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Looking back to 90/91
After having a clear out at home, FYP regular Dan Cooper happened upon an old VHS of the 1990/91 Palace season review. After popping it in the VCR and clicking play he decided to share his thoughts with us...
‘Arsenal, Liverpool, Crystal Palace – the top of the table reads like a who’s who of English football.’ So claimed a report on Radio 5, in the spring of 1991. Utter that sentence now, and the men in white coats would be round faster than you could do your best ‘FFS Murray’ impression. But back then – back in those glorious, halcyon days - it was an unassailable truth. Despite their FA Cup heroics during the previous season, no-one really gave Steve Coppell’s young side much of a mention prior to the 1990/91 season kicking off. Nine months later, Palace sat a comfortable third in the top flight, winning the plaudits of observers countrywide and, lest we forget, some much needed silverware in the process.
During a much needed clear-out last week, I stumbled across the season review of that very campaign. For a kid who, via a sizeable slice of poor luck only started attending games a year after that great season, that well-worn, hilariously sized video was an essential part of my Palace education. From the dreadful opening muzak (a real drums-recorded-in-an-aircraft-hanger 80s hangover horror-show) through to the painfully naff graphics, it’s gloriously low budget – and quintessentially Palace - throughout. As Palace churn out win after win – each goal greeted by the nostalgia inducing, dulcet tones of Rosenthal and the much-missed Brian Moore – it becomes abundantly clear that this was THE golden era for the club, the like of which we’ll never see again. Naturally, I had to go and bloody miss it.
Quite simply, everything about that season was perfect. That famous Bukta kit – emblazoned with the word ‘Virgin’ though it was – simply couldn’t fail. The retina-ruining brightness of those thick red and blue stripes, the ball crushing, infertility-inducing tightness of those ridiculous shorts…it was truly the outfit of champions. As if the sharpness of the clobber wasn’t enough, the squad were clearly out to prove their worth in the style stakes. The Selleck-like lusciousness of the McGoldrick ‘tache was only bettered by that of a weirdly-old-looking Nigel Martyn, whilst Geoff Thomas’ carefully coiffured barnet took the classic side parting to an altogether new level. Throw in the seemingly pointless headband sported by Eric ‘The Ninja’ Young, and you’ve got yourself one very sharp looking outfit.
Watching the video back, it’s amazing to see how perfectly balanced a side Coppell managed to cobble together. To trot out the laziest of clichés, at the heart of every successful team lies a robust spine. And what a spine we had, assembled though it was through modest means. Whilst Martyn, Young and Thorn kept the goals conceded column looking remarkably healthy, a central pairing of Gray and Thomas spent the majority of the season dominating midfields across the land. Recognised by Vinnie Jones as the only side of that era who could match the physical intimidation of the Crazy Gang, Palace’s midfield pair struck the perfect balance between good-old-fashioned rough and tumble and genuine goal-scoring prowess. And talking of goals, how could I fail to mention our dynamic dup up top. Notching a staggering 40 goals between them, Ian Wright and Mark Bright were, for that season at least, unquestionably the most potent strike-force around. Bright’s aerial dominance and significant physical presence was the perfect foil for the livewire Wright, who’s pace, trickery and uncanny ability to squirm his way through the meanest of back-lines made him nigh on unplayable.
Highlights were many and varied that season, leading to some serious abuse of the rewind button in the Cooper household. Whether it be Wrighty turning Chelsea’s Erland Johnson inside out before sending a truly exquisite chip into the Whitehorse Lane net, watching Gary Ablett get skinned before Brighty tucks away a cheeky backheel to defeat Liverpool or seeing Sir Geoff send a header flying what appeared to be a full hundred metres into the onion bag against Southampton, we were truly spoilt for choice. And that’s not to mention Wright’s goal from the halfway line at Plough Lane, a 3-0 spanking of home-county favourites United and, of course, an extra-time demolition job of Everton at Wembley to secure the much-coveted Zenith Data Systems trophy. And yes, it was bigger than the FA Cup back then, ok?
Yep, I’ve got a lot to thank that humble, now redundant video for. In fact, the words penned by Ron Noades on the rear of the wonderfully over-sized case are the only thing about this particular Palace relic which give cause for sombre reflection. ‘We have only just commenced the task of making Crystal Palace into one of the elite of English football’ claims a smug sounding Uncle Ron. Knowing what we do now, rarely have words rung more hollow. The systematic dismantling of that great side, ending in inevitable relegation only two seasons later, is perhaps the most gutting of the many opportunities missed in the club’s 106 year history. As a number of that squad have subsequently pointed out, it was Leeds – a side who finished just a place below us that year and who invested modestly over the following summer – who went on to lift the Championship trophy in 1992. It’s no exaggeration to say that that could - and should – have been us. But let’s not dwell on the negatives; as a Palace fan, that season was as good as it gets. I can only imagine what it was like to be there…
Were you there? What are your thoughts from Palace's glory days? Let us know! Comment below...