Call me selfish but one good thing that has come out of the current climate, however difficult it is for all of us, is new contributors for TEB! Here is Chris Denton sharing how he became addicted to the club …
I became a fully-fledged Palace fan in 2015, but my first memories of the club date back eight years earlier, when I spent a large chunk of my free time on FIFA07. Little did I know that one day, I would be playing football for real at Selhurst Park.
I would frequently choose Palace on FIFA, but in all honesty, I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps it was the unique name, or the vibrant kits. Maybe I just liked the badge. Whatever the reason, the choice always confused my siblings. I was a bit of a glory supporter at the time, following the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United…whoever was doing the best (what even is this craziness? – Ed). but I never considered myself a true fan of any of those clubs. I loved football but didn’t really support anyone, yet something always drew me towards the red and blue.
Fast forward eight years to the 30th May 2015, when my soon to be father-in-law had invited me to join him at one of the beer festivals he frequents each year. It just happened to take place at a certain football stadium in South London. We met up with some of his pals on the train to Selhurst, where they told me that I couldn’t enter the ground unless I was a Palace fan! They were joking, of course (at least I think they were!) but I was more than happy to oblige. It was a fantastic occasion, as it always has been since, and that was that. My transformation was underway.
I followed Palace closely from then on. One of my most distinctive memories is the FA Cup Final in 2016. I was down the local pub in Crawley, packed to the rafters. When Jason Puncheon’s goal went in, the place went crazy. If there was ever an indication that my support for Palace had become genuine, it was the devastation I felt that we couldn’t hold out. It would have been amazing to have won that game. Still, I was proud of how the team performed and seeing half of Wembley kitted out in Palace colours was a sight to behold.
I feel another sense of pride looking back at the 2017/18 season, which contained another one of my favourite moments. Christian Benteke missed a penalty against Bournemouth in December but was handed the ball by Luka Milivojević the following April against Leicester. He scored to make it 5-0. For me, that began to summarise what Palace was all about: redemption, passion, pride, and a real sense of unity.
My shift work at the time prevented me from investing in a season ticket, but it wasn’t too long before my first match at Selhurst Park. It was on Sunday, May 14th 2017 when we played Hull City at home, securing Premier League survival with a 4-0 victory. What’s more, I had convinced my fiancé to come along! I had hoped the experience might ignite her own support for the club … sadly, no luck. I tried!
Nevertheless, I continued to amass my own memories of the Eagles, whether it be a matchday at Selhurst Park, back at the beer festivals or simply in front of the TV or in the pub with my mates watching them play.
Perhaps my greatest memory yet came in May last year. One day, in the Virgin headquarters where I work, I heard about a one-off networking event that was being organised in the form of a football competition. The location? You guessed it.
I submitted my name immediately. To my amazement, I was lucky enough to be selected to play and I went out and bought a new pair of boots for the occasion. There were about 50 people taking part, representing our different airlines. We were able to use both the home and away dressing rooms and facilities, play game after game of 5-a-side in the afternoon sun, even take a quick break by sitting in Roy’s seat or on the substitutes bench. The feeling of walking onto the pitch from the player’s tunnel for the first time is something I’ll never forget.
Unfortunately, when the 11-a-side knockout rounds finally came along, I didn’t exactly cover myself in glory, being subbed on in the Final with ten minutes to go and managing to pass the ball successfully just once. It was a fun but disappointing performance and I decided to hang up my boots after just one game, where they remain proudly displayed at home as a permanent centrepiece (much to my fiancé’s frustration!) My team still won the final, so that’s something.
Looking back, I sometimes wonder if there was a real reason that I chose to play as Palace so regularly on FIFA all those years ago. Was it a sign of things to come, or just pure coincidence? Either way, it is funny how things turn out sometimes. During these peculiar times in which we find ourselves, I think it is important to enjoy the little things.
I may not have been a fan for as long as many, but one thing is for certain – I love my Palace, and I can’t wait to be back at Selhurst.
