Crystal Palace Vs Leicester City

Matchday 73 proved to be one of the most challenging in our quest to visit all 92 Football League grounds. Securing tickets for Crystal Palace was particularly difficult due to the club’s membership-only ticket policy, which posed a financial challenge for non-members like us. Fortunately, back in April, I was able to get in touch with the Chief of Staff, who offered assistance with tickets. By June, it was confirmed that we would be granted discounted tickets, and as an added gesture, Liam would be able to watch the players pitchside – an exciting promise that made the long wait worthwhile.

However, as the game approached, communication with the Chief of Staff became increasingly sporadic. After several unanswered calls and messages, I finally received a reply just two days before the match, with assurances that the ticket office would be in touch soon. By 15:00 the day before the game, I took the initiative and contacted the ticket office directly. Thankfully, after a lot of back and forth, we were able to secure tickets, albeit without the promised discount or pitchside access. It was a frustrating experience, but at least we were all set to visit Selhurst Park.

I had planned to catch the only direct train from Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone, departing at 08:19, which meant an early start for us. This schedule would give us a few hours of free time in London, so we aimed to visit one, maybe two, Wetherspoons locations—a custom that has become a regular part of our trips.

The train service operated by Chiltern Railways was staffed by Train Managers Stephen, Robin, and, for the majority of the journey, Dean. All three did a fantastic job, but special recognition goes to Dean, who managed the very busy train exceptionally well, with impressive customer service, particularly during his interactions with a disabled passenger. He truly is a credit to the company.

We arrived in London on time and waited for a friend who I knew would be in Marylebone. While waiting, we grabbed a hot drink and some doughnuts from Greggs. My friend Chris eventually arrived later than planned, but it was great to catch up for 20 minutes before we headed for a short 15-minute walk to our first Wetherspoons, The Metropolitan Bar. It took us a little while to find it, as it wasn’t clearly marked on Google Maps, but once inside, we appreciated the architecture. It wasn’t too busy, and we managed to settle in with a beer while Liam enjoyed pizza and orange juice. We even tried to post a video to let people know we’d be there for an hour if anyone wanted to buy us a drink, but the signal wasn’t great. Thanks to Gus and Rona for treating us to some goodies—your generosity is very much appreciated!

At 13:00, we decided to head toward the ground. This involved taking the tube from Baker Street to London Victoria, changing at Oxford Circus. The journey was quick, involving just two short stops on each leg of the tube ride. Once at Victoria, we checked off another Wetherspoon, this time the one located right on the main concourse of the station called Wetherspoons Victoria. I treated myself to my favourite beer, HPA, while Liam decided to pass on another drink.

Afterward, we took a busy but comfortable train to our final destination, Selhurst. The station was only a short 15-minute walk from the stadium. On the way, we picked up a souvenir scarf and a matchday programme before heading to the turnstiles with only about 35 minutes until kick-off.

We queued for around 10 minutes to get through the turnstiles, and what struck me immediately was how packed the area inside was. The narrow concourse was crammed with fans due to the catering kiosks being positioned right by the entrance, which made navigating through the crowd a nightmare. To make matters worse, the door to our section was closed, despite signage directing us to use it. This forced us to backtrack through the crowds, adding to the frustration.

Once we finally made it to our seats, we were left with just 20 minutes until kick-off. The view, however, was incredible—aisle seats, second row, nearly at the halfway line. Not bad at all for tickets booked the day before at 15:00! We were also seated right next to the away fans’ section, which created an electric atmosphere.

The pre-match build-up was fantastic, with a fire and smoke display, accompanied by a few fireworks. Both sets of fans did their best to create an amazing atmosphere, but I have to give credit to the Leicester City supporters—they out-sang the home fans for much of the match.

On to the game itself: Crystal Palace dominated much of the play, but sloppy defending allowed Leicester to take a 1-0 lead into half-time. A disastrous start to the second half saw Leicester double their lead just 21 seconds after the restart, capitalizing on more poor defending.

The sun was blazing down on Selhurst Park, and with Palace trailing 2-0, it looked like a tough afternoon for the home side. However, Palace pulled one back shortly after, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. After a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned, and the goal was given, sparking wild celebrations in the stands. With over 40 minutes still to play, there was renewed hope for Palace.

Despite constant pressure, it seemed like time was running out for the home team. That was until injury time, when Crystal Palace was awarded a penalty. With Mateta already on the scoresheet, he calmly slotted his second goal of the match, securing a dramatic 2-2 draw. The atmosphere at the end was incredible, as fans erupted in joy over the late equalizer.

The journey home was less enjoyable. Exiting the stadium was chaotic, as the narrow exits and the large crowd created bottlenecks. Ironically, the door that had been closed before the game was now open, which would have saved a lot of hassle earlier.

As we followed the crowd to the station, the entrance was severely congested, and it took much longer than expected to reach the ticket barriers. However, we managed to sneak down the side of the queue, and within five minutes, we were inside the station—quicker than if we had waited at the back, though it felt a bit cheeky!

The train back to London Victoria was packed but manageable, and we arrived at Victoria after a 15-minute journey with only two stops. Liam was craving a McFlurry, so we made a quick stop at McDonald’s before continuing our journey.

Back on the underground, we encountered a large queue at the barriers due to reports of overcrowding on the platforms. Despite the CCTV showing the platforms were relatively empty, we waited around 10 minutes before the barriers were opened, allowing us to catch our train to London Marylebone.

We made a mad dash through the barriers and managed to squeeze onto the very front carriage of the waiting train. It was absolutely packed, and we had to stand the entire way to Leamington Spa. The train was boiling, a stark contrast to our comfortable morning journey. Finally, we arrived back at Birmingham Moor Street, where we dashed across to the adjacent platform and caught our final train home to Stourbridge Junction, arriving just after 21:00—13 hours after our day began.

It was a huge relief to tick Selhurst Park off the list, and now we look ahead to Matchday 74: Mansfield Town vs Bradford City on the 17th of September.

5 Facts About Selhurst Park:

1. Opened in 1924, Selhurst Park has been the home of Crystal Palace for a century.
2. The stadium’s current capacity is 25,486, making it one of the smaller Premier League venues.
3. Selhurst Park hosted the 1948 Summer Olympics football matches, adding historical significance to its legacy.
4. The ground features the Holmesdale Road Stand, which is renowned for housing some of the loudest and most passionate Palace supporters.
5. In addition to football, Selhurst Park has also hosted other events, including concerts by famous artists like Elton John