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Palace boss slams online abuse and Twitter impersonators

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CRYSTAL Palace manager Ian Holloway says he "wouldn't dream" of going on social networking site Twitter and has blasted the people who are pretending to run accounts in his name.
After last Sunday's defeat to Brighton, a number of Eagles fans went online and posted abuse towards co-chairman Steve Parish and some of the players, but Holloway is having none of it.
"At the end of the day, no one meant to play like that last Sunday and no one was more upset in that dressing room, I can tell you that right now," he told Advertiser Sport.
"I'm sure Brighton would swap where we are right now but I'm focussed on just us.
"For someone to be a Palace fan, who goes on a media platform like Twitter and actually criticises very heavily, I think it's ridiculous.
"If anybody goes on there, they will find Ian Holloway accounts actually claiming to be me.
"With the greatest respect, I wouldn't dream of going on there and using that sort of media.
"People actually out there think that's me on there – whoever is doing it is a fraud and a liar."
Do not miss Holloway's exclusive column on the Twitter abuse following last Sunday's game at Brighton, along with his thoughts on Michael Owen's retirement and Michael Appleton's sacking, only in tomorrow's Croydon Advertiser.
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
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Palace keeping tabs on free agent and hint at permanent Millwall move for Easter

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CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has revealed the club are currently keeping tabs on a player out of contract from abroad and says Jermaine Easter may end up at Millwall permanently.
Following the Welsh striker's loan move to the Lions last week, Parish says funds are available to manager Ian Holloway should he wish to pursue a deal for the player in question, who Advertiser Sport understands plays in an advanced position.
"Jermaine, we've let go, because he's not figuring in the first team," said Parish.
"He's got months left on his contract and Millwall were prepared to offer him another year.
"He's been a great servant to the club – even if he hasn't played all the time, he's always given 110 per cent in training and been a great member of the group.
"He needs to be playing first team football, and I think he may have an agreement with Millwall to take him for longer.
"He's 31-years-old and he's got to think about his future, so we owe him that.
"Ian is looking at one player who is out of contract, so that might be a possibility.
"It's a player he knows from abroad who plays in a forward position."
Do not miss tomorrow's Croydon Advertiser for a full-page exclusive from Parish, who hits back at the abuse he has received on Twitter in recent weeks and on the back of last Sunday's defeat to Brighton.
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
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Trial date set for Thornton Heath vicar accused of conducting up to 492 sham marriages

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THIS is the first picture of the "fixer" accused of involvement in an alleged sham marriage ring involving hundreds of weddings in Thornton Heath.
Gilena Petkova, 50, is accused of helping to arrange a number of fake ceremonies as well as allegedly being married in one herself.
Today (Thursday) she appeared at Inner London Crown Court alongside Vicar Nathan Ntege and his verger Brian Miller.
The Reverend Ntege, 53, is charged with 14 immigration offences relating to 492 marriages held over a 15-month period at the Church of St Jude's and St Aidan's in Thornton Heath.
Miller, 79, of Owl Close, Selsdon, is also charged with the same offences.
The charges follow an investigation by the UK Border Agency's (UKBA) South London Criminal and Financial Investigation Unit.
Ntege and Miller, who were originally arrested in 2011, are each charged with one offence conspiracy to facilitate unlawful immigration and 13 charges of assisting illegal entry.
Petkova, who was arrested in Edmonton, Enfield, in December 2011, is charged with conspiracy and five counts of assisting illegal entry.
All three were due to enter pleas to the charges today but the proceedings were adjourned until a case management hearing at Inner London Crown Court on May 4.
A trial date has been set for November 4. It scheduled to last three to four weeks.
The UKBA are not yet certain how many of the marriages, conducted between December 2009 and March 2011, were valid.

Trial date set for Thornton Heath vicar accused of conducting up to 492 sham marriages

Teenager on Centrale roof helped to safety by police

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A TEENAGER who climbed out on to the roof of Centrale shopping centre this afternoon has been helped to safety by the police. 
Officers were called to the centre's Tamworth Road entrance at 1.25pm today (Friday) after the 17-year-old girl was spotted sitting on top of the building. 
The girl has since been helped down from the roof and is understood to have been taken to hospital. 

Teenager on Centrale roof helped to safety by police

Palace supremo underlines plans to stop Twitter abuse

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CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has hit back at the abuse he has received on social networking site Twitter in recent weeks and on the back of last Sunday's defeat at Brighton.
In an exclusive interview on the subject of online abuse, Parish tells tomorrow's Croydon Advertiser what he plans to do if it continues, while he reveals a few Palace fans are still reeling about a former club legend.
He said: "I think I've been brave, and you can have any opinion you like, but the language and the vile and the abuse?
"And what worries me is that they think it's OK to talk to somebody like that.
"I won't come off Twitter and I won't block anyone, but I know Damien Delaney was getting grief on Sunday - I want to know who they are.
"I need a balanced view when I deal with the police, the council and other clubs when fans go away and give us a bad name.
"And some fans are still upset Dougie Freedman went and the way he went.
"I embrace every single fan, but I won't be abused by people and be expected to engage with them."
And the supremo has revealed that the fans who caused harm to innocent Charlton Athletic supporters at Sydenham train station in September 2007 are requesting to come back to home matches.
"It's a legal banning order and if they can get that overturned in court, it's then down to us whether we admit them back in," he said.
"Simon Jordan banned these people for life and I think that was the right decision."
Meanwhile, Parish says he enjoys having passionate fans on a matchday at Selhurst Park, especially a certain section behind the goal.
"I love the Holmesdale Fanatics and the atmosphere they create and everything – they're absolutely fantastic," he said.
"But, there are people who latch onto them that are there just to cause trouble – it's just not acceptable."
For the full-page interview with Parish, and it's not one to miss, check out Friday's Croydon Advertiser.
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
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Croydon 4 Croydon Pledge to be launched on Tuesday

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BUSINESSES and charity groups are to come together in a bid to improve the borough through a variety of community initiatives.

The Croydon 4 Croydon Pledge is being launched by corporate charity Croydon Commitment at the Fairfield Halls, in Park Lane, on Tuesday.

At the heart of the pledge, according to Croydon Commitment chief executive Ian Robinson, is inspiring businesses and other organisations to "put Croydon first".

Mr Robinson said: "In the light of the events which have happened in Croydon in the past few years, and the wider economic challenges that are facing us all, Croydon Commitment felt it was time to bring key stakeholders together in order to achieve more focused and targeted community engagement."

The four-point pledge will commit those who sign up to expand their corporate responsibility role; look to buy services and recruit locally where possible; increase youth training and development and promote Croydon among contacts as a great place to work.

Mr Robinson said: "This is an opportunity for like-minded organisations to stand together and to declare that they are 'in Croydon for Croydon' and to support this pledge."

Tuesday's event will also see Croydon Commitment announce the names of community initiatives which will receive a share of the charity's £24,000 Grassroots Funding pot.

Croydon Commitment was launched in 2004 to promote the work of local charities and voluntary groups and is supported by businesses in Croydon.

Anyone interested in attending the launch should e-mail rose@croydoncommitment.org.uk

Weakened OWs knocked out by dogged Battersea

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WITH 12 regular players missing, a much-changed OWs team took to a sodden Croham Manor Road pitch to face Battersea Ironsides, champions-elect of Surrey Two, for the right to progress into the semi-finals of the Surrey Cup.

Both teams showed early intent to play expansive running rugby, with Battersea's hard-running inside-centre asking questions of the OWs midfield from the outset.

Despite OWs gaining the upper hand in the set-piece, with captain Tom Hipsey disrupting the Battersea lineouts and the front row controlling the scrums, it was the Battersea forwards who repeatedly troubled OWs through strong counter-rucking.

More disruptive work in defence led to the opening score for Battersea as a lucky bounce from a brave charge-down resulted in a try and conversion.

A galvanised OWs pack committed more to the breakdown and forced repeated infringements – opportunities that were seized by Butcher, the OWs kicker, as a series of penalties brought them right back into contention.

The balance was tipped as Battersea's midfield broke upfield and managed to offload to the supporting winger for their second score, which gave Battersea the advantage at half-time.

Battersea's rush defence functioned exceptionally well, smothering OWs attacks, which ultimately resulted in the decisive try following a missed clearance.

Late in the game, Battersea had two forwards carded for repeat infringements, but it came too late for OWs.

The final scoreline may have flattered Battersea, but they deserved the win.

OWs look forward to welcoming Battersea to Surrey One next year and avenging this defeat.

Trams hold on for a win

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CROYDON came away with a fantastic 3-1 win at Hanworth Villa last Saturday.

They took an early lead when Ryan Fowler converted an excellent cross in the first minute, and they dominated for the next 15 minutes, hitting the woodwork twice without being able to press home the advantage.

Hanworth were not going to be kept out of the game for very long though. A penalty in the 17th minute got them back on terms after goalkeeper Francis Ameyaw conceded the foul. Centre-back Adam Baigent stepped up and coolly converted.

Ricky Farnden then hit the Croydon bar with a fine effort, before Josh Cover played in Karl Douglin who shot just over for the visitors.

After 61 minutes, Thompson stepped up to take a free-kick wide on the right. Using his deadly left foot, he swung the ball into the danger area only to see it evade everyone and end up nestling in the net.

Ten minutes later, Croydon went 3-1 up when they converted a penalty of their own thanks to Doughlin.

Villa pushed forward looking to get back into the game, hitting the bar for a second time before forcing another good save out of Ameyaw. Douglin missed a couple of chances but the Trams held on for an important win against a strong side.


Players are in the pink

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NETBALL: The Croydon Netball League recently celebrated in the colour pink to raise breast cancer awareness, and they're set to do it all again for tomorrow's fixtures at Shirley High School.

They managed to raise money for the Rapid Diagnostic Assessment Centre at the Royal Marsden Sutton Hospital thanks to a grand cake stall with pink cakes, while the players all sported a pink item.

The charity is close to the league's hearts as it supports women through the early signs and diagnosis of breast cancer, while it offers crucial support and counselling to any cancer sufferers.

All donations will be presented as a cheque to the hospital in the near future, so a large turnout of players are expected tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Chequers Netball Club are offering players the chance to start playing the sport again. It's a great chance to get fit, lose weight and make new friends, but most of all, it's fun, enjoyable and there's no commitment required.

For those interested, the sessions are every Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm at Croydon High School – and the first is free.

For further information, visit www.chequersnetballclub.co.uk.

U18s floored by a one-two

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PALACE U18s were extremely unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Bolton Wanderers last Saturday in wet and windy conditions at Copers Cope Road.

Palace dominated possession in the first half and had good chances, notably through the likes of Sullay Kaikai, Jake Gray, and Connor Dymond.

However, two sucker punches were delivered by Bolton when they scored from a free-kick after a rare attack, and then an own goal put them 2-0 up after 70 minutes.

Palace continued in the same vein by passing the ball well and taking the game to the visitors, with Kaikai twice going close with terrific free-kicks that whistled inches wide.

Further shots from Kaikai, Elijah Gabsi, Derek Tieku, and Gray all peppered the goal before Dymond saw his penalty saved.

And the pressure finally told when Luke Croll headed home a Kaikai corner but for all the Palace pressure the equaliser would not come.

"I was delighted with the performance, which is the only thing that I judge these young players on," said coach Ben Garner.

"We worked hard, passed the ball very well in difficult conditions, and controlled the game.

"From the defensive third through to the attacking third we were excellent.

"I was proud of the players and we will continue to stick to our playing philosophy in the forthcoming matches."

Supporters will not be allowed back to Selhurst

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EAGLES supporters who caused harm to innocent Charlton Athletic fans in September 2007 have been asking if they can come back into Selhurst Park, co-chairman Steve Parish has revealed.

Having been issued banning orders, some of those Eagles fans have attempted to overturn them in court, and for those who have been successful in doing so, they can request to watch Palace again in SE25.

But Parish is adamant he will not be allowing that to happen.

"The fans that got put away for the violence against Charlton in 2007, some are starting to have their banning orders overturned," he said.

"And they are now asking if they can come back into the ground.

"Now, Simon Jordan banned these people for life and I think that was the right decision at the time and I think as a club we've got to honour that.

"Frankly, I agree with it - these people committed terrible acts of violence to innocent people on the train.

"It's a legal banning order and if they can get that overturned in court, it's then down to us whether we admit them back in.

"I think that we've got a duty of care to all the supporters that come and want to peacefully enjoy their football."

And on the back of the social media abuse received from a "minority" of fans, he says the more they do it, the more likely it is he'll catch them.

"The people who cause football violence and delight in ruining the name of the club – keep tweeting me, because I will find out who you are," said Parish.

"I will do that, and if I can, I will get you banned.

"I won't come off Twitter and I won't block any of them. I know chairmen get it and the obvious action is to block it, but I think it's just a minority."

Forestdale nursery is satisfactory, says Ofsted

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THE Acorn Day Nursery and The Primary Club in Forestdale has been rated "satisfactory" by Ofsted inspectors, who visited on February 15.

In their report they stated: "Staff are friendly and supportive and as a result the children are happy and confident to express their needs and views.

"The setting effectively provides a warm, welcoming environment which is safe and secure and staff have an adequate awareness of how young children learn and provide a range of stimulating activities that engage the children."

However, the report does state that the school is not yet "good" because: "Parents do not all receive information regarding their children's progress and are not able therefore to contribute fully to their child's learning.

"The strategies in place to help staff support children's behaviour are not effective, especially for children with special educational needs/disabilities and staff do not always challenge negative comments regarding gender roles."

During the inspection a range of activities were observed in the toddler room and pre-school room in the garden and during the children's snack time.

The report stated that to improve the children must learn positive attitudes and challenge negative perceptions, particularly regarding gender.

An example in the report says: "Staff do not always challenge children's negative views to help them understand about the world around them. For example staff do not respond to a comment from children that only boys can be farmers."

Bid for two Travelodge hotels in Purley is welcomed

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BUSINESSES in Purley have welcomed Travelodge's announcement it wants to open two hotels in the area because they say the move will attract more visitors and shoppers.

The UK's biggest hotel brand is seeking one site for development in Purley and one in Norbury.

It estimates it will create 40 jobs and generate £4 million for the local economy. This would add to the chain's hotels in Croydon town centre and South Croydon.

Grant Hearn, chief executive of Travelodge Hotels, said: "Our two existing hotels in Croydon perform strongly all year round.

"Whether it be business travellers, leisure customers or families coming to visit loved ones, we are regularly achieving high occupancy levels.

"It is clear there is a lack of good-quality, affordable hotel accommodation.

"Many have large employment clusters and impressive regeneration proposals yet have an undersupply of hotel rooms."

Lisa Downham, the chairman of the Purley Business Association, said: "Purley businesses welcome this idea with open arms.

"Anything that brings people to the area and has them spend money here is good for us.

"We look forward to Travel Lodge finding sites for development."

Croydon brewers raise a glass to George Osborne after budget

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CROYDON'S brewers raised a glass to George Osborne on Wednesday – but many local drinkers washed down the news with a double measure of cynicism.

The Chancellor scrapped a scheduled 3p rise due to come in April and went even further by slashing the present rate by a penny.

Duncan Woodhead, head brewer of Selhurst's Clarence and Fredericks, said: "We are very happy with the Chancellor's decision but we need him to promise to freeze it for a good long time.

"Pubs are the lifeblood of this country and surely it is better for people to drink in community institutions than go home and et drunk on cheap booze from shops.

"We need to protect beer, which is our national drink, and the pubs we drink it in."

Elsewhere, New Addington brewers Cronx were overjoyed at the news.

Co-owner Simon Dale said: "We were watching the live coverage and actually let out a little yelp of joy.

"We were hoping the duty escalator would be abolished but the 1p cut on duty was nice gesture as well. The thought of it rising again was unimaginable.

"We had a few beers in celebration of course."

Meanwhile Wednesday's announcements have been welcomed as a move towards restoring confidence and growth for small businesses.

The measure that was particularly hailed by Jeremy Frost, chairman of the 900-strong Croydon branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), is the creation of an Employers Allowance which will mean small businesses will not have to pay National Insurance Contributions under £2,000.

He said the FSB believes this will give small firms the confidence to create thousands of new jobs in the private sector and get the economy moving.

Mr Frost added: "The National Insurance contributions cut goes beyond what we were asking for and we are pleased to see the 3p fuel duty rise due in September completely scrapped."

Croydon brewers raise a glass to George Osborne after budget

New Addington woman wins prize for looking most like her dog

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A NEW Addington pet owner has scooped first prize – for looking like her dog.

Emma Morris picked up the Most Like Owner award at the Scruffs Companion Dog Show in Tunbridge Wells at the weekend.

Miss Morris, a professional dog groomer, said while she loves all her seven dogs the same, Doodles was her first and remains the one closest to her heart.

"When I got Doodles it was just me and him," she said.

"At that point my mum had just moved to France so he was like my new little housemate.

"He adores me and looks up to me.

"He will do anything to please his master."

Doodles also won Scruffiest Dog and Best Trained Dog (with an adult handler) at the dog show, which took place on Sunday at Honnington Farm Gardens.

Miss Morris, 24, credits her dogs – four cross-breeds, two poodles and a Staffordshire bull terrier – with helping her come out of herself after she was bullied at school.

She said: "I find it very hard to mingle with people because I was bullied when I was younger.

"When I got Doodles I became a nicer person and I found a lot of confidence. They are my friends – they are everything."

She added: "My dogs were there to help me through my partner leaving.

"It's literally just me and the dogs now."

New Addington woman wins prize for looking most like her dog


Purley teenager denied cancer drugs that could have saved her because she was four months from 18th birthday

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THE mother of an "inspirational" teenage girl who died of a rare bone cancer believes her daughter may have survived if she had been allowed the latest drugs.

Chloë Drury, from Purley, whose memorial service takes place tomorrow (Saturday), was denied trial drugs because she was a few months short of her 18th birthday.

Chloë, who died on February 28, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a cancer which largely affects teenagers, three years ago.

"It's every parent's worst nightmare," her mother Debbie Binner told the Advertiser. "We had the perfect family and then suddenly a bomb went off. Chloë had pains in her leg and then out of the blue, she had cancer."

For the first eight months Chloë, who attended St Philomena's School in Carshalton, was in and out of hospital undergoing treatment her mother described as "horrific". On top of chemotherapy, which kept her bed-bound and forced her to be fed intravenously, Chloë was also given radiation treatment, surgery and stem cell transplants.

Chloë was only put on one drugs trial in her three-year illness, according to her mother, and that was only because she fought "tooth and nail for three years, kicking every door possible".

"There was a boy on the ward who took an Ewing's Sarcoma trial and he is still alive," she said. "He was worse than Chloë."

"Her doctor fought desperately for Chloë to be allowed another trial. The expert opinion is that there are no medical reasons for under 18s not being allowed on trials, it's purely bureaucratic."

Four months ago, Chloë was meant to receive new experimental treatment but was not allowed to because she was still 17, despite intervention from Teenage Cancer Trust's chief executive, Simon Davies, and Paul Burstow MP.

"Chloë only received the drug two weeks before she died," her mother explained. "But her cancer was already too far advanced to have any chance of responding. This was Chloë's only chance of possibly receiving something that could have worked."

Her mother described how after Chloës first round of treatment, her daughter convinced everyone apart from her family and five of her closest friends that she was well.

"She was amazing," said Mrs Binner. "She was very private so after she first got treatment and everyone knew, she told everyone she was better and they were never the wiser. Only five of her closest friends knew the whole time throughout.

"She carried on with going out and going to parties. She would go and have chemotherapy in the day and then get dressed up to go out at night.

"I think I knew she would not make it through but she would not say anything to anyone. She just wanted to live. She was afraid that people would treat her differently."

Her mother said Chloë had loved English and drama and had wanted to be an actor. Only two months before she died she had attended a Shakespeare course with the National Youth Theatre.

"We miss her terribly, we miss her voice," she said. "She was so funny and argumentative. She would say every day 'I love you' and 'you're my best friend'. There was no big goodbye at the end but she was able to die at home rather than in hospital."

Mrs Binner, of Peaks Hill, has decided to campaign "in Chloë's name" for restrictions to be lifted on under 18s being allowed on drugs trials.

"I want to use her determination and energy for something good. There are lots of promising drugs and we need to get access to those drugs more quickly. There is not enough interest; the cancer is very rare so the companies do not make enough money out of it.

"All this potential is wasted, right at the start of their lives.

"Nothing in Chloë's body changed between being four months before her 17th birthday and four months later when she was 18 – except the growing cancer."

Mrs Binner has also set up a blog at achildofmine.blogspot.co.uk to raise awareness about the disease and to give an honest account of the isolation and grief felt after losing a child.

A celebration of Chloë's life will take place at 3pm at St Mark's Church in Purley on Saturday.

Purley teenager denied cancer drugs that could have saved her because she was four months from 18th birthday

New Addington fathers' support group shut as founder fears prison for attacking his wife

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A DADS' support group has been closed after its Michael Jackson-impersonating founder admitted attacking his wife.

Keith Preddie, 44, fears he could be sent to jail for assaulting Emma Preddie in a row over Christmas presents, after pleading guilty to assault by beating at Croydon Crown Court on Monday.

Preddie, who is Croydon's best-known Michael Jackson tribute act, last year appeared on Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me.

The former GMTV Dad of the Year is also a familiar face on the estate, having run the Time for Dads group at the Fieldway Family Centre.

However, he has now been forced to shut the group down in light of the allegations against him.

In an exclusive interview with the Advertiser, Preddie this week said: "I loved my estranged wife but she was draining the life out of me and what happened that night was not me; it was not what I'm about, it was not the person I am.

"I am no way trying to wriggle out of what I did and to this day feel ashamed, upset and know that I will never forget what happened until the day I die.

"But it takes two to start an argument and I am no wife-beater."

The attack happened at the couple's home in Coulsdon on December 18 last year.

A row over Christmas presents escalated and ended in Preddie throwing a clothes horse and a plastic step at his wife and pinning her to the sofa.

The incident was caught on CCTV that Preddie had installed in his house to "keep his family safe."

Preddie has also performed as Michael Jackson in New Addington, including a hugely popular "comeback gig" at the ACA in 2010, which was attended by more than 300 people.

New Addington fathers' support group shut as founder fears prison for attacking his wife

Keith Preddie: 'Everyone thought I was the shamone master, but inside I was hurting'

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A MAN who pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife has told the Advertiser he is "ashamed" and has "let himself down".

Keith Preddie, 44, pleaded guilty to assault by beating his wife Emma Preddie at their family home on December 18 during a row over Christmas presents.

The argument escalated and Preddie lost his temper, throwing a washing frame at his wife along with a plastic step. He also pinned her down to the sofa.

The incident was caught on CCTV that he had installed in his house to "keep his family safe".

On Wednesday he gave an exclusive interview to the Advertiser at his South Norwood home, revealing that although he was ashamed, he felt his two years of marriage had been very challenging.

He said: "I loved my estranged wife but she was draining the life out of me and what happened that night was not me, it was not what I'm about, it was not the person I am.

"I am no way trying to wriggle out of what I did and to this day feel ashamed, upset and know that I will never forget what happened until the day I die. But it takes two to start an argument and I am no wife-beater."

Preddie had a full-time job at the Family Centre in New Addington before the charges were put against him, and also ran a Time for Dads organisation which has been defunct since the allegations surfaced.

He said: "Domestic violence is not something you can take lightly. I work with parents, they come to me and tell me what's going on. Mothers and fathers came to me and were also suffering.

"I loved my wife, I thought we were soulmates, but there were too many cracks in the marriage early on.

"Everyone thought I was this bubbly happy chappy, that I was the shamone master, but inside I was hurting. I am a human being and I'm not perfect but I am not a bad person. If I was a wife-beater I wouldn't have installed CCTV in my home to keep my family safe."

After the incident in December Preddie was contacted by his father-in-law, Graham Gaylard, who told him he supported him.

Preddie said: "I have the utmost respect for my father-in-law. He has supported me for three months, he knows I never beat my wife. But he knew something was not right.

"Without my family I don't think I would still be here. I think I would have gone to Beachy Head, and that's a sad thing to say.

"My wife found the way I lived challenging. I was out working a lot, maybe I was not as devoted to her as I should have been. But I was happy to stop performing and become a family man.

"I make no excuse for my actions but you need to know the truth."

Preddie may now be facing a custodial sentence, but he sees the loss of his job as a bigger punishment. He said: "If I get sent to prison, I get to sent to prison. I'll do it. But to never be able to do my job again, which I loved so much and got so much satisfaction from, that is very hard, very challenging.

"It's not like I have been charged for driving without insurance or something, I have a criminal record of domestic abuse so I'll never be able to work with children again, which is what I loved.

"I want to apologise to my children and step-children for all the upset I have caused them over the last three months. I am not a violent man and I would sooner cut off my hands then lay a finger on another male or female."

The assault and subsequent police involvement has caused rifts in the Preddie family. The Advertiser can reveal Mrs Preddie's father, Graham Gaylard, had been preparing to give evidence as a character witness in support of the former dad of the year. And this week, despite Preddie's last-minute guilty plea, Mr Gaylard sided with Croydon's answer to the King of Pop instead of his own daughter. In a prepared statement released to the Advertiser on Wednesday, Mr Gaylard said: "I am very proud to admit that Keith Preddie is my son in law." Preddie will be sentenced on April 11 at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

Keith Preddie: 'Everyone thought I was the shamone master, but inside I was hurting'

'International break will help Crystal Palace get over Brighton defeat'

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STEVE Parish was as disappointed as anyone after last Sunday's defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion and said the players were sad to let the Eagles fans down on such a big day.

He felt Palace were the better side for the majority of the first half until Leonardo Ulloa's deflected opener before the break, and accepts the match meant a lot to the supporters.

But has urged them to continue backing the team in their promotion bid.

"It was disappointing for everybody and I know the fans were upset," he said.

"The rivalry is important, but it was three points and we've got to get some perspective on it because our season is more important than one game.

"For 43 minutes, I thought we were the better side. It's Championship football – Will Buckley puts that cross in the only place where it's going to drop for a striker, and the striker misses the header and it hits him, but if he heads it I think Julian Speroni would have saved it.

"Then they scored a world-class goal from a free-kick. We could have taken the 1-0 score into half-time, but we can't legislate for free-kicks like that.

"And the third goal I felt we let ourselves down and then it's a long way back when you're away from home.

"If you look at our season, we've had results exactly the other way round.

"Once you go one-down in Championship football, you chase the game a bit, but we went in two-down, so it was a big hill to climb.

"But we're still in it and we can still go second on Good Friday against Birmingham City – all is not lost. We're not a bad side overnight just because of one bad result."

David Lopez's free-kick to double Brighton's lead on the stroke of half-time was extremely impressive and Parish admitted it had to be of the highest quality to beat Speroni.

"He got it almost in the top corner off the crossbar, so what can you do?" he said.

"There was no real danger, but we didn't expect him to do that.

"We've had a number of free-kicks against us this season in similar positions but just one has gone in – you have got to hit something there to beat Julian.

"And Julian wasn't even that far away from it."

With the international break now in everyone's thoughts, Parish says the focus will shortly turn to Birmingham City's visit to SE25.

"Rivalry is good and it's nice that somebody is that bothered about us – every club needs a good healthy rivalry.

"I went in the dressing room after the Brighton game and everybody was down – they all knew what the game meant and they were all upset.

"It's good now we've got the international break to get over the result.

"We've put it behind us and that's what being professional is all about. We can't dwell on it – it was just a bad day at the office.

"We're looking for a reaction now and that will be three points against Birmingham."

Picklesfest features reconstruction of South Norwood World Cup find with papier-mâché dog

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PICKLES, the dog who found the World Cup in a South Norwood bush in 1966, has had his famous discovery marked with a festival.

Picklesfest, brainchild of the South Norwood Tourist Board, was opened with a special reconstruction, 47 years to the day of the discovery (March 20).

Dave Corbett, the cunning canine's owner, was guest of honour at the event and led a re-enactment featuring a motorised papier-mâché model of his former best friend.

The 73-year-old was visibly emotional as he recounted the famous tale of stumbling upon the Jules Rimet Trophy in front of a sizeable audience on Beulah Hill.

He said: "By finding the trophy, that dog made me famous and gave me all these opportunities.

"Although at first I thought he was a prat when the police hauled me in for questioning."

Dave, who now lives in Lingfield, watched as the crowd were given a history lesson by "world-leading Picklesologist" Richard Jones. A poem named A Jar For Pickles was dedicated to "South Norwood's finest son" by Picklesfest's resident poet Tim Wells.

Dave said he originally thought the discovery was a bomb, rather than football's greatest prize.

"There was all that stuff about the IRA at the time so I was a bit silly to open the package.

"I took it home to my wife and told her it was the World Cup. She said, 'Dave, of course it's not the World Cup.'

"Even when I took it to Gipsy Hill Police Station, I plonked it down in front of the desk sergeant and he said, 'it doesn't look very World Cuppy, does it?'"

The press attention Dave received after his faithful friend made front page news led to offers at home and abroad.

"It was ridiculous. If dogs could travel abroad at that time, we could have gone anywhere," he said. "We went on Blue Peter, he had the same agent as Spike Milligan and he was even named 'best dog' in Italy."

Although Dave is not quite as in demand as he once was, he can predict exactly when his phone line will be jammed.

He said: "Every four years, before the tournament, I get non-stop calls from television people and journalists."

Dave confirmed, to end the mystery once and for all, that Pickles's death was, as reported, the result of accidental hanging while chasing a cat up a tree.

Picklesfest continues with a series of talks and a musical feast called "Jam and Pickles" to conclude.

Picklesfest features reconstruction of South Norwood World Cup find with papier-mâché dog

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