Found our game at the Gallstone in 1976 on the Big Match Revisited yesterday morning 9.50 at ITV4. Good old fashioned third division action, crap pitch, Palace outsinging Brighton - and afterwards Venables and Mullery being best of friends in the studio! Well worth a watch on catch up. Brought back some happy memories of trips down there. Lovely goal from Jim Cannon for us, but the whole thing got me thinking about a few of the names which are fading in the memory, particularly those from the end of the Allison era.
Paul Hammond - couple of good saves, but his handling as usual was a bit suspect. Think he was the one we called called Dracula. Was never going to be popular when Allison chose him over John Jackson, the best England goalkeeper who wasn't.
Peter Wall - when he joined, I remember thinking that we don't sign players from Liverpool (roll forward 40 years!!) so he must be brilliant. Was always solid in my mind.
Stuart Jump - all I could remember about him is that he was blond. And he scored an important goal somewhere, but I can't remember where.
Ian Evans - commanding presence. I can remember the horrible moment when Best broke his leg - and never apologised. Those were the days when we regularly scored from corners, and a lot of that was due to Taff.
Kenny Sansom - so much promise, so sad to see what has happened to him now. So he got an OG for their equaliser, but he still showed what a great prospect he was. Certainly ranks alongside Ashley Cole as the best ever England LB.
Jim Cannon - played in midfield that day. Always loved his competitive spirit, it was everything a Palace fan could ask for. My favourite Palace player, first one I could say I saw his whole career.
Nicky Chatterton - it was always assumed he got in because his dad was the groundsman. Another one who worked hard, probably the one about who you would say 'good team player'.
Paul Hinshelwood - he also played in midfield that day but is best remembered at right back. Mind you, I think he started out as an unsuccessful forward, so presumably gradually moved further back (Benteke anyone?) Think he drank in the Cricketers at the bottom of Spout Hill - is it still there?
Barry Silkman - made his debut that day after Peter Taylor went to Spuz. Taylor was a hard act to follow, but I think Silkman was quite popular - he did have some good skills, if not the end product. Mind you, he's in the mucky world of football agents these days, so dropped down in my estimation.
Dave Swindlehurst - loved him. Big bloke, a bit ungainly but he put himself about, was reasonably nimble and had a good shot on him too.
Steve Perrin - always a bit of an odd fit for me. I think it's because to me he didn't look like a footballer. He was a sort of striker, but not quite, probably what they would call a 'false 9' now.
Phil Holder - sub that day. There's a bloke you could look down to and look up to at the same time. Great tackler, but won sod all in the air.
One more thing from watching the programme. Did we really sing You'll Never Walk Alone'? Sounded like it. I can't stand that scouse song. We didn't have all the razzmatazz of the premier league in those days, we stood together on the terraces, players weren't paid a fortune so it was easier to relate to them.
As they say, nostalgia ain't what it used to be
