Crystal Palace is one of the most popular football clubs in the UK. Based in Croydon, South London, the club sees support from across the country and beyond, with supporters following the club with dedication and football betting fans regularly backing the team.
Like many UK football clubs, Crystal Palace has a lengthy, storied background full of twists, turns, and incredible sporting drama. We’ve documented the history of this legendary club to give you a sense of where it has come from, where it is now, and where it could be heading in the future.
The Beginnings of Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace Football Club began life as an amateur cricket team in 1857. The team eventually switched from cricket to football and formed the Crystal Palace amateur football club in 1861.
The club was named after the surrounding area, rich in sports facilities, and home to the Crystal Palace Park and Exhibition building.
The amateur club was instrumental in founding the Football Association, formed in 1863, and played in the inaugural FA Cup, where the team reached the semi-finals, losing out to Royal Engineers.
Formation of the Professional Club
The owners of the Crystal Palace amateur team, The Crystal Palace Company, decided to form a professional football club as the financial potential of the sport became increasingly apparent.
The professional Crystal Palace Football Club was formed in 1905 and joined the Second Division of the Southern League.
The club remained in the lower leagues for the next few decades before eventually being promoted to the top flight in 1960. In 1962, Crystal Palace played Spanish titans Real Madrid in a friendly, marking the first time the Spanish side had played in London.
A Period of Turmoil
From 1973, Crystal Palace bounced between the divisions. They toiled in the lower leagues for some time but gained promotion back into the top flight in 1989. The following year, Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup Final, where they reached a stalemate with Manchester United before eventually being defeated in a replay.
The club remained in the top flight for the formation of the modern Premier League in 1992 but was relegated that season and fell back into what was then Division 1, now The Championship.
Administration
After owner Mark Goldberg failed to sustain financial support, Crystal Palace went into administration in 1999. Despite emerging from this financial crisis, the club remained in the lower tiers and almost faced relegation into the third division.
Promotion Back Into the Premier League
Crystal Palace eventually secured promotion back into the Premier League in 2013, where they have remained since. In 2016, the club reached the FA Cup Final, where Manchester United again defeated them in a 1 – 2 loss.
Crystal Palace Today
When the 2022 – 2023 season kicked off, Crystal Palace were managed by Patrick Viera. However, after several disappointing results, Viera was sacked and replaced by former manager Roy Hodgson.
As things stand, Crystal Palace sit 11th in the table with 40 points. They shouldn’t be in danger of relegation, so fans will be eager to see the club remain in the Premier League for next season and potentially push for a coveted European spot.
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