I was 17 then and he did a few things that caused some very mixed reactions. Times were very different then of course, no internet or mobile phones so all we could do was write to the Advertiser or the club.

Glaziers/Eagles - I was against the change but soon came to like the Eagles as Eagles have seagulls for breakfast.

Colours - I was against that and wore a claret & blue scarf for about 10 more years. However it was probably in the 1976 Cup run that I decided I liked the red & blue as we were singing Red & Blue Army etc.

Players nicknames on their backs - thought it was a joke and luckily it only lasted about 2 weeks.

Widening the pitch - seemed like a good idea but then we lost 1-4 at home to Notts County so that went up in smoke.

Zaha, Williams, Murray, Ambrose, Scannell.

A 5-man forward line who scored 3 goals in 10 minutes on 27th September 2011 at .......................

I do remember people sneering at us as "the club that changes it's shirt design".
We were pioneers!

Yes, I am an agent of Satan but my duties are largely ceremonial

I believe the change happened as Big Mal was influenced by Barcelona.

I think the sash kit had something to do with Big Mal's previous club Man City having a similar style away shirt.

A new era of total football is on the way to Selhurst Park!!

Did not like the idea of red and blue at the time as it was completely different to what we had.
I started going in about 70 and it was claret and blue.
used to get mistaken for wet spam.
Used to wear my Crombie and claret and blue scarf with the glaziers badge sown onto the chest pocket.

Big Mal had vision then and wanted to move the club forward and wanted to change the image to something more modern.

Love the red and blue now but still have an affection for our old colours and badge.

I could imagine that we would get confused with West Ham quite often, so in a way it's a good thing we changed. I don't think there are any other clubs in London that play in red and blue.

But in a way it's also a shame. The claret and blue was out history, a nod to Aston Villa who lent us their kit when we first started up.

I'm tough. I'm ambitious. I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, I'm OK with that.

I remember as a kid feeling that the claret and blue shirts had an old fashioned feel about them. I associated the colours and design with some previous era that included woodbines, rationing and brylcream. So I agreed with Mal. Still think it was right decision.
And would you like to go back to shouting "up the Glaziers"?

Yes, I am an agent of Satan but my duties are largely ceremonial