Growing up, apart from the Peru-esk red and blue sash, there was nothing really notable and appealing about Crystal Palace. Spending some time in division three in the early 70s, the club lingered around the second tier for some time before briefly spending time in the top tier in the later seventies and early nineties, yoyoing like a West Bromwich Albion on a parachute payment fix.
In the late 70s, Crystal Palace had an iconic football strip, manufactured by Admiral, and it’s one of my all-time favourite shirts – https://shop.cpfc.co.uhttps://shop.cpfc.co.uk/macron-kit/retrokits/retrokits/1561_retro-1978-admiral-home-shirt.htmlk/macron-kit/retrokits/retrokits/1561_retro-1978-admiral-home-shirt.html. If you recall, you’ll probably agree that this retro shirt was pretty awesome.
However, today, Crystal Palace are fashionable for other reasons. They are a more established club now, and with over two decades of permanent residence in the top tier of English football, they are the antithesis of Nottingham Forest.
London Trends
Despite being a trendy London brand, The Eagles are yet to establish themselves as a real Premiership force. West Ham have since become a more likeable London club for neutrals where, under the inconsistency of David Moyes, they have become European Champions – well, sort of – and since demanded a position within the top half of the league.
Nottingham Forest Versus CrystalPalace – 1990
I didn’t witness my first Forest versus Palace game until February 1990. Despite finishing with a trophy – League Cup Final: NFFC 1 – 0 Oldham Athletic – the 1989-90 season looked rather inconsistent on paper. Finishing 9th with only one win from the first seven games, it looked as if the season would be one long slog – a bit like this one.
Another familiar feeling was the F.A. Cup 1-0 defeat at home to a certain Manchester United….in the 3rd round. Ouch!
Losing to Wimbledon – remember them? – Coventry City twice (2-4 at home), at home to Sheffield Wednesday, a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Everton, and defeats against QPR and away to today’s visitors, the early signs weren’t entirely encouraging for The Reds.
Nottingham Forest 3 – Crystal Palace 1
By the time Forest beat Crystal Palace that year with a 3-1 win at home, which included goals from Cloughie’s son, Nigel, Steve Hodge and Nigel Jemson, Forest had already put in some better performances with away wins against Spurs and Wimbledon, a 2-0 win against Southampton, a 3-1 win against Millwall, and a hard-fought 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool.
The Palace game wasn’t as significant as today’s but I will take a 3-1 win all day. If I recall, Forest dominated the game and there was never any doubt with regards to the outcome.
The following season, Ian Wright left for Arsenal and we all know what a success story that was for the former England striker who also put in a few shifts wearing the Garibaldi.
Forest will have to be as clinical as Ian Wright at his peak, positive in their approach this afternoon and provide similar composure in front of goal; no schoolboy errors at the back and no sloppy defending from set-pieces.
Larry the Legend
Going slightly off-topic, my first-ever game as a young supporter at the City Ground was a 3-1 win against York City in the F.A. Cup 4th Round, in 1979. In the 15th minute of that game, on that snow-covered afternoon in January, Forest’s first goal was an unorthodox screamer from our centre-half; one of the miracle men. That goal was scored by a Forest legend………. Larry Lloyd.
R.I.P. Larry… and COYR!
Todays Prediction: Let’s keep with the positive theme of Nottingham Forest 3-1 Crystal Palace.
