Well done sir.. I was there too, abandoned at half-time by Roger "Mr Pickwick" Kirkpatrick. Went to the rematch where we were well beaten, got a lift on a team coach to Doncaster station and a lift in another coach from Kings Cross to Victoria to catch the train back to Folkestone.. Heady days.

Steve Lovell appointed manager of Isthmian League side Herne Bay. Assisted by his son...

I had to google his name as I thought he had more i's in his surname, I have a team sheet from the first friendly that he played in.. spelt with 3 i's. so it confused a lot of people.

Memories of that game at Lincoln (the first one). It was ok all the way up on the train, but then the snowed appeared and we (5 of us) thought this wont be on.. got to Lincoln station around 11, Police said inspection at 12, so time for a lemonade!. 12 came, deffo on, 2 o'clock off to the ground, pitch was white, orange balls (well it was cold), we scored and 1-0 at half-time. Kirkpatrick came back out and waddled around a bit more, then that was it. Off.
Lincoln honoured the tickets for the rematch, so it was churlish not to go.. Steve Brennan scored for us in the 2nd game (without actually checking my facts here). Crikey 45 years on what a memory!! (now why have I just gone upstairs?)..

Edited by Ektaff1 (30 Mar 2022 11.31am)

Steve Lovell appointed manager of Isthmian League side Herne Bay. Assisted by his son...

Must have been in the late 90s, can't remember who we were playing but they were on the attack and to clear, Patterson absolutely bladdered the ball into the Arthur, right in my direction. I thought it would be a good idea to catch it.

It wasn't.

Spent the next month in a cast with a broken wrist.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

I would say:

Martin Hinshelwood - knit together the Fedora team, a player you didn't notice until he wasn't there. His absence was the single biggest reason we never got going vs. Southampton in the '76 FA Cup Semi Final.

John Humphrey - never popular because of the Charlton thing (we got him more or less in lieu of the rent), but what a solid player.

Pembo - should be mentioned more, considering the famous commentary clip. A character as well.

Dave Madden - Coppell never really fancied him, which is a pity because the lad could spray the ball around.

John McCormick - the man was built of absolute granite. Week in, week out during those four years he never gave less than 100%. Blyth was the flash and style in that centre back partnership but McCormick was the substance.

Rachid - he is mentioned (at least by everyone who was lucky enough to see him) but not by many who didn't. An absolute one-off. When he got the ball, you had absolutely no idea what he'd do next but it was always outrageous. Some of the time, it was outrageously awful but some of the time he did things it would never even occur to other players to try. And when they came off...unforgettable.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

I've mentioned him a few times on this site, but I was a big fan of David Wright. Burley bought him to play at left back, but when Paul Hart and Doogie used him as a defensive midfielder he was a revelation. His positional sense was amazing, though he wasn't the most skillful - I think Doogie played him as a sort of sweeper some times - moves would break down on the wing and he'd pop up to recieve a pass to keep the move going, defenders would push up too far he'd sweep up behind them, and he'd get on the end of balls into the box. He looked like one of those lesser players who could become a great manager/coach to me - he said he learnt his positioning playing total football under Dario Gradi at Crewe. Would always go to applaud Palace fans away, and was totally professional in his approach. he is assistant manager at MK Dons now - and they have improved sincew his arrival. When he gets the top job at some league two side have a quid each way on whoever the team is at massive odds, and you can buy me a drink with the winnings.

A few years ago I had parked my car in Idmiston Road and was just walking away when someone called out to me. He'd noticed the Palace sticker on the windscreen and told me he was Ricky Heppolette. He must have been in his late-sixties and I certainly wouldn't have recognised him. Sad to say, he didn't look that prosperous, but he was keen to be friendly.