How do we try to make sense of the 2024/ 25 season? Do we need to make any sense of it? The fact remains, Crystal Palace Football Club won the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
It has been a complete whirlwind since that very special day, Saturday 17th May 2025. A date that will live long in the memory.
Everything before that date, during the season and seasons before, are almost forgotten as the Eagles finally got their etched onto the one famous trophy that we have flirted with so often only to be left disappointed each time.
Not this time, Olive Glasner and this fantastic group of players and staff got us over the line against Manchester City. The scenes at that final whistle are impossible to explain, the sights, the sounds and those faces of pure joy, jubilance and absolute emotion. Everyone hugging everyone, while tears flowed in that one end of Wembley.
It is so so difficult to look back and have any sense of composure, even now. Nobody knows what winning the FA Cup means for this football club and everyone involved in it, players, staff, and fans alike. Pure unbridled emotion and elation.
That we is where we come to now, trying to make sense of it all and the season that has culminated in some silverware. Every time I think back, all I can do is smile and think that our football club have finally won some silverware, but not just any silverware.
Then you consider the knock on effect. Not to mention the fantastic celebrations in South London on Bank Holiday Monday, but Palace will take part in the curtain raiser at the beginning of next season, and will compete in European competition for the very first time.
The joy of typing all of that is one thing, but for us to experience it all, the smiles on these faces are not going to be wiped for quite some time, no matter what happens from here on in.
There remains a thought process wondering exactly what might have happened had Palace not had such a poor start to the season. Besides, who really cares about that? The Eagles ended the season in 12th place in the Premier League and becoming FA Cup winners.
So much credit needs to be handed out to so many that have been involved along the way this season. Of course, Oliver Glasner and his players and staff deserve everything, they have given us the one thing that we have always wanted. The fans themselves have been absolutely superb, but a special mention to the Holmesdale Fanatics who created two very special tifos at Wembley for the semi final and the final, with both being close to Palace fans hearts while many looking were probably questioning what they were about.
That is the special bond at this club, and the fans gave it everything at both games, with the record decibel level being broken, but most of showing what it truly means to support our football club. The noise was outstanding and created something very special. This is what supporting a football club should be about, and we were rewarded in the best possible way.
One of the most unexpected experiences was on a post season break in Seville. A day walking around one of my favourite cities, which included a tour of the Villamarin Stadium, the home of Real Betis, the number of football fans that came up to me while I was wearing my Palace shirt to offer congratulations on the FA Cup victory made me feel like I was the player that crossed the ball in for Eze to score at Wembley! A truly incredible summer to be donning the red and blue.
The impossible dream has been realised. It feels like we are wandering around in a daze, and it will do for a while I am sure. There is nothing that is going to replace that feeling on that Saturday afternoon of witnessing seeing Crystal Palace win the FA Cup for the very first time.
