August 22 2005

Selhurst Park

Jamesey mourns the passing of a Palace fan for whom the phrase "red-and-blue all the way through" could have been minted

It was a strange and sad feeling for me at the Plymouth Argyle game (Aug 20).

The seat on my right in Players Lounge Block H of the main stand was not occupied by its long-time owner, Penny Terry.

Sadly Penny died a few days earlier after an illness that had gradually become more debilitating.

She was 78 and had been a Palace supporter since the 1950s when a friend had taken her to a game. She loved it and was well and truly hooked.

Penny was from Germany originally, married a British man and they came to live in England.

Although she lived here for most of her life, she never lost that distinctive Teutonic twang.

I first met her when, fed up with escalating violence in the unsegregated Arthur Wait, I moved to the Main Stand (then the Members' Stand and Palace-only) in the mid-80s.

The crowds were so small in those days that everyone knew everybody else in their block and it wasn't long before I got to know that handsome and immaculate lady (she must have been a real heart-breaker in her day).

She told me that one season when she was younger, she and a companion had been to every home and away game on the fixture list. Quite a tall order!

Eventually I changed my seat to sit next to her and not only looked forward to the football but also to her most agreeable company.

Penny had a ready wit and could come out with some pithy remarks, quite unbefitting a distinguished and senior gentlelady.

As age and illness took their toll, she found it more difficult to climb the steps to our seats (in row 28, as high as you can go) but she refused to change and gritted her teeth, gripped her walking stick and made it to the top, time and time again.

After a dismal year, in and out of hospital, she didn't feel well enough to get to the opening game against Luton Town (Aug 6).

Penny wouldn't have thought much of the football (did any of us?) but she would just have loved being at Selhurst for the first game of a new season.

Goodbye, Penny, it was a pleasure and privilege to have known you.

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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