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South London throwback: Crystal Palace 80s & 90s

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The infamous Holmesdale terrace at Crystal Palace was demolished nearly 30 years ago, but it’s legacy lives on thanks to The Eagles’ renowned fanatical home support.

A whole host of memories come flooding back with a fan’s eye view of scenes captured from the heart of the Palace supporters, and featured on the long standing Palace fan site, Holmesdale.net.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Charlton. 26.12.84.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Charlton. Selhurst Park. 26.12.84. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 1-3 Reading 27.9.86.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Reading. Selhurst Park. 27.09.86. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 0 1987 Leeds fans
Leeds fans packed into the corner of Selhurst. Crystal Palace 1-0 Leeds United. 27.03.87. Leeds fans outnumber palace 10-1. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 0 1987
Crystal Palace 1-0 Leeds United. Selhurst Park. 27.03.87. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 0 1987 bright header
Crystal Palace 1-0 Leeds United. Selhurst Park. 27.03.87. Mark Bright wins his header whilst a young Ian Wright looks on. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Brighton Crystal Palace. 0-2 20.4.87.
Not so local rivals: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Crystal Palace. The Goldstone Ground. 20.04.87. Palace and Brighton’s rivalry dates back to the 1970s. when the two clubs clashed in the old Third Division. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 2-0 Manchester City. 07.05.88.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Manchester City. Selhurst Park. 07.05.88. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Millwall 1-1 Crystal Palace. 12.3.88.
Millwall 1-1 Crystal Palace. The Old Den. 12.03.88. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 3-0 Bournemouth. 02.4.88.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Bournemouth. Selhurst Park. 02.04.88. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 4-1 Birmingham City. 13.5.89.
Crystal Palace 4-1 Birmingham City. Selhurst Park. 13.5.89. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 2-0 Swindon. 1989.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Swindon. Selhurst Park. 24.05.89. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 1-0 Wimbledon. 1990.
Wimbledon 0-1 Crystal Palace. Plough Lane. 02.03.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online

The all standing Holmesdale terrace was flattened in 1994, but not before it had established itself with a reputation for housing some of the most ardent, dedicated followers, capable of producing a pulsating atmosphere, sending the Eagles soaring to fresh heights.

Crystal palace Holmesdale stand
The Last Stand: Palace fans in the famous Holmesdale terrace before itwas demolished in 1994 and replaced a year later with a two-tiered 8,500 capacity stand. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal palace Holmesdale stand
The Last Stand: The Holmesdale terrace was demolished in 1994 and replaced a year later with a two-tiered 8,500 capacity stand. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal palace Holmesdale stand
The Last Stand: The old entrance to The Holmesdale Road end. Copyright: Holmesdale Online

Pictures from the 1980s and 1990s provide, quite literally, a snap shot of a bygone era. 

The kits, the supporters and the terraces are a throwback to all our yesterdays, but the memories for the Palace fans are vivid. 

Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool 1990
Gary O’Reilly puts Palace 2-1 up. Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool. FA Cup Semi Final. Villa Park. 08.04.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool 1990
Gary O’Reilly puts Palace 2-1 up. Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool. FA Cup Semi Final. Villa Park. 08.04.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool 1990
Palace fans celebrate in the Holte End, Villa Park. Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool. FA Cup Semi Final. Villa Park. 08.04.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool 1990
Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool. FA Cup Semi Final. Villa Park. 08.04.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool 1990
The Crystals cheerleaders. Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool. FA Cup Semi Final. Villa Park. 08.04.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online

Throbbing, intense FA Cup moments, 4-3 at Villa Park in a memorable semi final win over Liverpool, then all the excitement of the Wembley final itself and a dramatic 3-3 extra time draw with Manchester United.

The replay ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat, but not before the national stadium was yet again bedecked in a sea of blue and red as Palace took it over, the scenes repeated seven years later with Palace back at Wembley for the play off finals and victory over Sheffield United.

FA Cup Final replay - May 17 1990 Replay, Man Utd 1-0 Palace
Manchester United 1- 0 Crystal Palace. FA Cup Final Replay. Wembley. 17.05.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
FA Cup Final replay - May 17 1990 Replay, Man Utd 1-0 Palace
Manchester United 1- 0 Crystal Palace. FA Cup Final Replay. Wembley. 17.05.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
FA Cup Final replay - May 17 1990 Replay, Man Utd 1-0 Palace
Manchester United 1- 0 Crystal Palace. FA Cup Final Replay. Wembley. 17.05.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 1-0 Sheffield Utd - Play-off Final 1997
Crystal Palace 1-0 Sheffield United. Play-off final. Wembley. 26.05.97. David Hopkin’s strike was enough to send Palace into the Premiership. Copyright: Holmesdale Online

Big games came and went at Selhurst Park throughout that era, with pictures shot from the famous South London terraces featuring Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Leeds all preserved in that unique, old school, snapshot style, which is enjoying something of a resurgence as fans once again arm themselves with vintage analogue film cameras in an attempt to reproduce the look.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea. 1990.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea. Selhurst Park. 16.04.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal. 1990.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal. Selhurst Park. 10.11.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace Versus Manchester United. 3-0. 1990.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Manchester United. Selhurst Park. 11.05.91. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace Versus Manchester United. 3-0. 1990.
Richard Shaw and John Salako, who scored a brace applaud the fans after the final whistle. Crystal Palace 3-0 Manchester United. Selhurst Park. 11.05.91. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Barnsley Crystal Palace. 4-2 26.4.86.
Happy away days: Barnsley 2-4 Crystal Palace. Oakwell Stadium. 26.04.86. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
West Brom 0-1 Crystal Palace. 13.2.88.
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Crystal Palace. The Hawthorns. 13.02.88. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace versus Rochdale. 5th round. 1990.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rochdale. FA Cup 5th Round. Selhurst Park. 17.02.90. Copyright: Holmesdale Online
Crystal Palace fans Goldberg out march
Goldberg Out: Palace fans protest against then Chairman Mark Goldberg outside Selhurst Park. 01.05.99. Palace were forced into administration two months before. Copyright: Holmesdale Online

The picture archive on The Palace supporters website takes you back in time, to the days, and the glory goals, of Mark Bright, Ian Wright and John Salako.

It was the Holmesdale terrace fans who drove them on, and who still provide the vocal backing today.

Glad All Over is the anthem. Selhurst is its home.

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