From 'boom' to bedlam: How I celebrated Crystal Palace's Conference League win with fans at Selhurst Park | OneFootball

Fans who could not make it to Leipzig final flocked to the stadium in their thousands

Whether by plane, train or automobile, Crystal Palace supporters were determined to get to the Conference League final by any means necessary.

For those who were unable to make it to Leipzig, though, the party atmosphere was brought to south London as more than 10,000 supporters flocked to Selhurst Park to watch the Eagles in their first European final.

On a night where history beckoned, a sense of anticipation lined the streets as Palace supporters descended on the Holmesdale Road.

A sign outside the Clifton Arms pub read “keep the faith strong”, a nudge to supporters to keep their cool in what was always expected to be a cagey final, but also a reminder of how much they have been through over the course of an arduous campaign.

Perhaps supporters were giddy at being allowed to drink beer in view of the pitch, or maybe it was just the sense of occasion, but long before the sun set, the atmosphere was building.

Four giant screens surrounded the perimeter of the pitch, with the crowd responding in jest every time a Palace player was mentioned on the TNT Sports coverage.

Adam Wharton, fit enough to start against Rayo Vallecano, was a particularly popular presence on the screens, and his delightfully composed performance helped settle some early nerves inside the stadium.

Half-time was rather subdued, Tyrick Mitchell’s gilt-edged miss still fresh in supporters’ memories, so Palace called on the big guns to rouse the crowd.

Darren Ambrose, scorer of the infamous goal that knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup quarter-finals in 2011, was the man to provide some perspective.

Just 16 years ago, Palace had been on the brink of liquidation, he reminded supporters.

Re-energised and refreshed, fans did not have to wait long before the deadlock was broken six minutes into the second half.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal, following in after Wharton’s shot had been parried, was met with a rapturous ‘Boooom’ from the same four stands that months prior had been happy to boo the French striker after it became clear he wanted to leave the club in January.

Mateta’s goal gave Palace lift off, and those inside Selhurst Park could begin to relax, even if the Eagles squandered a number of excellent opportunities to double their lead.

As the clock ticked down, the noise inside the stadium grew. A sense of expectation slowly crept around the stands.

The final whistle unleashed bedlam, and security guards were powerless to do anything as fans stormed the pitch to bask in the celebrations.

The scenes at full-time were joyous, heady and uplifting. Fathers danced with daughters, and best friends were reduced to kids again. Ironically, the children on the pitch were the most composed of anyone.

Matchwinner: Jean-Philippe Mateta

Getty

They have seen three trophies in the space of 12 formative months, while their parents and grandparents have waited generations for success on this scale. It has not always been this way. They will surely be reminded.

In one final unifying act, the gaggle of red and blue shirts that had swarmed all over the pitch in abundant, inebriated celebration, huddled together to watch the trophy lift.

The moments before Dean Henderson hoisted the trophy aloft were the quietest the stadium had been all evening, as though Palace fans were anxious that UEFA might strip them of the title just as they did their place in the Europa League last year.

The roar that followed, though, echoed through south London. Nights like these are history in the making.