50 years ago today Palace embarked on a 16 match unbeaten run which earned Promotion to the first (top) division for the first time in our history.
After almost a months break caused by bad weather (snow and ice) we faced Hull City at a fast changing Selhurst Park. A 2-0 victory with a goal from Mark Lazurus and a rare strike from Big John McCormick gave us a comfortable win.
Palace were mid table but with games in hand, Derby were top and on their way to the championship under Brian Clough, Cardiff second, with Millwall, Charlton, Birmingham, Middleborough all in the mix for the second spot which would secure promotion. Just two teams promoted and no play offs back then.
Bert Head had set the team a target of 26 points from our remaining 16 games (only 2 points for a win in those days) We had to play two games a week to finish the season on time and catch up with the backlog.
I don't recall a great deal from that game it was strange being back in the match day routine after a month without football. I was glad I had my army issue Parker from the local Army Surplus store to keep me warm, it was a very cold day.
The Arthur Wait stand was rising from the old Park Road terrace and the 1969 version of the Holmesdale singers moved on mass from the Holmesdale Terrace to under the superstructure of the new stand as the roof was now on (underneath was a mix of terrace and a building site) and at last we could really generate some noise from that match onwards.
I was in my tenth season of watching Palace and seen two promotions already as we clawed our way from the basement old 4th division to the top division in ten short years. Magic days.
After almost a months break caused by bad weather (snow and ice) we faced Hull City at a fast changing Selhurst Park. A 2-0 victory with a goal from Mark Lazurus and a rare strike from Big John McCormick gave us a comfortable win.
Palace were mid table but with games in hand, Derby were top and on their way to the championship under Brian Clough, Cardiff second, with Millwall, Charlton, Birmingham, Middleborough all in the mix for the second spot which would secure promotion. Just two teams promoted and no play offs back then.
Bert Head had set the team a target of 26 points from our remaining 16 games (only 2 points for a win in those days) We had to play two games a week to finish the season on time and catch up with the backlog.
I don't recall a great deal from that game it was strange being back in the match day routine after a month without football. I was glad I had my army issue Parker from the local Army Surplus store to keep me warm, it was a very cold day.
The Arthur Wait stand was rising from the old Park Road terrace and the 1969 version of the Holmesdale singers moved on mass from the Holmesdale Terrace to under the superstructure of the new stand as the roof was now on (underneath was a mix of terrace and a building site) and at last we could really generate some noise from that match onwards.
I was in my tenth season of watching Palace and seen two promotions already as we clawed our way from the basement old 4th division to the top division in ten short years. Magic days.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire