A Crystal Palace FA Cup win would mean so much more than 10 years of monotony

Metro

17-05-2025

Crystal Palace take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday. It will be either the greatest or worst day of my life so far.
The Eagles have been waiting for this moment since they were founded in 1905 (or 1861 depending on what history you follow).
The chance to win a first major trophy – no Dad, the 1991 Zenith Data Systems Cup does not count – and play in Europe for the first time ever – again Dad, the Intertoto Cup does not count.
Chances like these do not come every day for us. Only twice before have we reached the FA Cup final, in 1990 and 2016, on both occasions losing to Manchester United.
Given the current state of the Red Devils, we'd much rather be taking them on instead of the blue-half of Manchester, a club who spent more money in January than we did in the last three seasons combined.
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I could go to great depths to describe how David will beat Goliath at Wembley, with a sturdy defence marshalled by Marc Guehi and Dean Henderson, while Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell bomb up and down the wing.
Adam Wharton will pull the strings in midfield, behind an attack of Eberechi Eze, who has been scoring for fun this cup run, unlikely hero Ismaila Sarr and, of course, Jean-Phillipe Mateta – ain't no striker better.
My dad is in no doubt that we'll be lifting the trophy. Me on the other hand… 'consistently inconsistent' is a phrase I often use to describe Palace's form. Humiliate arch-rivals Brighton at their ground one week, get humiliated 5-1 by Arsenal at home the next.
I could not predict what will happen today nor for the sake of my anxiety do I want to. But this isn't really about what happens on the pitch.
It's what it means to myself, my dad, the thousands of supporters about to walk up Wembley way and all those across the world who gleefully sing Glad All Over.
I didn't get much of a choice regarding what football team I supported. For one, I was born and raised in Croydon – about four miles from Selhurst Park.
My dad, born and raised in Dublin, has supported the South London club since the age of seven – specifically since December 16, 1972 when they beat Man Utd 5-0 as he proudly tells me.
In my lifetime, I've witnessed the Eagles go into administration twice, get relegated from the Premier League, nearly get relegated to the third tier, win promotion back to the top-flight and stay there for 12 years.
During this run, we've never finished higher than 10th or lower than 15th – comfortable but also a little dull to the point where we're almost the Premier League's forgotten team.
Great cup runs are a rarity, while other clubs of a similar stature have embarked on European quests or in the case of Leicester City – actually won something. More Trending
Sure we've had Alan Pardew's dancing, Andros Townsend's worldie against Man City and Frank de Boer's… actually let's not go there. The point is, always the bridesmaid, never the bride, and even then we've rarely been a bridesmaid.
I'd be more than happy for 'consistently inconsistent' to continue. There are worse places to be than mid-table obscurity and no matter what we'll always be the pride of South London, the Selhurst Park terraces home of the best atmosphere in the league.
Yet, I would trade every Wilfried Zaha step-over, every Mateta 'Boom' celebration and every victory against Brighton if it meant lifting the FA Cup today.
We don't get much to celebrate at SE25. Maybe, just maybe we will soon.
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