Reading the article posted by Tees I got a bit nostalgic. I thought back to my first taste of Selhurst Park....or I tried to.
I can vaguely remember seeing Chelsea and Man U from the slippery grass slopes of the Arthur stood round about where W or X is now. Of course the stand was only a twinkle in Arthur Waite's eye in those days.Dennis Law, Best, Charlton,Stiles, Osgood, Cooke,Bonetti etc etc.Massive crowds as well.
Next thing I remember is going for promotion from the old second division and Brian Clough's Derby winning the league.
It's a bit hazy, but I would have been about 8yrs then.
Off the pitch I remember the old lady that walked around the front selling shelled peanuts.
The Holmesdale was all standing but had barriers and proper made steps. I would sometimes sit on the barrier with my dad holding on to me. Sometimes, I would sit on his shoulders. I remember as well kids being passed down to the front over the men's heads.
I think I am right in saying that teams only had one sub then and it was almost always the same twelve players week in, week out. The game was a hundred times more physical but the injuries were fewer bizarrely.
What are other's memories of their early introduction to Palace?
Apologies if something similar has been posted before.
An Introduction to Palace
posted on 21/11/12
Hastings, I do remember them, but as a personality Johnny Byrne was the best.
My uncle was his best friend and used to take us to the Purley way playing fields to watch Palace training, at the end Cyril Spears used to let the players kick around with us kids for a while, and Johnny was brilliant with us kids.
Yes remember it very well, as it was our midseason break I came over there for the game up at Elland Road, we slaughtered them although only came away with a Dave Swindlehurst winner, and really should have won by more.
posted on 21/11/12
Hastings, - was the Man U game the one where the army gave a demonstration at half time with a tank firing blank shells? BBC then cut together some shots of the guns firing and players falling down all over the pitch. Very non-PC today!
I can probably rival Bilko with my first games around 1963 and virtually every match from then until I left Purley in '69.
I often think Bobby Woodruff deserves to be among the legends but often gets overlooked. Playing alongside Kember, they had a great partnership, with some classic goals.
Liked Bilko's story about Purley Way. An ex-girlfriend of mine lived in the same street as Johnny Byrne and used to babysit for him and his wife. Any more stories from that time?
posted on 21/11/12
Yes, but none related to Palace as I was playing myself over here, and the only time I was free was when it was our midseason break.
Although still followed Palace as my brother Bart has a life long friend who lives on the Webb estate in Purley, and he sent the Croydon Advertiser over each week.
posted on 21/11/12
Tees - I can't remember any army display which is a pity.
Bobby Woodruff had the longest throw-in I have seen though. We had Roger Hoy who could throw it nearly as far as well.
Anyone remember Colin Taylor who had a shot like a cannon ball?
One Saturday morning on ITV's World of Sport they had a competition and I think Chelsea's Ian Hutchinson was involved. I can't remember the outcome though.
posted on 21/11/12
Who was the goalkeeper that did handstands etc?
posted on 22/11/12
Seem to remember John Burridge doing handstands before games.
posted on 23/11/12
What's the oldest Palace memorabilia you have? Or does anyone have any interesting items?
posted on 23/11/12
Varias programs dating back to the 50s including 2 for the Real Madrid match in April 1962.
posted on 12/12/12
I am starting to feel VERY old on this site now.
Cannot remember which game I first went to but do remember we stood in the Holmsdale End & the year was 1960!!
I was 6 years old!!
Now I am going away to cry in the corner!!
posted on 13/12/12
Don't worry Steve you're a youngster compared with sgbilko