I am not into poetry, but found this online today. A poem written by John J O'Conner. Some good memories for those of us from that age and era. Worth a read including the explanations at the very end.
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Live the dream.

1968 - My first game at Palace as well.

Stirred up a lot of memories. My first game was early in 1968-69 season against Derby County. We lost 2-1. Cloughie's champion team, but nobody knew him then. 9 years old. Spent most of the game running up and then rolling down the grassy bank which was above the terrace at the top of the Whitehorse end back then (for the rest of that season anyway).

By the end of the season I was a little fanatic, up the front with all the other kids banging on the hoardings and "Whoooooaaaaooooing" when the opposition goalie took a goal kick, and singing "Oooooh it's a corner, Ooooooh it's a corner!" when we got one. Loving being in amongst the grown-ups who swore so freely and yelled such funny things at the ref and the players. The elation of the win against Fulham and on the pitch with the crowd cheering Bert Head and the team up in the director's box in the Old Stand - to be repeated 10 years hence for Venables and the team of the '80s.

Arrived at the Man Utd game in August '69 at around Midday with a fellow 10 year old -Chris Hatton. We stood outside the Whitehorse gates in amongst hundreds of Man U fans. If we'd been 5 years older they would have probably kicked s*** out of us, but they were no bother. Couldn't understand them though. They got impatient and knocked down the corrugated iron gate and swarmed in, and Chris and I were literally swept off our feet and into the ground. Some of them stayed in the Whitehorse and others just walked across the pitch and took over the Holmesdale end.

Some people say the 70's were a bit naff, but living through them as a teenager and going to the Palace was brilliant.

Photo - me and a mate, Pete Thorne, - taken at Victoria station in 1976 on the day of Southampton semi-final at Stamford Bridge.

We are the goon squad and we're going to town. Beep Beep!

I remember a tuesday night game late 60's or early 70's when we played Leicester (or was it Stoke?) but Gordon Banks was in goal.

From the Holmesdale we bombarded his goal with bog rolls and he kept chucking them back... it was a great laugh. Fantastic keeper.

I also remember Wolves on a night match and Derek Dougan playing. He looked sharp and had fantastic skills.

I really enjoyed reading that and the memories came flooding back,Never forget shovels goal which somehow Sprake let drop over his hands.
Our eldest was born on the Wednesday before we gained promotion on the Saturday against Fulham in 1969.

So I guess I'm older than most as I started going to Selhurst in the early 50s...but I was very young!!!
Seen plenty of highs and lows but that decade was a bit special.

........................Then along came Johnny Byrne! and the rest, as they say, is history.....................