IT'S been an unforgettable season for Crystal Palace FC, so we asked a selection of fans to choose their favourite moment - and tell us what makes supporting Palace so special...
James DalyBest moment: Dwight Gayle's equaliser against Liverpool will live long in the memory; just like Palace under Pulis this season, it's hard to beat. For what it symbolised (a team that won't give up now matter what how bad things look) and the atmosphere it created in the final home game of a what's been memorable season, it's definitely my favourite moment.What does it mean to support Palace? Being a Palace fan used to mean being part of this cool secret club that only you and a few mates are allowed in. A club that's just the greatest thing in the world but only you knew that. Now everyone else knows and even some wants to be a part of it. The plaudits Palace fans have been getting this season have made all the efforts over the last few years, dragging ourselves away from administration, all the more sweeter.Lee BowmanBest moment: The recent home games against Chelsea and Liverpool are up there due to the results, the incredible atmosphere and generated at Selhurst at both games, plus the headlines and coverage that followed. What does it mean to support Palace? I struggle to put into words just how proud I feel to be a Palace fan. We have had some bad times in recent years but from that day at Hillsborough four years ago to where we are now, I cannot praise everyone at the club highly enough. The spirit and unity of everyone in and around the club has gone to a new level, particularly this season.Zoe MessenbirdBest moment: A toss up between beating Chelsea at home 1-0 and the also last Monday's incredible comeback against Liverpool. I think Monday slightly wins for me because it illustrated everything I love about our club. When you're sitting there thinking, 'Christ, we could get thumped', Delaney of all people scores an incredible goal, and it turns into the most amazing night.What does it mean to support Palace? Coming home from Monday's game, I was talking to my dad about how it was only four years ago we travelled up to Hillsborough, where we survived relegation into League One and also saw our club survive extinction altogether. To think this season we would be walking away from our final home game in the Premier League this season positioned 11th in the table, having just upset a team challenging for the Premier League title, is quite unbelievable. Mark GeorgeBest moment: I think Dwight Gayle's last-minute winner at Aston Villa was a real turning point. Palace had hung on for dear life and looked like earning a very good point when Gayle's thunderbolt made sure they picked up all three points. It gave the team a real boost, especially showing they were capable of good results away from home. Honourable mentions to the John Terry own goal, a very good January transfer window and Puncheon's second goal at Cardiff.What does it mean to support Palace? This has been the best season for Palace since I started supporting them. My first game was the final one of the 90/91 season, so it has been mostly downhill since then. It's great the club has managed to come all the way back and survive in the Premier League. The next step is to become an established Premier League club.Alex WhiteBest moment: It has to be The victory away at Hull under Keith Millen, which really gave me belief that we had what it took to stay in this division. Equally, the 3-3 draw with Liverpool wasn't too bad either! What does it mean to support Palace? It seems bizarre to most fans that As a group of fans, our priority is to enjoy ourselves and back our team for 90 minutes rather than caring too much about the result. Of course we want to see Palace succeed and do the best possible but a few years back we nearly lost our club and we realised you don't know what you have until you have lost it. This made us appreciate every single moment we have a chance to cheer on the red and blue.Stephen EllisBest moment: It would have to be the pandemonium that ensued after Gayle's equaliser against Liverpool; Selhurst Park exploded.What does it mean to support Palace? For me, being a Palace fan is so much more than the football. It's about the comradery that exists between all Crystal Palace supporters. We are not there to be entertained, we are there to support the greater Palace community, together.Amy LatterBest moment: When we realised we were safe from relegation. I think it's fair to say that there was a time when a lot of fans had started to accept relegation. What does it mean to support Palace? Being a Palace fan means being a part of something unique. The way the fans unite together as the 12th man through the good runs and the (very) bad runs – is something special. It may be cliché, but it really is one big massive family.What have been your highlights of the season? Join the debate by commenting below.
James DalyBest moment: Dwight Gayle's equaliser against Liverpool will live long in the memory; just like Palace under Pulis this season, it's hard to beat. For what it symbolised (a team that won't give up now matter what how bad things look) and the atmosphere it created in the final home game of a what's been memorable season, it's definitely my favourite moment.What does it mean to support Palace? Being a Palace fan used to mean being part of this cool secret club that only you and a few mates are allowed in. A club that's just the greatest thing in the world but only you knew that. Now everyone else knows and even some wants to be a part of it. The plaudits Palace fans have been getting this season have made all the efforts over the last few years, dragging ourselves away from administration, all the more sweeter.Lee BowmanBest moment: The recent home games against Chelsea and Liverpool are up there due to the results, the incredible atmosphere and generated at Selhurst at both games, plus the headlines and coverage that followed. What does it mean to support Palace? I struggle to put into words just how proud I feel to be a Palace fan. We have had some bad times in recent years but from that day at Hillsborough four years ago to where we are now, I cannot praise everyone at the club highly enough. The spirit and unity of everyone in and around the club has gone to a new level, particularly this season.Zoe MessenbirdBest moment: A toss up between beating Chelsea at home 1-0 and the also last Monday's incredible comeback against Liverpool. I think Monday slightly wins for me because it illustrated everything I love about our club. When you're sitting there thinking, 'Christ, we could get thumped', Delaney of all people scores an incredible goal, and it turns into the most amazing night.What does it mean to support Palace? Coming home from Monday's game, I was talking to my dad about how it was only four years ago we travelled up to Hillsborough, where we survived relegation into League One and also saw our club survive extinction altogether. To think this season we would be walking away from our final home game in the Premier League this season positioned 11th in the table, having just upset a team challenging for the Premier League title, is quite unbelievable. Mark GeorgeBest moment: I think Dwight Gayle's last-minute winner at Aston Villa was a real turning point. Palace had hung on for dear life and looked like earning a very good point when Gayle's thunderbolt made sure they picked up all three points. It gave the team a real boost, especially showing they were capable of good results away from home. Honourable mentions to the John Terry own goal, a very good January transfer window and Puncheon's second goal at Cardiff.What does it mean to support Palace? This has been the best season for Palace since I started supporting them. My first game was the final one of the 90/91 season, so it has been mostly downhill since then. It's great the club has managed to come all the way back and survive in the Premier League. The next step is to become an established Premier League club.Alex WhiteBest moment: It has to be The victory away at Hull under Keith Millen, which really gave me belief that we had what it took to stay in this division. Equally, the 3-3 draw with Liverpool wasn't too bad either! What does it mean to support Palace? It seems bizarre to most fans that As a group of fans, our priority is to enjoy ourselves and back our team for 90 minutes rather than caring too much about the result. Of course we want to see Palace succeed and do the best possible but a few years back we nearly lost our club and we realised you don't know what you have until you have lost it. This made us appreciate every single moment we have a chance to cheer on the red and blue.Stephen EllisBest moment: It would have to be the pandemonium that ensued after Gayle's equaliser against Liverpool; Selhurst Park exploded.What does it mean to support Palace? For me, being a Palace fan is so much more than the football. It's about the comradery that exists between all Crystal Palace supporters. We are not there to be entertained, we are there to support the greater Palace community, together.Amy LatterBest moment: When we realised we were safe from relegation. I think it's fair to say that there was a time when a lot of fans had started to accept relegation. What does it mean to support Palace? Being a Palace fan means being a part of something unique. The way the fans unite together as the 12th man through the good runs and the (very) bad runs – is something special. It may be cliché, but it really is one big massive family.What have been your highlights of the season? Join the debate by commenting below.
