Last Update:
April 12, 2025
Selhurst Park is one of the most popular away trips in the country – and for good reason. While the views may leave a little – or a lot – to be desired, the atmosphere and general matchday experience created at the South London ground is as good as any other.
Away fans are housed on one side of the Arthur Wait Stand, towards the Whitehorse Lane End where around 2,000 away supporters can be accommodated. This figure can be increased for cup matches.
Away fans will usually enter Selhurst Park through entrances 4,5,6 or 7 as these are the turnstiles that grant access to the Arthur Wait Stand.
Views from the front of this stand are generally fine, but as you go further back, you will see some supporting pillars to contend with. Views of the pitch are very poor from the very back of the stand.
On a more positive note, a wonderful atmosphere can be generated inside the Crystal Palace away end thanks to the low-hanging roof, which makes noise quite simply boom off.
The atmosphere at Selhurst Park, in general, is also excellent with the Holmesdale Road End considered one of the noisiest stands in the country.
Food on offer inside the ground includes burgers, hot dogs, chicken goujons, pies, sausage rolls and chips. Alcohol is also served before kick-off and at half-time.
Selhurst Park expansion
Talk of a Selhurst Park expansion has been in the headlines for quite some time now, with reports first emerging as early as 2017.
The expansion comes in the form of a brand-new stand, which will reportedly increase the stadium’s capacity to around 34,000 – an increase of almost 10,000.
In the summer of 2024, the club finally received planning permission from Croydon Council, and the latest reports in January 2025 suggest that the Eagles are now in the final stages of this planning phase.
A club statement released at the end of December 2024 stated that: “Following a summer of preliminary works, the Main Stand development is progressing well and is currently in its final planning phase, including ongoing negotiations with contractors, with the intention of starting building works at the conclusion of the 2024/25 football season.”
Bill Nighy
The most wonderful time of the year ??
Bill Nighy, members of the first team and Roy Hodgson all joined us for this year’s CPSCC Christmas Party ❤️? pic.twitter.com/dKToR8NNFH
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 18, 2023
Arguably the most famous Palace fan of them all, Bill Nighy does far more than simply attend matches at Selhurst Park.
In fact, the famous actor, who has starred in several Hollywood movies, including the likes of Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and Love Actually, regularly volunteers for charity work with the club and is a patron of the CPFRIS (Crystal Palace FC Fast Results & Information Service) Disabled Children’s Club.
Eddie Izzard
Wearing the Crystal Palace shirt today – solidarity with my team & today’s important game @sportrelief @bbcthree pic.twitter.com/79t8c5dhPM
— Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard) March 19, 2016
Another incredibly famous Crystal Palace fan is Eddie Izzard – a world-famous stand-up comedian and actor.
Known for various comedy performances and roles in multiple Hollywood blockbuster movies, such as Ocean’s Twelve and Cars 2, Izzard is also a massive Eagles fanatic.
Regularly attending Selhurst Park to watch the team live, and supporting the South London club from afar when necessary, Izzard is Crystal Palace through and through.
Susanna Reid
Happy to see @susannareid100 at the @CPFC game still smiling despite the result. @croydonhigh would love to see you back at school anytime! @GDST @GDSTAlumnae #gdstspirit @CPFC_Foundation pic.twitter.com/UwEQQfG4CB
— Croydon High IvyLink (@CroydonHighIvyL) March 31, 2018
Popular co-host of the national breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain, Susanna Reid is perhaps at Selhurst Park more than any other famous Crystal Palace fan.
She is a passionate Eagles fan who regularly voices her love for the club on social media platforms such as X, formerly Twitter.
Crystal Palace have an independent ‘Ultras’ style group called the Homesdale Fanatics that were founded back in 2005.
You can see a selection of their songs and pyro displays in the video below.
Crystal Palace club anthem
The Crystal Palace club anthem is ‘Glad All Over’ – a tune released by The Dave Clark Five all the way back in 1964.
Many believe that the song’s love affair with the Eagles began in 1968 when the band played the tune live at Selhurst Park – but that is incorrect.
In fact, a programme from a Crystal Palace home match against Peterborough in January 1964, the year the anthem was officially released, stated that the crowd sang the song at half-time to keep their feet warm.
Several years later the club’s affiliation with the song was reinforced when the the Eagles’ famous FA Cup Final squad of 1990 performed the tune live on Sky TV.
It can still be heard bellowing from the Selhurst Park terraces to this day, mainly in the following four situations:
- At the start of every Crystal Palace home game
- After full-time when Crystal Palace win at home
- The chorus is played after every goal scored at home
- Occasionally as a chant from the stands
Crystal Palace ‘Glad All Over’ lyrics
Tifos and banners are huge, perhaps vital, aspect of football fanfare across the world, and that is no different at Selhurst Park.
While such displays are less prevalent in England than some of our European counterparts, such as Germany for example, they are present nonetheless.
Here are some of the most iconic tifos to have been unveiled at Selhurst Park over the years.
Celebrating 100 years
???????? Crystal Palace with tifo to celebrate 100 years of Selhurst Park! ❤️? pic.twitter.com/3TDfWyFq5h
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) September 14, 2024
The most recent of these tifos came in September 2024, when Crystal Place were celebrating calling Selhurst Park for 100 years.
Given the extent to which football teams ebb and flow over the years, that is an incredible achievement.
Maxi Jazz tribute
A tribute to Maxi Jazz ❤️?
We will always remember you, Maxi.#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 24, 2024
Another famous tifo to be unveiled at Selhurst Park was the club’s tribute to Maxi Jazz – a famous musician who had deep-rooted ties to the Eagles.
After he tragically passed in 2023, Crystal Palace fans produced an excellent tribute in his honour, unveiling a massive tifo on may 29, 2023.
As is the case at virtually every ground in the country, the best views at Selhurst Park are provided by the upper tier – that is if you want a good view of the entire pitch of course.
In this case, you will want to secure tickets in the East and West Stands that run adjacent to the stadium’s touchline. These two sections will provide excellent views of the entire pitch and both goals. For the best views possible, try and sit as close to the halfway line as possible.
However, if you instead want a good view of the players themselves, then aim for the lower tiers of the two stands mentioned above.
As always, for the best atmosphere, look to sit in the lower tier behind one of the goals. More specifically, try and get tickets in the Holmesdale Road Stand if you want the full Crystal Palace experience.
Seating Plan
Entrances
Away fans are housed in the corner of the Arthur Wait Stand at Selhurst Park, next to the Whitehorse Lane end.
That stand is accessed via entrances four, five, six and seven, as shown on the map above.
Home fans enter through every other turnstile. For details on which one you should towards on matchday, consult your ticket before arriving at the stadium.
The most popular spot for away fans is a pub called The Prince George (2 High St, Thornton Heath CR7 8LE). It is around a ten-minute walk to the stadium from here.
Other pubs for away fans near Selhurst Park:
- The Railway Telegraph – 19 Brigstock Rd, Thornton Heath CR7 7JJ
- The Clifton Arms – 21 Clifton Rd, London SE25 6NJ
- The White Horse – 1 Selhurst Rd, London SE25 5QF
Home fans
Naturally, home fans have far more choice when it comes to selecting a pub ahead of the game and can drink at virtually any of the local establishments apart from those mentioned above.
Our top suggestions are as follows:
- The Cherry Tree, 32 Station Rd, London SE25 5AG
- Shelverdine Goathouse, 7-8 High St, London SE25 6EP
Food at Selhurst Park is not revolutionary, however, you can expect to find all the traditional offerings, such as burgers, pies, hotdogs and chips, as well as a few different dishes.
Take a look below to get a taste of what to expect upon your visit to the ground.
Pepperoni pizza at Crystal Palace (@CPFC)
? £15 with alcoholic drink pic.twitter.com/jqRkYsJVPF
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) December 30, 2022
Chicken burger at Crystal Palace (@CPFC fanzone)
? £6 pic.twitter.com/QnIZrGX6wo
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) March 7, 2022
By train and metro
The nearest railway stations are Selhurst, Thornton Heath or Norwood Junction, all of which are served by London Victoria mainline station.
Both Thornton Heath and Norwood Junction are also served by trains from London Bridge. From each of these local stations it is then a 10-15 minute walk to Selhurst Park.
Please note that Crystal Palace station is, rather confusingly, not all that near the stadium and requires a 42-minute walk between the two destinations.
By car
Leave the M25 at Junction 7 and follow the signs for the A23 to Croydon. At Purley, bear left onto the A23 at its junction with the A 235 (to Croydon). You will pass roundabouts and junctions with the A232 and A236 as you pass Croydon, after which the A23 bears left at Thornton Heath (at the Horseshoe Pub roundabout).
You must go straight into Brigstock Road (B266), passing Thornton Heath Station on your left and bearing right onto the High Street. At the next mini roundabout (Whitehorse Road/Grange Road), go left into Whitehorse Lane. The ground is on your right.
Where is the best place to park for a Crystal Palace game?
There is no parking available at the ground for visiting supporters. Most streets around the ground are either designated residents-only parking on matchdays or pay-and-display with a four-hour limit.
You may need to park further away, and please take note of any street signs advising of parking restrictions. Otherwise, you risk being towed away.
Alternatively, you may consider parking further and taking the train to Thornton Heath. For example, you could park at Purley Oaks Station and then take the 17-minute train ride to Thornton Heath.
Post Code for SAT NAV: SE25 6PU
Selhurst Park is fairly modest in size compared to other Premier League clubs, with a capacity of just 25,456.
Crystal Palace use that to their advantage though, and the home crowd often create an incredibly intimidating atmosphere for the opposition to contend with.
However, as outlined previously, the club are currently progressing with plans to increase the capacity of Selhurst Park drastically. These renovations will see the Main Stan receive huge improvements, raising its capacity from 5,200 to approximately 13,500.
Unlike some of the bigger Premier League clubs, a tour of the Crystal Palace stadium isn’t an option all year round, however, tours do happen and they do go on general sale at various times so if you’re interested, we suggest you keep an eye on the official club tour page for dates of availability.
In the meantime, we can confirm the tour pricing structure for you:
- Adults: £25
- Over 65s: £21
- Under 18s: £15
Further adrift of Central London than most other London-based clubs, Crystal Palace still offers plenty of nearby attractions to keep visiting supporters entertained before, or possibly after, matches.
Crystal Palace
Arguably the best of those attractions is the fantastic Crystal Palace Park – a large green space adored by many across London.
Grade Two listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, this public space boasts a wide variety of different activities and displays – there is something for everyone.
From an incredible boating lake to various animal statues and parks for children to play in, you really can spend hours enjoying yourself here.
Haynes Lane Market
Perhaps not to everybody’s taste but impressive and entertaining all the same, is Haynes Lane Market, located a 40-minute walk away from the stadium.
There is an enormously wide variety of items sold at the market that all share one common theme – everything at Haynes Lane Market is vintage.
Whether that be books, clothes, instruments or anything in between – if you love all things vintage, this is the place to be before kick-off.
Crystal Palace is a club with a rich and long history in English football, and given the Eagles’ 101-year love affair with Selhurst Park, there are plenty of retro pictures at the stadium online.
Some of the best are included below:
Selhurst Park in the snow, Crystal Palace, 1960s. pic.twitter.com/2PVKTajjcj
— Brutalist Football (@Brut_Football) May 20, 2016
Classic 70’s shot of Selhurst Park. #CPFC @palacefans @footieonthisday #CrystalPalace pic.twitter.com/8dsjdecktI
— Football Back Then ⚽️?⚽️ (@FootballThen) November 15, 2017
Due to its limited size, compared to other major stadiums in London at least, Selhurst Park does not have much history when it comes to hosting music concerts.
However, some big names have performed at the ground in the past.
Peter Gabriel (1983)
Peter Gabriel performs at Selhurst Park in July 1983, with Phil Collins guesting on drums! ? pic.twitter.com/jc878gC5Xa
— Jason ? (@WhyteleafeEagle) August 27, 2020
One of those big names is famous English singer and songwriter, Peter Gabriel.
Known for hit records such as Don’t Give Up, Solsbury Hill, In Your Eyes and Sledgehammer,, Gabriel played at Selhurst Park all the way back in 1983.
Status Quo (1984)
Just one year later in 1984, Selhurst Park opened its doors up to another musical act – the famous British rock band, Status Quo.
It was a fantastic event and those in attendance were treated to the band’s classics such as Rocking All Over The World and Whatever You Want.
However, since then, there have been no more concerts hosted at the ground.
When first formed, Crystal Palace played their games at The Crystal Palace arena. The Eagles remained there until the First World War started, when they were forced to vacate. From there, they took up temporary residence, first at a velodrome on Herne Hill, then moved to Croydon Common.
In 1919, the now Crystal Palace stadium, Selhurst Park, landed on the club’s radar, and talks began over a purchase. The deal was completed, and Palace moved in for the 1924/25 campaign.
Floodlights and minor tweaks were made, but the ground was left alone. That was at least the case until 1969 when the Arthur Wait Stand was constructed, with the Main Stand becoming fully seated a decade later.
The next major changes didn’t come until the nineties when the remaining stands were made all-seated.
Stadium expansion
There is only one development on everybody’s mind at Crystal Palace at the time of writing, and that is the Selhurst Park expansion.
With reports first emerging in 2017, the expansion of the ground has been a long and difficult process, with construction yet to commence.
However, in December 2024, The Eagles confirmed that they had received planning permission from Croydon Council, suggesting that the South London club are closer than ever to beginning the expansion.
The renovations will see a new main stand installed at the ground, increasing Selhurst Park’s capacity to a whopping 34,000.
Record attendance
51,482 vs Burnley
Division 2, 11 May, 1979.
Modern all-seated attendance record
26,193 vs Arsenal
Premier League, 6 November, 2004.
Average attendance
- 2023-2024: 24,811 (Premier League)
- 2022-2023: 25,043 (Premier League)
- 2021-2022: 24,282 (Premier League)
- 2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)
- 2019-2020: 25,060 (Premier League)
- 2018-2019: 25,455 (Premier League)
- 2017-2018: 25,063 (Premier League)
Crystal Palace vs Brighton rivalry: Despite being based in London, the Eagles’ biggest derby game is when South Coast club Brighton visits Selhurst Park. The two sides are only 40 miles apart and have a history of ‘facing off’ because they climbed the pyramid side by side for so many years.
Crystal Palace vs Millwall rivalry: Is there a notable hatred between these two teams? Probably not, because their main rivals are other teams. That said, with both clubs located in South London, the meetings will bring an added spice.
Crystal Palace vs Charlton rivalry: The Charlton rivalry is very similar to that of the Millwall one, with proximity in South London driving any ill feelings. Ironically, though, Charlton have previously been tenants at Selhurst Park, so things can’t be too bitter between the duo!
Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, the Eagles released a statement explaining that “Crystal Palace Football Club has worked in conjunction with the Disabled Supporters Association to ensure
the facilities at Selhurst Park Stadium are of a standard that provides a safe and enjoyable visit when
watching competitive football.”
As a result, the following facilities are available on all matchday for disabled fans:
- Changing Places facilities
- Sensory room
- Inclusion room
- Audio commentary service
- Welcoming policy towards assistance dogs
- Hearing induction loops
- 11 accessible toilets
- 123 wheelchair spaces
However, the club also urge anyone with specific needs on matchday to contact them in advance to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Unsurprisingly, Selhurst Park ticket prices vary depending on which Crystal Palace match you wish to attend.
Before purchasing any tickets, you will need to become a Crystal Palace member and it is worth noting that at the time of writing, each registered member can purchase a maximum of two tickets.
In terms of prices, the following is a breakdown of ticket prices for the Eagles’, match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 18 May 2025:
- Adults – £35
- Over 65s – £22
- Under 22s – £22
- Under 18s – £18
For more information check out our guide on How to buy Crystal Palace tickets.
- Official programme: £3.50
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Official website: www.cpfc.co.uk
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail us at: [email protected] and we’ll update the guide.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Premier League
Tuesday 21st January 2020, 7.30pm
Ferenc Jacobs (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Selhurst Park?
Our group could choose between visiting Chelsea v Arsenal or Palace v Southampton. An obvious choice 😉 if you want some proper atmosphere and a traditional ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey from Tottenham Court Road station to Norwood Junction by tube and train was fine. A short walk through the neighbourhood towards the stadium really contributed to our mood.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We tried to find a proper pub but were not sure if we could visit ‘Home fans only’ bars as tourists. We ended up in the Fan Zone, making our credit cards bleed in the fan store. Food was alright, had a great steak pie.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
It was just brilliant, everything was just as expected.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Palace did their best but it wasn’t proper football ;-). Typically a Roy Hodgson team… The atmosphere was great with ‘Glad all over’ from the start to the booing at the end. The Southampton fans were a lot noisier than Palace fans, perhaps because of the two goals and the much better football on their side. The fans of both sides were mingling after the game, no hostilities whatsoever.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No worries at all. I took a short stroll back to the train station and went back up north.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great atmosphere, poor football, a beautiful ground, and proper food. Definitely something to do again!
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday 11th January 2020, 12:30
Joe Fisher (Arsenal)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Selhurst Park?
I'd never been to Selhurst Park before and I had heard mixed things about it, so I was looking forward to seeing what it was like for myself.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was easy enough from Victoria. We took a train to East Croydon to meet the rest of our group before heading 2 stops further along to Thornton Heath which is a 10-15 minute walk from the away end.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a few drinks in the Wetherspoons in East Croydon before moving onto the Prince George in Thornton Heath which was packed with away fans. Prices were reasonable and there was a fairly good selection on tap.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
Now there's something to be said for the romance of old grounds but there was definitely none of that for me. It's showing it's age and is in need of a revamp. The away section from the outside is served by 6 narrow turnstiles and trying to cram 3000 fans through them is carnage. Get there with plenty of time, 15 minutes before kick off as I did, was evidently not enough.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Once we finally got inside the stadium things didn't really improve as the concourse is absolutely tiny and the queues for the toilets and bar result in gridlock. We were fortunate that we were close to the front but our view was still obstructed slightly by a post. I'd advise any travelling fan to sit as close as possible to the front as apparently from the back you can barely see the far side of the pitch.
The atmosphere in the away end was lively and helped by our opening goal with less than 15 minutes gone. Despite being 'well known' for their atmosphere we didn't really hear them until well into the first half but that might just have been where I was in the stand. The stewards were very relaxed and joined in with some of the usual matchday banter.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was easier than getting in but again with the narrow concourse and stairways it took a little while to get to the exit. Once we were out the walk back to Thornton Heath was quick and painless.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall I enjoyed the day as a whole and I'm glad to have done it but I'm not desperate to head back anytime soon.
Crystal Palace v Derby County
FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 5th January 2020, 14.01pm
Steven Yardley (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Selhurst Park Ground?
As a Birmingham City supporter now living on the South coast I often attend FA Cup games elsewhere to visit other grounds, taking advantage of the cheaper tick etc. It's not easy to visit Selhurst Park due to there membership scheme, but for this game, non-members could buy tickets for just £15 so I decided this would be my preferred match for the FA Cup 3rd round.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I caught a direct train from the South coast to Norwood Junction which is less than a 15 minute walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went for a drink in The Albion pub just a 5 minute walk from Norwood Junction station, however, it did state it was a pub for home supporters only, which was the case for most pubs in that area.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
I purchased a ticket for the Main Stand, the view was fine but the leg room very tight. The last time I was at Selhurst Park I was in the away section near the rear where the view was terrible due to the low roof of the stand and the TV gantry.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere inside the ground is very good, the Palace supporters in the Holmesdale Road Stand made plenty of noise, added to by the travelling Derby fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It's extremely busy around the ground after a match, and even though I had a good half hour before my direct train home which was an hourly service as it was a Sunday I was lucky to get it due to the large queues at the station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall I enjoyed my visit to Selhurst Park, shame about the game itself, a poor match which Derby won 1-0, but a decent Sunday out.
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa
Premier League
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
Martin H. (Aston Villa)
Crystal Palace v Grimsby Town
FA Cup Third Round
Saturday 5th January 2019, 5.30pm
Chris Munnings (Grimsby Town)
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Premier League
Sunday 30th December 2018, 12 noon
Mark Manuel (Chelsea)
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League
Saturday 6th October 2018, 3pm
Steve Smytheman (Doing the 92 again)
Crystal Palace v Tolouse
Friendly Match
Saturday 4th August 2018, 4pm
John Boynton (Neutral)
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Sunday 13th May 2018, 3pm
Paul Harris (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Premier League
Saturday 25th November 2017, 3pm
Philip Green (Stoke City fan)
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Premier League
Saturday 16th September 2017, 12.30pm
David Sims (Southampton fan)
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town
League Cup Round 2
Tuesday 22nd August 2017, 7:30pm
Kieran B (Ipswich Town fan)
Match Rating: 8/10
Crystal Palace v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 18th March 2017, 3pm
Dave (Watford fan)
Crystal Palace v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 18th March 2017, 3pm
Mattie Rance (Watford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Selhurst Park?
I'd never been to Selhurst Park before and I was keen to tick it of my list of grounds. I wasn't very confident of getting a result though as we weren't coming into the game in great form having not won our in our three previous league games.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went on one of the club coaches as Selhurst Park isn't the easiest ground to get to by train, we left Watford at 11.15am and we arrived at the ground around 1.15pm, meaning we had to wait a short period of time before the turnstiles opened at 1.30pm.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The coaches parked up opposite the away fans turnstiles, I waited for my friend who I went to the game with as he got the train. Whilst I waited I got a programme. When we went inside, we got a beer and a chicken balti pie.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
I was impressed by Selhurst Park on first view although there was a pillar near where I was sitting although this didn't obscure my view too much from my seat.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a poor game, settled by a Troy Deeney own goal, giving the home side the win. It was a good atmosphere generated by the Crystal Palace ultras in the Holmesdale Stand. The Watford fans were brilliant whenever we play away from home, as always.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, I got back on the coach which was parked opposite the away end where it dropped us off before the game, the journey back to Watford was good, I was home around 7.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Throughly enjoyable day out despite the result, I will no doubt return to Selhurst Park should both teams stay up this season.
Crystal Palace v Swansea City
Football Premier League
Tuesday 3rd January 2017, 8pm
Alex Honcoop (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Selhurst Park?
I was over all the way from Australia and out of all the games I was seeing while in the UK, this was right up there with the one's I was most excited about. Various reasons, but the main ones were being in the away end which is always a good atmosphere and although it wasn't supposed to be when the tickets were booked. It was a very important relegation six-pointer which are always interesting for the neutral! I've always quite liked the look of Selhurst Park as a stadium, that I have seen from photographs, so I was glad to finally be able to tick that one off!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I did a bit of sightseeing around London during the day and ended up at Leicester Square where I had a meal. From there, I got the tube to London Bridge, train to Norwood Junction where the walk was quite easy to Selhurst Park which took around 15 minutes.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I arrived at the ground only five minutes before kick-off, I headed straight inside. I found the away end quite easily as I used the massive Holmesdale Stand as a reference point.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
I'm a massive fan of old style stadiums with four completely separate sides and Selhurst Park is just that. Although the supporting pillars can obstruct view, in a weird way I really like them as they give that old feel to a ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The view from where I was sitting quite low down in the away end wasn't great, but could still see what was going on okay. The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant from the travelling Swansea fans and the scenes were mental when they scored their late winner. I've never really been a fan of German style ultras at English football, as the Palace fans have attempted, but I tried to go in with an open mind but I was quite disappointed. I suppose it's kind of expected when the team are doing as badly as they are, but the ground was very quiet even with a drum and all that.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was quite easy. I walked back to Norwood Junction and with three trains/tubes, I was back with the family I was staying with near Woodford in North East London.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Out of all the games I saw while I was over from Oz, this was probably the one I enjoyed most – simply because of the scenes with the last minute winner! The overall day was brilliant and the football was a major part of that.
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Premier League
Sunday 18th September 2016, 2.15pm
James Walker (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Selhurst Park?
I was looking forward to this game as it would be yet another new ground for me (68 of the 92 and my 99th overall.) I've heard some very positive things about Selhurst Park and especially the levels of noise from their home support, and I already knew how loud the Stoke fans can be on their travels, so this seemed like a perfect game to go to.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Making the journey to Selhurst Park was easy. Me and my Stoke-supporting mate got on the train at Welwyn North (where we met the third member of our party) to Kings Cross (where we met the final member) and from there hopped on the tube, taking the Victoria line to Victoria Station. From there it was a case of getting on a South Eastern train to Thornton Heath Station. There is a Wetherspoons directly opposite Thornton Heath Station so we went straight in there, but bear in mind they ask for I.D on the door, to show proof of age. After we left it was simply a case of turning right, walking about ten minutes, turning left and walking until we saw Selhurst Park (which you can't miss as it's right next to a Sainsburys). The club shop is located here, and to get to the away end you need to walk straight on, turn right at the next row of houses and down to the away end. There is an away fans ticket collection booth right next to the away turnstiles.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We firstly went in to the shop for the usual of a badge (£2.99) and a programme (£3.50) which was a very good read of 86 pages and an extra kids pull-out in the back. After that it a case of going straight in to the away end.
Selhurst Park
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
Overall Selhurst Park is a lovely stadium. The away 'end' is along one side of the ground in a single-tiered stand, which is shared with home fans. There are several pillars running the length of the stand but if you're in the first 15 rows then you will have a clear unobstructed view. However the television gantry is above this stand so if you're in the back rows then there is little point bothering to go as most of the pitch is blocked by the gantry. The stand opposite is similar to this one (no gantry though obviously) whilst the stand behind the goal to our right is a single-tiered stand with two rows of executive boxes above it. There is a large scoreboard on this stand which also shows any early kick-off televised match (showing Watford v Manchester United whilst we were there). The stand behind the goal to our left is a large two-tiered stand where most of the atmosphere comes from, including the famous 'Palace Ultras'.
Not Such A Great View From The Back Of The Stand
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a disaster for the rest of the away end, but very enjoyable for me as Palace raced in to a 2-0 lead (thanks to Tomkins and Dann converting set-pieces) and somehow it was kept to just two at the break. Both teams had some chances before Palace scored twice again in quick succession though McArthur and Townsend before Arnautovic replied for Stoke with the last kick of the game. I was impressed when I went to get my pie as there was a proper queuing system in place, as well as a huge range of food on offer, and bizarrely a receipt issued with every purchase. Not too hard to go and return any products you don't want then! You also get a little pack with plastic cutlery and a napkin with every food purchase as well, however £4 for a pie is very steep in my opinion. The atmosphere from the Palace fans was very good throughout, whilst the Stoke supporters were almost silent apart from the odd chant of "Go Orn Stokee" or the odd chant of their famous "Bread" song. The stewards largely kept to themselves and let fans sit or stand freely.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We didn't race back as we went round to the front to see the players leave and get some things signed by players of both sides. We hung around just over an hour before starting to head back to the station, arriving home for just before 7.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall this was a very good day out for the neutral. Five goals, lovely weather and a new ground all in one day can't be beaten. Selhurst Park is a ground that I will definitely return to when I get the chance.
Half Time Score: Crystal Palace 2-0 Stoke City
Full Time Result: Crystal Palace 4-1 Stoke City
Attendance: 23,781 (763 Away Fans)
Crystal Palace v Norwich City
Premier League
Saturday 9th April 2016, 3pm
Tom (Norwich City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Selhurst Park?
I had been to Selhurst Park previously, so I had a vague memory of what it was like. Being a fan of a club located in East Anglia, a London game is always the easiest to get to. I also love travelling across London with other fans. It was a big game for us, desperately needing the points to help us avoid the drop. A win would also drag Palace into the relegation battle! We were in good spirits due to showing some good form in recent matches.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We parked at Newbury Park Underground Station, which is very easy to get to from East Anglia. We then took the tube across London, changing at London Bridge for an overground train to Norwood Junction. It was a straightforward journey that took about an hour.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We always find an away fans pub. I looked at recent reviews and headed to Norwood Junction as this was a much easier route on the tube. Sadly the Wetherspoons outlet at Norwood Junction is now shut and there is no away fans pub in the vicinity of Norwood Junction, they are all home fans only. I recommend instead going to Thornton Heath!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Selhurst Park?
As mentioned before I have been to Selhurst Park previously where I had a decent view of the game. This is one of the grounds which need's some major TLC, great atmosphere but it doesn't look like a Premier League ground. The away end concourse is tight and the facilities are pretty poor, but you're not staying there so it didn't bother me. The view we had wasn't great either, you are very lucky to get a view which isn't obstructed or restricted in some way!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was dire and we lost! The atmosphere from both fans were great but it was a quiet trip home. The hot dog before the game was the highlight!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Walking out of the ground to Norwood Junction Station took about ten minutes and we jumped on a train straight to London Bridge, although there was the usual queuing outside the station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good trip, poor match! I would go again although it could be in years to come due to our current league position!
Crystal Palace v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 13th February 2016, 3pm
Daniel Engley (Watford fan)
Reasons for visiting Selhurst Park:
As a newly promoted team I have been visiting as many away grounds as possible, and as I have never been to Palace before and the fact that it was a close journey for us it was definitely a fixture I could not miss.
Journey:
Very straight forward. We took a train from Clapham junction to Thornton Heath, and from the station we followed the fans to what was roughly a 15 minute walk to Selhurst Park,
Before the Game:
There was no trouble from the Palace fans who we were amongst both on the train and walking to the ground. We decided to go to the chippy just outside the ground which served very large portions! However, please note that you are not able to take the food inside the ground (which we were unaware of) and so we had to eat it outside standing in the rain.
Impressions of Selhurst Park:
I had spoken to a mate of mine who was a palace fan and he advised me to sit nearer the front due to their being a tv gantry that could effect your view at the back of the stand. If you do sit at the back, I don't think it is as bad as advertised, although you won't see the opposite stand. Our view was also partially obscured by a pillar which was frustrating. Although I am a fan of older and more unique grounds, the stadium badly needs some investment into it, especially as Palace have been in the premier league for a few years now.
Game itself:
Watford had the better of the first half and went one up, but Palace levelled just before half time which was very disappointing. In the second half Palace were the better team, but Deeney got his second of the game late on which sent our away end into raptures and we managed to hold on for a great three points. I was impressed with the notorious corner of Palace fans who didn't stop singing, yet the rest of the fans seemed a bit subdued (probably because of the winless run they were on). The stewards were very friendly, allowing banter between the two sets of supporters and even one of them saying how much he enjoyed our singing!
Getting away: Once again this was easier than expected.
We walked back to the train station comfortably and got home swiftly. However I would not advise driving to the ground as the traffic was horrendous.
Summary:
Overall, another fantastic away day for Watford this season. The only damper was the view of the ground with all seats seeming to be restricted viewing. This would be my only doubt on going again as the rest of the day was great!
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 18th April 2015, 3pm
Sam Foord (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why you were looking forward to visiting Selhurst Park?
I was really looking forward to this game as it was one of West Brom's annual 'free coach' away days. Usually, we bring a lot of supporters for these games and this one was no exception with 40 coaches making the journey to Selhurst Park.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was travelling with my Grandad for this one and we got a lift to the Hawthorns from where we were catching the coach at 9am in the morning. The journey itself was straightforward…up until we hit London at which point we were pretty much crawling all the way to Selhurst Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? The coaches got us to Selhurst for 1pm, so with nearly two hours to occupy me and my Grandad walked around the ground to see what it had to offer. We got some food from the nearby Sainsbury's store (which looks like it's almost underneath the actual ground!) and I went in the club shop to pick up a programme and a Crystal Palace badge for my collection.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
When we got into the away section in the Arthur Wait Stand. My Grandad laughed and told me it looked like "Steptoe and Son's yard!" and I was inclined to agree! The concourse is not the best at all and was a very tight fit with a large amount of travelling baggies fans. We were sat right on the front row (due to Grandad not being able to stand for 90 minutes at a football game anymore) so the view for us was incredible! However, the seats at the back of the stadium must have had an awful view due to the overhanging roof.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game got itself off to the best possible start for the Albion with Jimmy Morrison scoring with a header from a corner in the 2nd minute! After that the Albion fans were in full voice for the whole game, Palace fans to their credit were also pretty loud considering they didn't have the best start in the game. Stewards were really good, no problems at all. Oh, and if you do want a drink I advise you get one beforehand in Sainsburys or a pub… as inside the ground it was £4.50 for a 330ml bottle of cider!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was a bit of a squeeze funnelling out of the stadium but within ten minutes we were back on the coaches and doing the slow crawl out of London back to West Bromwich.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An amazing day out, sunshine, cheerleaders and a great result for the Albion under Tony Pulis! Would definitely like to go back next season.
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 18th April 2015, 3pm
Bradley Totney (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to Selhurst Park?
Another away day with my best mate, a ground that we'd previously never been to, which made it all the more exciting.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was a good three hours from West Bromwich, stopping at Oxford services on the way. When we got to the ground, the supporters coach dropped us in the middle of nowhere, forcing us to follow the army of blue and white.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As soon as we got to the ground, we agreed to go straight to our seats to get a glimpse of the stadium before it filled up, the stewards searched all Baggies fans on entry, which surprised me a bit to be honest! A rather nice female steward directed us to our seats, and to our amusement, were about 6 rows from the back!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
My first impressions of Selhurst Park is that it is a rather nice ground, with the Holmesdale End towering over the rest of it. Albion brought a 2000 strong crowd down to London, who didn't stop singing throughout the day, the Palace fans were quite reserved, although their team were on a four match winning streak.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was superb, Albion fans in full voice made it all the more enjoyable, although as I am only a little bit, I had to duck and peek between heads of those in front, due to the television gantry suspended from the roof of the Arthur Wait Stand, which means you are trying to watch the game through a letter box. Baggies took the lead only 2 minutes in with a James Morrison header, which sparked even more singing and "boing boing-ing", followed by The Lord's My Shepherd. Palace were the more dominant team in all fairness, who deserved a equaliser, but couldn't seem to break the baggies defence.
At half time, I went down into the concourse for a Balti Pie and a bottle of Sprite, which cost me a mind-boggling £6 odd. The toilets were standard, although I nearly went flying having nearly missed the flight of stairs to get to them. The second half, yet again was all Palace, but with seven minutes into the second period, Craig Gardner unleashed an absolute cracker from 25 yards which found it's way past Speroni, although I missed the goal, I joined in with the celebrations! Final score 2-0, although Palace deserved at least a point.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, we came out of the turnstiles to find all of the away coaches parked right outside, only for ours to be parked nowhere near Selhurst Park, forcing us to embark on a 15 minute walk back to the coach.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, Palace was a great day out, another ground ticked off the list for us. Stewards were fairly relaxed and home fans seemed friendly enough. Just as a pointer though, I would NOT recommend getting tickets for the back 10 rows or so as you will be at the back of the stand with a poor view unless you are 7 foot tall! Would recommend for those who want an enjoyable away day in London.
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Premier League
Wednesday, 12th February 2014, 7.45pm
Tom Parker (Aston Villa fan)
Why you were you looking forward to going to Selhurst Park?
Selhurst Park has always been a ground that had special appeal to me because of its old character. It had been on the list of football ground "to do's" for a while. And coming from Brighton where I live, it was the closest away ground of the season.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The guys we all went up with knew the ground and area quite well, so no problems there from Thornton Heath station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After having a quick beer and some food at the George in Croydon, we got the train over to Thornton Heath station, and just went over the road into the Flora Sandes Wetherspoon pub for a session. Good sized pub where both sets of fans mixed well and typical Spoons prices £2-3 for a beer.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
After queueing outside the ground for what seemed an eternity and missing the kick off, we finally got in and within around 10 minutes Benteke put us 1-0 up with an absolute peach of a goal. Impressed with the acoustics there, really good noise from Villa fans. Could see the Holmesdale End, but couldn't really hear the home support. The ground itself looks quite run down and a bit shabby, but I quite like that personally.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Game itself, Palace mainly dominated the match and went close a few times, but we looked quite solid and uninspiring (typical Lambert peformance) and managed to scrape the 1-0. Carnage ensued in our end after the game! The concourse at half time was a right party, everyone going mad with beer going all over the place. Didn't get a beer or pie or anything, never bother doing it.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Went for more beers at the pub afterwards so let the crowd die down a bit. Easily got back to Brighton from Victoria.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great evening out, easily to get to (from the South!) and really enjoyed it. Palace fans were friendly and while the area/ground is a bit shabby, it did the job and was my personal favourite away trip of the season.
Crystal Palace v Swansea City
Premier League
Sunday 22 September 2013, 1.30pm
By Michael McKay (Neutral fan in the away section)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Crystal Palace is the last London club that I needed to check off my list. I have been to Fulham, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal (three times). As a foreigner, I had no expectations, but having been to the stadiums of the above mentioned Premier League regulars, I was in for a disappointment.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Using your website, I took the tube from King's Cross (where my train from Ely arrived) and got to Selhurst in around an hour or so. When we switched to the above ground train, I started seeing folks in the red and blue striped shirts get on the train. And then more. And more. The train was packed. The days was not warm, just cool enough for a light jacket, and by the time I got off the train, I was sweating through the back of my shirt. When we got off the train, I figured that I would follow everyone in the jerseys to the stadium. South London is nothing like Piccadilly Circus. It looks a little rough, and there was a ton of dog poop on the sidewalks.
The stadium emerges into view from the neighborhood flats. Unlike American stadiums, where there is usually some space cleared out around the sides to give fans panoramic views, Selhurst Park is packed in tight among the houses.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I did not budget enough time to go into any pubs or anything, though I kicked myself for it later. I saw a bunch of people sitting along brick rows with chip baskets slathered in curry sauce. I could smell it from a distance and my mouth watered.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The Holmesdale Road Stand was impressive, and the fanatics sat at the bottom left hand corner. They were constantly waving flags and beating drums. It looked like they were having a good time, even when Michu scored in like, the first five minutes.
I was in the far right corner of the Arthur Wait Stand with the Swansea fans. The stand was awful. Old wooden seats awaited me, and they were clearly built for miniature people. I am a fit 6'2", 190 pounds, and I was packed into my seat space like Spam in the tin. Fortunately, the away fans stood the whole time, so I could stretch out my legs and give my knees a break from pressing against the seat in front of me. All of the other stadiums I've been to had rules against standing for too long, which I actually appreciate, but the stewards didn't seem to bother the Swansea fans.
In addition to the awful seats, Selhurst Park has a lot of blocked sight lines due to support columns, AND the stupid TV catwalk. If the action was on the far side of the pitch, I would have to bend at the waist in order to scan underneath the catwalk.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was lively. The away fans sang a lot, as did the Fanatics. This is the only stadium that I've been to that had American style cheerleaders. I don't know why every team doesn't do this. It would create jobs and stimulate the economy, among other things. I also liked the flying eagle that they brought out during warm-ups. They have one similar at Auburn University in Alabama, only he flies around the bowl of the stadium at altitude. This eagle could only get about three feet off the ground. They may have had a weight around his talons to keep him from getting away.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I was so uncomfortable, and Swansea so thoroughly controlled the action, that I left at half time. It was easy to find the train station, and I beat any rush, so I couldn't give an accurate portrayal of a game-day exit.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Crystal Palace is now checked off the list. I will not return.
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Premier League
Sunday 31 August 2013, 5.30pm
By Rory Murphy (Sunderland fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
As soon as the fixtures came out I was looking forward to going to Crystal Palace. I thought it would be an easy 3 points but that wasn't to be the case. I also thought the ground had a lot of character and a nice blend of old and modern stands.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me and my friend set off from Darlington at 10AM hoping to get to the ground at about 3-3:30PM. The journey was fine up until we hit London. As you'd expect it was mayhem. After crossing the Thames there was little traffic and we headed towards Selhurst. We parked on a street which was a 5 min walk from the ground.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Since we got there in good time there wasn't too many fans around but none of them seemed intimidating and the majority smiled at us even though I had my red and white stripes on. Once we got into the ground I went to buy a drink but noticed that the area was too tight and cramped so I did without.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The first stand I saw was the two-tiered Holmesdale Road Stand which looked quite impressive. We then followed a number of other Sunderland fans to the turnstiles. The away end is at one end of the Arthur Wait Stand which is a bit old and rundown. To the top of the stand the seats were wooden but we got lucky and got plastic seats. As I said the ground is a mixture of old and new with the Whitehorse Lane and Holmesdale Road Stands which looked quite modern and the Arthur Wait and Main Stands looking a bit tired.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite poor from a Sunderland point of view with Palace taking an early lead. Sunderland came back with a brilliant header from Steven Fletcher on his return from injury. After that the 2,000 or so Mackems were definitely in full voice. A silly mistake from John O'Shea resulted in a penalty and a sending off and to put the nail in the coffin Stuart O'Keefe scored an absolute screamer in the last minute. Palace fans were brilliant behind the goal but only really got behind their team when they scored. Sunderland fans were great as well. If only the team were as good as their support. The stewards were fine and didn't tell us to sit down throughout the game.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was a lot of traffic getting away from the ground and it didn't help with a few Palace fans shouting 3-1 at us. They weren't intimidating though. It took us about four and a half hours to get back to the North-East after a disappointing performance from the Black Cats.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was a great day out. Friendly fans, great atmosphere and a unique stadium. The result wasn't too good though!
Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic
Championship League
Saturday 2nd February 2013, 3pm
By James Butler (Charlton Athletic fan)
If you don’t look forward to an away game at the ground of one of your local rivals then perhaps it’s time to stop going to football. Add to this the fact that we had not been to Selhurst Park since 2008, then I think it’s fair to say that, from a Charlton perspective at least, we were looking forward to the match, selling out our 3,000 allocation easily.
Personally I have not been back to Selhurst Park since the days when we used play our “home” games there. Not a period that any Charlton fan will look back on with fond memories.
I first went to Crystal Palace in the early 70’s. In those days it was an okay ground, and compared favourably with the Stadiums of much larger clubs. What of the 2013 version? Well it is a bit of a mixed bag really. The old open terraces at either end of the ground have been replaced with smart modern all seater stands the best of which is the impressive two tier Holmsdale Road End. The Whitehorse Lane End, now I believe for obvious reason called the Sainsbury's end, is a much smaller single tier family stand, with some executive boxes to the rear. That’s the modern side of Selhurst.
The old side however is less than impressive. Those of you that sometimes pine for those old stadia full of old world charm should take a trip to the home of Crystal Palace. The Main Stand was never great, but it now has certainly seen better days. However as I was not going to watch the game from this stand what did I care, but I find it incredible that people pay good money for it. Opposite the Main Stand is the Arthur Wait Stand. Back in the 70’s 80’s before the advent of the all seater stadium this was considered a pretty good stand, with its seats to the rear and terraced paddock to the front. I even quite liked it when we played at “home” there. Dated would be a kind way of describing it now. The terrace at the front has been raised to meet the seats at the back to create an all seated stand with a very poor angle, this coupled with several supporting pillars leaves you with an obstructed view. This was made worse by the kid in front who had to stand on his seat all game. I could not complain, he would have seen nothing otherwise. To add insult to injury the concourse behind, with refreshment bars, were dangerously cramped, selling £4 bottles of beer, to go with the £32 match ticket.
Before the game interaction with home support was almost impossible due to the massive, and I mean massive, police presence. We had also chosen to take the coach to avoid the after match lunacy at South Norwood station. It’s around eight miles from Charlton to Selhurst, the journey took two hours! The train would have been about 1 ½ hours. That’s South London infrastructure for you. Go in and out of town, never go across.
On arrival we were dropped right by the away turnstiles and went straight in. On entry everybody was searched, a very wise precaution on account of the boosting on the Chat forum’s before the game that the idiot minority where going to smuggle in flares as they had at Millwall and Palace had at Charlton. My first impressions of the stewards were excellent, search, sad, but necessary, shown to our seats in a very helpful manner, and when we realise we could not get a programme inside one steward even help us to get one from a seller outside the ground.
The game itself saw Charlton well on top in the opening quarter, playing some nice stuff, rewarded in the 15 minute by neat Ricardo Fuller goal which sent the away contingent bonkers. Off went some flares, so much for the search on the way in… As for the goal, at the time I had no idea who had scored, I thought it had been a header, that’s says all about the view I had, £32?. Half time 1-0 was always going to be a tough lead to defend even though we were clearly the better team first half, we should have added to the lead. Reason, first Palace our not a bad side, that hurt, and we can always through a lead away, preferable in the last quarter of the game. Yep 2-1 Palace final score, Glen Murray scoring twice for I've lost count how many times this season.
There is a very old and tired song about one set of fans forgetting that the other set was there. Never has this been truer. Don’t get we wrong The Valley is not always a cauldron of noise and our sing can be very repetitive and unimaginative, but a least we try. Apart from about 100 or so in one corner of the Holmsdale End, who to their credit did not stop all game. Until Palace scored, silence. Even when they did score the home support need to be revved up by canned music and the stadium announcer.
By this time the behaviour of our less desirable element was starting resemble that most associated with our other South London neighbours, they had run out of flares by about the 12th one, they amused themselves by ripping up the seats. The pre-match search was really paying dividends. This behaviour was meet by commendable restraint from the Met Police, who contented themselves with taking videos of the action. Expecting an extended lock in as a just reward for this behaviour we were amazed to be let straight out. We were faced by a wall of Police, who during the match had been amusing themselves by erecting a two metre steel barricade to keep the fans outside apart. Some of our support may be morons, but bravery is not high on the list of qualities, history has generally seen that the Palace support is similar and the fans normally just melt away. No the Police were determined to have their day. We sat for what seemed like an eternity on the coach whilst they deconstructed the steel wall and we could go on our way. Minor inconvenience. The rest of our support, young and old, idiots and the sane, were herded to toward the station, even if you had parked a car in the complete opposite direct. A few streets away they were on mass Kettled and held. The result? Confusion, pushing and shoving as people at the back took a while to realise what was going on, followed by wanton vandalism to people’s homes and cars simply because they happen to live near a football ground where Charlton had just lost 2-1.
I understand from Palace fans that this, over the top, policing is quite often the norm for a big match at Selhurst, so be warned if you have a large following, if you have any kind of reputation either just don’t go, or prepare for the worse. Having said that there was plenty of yobbish behaviour displayed by idiots in the Charlton ranks to give the police ample justification for their actions, even if the actions seemed disproportianate to the threat.
Would I go back? Probably not, ticket price, journey time, and general aggro, it’s only football. However a smaller following from a club with no previous in the fixture may well have a completely different experience. Palace are at the end of the day, like Charlton, are family orientated club with strong community roots. These type of clubs normally provide enjoyable hassle free days out.
PS I got home at 8pm for a game that was played within 15 miles of my house, Charlton home game similar distance normally in by six…
Crystal Palace v Doncaster Rovers
Championship League
Saturday November 27th, 2010, 3pm
By Ryan Dunphy (Doncaster Rovers fan)
I was excited about attending the game against Crystal Palace who were sitting in the relegation zone. And after taking a long five hour journey with two friends we had to be looking forward to the game. We thought tickets were reasonably priced but for the view you got inside the ground then they seemed more overpriced than anything.
Our journey was a long tedious trek. And with spending over an hour stuck in the side streets on London we were glad to arrive at the stadium eventually, however we received no police escort nor was there any trouble or many home fans in the area that our bus parked.
We arrived quite early for the game and headed straight into the ground where we found the stewarding to be a little pushy, as well as the concourse layout to be quite confusing. A pub mentioned was the Eagle or something along that line which obviously housed home fans, I noticed no pubs bar that one around the stadium. My first impressions of the ground were as I expected, poor and very old fashioned. Our stand in particular housed wooden and also plastic seats and areas of which look ready to be refurbished before they collapsed. One stand towards the left of the away stand was more modern and of better quality however was barely filled by home fans, much like the rest of the stadium which only gained an attendance of 13,000 for a stadium that holds around 26,000.
The game itself wasn't the most enjoyable game of the season with Palace coming out 1-0 victors in a game in which Donny deserved at least a point dominating the second half, missing several guilt edge chances. The atmosphere was hard to get going as the sound leaked from the stand as it wasn't very compact. Also home fans were pretty reserved and quiet themselves.
Getting away from the ground was a pain as traffic around Selhurst Park was terrible and unorganised, there was no trouble with home fans whilst leaving and traveling away from the stadium (apart from looking rather smug). Although Donny were defeated the day out was generally very enjoyable (despite result) however I would recommend avoiding having tickets towards the back of the away end as the supporting pillars could spoil the view of the playing field.
Crystal Palace v Leicester City
Championship League
Saturday August 7th, 2010, 3pm
By Andrew Willock (Leicester City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Well it was first game of the season & the first away match too, so I just couldn't miss, also It was a trip to London. I was eyeing this fixture since the fixtures was announced. This was my second match in London supporting Leicester last time was back in October 2009 what seen Leicester play on of the games of the season at Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road. Also to mention that it was to be Paulo Sousa first game in charge of the foxes.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Well living in Nuneaton it was straight through to London Euston on a Virgin train. Quite cheap for £59 for the three of us that included the tube ticket. Of course we went early to see a bit of London, As passing on different tube service seen a lot of shirts a few Barnsley fans off to Loftus Road. Also seen a few Bournemouth fans but couldn't think where they were going. I also decided to visit the Chelsea club shop on Fulham Boardway. At half past one we headed to Victoria station awaiting the national rail local line to Norwood Junction took. It took around half an hour to get one.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Well it was 2:10pm since it was getting close to kick off time we decided to head straight to the ground. As a Leicester fan you know never to leave it till last going to an away game. I only recall seeing one pub on the way & that was opposite the station with a large amount of Palace fans hooting every time a Leicester fan went by. Palace fans seemed quite friendly, walking together with Leicester fans, seemed no trouble. Surprised not to see many Police, although there were quite a lot of stewards outside the ground.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Few days before the game we went on Google map to see the outside of the Palace ground & the Arthur Wait stand. Strangely from that angle you can't see the stands as the ground descends downwards if you know what I mean. As we got in the short queue to enter the stewards were searching any bags. Once inside it seemed like a very old ground. We found our seats with no problem and the stewards seemed helpful. Surprisingly the seats were wooden. This was the first time I ever sat in a wooden seat in a football ground. The view wasn't too bad until the Leicester fans decided to stand for the whole game! It was quite cramped sitting down so it wasn't a surprise when people started standing. I'm sorry but the ground seemed really old, I wouldn't say it was rubbish but I've seen much better elsewhere.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
Well the atmosphere was on fire, with the Leicester faithful making a lot of noise from start to finish. Despite this Leicester were poor conceding three goals by the half time break. As the whistle blew there was a large sound of boo's coming from the away stand. Some already singing "Sousa Out!".
Second half was much better. The game got more exciting when King scored to make it 3-1. With 8 mins to go Campbell kicked the ball into an open net to make it 3-2. Could we get a draw? Well alas not and the game ended 3-2. At the end of the day it was good score & good come back & a great game.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Left the ground in injury time as I just couldn't see Leicester getting another goal. Outside the ground there was no bad atmosphere and the Palace fans looked relieved to have won. There was no sign of trouble what so ever.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great game, great day out, good result everything was fine until on the way home where there was noisy group of people on train home so couldn't really have a sleep.