It’s how it’s always been I suppose, especially when palace were only 3rd division. When I was a kid living in Bromley five miles from Selhurst it was all Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc, all the usuals, anyone but their local team.
In fact kids used to laugh at me and my mate because in the school playground when we were pretending to be certain players, they all wanted to be Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish Liam Brady etc, we picked Barry Silkman and Rachid Harkouk we were always proud though, because we actually went to games

You’re a better fan than me though, I moan and groan about the 42 mile drive from where I live now, I’m pretty certain I wouldn’t be travelling from where you live.