play for us, but he is one of my favourites. Like your pet dog, Scruffy, not particularly talented and not very well trained, but you love him anyway.
DEAN GORDON – There is no doubt I would have loved Kenny Sansom. Perhaps it is unfortunate that none of us involved in this series of articles are old enough to remember his time at Palace. However, for me, the fact that a player graduating from the youth academy went on and play for the club a little over 200 times is impressive in itself. Likeable Croydon lad Dean Gordon was very much one of our own, graduating in 1991 to make his full debut for the club. He was often seen bombing forward down the left and using his powerful shot to get on the score sheet 20 times while with the Eagles.
Tomorrow the team move on to the centre back position where they select their two favourite players in that position.
