Clubs managed: Bath City, Plymouth Argyle, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Plymouth Argyle, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Bristol Rovers

Malcolm Allison was certainly one of the most flamboyant characters in the club's history and his time at Selhurst Park was a rollercoaster ride for Palace supporters.

On March 31^st 1973 Malcolm was appointed Palace manager after previously holding the role at Bath City, Plymouth Argyle and Manchester City where he helped the club to top domestic honours along with Joe Mercer. Despite his arrival the Eagles were relegated losing five out of the last seven games.

The following season was even more disastrous because of a second successive relegation. Malcolm completely restructured the side in an attempt to halt the club's decline and he angered many fans with his decision to replace favourite John Jackson in the Palace goal.

Malcolm's larger than life image was a mixed blessing in Division Three for it raised hopes of and aspirations of supporters while also serving to motivate other clubs when they visited SE25. However, 1975/76 was the most successful season for Malcolm at Selhurst Park as he spurred his side onto a FA Cup semi-final appearance. Brilliant victories against higher league opposition in the shape of Leeds United, Chelsea and Sunderland lead to the club's first FA cup semi but unfortunately eventual winners Southampton proved too strong at Stamford Bridge.

With the team failing to reach Wembley and win promotion Malcolm resigned in May 1976 but he returned to the club in 1980/81 for a two-month period in doomed attempt to avoid relegation from the top-flight.

Despite two successive relegations Palace supporters will always remember the mid 1970s as the era of FA Cup runs and Malcolm's fedora hat. Malcolm's period at the helm of the Eagles was not the most successful but during his time in charge the seeds were sown for the success that would follow under Terry Venables.