I am sure many of the older members on here will remember my father, Dave McClelland, who on his retirement around 1999, was the Sports Editor at The Advertiser. Dad passed away peacefully at home on Saturday (30th Dec).
I was very lucky to grow up with dad as a sports journalist. Even as a young kid he would take me to all the Palace games and after the matches I would stand in some corridor, corner of a press office, or my favourite, by the changing room door as he did his interviews with the players and managers.
Back before the internet and social media, and because Palace were not 'A Big Club' reported in the 'Big' newspapers, The Advertiser was the only place to get all the reports, news and gossip (working alongside John Matthews, John Hulls and others, and latterly with David Groves).
He had lots of stories which I hoped he would record in a memoir, but it did not happen. He got into 'trouble' once with the club, as they disapproved his headline to the report of a game in which Ian Evans scored a hat-trick, "Good 'Evans, A Palace Hattrick!"
He was asked in an interview once the best/most memorable 4 games he saw with Palace; The Fulham promotion game in 69, the Away games at Leeds and Sunderland in the 76 Cup run, and the promotion clincher away at Wrexham in 77. And the thing these all have one thing in common is, he didn't take me to any of them!
One game he did take me to, which showed his 'understanding side' was on the 22nd Oct 1977. On the 18th Oct I had to make an 'appearance' at Bromley Juvenile court and received a 1 year Conditional Discharge sentance. I was 15 and by then had progressed to watching Palace from the terraces. But, 4 days later Palace were away at Brighton! He wouldn't let me go on the train down, or stand in the Away section, I was back in the Press Box where he could keep an eye on me!
Dad covered all local sports, including Croydon FC, ( and the very near FACup giant killing of Millwall in 1979, draw at Selhurst, lost AET at the Den), Boxing (Clinton and Leon McKenzie) and so much more
I could keep typing and really do have lots of interesting Palace stories.
He enjoyed a great rapport with the supporters, as he was also one of them.
Dad had not been well for some years and was unable to leave the house. But, he followed all the scores and listened to the reports and news I had to share. The 3-1 win on Sat was a lovely finale.
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Dad won an award for the Advertiser Supplement he produced when Palace got to Cup Final in 1990, i think this photo is from that eve
Up The Palace
Andrew McClelland
I was very lucky to grow up with dad as a sports journalist. Even as a young kid he would take me to all the Palace games and after the matches I would stand in some corridor, corner of a press office, or my favourite, by the changing room door as he did his interviews with the players and managers.
Back before the internet and social media, and because Palace were not 'A Big Club' reported in the 'Big' newspapers, The Advertiser was the only place to get all the reports, news and gossip (working alongside John Matthews, John Hulls and others, and latterly with David Groves).
He had lots of stories which I hoped he would record in a memoir, but it did not happen. He got into 'trouble' once with the club, as they disapproved his headline to the report of a game in which Ian Evans scored a hat-trick, "Good 'Evans, A Palace Hattrick!"
He was asked in an interview once the best/most memorable 4 games he saw with Palace; The Fulham promotion game in 69, the Away games at Leeds and Sunderland in the 76 Cup run, and the promotion clincher away at Wrexham in 77. And the thing these all have one thing in common is, he didn't take me to any of them!
One game he did take me to, which showed his 'understanding side' was on the 22nd Oct 1977. On the 18th Oct I had to make an 'appearance' at Bromley Juvenile court and received a 1 year Conditional Discharge sentance. I was 15 and by then had progressed to watching Palace from the terraces. But, 4 days later Palace were away at Brighton! He wouldn't let me go on the train down, or stand in the Away section, I was back in the Press Box where he could keep an eye on me!
Dad covered all local sports, including Croydon FC, ( and the very near FACup giant killing of Millwall in 1979, draw at Selhurst, lost AET at the Den), Boxing (Clinton and Leon McKenzie) and so much more
I could keep typing and really do have lots of interesting Palace stories.
He enjoyed a great rapport with the supporters, as he was also one of them.
Dad had not been well for some years and was unable to leave the house. But, he followed all the scores and listened to the reports and news I had to share. The 3-1 win on Sat was a lovely finale.
To view the link you have to Register or Login
Dad won an award for the Advertiser Supplement he produced when Palace got to Cup Final in 1990, i think this photo is from that eve
Up The Palace
Andrew McClelland
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