Crystal Palace - club profile

CLUB: Crystal Palace.

GROUND: Selhurst Park, London, SE25 6PU. Tel: (020) 8768 6000.

CAPACITY: 26,400.

PLAY IN: The Championship.

FOUNDED: 1905.

TEAM NICKNAME: The Eagles.

BEST VICTORY: 9-0 v Barrow, Division 4, October 10, 1959.

WORST DEFEAT: 0-9 v Liverpool, Division 1, September 12, 1989.

BIGGEST ATTENDANCE: 51482 v Burnley, Division 2, May 11, 1979.

CURRENT MANAGER: Peter Taylor

Club history

1905: Crystal Palace FC was formed by workers at the original Crystal Palace, in the shadow of which the team played. The club performed well in the Southern League early on.

1918: After playing briefly at Herne Hill, Palace moved to the Nest, situated opposite the present-day Selhurst Station.

1921: After entering the Football League. Palace immediately won promotion as the first champions of Division 3.

1924: Palace moved to their present home, Selhurst Park. However, it was not a happy home to begin with as Palace were relegated in 1925.

1958: Having remained in the Division 3 South, Palace became part of the new national Division 4.

Terry Venables has had two spells as Crystal Palace boss - one was successful, the other not so much

1961: Palace were promoted to Division 3.

1964: Palace won promotion to Division 2.

1969: Promotion to the first division was achieved.

1973: There was disappointment for Palace when they were relegated back down to the second division.

1974: Palace were then relegated to the third division.

1976: Palace almost become the first third division club to reach the FA Cup final, losing to Southampton 2-0 in the semi-finals.

1977: Palace regained a place in the second division under the guidance of Terry Venables.

1979: Palace promoted back up to Division 1.

1981: Palace relegated from the top flight.

1981: Ron Noades took over as Palace chairman.

1984: Steve Coppell appointed as manager.

1989: Palace promoted to the first division after beating Blackburn Rovers in the play-offs.

1990: Despite being thrashed 9-0 by Liverpool at Anfield, this was to be one of Palace’s most memorable seasons. Palace beat Liverpool in the F A Cup semi-finals and then dramatically held Manchester United to a 3-3 draw in the final. Palace lost the replay 1-0.

1991: Palace ended their most successful season to date by finishing third in the top flight. They were also back at Wembley, beating Everton to take the ZDS Cup.

1993: Despite finishing in the top half of the table the season before, Palace were relegated. Their fate was sealed at Arsenal on the final day of the season, with former hero Ian Wright scoring for the Gunners. This was Coppell’s last match as manager.

1994: Alan Smith took over as manager and Palace bounced straight back to the top flight as first division champions.

1995: Becoming something of a yo-yo club, the Selhurst Park side were relegated again. Alan Smith's reign as manager ended. Ray Lewington and Peter Nicholas took over the coaching and Coppell returned as technical director.

1996: Dave Bassett was named as the new manager and led the Eagles to a play-off final at Wembley. They were beaten by Leicester.

1997: Palace bounced back into the Premiership again after beating Sheffield United in the play-off final. Coppell was back as manager after Bassett quit to take over as at Nottingham Forest.

1998: What goes up must come down and Palace were relegated – again. Terry Venables made a return to Selhurst Park as head coach. The season ended with the club in financial problems and the business in the hands of administrators.

Manager Iain Dowie led the Eagles into the Premiership in 2004

1999: Coppell was back as manager. Palace finished in 14th position.

2000: The following season was once again played out in administration. Simon Jordan took over the club, Coppell left and former manager Alan Smith was named as the new boss.

2001: A disappointing season ended with Palace in 20th position. Alan Smith was relieved of his duties. The club retained their place in the first division with a victory in the last game at Stockport County. Former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce was appointed manager.

2002: Bruce guided the team to third place in the division but resigned following speculation linking him with the vacant job at Birmingham City. Trevor Francis was named manager. The Eagles finished the season in tenth place.

2003: Despite good runs in the cups, Palace finished a disappointing 14th. Francis left the Eagles and the partnership of Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant was put in charge.

2004: After struggling at the wrong end of the table early on, Palace appointed Iain Dowie as their new manager. He performed a near miracle by guiding Palace into the play-offs. They then beat West Ham in the play-off final to win promotion back into the Premiership.

2005: Palace's return to the Premiership ended in relegation on the final day of the season after a 2-2 draw with Charlton. Their hopes of returning at the first attempt were boosted when star striker Andy Johnson announced he was staying at the club.

2006: Defeat in the play-off semi-finals condemns Palace to another season in The Championship. Manager Iain Dowie leaves the club at the end of the season, only to resurface shortly afterwards as manager of neighbours Charlton. Prolific scorer Andy Johnson is sold to Everton for £8.5m.