Deputy Editor-In-Chief Grace Holloway reflects on Crystal Palace’s FA Cup victory from her perspective.
Last weekend, England’s oldest football competition had its 45th winners written into the history books.
Crystal Palace finally secured a major trophy in their 120-year history as a professional club. The match ended in a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, with the underdogs becoming victorious against one of the best teams in recent history.
There was always something in the air about this year’s FA Cup run for Crystal Palace. I thought it might have just been me, but so many Crystal Palace fans have expressed that this time just felt different.
It wasn’t an easy run, beating rivals Millwall, an in form Aston Villa and one of the best teams in the world Manchester City. Yet, the impossible became possible.
The day was surreal, to have the opportunity to watch your team on one of the biggest football stages, Wembley Stadium, is a dream come true within itself.
During the game football fans took to social media took to celebrate the Holmesdale Fanatic’s Tifo display, funded entirely by supporters. The display featured an image capturing a dad and his two sons celebrating Darren Ambrose’s 40-yard goal back in 2011.
This captured something we could all relate to, the expression of watching football with your family, but the reminder that while we witnessed history, there’s others who couldn’t be with us.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson emphasised this, having lost his dad last summer. He crucially saved a penalty taken by Omar Marmoush, and told the BBC after the game ‘my dad was with me in every kick’.
The match was tense, and a 1-0 lead was something that could easily be taken away. But as the sun began to shine through on the West end of Wembley in the second half, it just seemed like it was our day.
When the full-time whistle blew, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. Many fans have waited their whole lives to see this moment, with the heartbreak of 1990 and 2016 making it seem impossible.
Despite the original Crystal Palace hosting the FA Cup final for 18 years between 1894 and 1914, the trophy has never found a home in South London until now.
A goal by Greenwich-born Eberechi Eze gave Palace the dream moment that finished off an incredible 15 years for the club.
Back in 2010, Crystal Palace had an uncertain future. Faced with a points deduction in the Championship and liquidation, they required just one point on the final day of the season to remain in the league. Without the crucial point won against Sheffield Wednesday, the club would likely be no more.
With new ownership, the club remained in existence and went on to earn promotion to the Premier League in the 2012/2013 season, and since then has consolidated its position in the top flight.
On social media, the phrase “Let it all work out”—a lyric from Sampha’s song Indecision—has been widely shared in connection with Crystal Palace’s recent success. And it certainly has worked out—not just for the club, but for its players as well.
To name a few, Eberechi Eze’s remarkable journey, being rejected from top academies at a young age, to shining on the top stage. Daniel Munoz is another success story, only turning professional at age 20. Fan favourite Jean-Philippe Mateta was only close to leaving Crystal Palace back in January 2022 after an unsuccessful loan.
But one of the most remarkable full-circle moments was for captain Joel Ward, who announced he would be leaving the club just days before the final. In his first season at Palace back in 2012/2013, he helped them return to the Premier League and has been pivotal in continuing their long stay. To mark the end of the era, it was Joel Ward who stood on the Wembley balcony and made dreams come true for Crystal Palace fans.
The success marked the end of a season that started with doubts, as the Eagles failed to win any of their first eight league matches. However, to finish the season with their first major trophy, a record points tally in the league, and finally European qualification is incredible for Oliver Glasner’s first full year in charge.
The result also gave a glimmer of hope for the football community and fans across the country. The impossible is possible, even in the age of the dominant top six clubs.
Someone asked me recently why I chose to be a Palace fan and not support another London club, despite my family roots in the area. At the time I was not sure how to answer to give justice to what it means to support the club, but last weekend did the talking for me.
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