Crystal Palace, Dad and me: Special memories that will live with me forever | OneFootball

After his father died over Easter aged 71, a lifelong Crystal Palace supporter returned alone to their seats for Newcastle United, carrying a programme, a Mars bar and tea.

NY Times writes that he cannot recall his first match, but ticket stubs suggest he was four, and they spent almost 30 years at Selhurst every other week.

Shared trips waned when he began covering Palace for The Athletic in August 2019, moving from the stand to the press box. Their final game together was the 0-0 against Bournemouth on 19 April 2025.

His dad’s health declined, yet he kept going. His last attendance came in November, a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United with his brother David, the pair reunited at games in 2024 after 50 years apart.

He recalled ducking under seats as bricks hit a coach leaving Elland Road, and a broken football special to Sunderland that delayed the start. He collected pin badges from those grounds, now kept at home.

Matchdays often began with the train and a half-pint at the Two Brewers. Even after lung-removal surgery in 2007 and the Covid shutdown, he returned on 22 May 2022 to see Wilfried Zaha seal a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

Last season he watched from home as Palace beat Manchester City to win their first major trophy, his son video-calling at the whistle. European nights were beyond him, but messages still flew. On Sunday, Glad All Over rang out and a stoppage-time winner followed. The memories endure.

Source: NY Times