50 years ago on 19th April 1969,
I went to my first Crystal Palace match, I had been asking for ages to be able to go and then as my birthday was days away, I was allowed.
Palace had an amazing season but needed to beat Fulham (who were already relegated- pressure off for them) to get promoted behind Derby. Stadium was packed but being that I got there early I got a position next to tunnel (perfect for later on) as I was a small boy!!.

Half Time Palace 0. Fulham 2.
Palace were very nervous... and it showed.
2nd half was amazing, Palace team came out and played out of there skins and we won 3-2.
Palace was promoted to the top league for their 1st ever time. The fans were all on the pitch.. the players went up in the stand and saluted the crowd, I was just below them... It was an amazing experience.

Now Ive seen more lows than highs at Palace but they are my team because they are my local Surrey team (not Crawley -West Sussex). I didn't choose a team in far off land or become a tourist fan, because they were successful, I had been following my local team for years as a little boy....
Palace will never be considered a Top 6 team (although we can all dream), although they came 3rd in 1991, but they are my team and as the saying say, "LOUD & Proud to be a Palace Fan".
So what ever happens I will always be a Palace fan and will enjoy the occasional big nights when we win.
BUT I will never forget 19/4/69!!

Yes, I was there for that Fulham game.

Only started supporting Palace at the end of 1966/67 season, so I didn't have to wait long for a bit of glory !

As I was brought up in Bromley, I chose Palace over the other local teams, Charlton and Millwall. A decision I've never regretted.

Old, Ungifted and White

I was certainly there, and I still remember one newspaper report saying "It was a great party, with poor old Fulham the invited but unwanted guests". Poor old Fulham, indeed - they finished bottom of the table. And poor Johnny Byrne, in what was his last ever game on a pitch which he had graced for so long and on which he had provided such pleasure and excitement to the Palace crowd.

Yes, i was there, sad to see an overweight Budgie Byrne in a Fulham shirt. If my memory serves me right i think Cliff Jackson scored the winner

Yes I had been going for about 4 years. Is it my imagination or was there standing in front of the main stand in those days or am I having a senior moment. Ps who could forget Mark Lazarus

There was.