surrey jim
Not in Surrey
just beat me too it
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
Palarse v Watford
- Thread starter gjh1971
- Start date
just beat me too it
seagullsovergrimsby
#cpfctinpotclub
I fell asleep on the settee watching this match .
brighton rock
New member
John Bostock is Crystal Palace's new prince
Only John Bostock knows what first went through his head when he awoke yesterday morning. Did the 15-year-old's mind go back to his stirring Crystal Palace debut on the previous night? Or was his first thought for the coming afternoon's science paper?
Bostock is studying for his GCSEs – conscientiously, it should be added – but he could also soon have to contend with being football's hottest teenage property.
Young Eagle: John Bostock in action for the England Under-16s
Having replaced Ben Watson after 72 minutes of the defeat by Watford on Monday night, Bostock did not just look comfortable at Championship level, he looked downright cocksure.
At 15 years and 287 days, he became the youngest player to represent Palace – and the 17th-youngest to play professional English football.
"He didn't look out of place did he?" grinned his manager, Neil Warnock.
Warnock is confident there will be no problems keeping hold of the midfielder – who has reportedly been watched by both Chelsea and Liverpool – because at Palace he will be given a chance to play games.
He said: "John's better playing 100 games with us over two or three years than being No?20 pick at Chelsea or Manchester United, isn't he? And we'll keep his feet on the floor."
One challenge by Bostock on Watford winger Jobi McAnuff demonstrated his strength and determination, while a blind pass to Franck Songo'o gave a glimpse of the potential Warnock is working with. "I don't know yet how far he can go – but you've seen what he can do," Warnock said.
Bostock, who has been with Palace since the age of nine, made his England Under-16 debut last December, but was quickly promoted to the Under-17s.
And two trips away with the Under-17s this term have meant Bostock has been missing from his team at the London Nautical School, a specialist sports college in Lambeth.
Neil McGregor, the school's director of sport, said: "He's a lovely boy – very modest, hard-working and level-headed, which helps to explain why he's so popular here. We knew he was in the squad for Monday's game and that he was in with a chance, but he was in school as normal during the day and left at the normal time. Then, the next afternoon, he was back in to do a science paper. He's very academic and we expect him to get six or seven GCSEs next summer."
Bostock was given permission to play for Palace after the Football Association clarified their rules, saying that players under 16 who are affiliated to academies can play for the first team. Palace are clearly delighted – the London Nautical School have already been warned that he will be in the squads for the coming week's trips to Scunthorpe and Cardiff.
Warnock had his tongue firmly in his cheek after the Watford game when he said: "I had to have a word with him at the end because there was a bit of showboating. He probably played a bit too much 'football' in places – but we will soon knock that out of him."
Only John Bostock knows what first went through his head when he awoke yesterday morning. Did the 15-year-old's mind go back to his stirring Crystal Palace debut on the previous night? Or was his first thought for the coming afternoon's science paper?
Bostock is studying for his GCSEs – conscientiously, it should be added – but he could also soon have to contend with being football's hottest teenage property.
Young Eagle: John Bostock in action for the England Under-16s
Having replaced Ben Watson after 72 minutes of the defeat by Watford on Monday night, Bostock did not just look comfortable at Championship level, he looked downright cocksure.
At 15 years and 287 days, he became the youngest player to represent Palace – and the 17th-youngest to play professional English football.
"He didn't look out of place did he?" grinned his manager, Neil Warnock.
Warnock is confident there will be no problems keeping hold of the midfielder – who has reportedly been watched by both Chelsea and Liverpool – because at Palace he will be given a chance to play games.
He said: "John's better playing 100 games with us over two or three years than being No?20 pick at Chelsea or Manchester United, isn't he? And we'll keep his feet on the floor."
One challenge by Bostock on Watford winger Jobi McAnuff demonstrated his strength and determination, while a blind pass to Franck Songo'o gave a glimpse of the potential Warnock is working with. "I don't know yet how far he can go – but you've seen what he can do," Warnock said.
Bostock, who has been with Palace since the age of nine, made his England Under-16 debut last December, but was quickly promoted to the Under-17s.
And two trips away with the Under-17s this term have meant Bostock has been missing from his team at the London Nautical School, a specialist sports college in Lambeth.
Neil McGregor, the school's director of sport, said: "He's a lovely boy – very modest, hard-working and level-headed, which helps to explain why he's so popular here. We knew he was in the squad for Monday's game and that he was in with a chance, but he was in school as normal during the day and left at the normal time. Then, the next afternoon, he was back in to do a science paper. He's very academic and we expect him to get six or seven GCSEs next summer."
Bostock was given permission to play for Palace after the Football Association clarified their rules, saying that players under 16 who are affiliated to academies can play for the first team. Palace are clearly delighted – the London Nautical School have already been warned that he will be in the squads for the coming week's trips to Scunthorpe and Cardiff.
Warnock had his tongue firmly in his cheek after the Watford game when he said: "I had to have a word with him at the end because there was a bit of showboating. He probably played a bit too much 'football' in places – but we will soon knock that out of him."
