May 16 2005

Premiership

Well our 2-2 draw with Charlton (May 15) wasn't enough but what an exciting afternoon. Jamesey has mixed feelings about our descent to the second tier.

Well, it gives me no pleasure at all to be right on this occasion. But, as I have frequently said in this column over the past few months, I did not expect to stay up. Mind you, it could have gone any way today.

But, having said that, I have enjoyed our single season at the top level far more than my last two experiences (94-95 and 97-98).

Perhaps, not having high expectations allows one to relax and just enjoy playing the cream of the English league.

And some of our home results were a great pleasure to watch (Arsenal, Tottenham and Man U).

When you are relegated (and in my long history as a Palace supporter I have plenty of experience of that) you always start to think - if only we had won this or that game rather than draw, it could have all been different.

If only we had won rather than drawn our two games against fellow-strugglers Norwich and Southampton, we would probably have been safe.

But "if" is a big word and we are down and that's that.

I give a few thoughts on a sweet and sour season below.

10 things I'll miss

1. Watching the best footballers in England doing their stuff at Selhurst every couple of weeks.

2. Seeing 20,000-plus crowds at home regularly.

3. Getting the opportunity to travel to world-famous arenas like Old Trafford, Anfield, St James and Highbury.

4. Reading big-headline reports of our games in all the newspapers.

5. Chatting to waiters and taxi-drivers in Greece who had heard of "Creestal Pallas" because of Vasilis Lakis.

6. Listening to good banter from the packed away supporters area.

7. Being on Match of the Day on a Saturday night.

8. Letting all the Chelsea "supporters" in my neighbourhood know that I actually watch live Premiership football.

9. Not seeing a Palace player in the England squad (Andy Johnson obviously won't be playing in the second tier or whatever it's called now).

10. Win or lose, just enjoying being part of one of the world's top football leagues.

10 things I won't miss

1. Playing so few games - at least we'll have more to watch, plus the play-offs to aim for.

2. Some of the unpleasant people at Selhurst who seem to emerge whenever we are in the top league.

3. Crowded trains to and from the match and long queues outside my favourite fish and chip shop.

4. Winning only one away league match all season.

5. Being patronised by the media on "plucky little Palace" lines.

6. Being a small fish in a big pool.

7. Listening to Danny Baker bleating about how lucky Millwall are not to be getting stuffed every week like Palace (sour grapes with a vengeance).

8. Hardly playing at all in the evening.

9. Receiving tons of hate mail from Tottenham supporters after being jubilant in this column following our 3-0 victory.

10. To be honest, being out of our class and struggling to stay above water.

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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