Superb is the only word. It was just a shame that he suffered from bad health. The football we played in those days was wonderful and I'm not sure I agree with your assertion that the game has changed that much from a 'push and run' perspective. The best teams play it now.

It was much to his credit that he played it successfully in the 4th Division when he could have resorted to ale house football with bad pitches, cloggers and lenient refs.

It was him who brought on the mercurial Johnny Byrne who always had a tendency to rummage around in his shorts rearranging his goolies. Byrne, lived closer to the ground than anyone in Wrights Road, but typically was always late for training, which took place at Selhurst then, and I can vividly remember him skipping onto the pitch after everyone including Arthur Rowe, and wishing a cheeky and cheery, "Morning Mr Rowe!" whilst doing his usual rummaging exercise. Great stuff.

lo Selhurst silva felix, lo Selhurst cara nutrix, viget, vigeat, vigebit! Best team:- Jackson; Gilbert, Evans, Cannon, Sansom; Hughes, Kember, McNichol; Byrne, Holton, Wright.

Stupid boy Pike!

lo Selhurst silva felix, lo Selhurst cara nutrix, viget, vigeat, vigebit! Best team:- Jackson; Gilbert, Evans, Cannon, Sansom; Hughes, Kember, McNichol; Byrne, Holton, Wright.

He was lovely fella and use to let us kids onto the pitch during training sessions at Selhurst where we could kick around with the likes of Johnny Byne,Johnny McNichol,Peter Berry,Tery Long,David Payne,Alan Stephenson,George Petchey....the list goes on.
And one day in 1962 the Real Madrid players run up the tunnel right next to me,to start a training session days before 'That Friendly'

He was really pleasant and the push and run style of play was something special and I'd like to believe it went someway to change the type of football that emerged so popular years on.

It led me to go onto player in the relatively new 4-2-4 system,with a fellow playing partner who joined up with Johnny in South Africa,years later,and then on to manage Malmo and at present the Indian National side.

Obviously our First/Premiership seasons were exceptional,the football the Palace played under his tutor-ledge was a pleasure to watch.
As mentioned,he wasn't in the best of health but he got on with his job and treated us all so well,he was a true legend in our own time.

Edited by eagle in cornwall (03 Nov 2011 7.51pm)

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

Haha I like it...how times have changed....One thing that always stands out for me and I don't know why but Arthur "Mr Rowe" to us,had tiny white spots around his eye lids,I think they're called milk spots now.
Funny how these little things stay in your mind.

Arthur Proudler was a case,he wasn't the greatest player but came across as very stern although funny at times.
I remember during a match he slid over the touch line in an attempt to cross the ball towards the goal line and crashed into the barrier,which I was leaning over at the Whitehorse end.I thought I was smart and said - what you doing down there Arthur - he looked up with a grin and said - Mr 'f*****g Proudler to you son'...no answer to that!!

I recall one morning when the pitch was covered in snow they trained on the car park,big lumps of bricks and other rubble strewn all over it...how dangerous was that?!

But back on topic....Having met pretty much all of the Palace Managers at some point,bar a few,Arthur Rowe earned the greatest respect,you wouldn't see him barking out orders or tearing strips off players,he was always dignified.

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