With Spurs just under a week away, it got me thinking about everyone's most memorable opening game. Unfortunately, amongst the positives like Burnley, the most memorable for me is the 6-1 thrashing by Liverpool in 94-95.

I don't think I had ever been as confident about a season and I remember reading beforehand on Ceefax (!) that Alan Smith was aiming for a top 6 finish. Darren Pitcher - who turned into one of my favourite players - probably had the worst debuts I'd ever seen of a Palace player.

It was just an utter disaster.

I remember that game well. We'd won the Division 1 title and everyone was so fired up for the new season. Then Liverpool arrived, Ray Wilkins played his only half hour for us, and the game was a total disaster. What a "welcome back" that was.

I was just recalling the game a couple of days ago. 1969, Palace had made it to Division 1 for the first time ever. The opponents, Manchester United.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNQl4oUovgE">Link </a>

Just look at the Man U team for the day:

<a href="http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/match_data/match_sql.php?my_match_date=1969-08-09">Link </a>
A Selhurst crowd of over 48000. A lovely sunny August day. What more could a Palace fan want? A point? We got it.

A better game? My favourite game ever at Selhust: Palace 5 Man U 0
The noise on that misty and magical afternoon was just unbelievable:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRPvJ-fYqDA">Link </a>

Feeling low? Watch Palace beat Man Utd 5-0: [Link]

I remember us beating Barnsley 4-3 in the mid-90's, I think it was when ray Lewington was gaffer!!
I was also there when we beat millwall 3-0 at the den in 1977,which was memorable,if a little scary for a 12 year

1969.........palace 2 man utd 2

Home to Notts County in 1973, but for the wrong reasons!

After Malcolm Allison took us down in 1972-3 he promised we would only spend one season in the old second division, and I think we all thought we would be strong favourites to bounce straight back.

A home 1-4 defeat by Notts County was so humiliating (especially as it was my uncle's home team). And of course we did only spend one season in Division Two, but not in the way Big Mal expected!

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand!

My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right.

(Member of the School of Optimism 1969-2016 inclusive)