Introduction – This week’s blog looks at the centenary of Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park Centenary
30th August 2024 – the grand old lady of SE25 is 100 years-old today. One of the famed football architect Archibald Leitch’s many stadia, Selhurst Park is still going strong. Selhurst is showing her venerable age in the two stands that remain from 1924 – the Arthur Wait and the Main Stand – which are neither comfortable or modern. Indeed they could be said to be creaking and certainly the away fans, who are housed in a dingy corner of the Arthur Wait, rarely miss an opportunity to moan about the poor sight lines and crap facilities. My heart bleeds for them.
My first match was in October 1969 for my elder brother’s 12th birthday treat. It was a 1-1 draw with Don Revie’s Leeds United with Gerry Queen scoring our goal and Peter Lorimer theirs. As with most of my guests on ‘It Started With a Kick’ podcast the memories are hazy and incomplete but the one aspect of the experience that did stick was the vision of a ginger fireball of a man spitting fury at every moment and careering around the pitch like a whirling dervish. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Billy Bremner.
This was the beginning point and plenty of water, both hot and cold, as well as some lukewarm, has travelled under that bridge since. Glorious nights. Beating Burnley on a Friday evening in 1979 to gain promotion to the First Division. Crystanbul when the impossible happened as Liverpool were pegged back in the last 11 minutes, having been coasting to victory. Great afternoons. Overcoming Blackburn in 1989 play-offs final, having been 3-1 down from the first leg. Beating Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea 1-0 courtesy of a John Terry own goal.
There are plans afoot for a state-of-the-art Main Stand to replace the dear, old rickety one. Construction is due to start next summer after five years of huffing and puffing with Croydon Council. This development will transform the ground, increase the capacity and Selhurst Park will move somewhat reluctantly into the 21st century. Those fond memories will not be lost, they will be enshrined in all Palace fans’ minds for ever. Selhurst Park will always be a special place.
It Started With a Kick
The guest forEpisode 21 is the pre-eminent psychologist Michael Caulfield whose first match was watched on his Auntie’s television with his uncle using a coat hanger as an aerial when Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 in 1968 European Cup Final at Wembley. This sparked a deep affection for Bobby Charlton, who scored twice that night and also for the genius who was George Best. Michael also discusses how he went with his father, a High Court judge, to see Malcolm McDonald score all five goals against Cyprus. He also does a very good impression of Mick Channon – ‘For me like, I can’t see it’…
Catch it all here –
Part 1 – https://bit.ly/3XmVTSJ
Part 2 – https://bit.ly/3Twa85p
The Football Mine 