Selhurst Park, May 11, 1979

By John Daly

After relegation to old Third Division in 1974 I had relinquished my season ticket and concentrated much more on my golf. The crowds at Selhurst diminished meaning it was fairly easy to get match day tickets in this period and I still attended maybe a dozen games a year. I had attended most of the 1976 FA Cup run and still consider the 1-0 win at Leeds as about the best away game I ever went to.

As the 1978/79 season unfolded it was becoming apparent that the last game of the season at home to Burnley was going to be crucial. Due to postponements it was scheduled to be played after all the other teams had completed their programmes, which only added to the tension. Weeks before the game I contacted my mate Leonard; we had only met recently and he was another supporter who no longer regularly attended. We arranged to go to the game together, but unfortunately many others had the same idea and despite buying well in advance we could only get three tickets together in the very back row of the Main Stand.

It was three tickets because I was courting at the time and I wanted to introduce the young lady to another of my passions (other than her and golf).  We arrived in good time but thousands had arrived earlier and the terraces were packed and the streets around the ground were crowded with people who were unable to get in. The official attendance was later given at over 51,000 - a record - but with stories of lads climbing walls and turnstile operators letting kids in for a small cash donation the actual attendance must have been several thousand more.

I was glad that I had splashed out on a seat as I suspect that being crushed on the Holmesdale would not have been a great introduction to football for the young lady, more so that I found out that night that she needed glasses to see the actual game. Unfortunately she had forgotten the glasses and so could not follow the game that closely but she thought the atmosphere was superb, and it was.

The scenario was that a draw was enough for promotion and victory would deliver the championship over great rivals Brighton. Burnley were safe in mid table but were resolute opponents. From the off Palace attacked urged on by the big crowd but could not find an opening. Opportunities were wasted or the goalkeeper saved. The noise was incessant and the tension mounted. One mistake and the whole edifice could come crashing down. I was continually worried that Steve Kindon on the Burnley left would re-capture his magic of old but Paul Hinshelwood kept him on a tight rein.

Half-time came with no score and the second half continued as before. Then with fifteen minutes to go Hinshelwood released Hilaire down the wing, Walsh threw himself at the perfect cross and the dam was broken. The eruption of noise was enormous and there was a mini pitch invasion. If it were possible the noise over the last few minutes was even greater and in the last minute Swindlehurst added a second. Then the party began.

There must have been twenty thousand people on the pitch as the team came out to take the plaudits and out came my trusty hip flask (see No.9 on our list for a reappearance of the flask) to help the celebrations along.  I even smoked my first and last ever cigar that Leonard provided and we stayed for I don’t know how long joining in the celebrations. I have vague memories of leaving a Chinese Restaurant (or was it Indian?) in the early hours and joining in more singing with other supporters in the centre of Croydon but I can’t have behaved too badly because my girlfriend agreed to marry me years later.

The next week Leonard and I arranged two season tickets together and, with a few breaks for years living abroad and family, we are still sitting together watching the Palace every other Saturday today.

Watch the highlights below...