Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion 09.03.2019 // 12:30pm
JOEL WARD
Close to entering his seventh year with Crystal Palace, Joel Ward has quietly and understatedly earned himself a place in the club’s history books. Holding the most ever Premier League appearances for an Eagles player, here he reflects with Ben Mountain on a career in SE25 replete with highs, Wembley clashes and fond memories of historic victories.
HE BEST BT T S I K R A OU ST P " SELHUR ERE WITHOUT A D EN TO" ATMOSPH ERE I’VE EVER BE H OF ANYW
CARRY ME HOME 39
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ast summer, Luke Pritchard posted a picture on Instagram to celebrate his engagement to fellow musician Ellie Rose, both of them wearing Palace shirts. Fans of the multimillion record selling singer did a double take – isn’t he from Brighton? Whilst Pritchard’s band did indeed spend their formative years together on the south coast, three-quarters of the original line-up met at The BRIT School in Croydon. And Pritchard is as south London as they come. News of the singer's football allegiance has lay dormant, but he is keen to set the record straight: “Football was always a bone of contention in the band, because our old drummer Paul was a big Brighton fan. It sometimes tested our
patience with each other! Maybe that’s why I’d not really talked about it before.” The Sydenham born singer-songwriter went to his first Palace game with his uncle when he was at primary school, aged seven or eight, and the Eagles’ home ground had a lasting impression on him. “Selhurst Park is the best atmosphere without a doubt of anywhere I’ve ever been to. I think it’s legendary. I just love Palace, man, it’s the most real deal team in the Premier League. You know, the community spirit and the stadium is amazing.”
" WHAT I LOVE ABOUT PALACE IS THERE’S SO MUCH HEART" The Kooks, named after a David Bowie track, are currently touring their fifth studio album, Let’s Go Sunshine. Featuring on the record is a Pritchard-penned track titled Swing Low – inspired by his football club and the drum situated in the Lower Holmesdale. “What I love about Palace is there’s so much heart. I wanted to write a song imagining going through the tunnel, preparing for the game. I was trying to put myself in that position, and write a tune that would evoke that emotion and fighting spirit. It was a fun thing to do, and I hope that people get that feeling from it.” Living in south London once again, Pritchard has fond memories of his young adulthood in Croydon. “I just remember trying to get into pubs when I was underage. It was a stomping ground for me. I don’t know
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crystal palace √ brighton & hove albion Julian SPERONI Joel WARD Patrick VAN AANHOLT Luka MILIVOJEVIC James TOMKINS Scott DANN Max MEYER Cheikhou KOUYATÉ Andros TOWNSEND Wilfried ZAHA Mamadou SAKHO Wayne HENNESSEY Jordan AYEW Jeffrey SCHLUPP Christian BENTEKE James McARTHUR Connor WICKHAM Lucas PERRI Michy BATSHUAYI Bakary SAKO Pape SOUARÉ Aaron WAN-BISSAKA Vicente GUAITA Martin KELLY Jairo RIEDEWALD
Referee Craig Pawson
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Assistant Lee Betts
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Mathew RYAN BRUNO Gaëtan BONG Shane DUFFY Lewis DUNK Dale STEPHENS Beram KAYAL Yves BISSOUMA Jürgen LOCADIA Florin ANDONE Anthony KNOCKAERT Pascal GROß Leon BALOGUN Alireza JAHANBAKHSH Glenn MURRAY José IZQUIERDO Solly MARCH Martín MONTOYA Jason STEELE Davy PRÖPPER David BUTTON BERNARDO Robert SANCHEZ Dan BURN Max SANDERS Viktor GYÖKERES Jayson MOLUMBY Leo Skiri ØSTIGÅRD Will COLLAR
Assistant Daniel Cook
Match Sponsors:
Fourth Official Stuart Attwell