My first ever Crystal Palace football match, I was just 11 and went with lad who was 12 to celebrate my birthday on 23rd!!!!x!! This is my 50th season.... who else was at that match??
We play Arsenal away on 20th April, would be great for Special day at the "Library" of football lol

Saturday 19th April 1969

Crystal Palace 3-2 Fulham

League Division Two – Att: 36,126

Manager: Bert Head

The Glaziers were promoted to the top flight for the very first time in a dramatic match at Selhurst Park. A point would be enough to secure Palace promotion over local rivals Charlton, but the visitors raced into a 0-2 lead through goals from Brian Dear and Frank Large.

Palace came storming back, and goals from Steve Kember and Mark Lazarus levelled proceedings before Cliff Jackson sealed the win and promotion. Just like in 1961 (above), ultimately the result didn’t matter as Charlton lost 1-0 at home to Preston.

Rather fittingly, this turned out to be Johnny Byrne’s last ever game in English football. The Palace legend lined up for Fulham on the day and would move to Durban City in the summer – no doubt delighted that his boyhood team had found their way to the top flight.

Before the match, the Palace Dolly Girls lined up in front of the Main Stand to receive orchids from the players.

Attachment: cpfc-promoted-1969_1.jpg (94.96Kb)

First of all, may I congratulate you, A1969, on reaching your 50 years of supporting Palace. If you hadn't have posted I would have completely missed my own 50 years anniversary. My first match as a 10 year old was two weeks earlier - Palace v Portsmouth on 5th April 1969.

As we're away to Newcastle on the corresponding fixture I may just celebrate at home with a beer or two.

I've never known a season where we aren't pushing for promotion or desperately trying to avoid relegation. It's always exciting.

What I love about this forum is that the fans are passionate - no matter how long they have been supporting the team. We're all part of one (generally) happy family who follow our team through thick and thin.

At some point, hopefully everyone on the forum will celebrate 50 years of supporting our boys (if they haven't already passed that milestone). A big sisterly kiss to everyone on HOL (I'll put the whisky bottle away now).

Well done for getting this far, I passed mine nearly 5yrs ago, still glutton for punishment & wouldn't have it any other way.

24/10/64: Newcastle 2-0 Palace(I was 8yrs old)

Edited by eagleman13 (15 Feb 2019 8.11am)

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.

I've just worked out mine was not quite 29 years ago. God that makes me feel old.

I can still remember the game like it was yesterday. In the Arthur with my Dad, we beat Liverpool 1-0 with a goal from Bright.

Before the game I remember my Dad warning me to not get too excited as the season before they'd beat us 9-0. I must have been 7 years old.

I don't know how you lot remember that far back and what game it was...all I can remember about my first game, it was either the 1961/2 season or the 1962/3 season.I was 5 or 6 years old.

No idea who we played but seeing the Selhurst Park pitch for the first time gave me the goosebumps.....still get them occasionally.

I feel like a baby as my first match was Liverpool this year

Congs for 50 years. Remarkable period.