el punal
Well-known member
Trawling through my memory of the Albion v Palace matches I’ve watched over the last 40 years and here are a few that stick in my mind :
My first Palace encounter, the one that probably kicked off the whole rivalry of we hate them/they hate us. August 1974. First game of the season at the Goldstone. Lots going on on the pitch and off. We win 1-0 scored by Spider Mellor. Let battle commence.
The BEST!! February 1976 at the Goldstone. In my opinion the best ever atmosphere at our old home. More than 33,000 packed in for a grudge match of monumental proportions. We win 2-0 to cement bragging rights for months to come. Hate and euphoria in equal measure that night.
Second Best - St.Paddy’s Day at the Amex 2013. We’d been on a terrible run, Palace exactly the opposite. Many of forecasting how many we would lose by. A wet, miserable Sunday to boot. Something happened, we went 1-0 up, then Spanish Dave’s superb free kick - 2-0, then Leo in the second half - 3-0! Guinness never tasted so good.
But . . . . a few weeks later . . .
The WORST = The second leg playoff after our 0-0 at Selhurst. The start of Gus-gate and every horrible thing that went with it. An unbelievably disappointing and sad end to the season in every way compounded by the Palace scum ramming it down our throats.
The WORST = The Challis Of Palace debacle at Stamford Bridge. The second replay of the FA Cup 1st round after 2-2 and 1-1 draws in December 1976. We bossed the game but Palace went 1-0 up then referee Ron Challis took over. We had a good goal disallowed, we were awarded a penalty and successfully converted by Nobby Horton. Challis ordered a retake after a Palace player encroached and we missed the second attempt. The game ends and Mullers does his famous “that’s all your worth” change throwing rant at Palace fans. God, I hated everything to do with Palace that night.
The INBETWEEN - I don’t know why but every time I’ve been to Selhurst Park I’ve always seen a poor match, so as a matter of not being a Jonah anymore I don’t go. The game that probably did it for me was when Henry Hughton decided to break Gerry Ryan’s leg. It ended in a draw, the atmosphere was vile (as it was in football in the mid 1980s) bricks were raining down on us from the Palace fans. Enough.
So, battle lines drawn again this Saturday. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it, too much at stake. I don’t care how but I just want three points - not too much to ask is it?
My first Palace encounter, the one that probably kicked off the whole rivalry of we hate them/they hate us. August 1974. First game of the season at the Goldstone. Lots going on on the pitch and off. We win 1-0 scored by Spider Mellor. Let battle commence.
The BEST!! February 1976 at the Goldstone. In my opinion the best ever atmosphere at our old home. More than 33,000 packed in for a grudge match of monumental proportions. We win 2-0 to cement bragging rights for months to come. Hate and euphoria in equal measure that night.
Second Best - St.Paddy’s Day at the Amex 2013. We’d been on a terrible run, Palace exactly the opposite. Many of forecasting how many we would lose by. A wet, miserable Sunday to boot. Something happened, we went 1-0 up, then Spanish Dave’s superb free kick - 2-0, then Leo in the second half - 3-0! Guinness never tasted so good.
But . . . . a few weeks later . . .
The WORST = The second leg playoff after our 0-0 at Selhurst. The start of Gus-gate and every horrible thing that went with it. An unbelievably disappointing and sad end to the season in every way compounded by the Palace scum ramming it down our throats.
The WORST = The Challis Of Palace debacle at Stamford Bridge. The second replay of the FA Cup 1st round after 2-2 and 1-1 draws in December 1976. We bossed the game but Palace went 1-0 up then referee Ron Challis took over. We had a good goal disallowed, we were awarded a penalty and successfully converted by Nobby Horton. Challis ordered a retake after a Palace player encroached and we missed the second attempt. The game ends and Mullers does his famous “that’s all your worth” change throwing rant at Palace fans. God, I hated everything to do with Palace that night.
The INBETWEEN - I don’t know why but every time I’ve been to Selhurst Park I’ve always seen a poor match, so as a matter of not being a Jonah anymore I don’t go. The game that probably did it for me was when Henry Hughton decided to break Gerry Ryan’s leg. It ended in a draw, the atmosphere was vile (as it was in football in the mid 1980s) bricks were raining down on us from the Palace fans. Enough.
So, battle lines drawn again this Saturday. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it, too much at stake. I don’t care how but I just want three points - not too much to ask is it?
