On Saturday, 17th May 2025, we defeated Manchester City 1-0 at a sold-out Wembley Stadium to seal our first-ever major trophy, and cap a day in our history which will never be forgotten. Find out more below.

2025 FA Cup Winners

## From Super Eagle to South London Eagle

> A fully-fledged Nigeria international, exciting young talent Uche joins Crystal Palace on loan from Getafe – and brings with him an exciting blend of speed, skill and versatility.

Born in Owerri, in the southeastern part of Nigeria, Uche was remarkably playing amateur football in his hometown as recently as 2022 – so to become a Premier League footballer is sure to make his family and friends proud.

Uche’s star was always destined to rise, and having represented Nigeria in the African Under-23s Cup by that stage, his potential was identified by Spanish fifth-tier side Moralo CP in 2022, officially being announced by the club in November of that year.

Whilst his senior debut was with Moralo’s B team the following week, starting in a 2-1 away loss to CP Moraleja, it took Uche just a second game to get on the scoresheet for the first time – the attacker was first to a rebound to open the scoring in a 4-0 win over CF Jaraíz.

Pace is a theme of Uche’s game and, after becoming a regular for Moralo in the rest of the season, he was quickly snapped up after just a year by third-tier club AD Ceuta.

Deployed in the midfield pivot, he was quickly identified as a revelation at that level – indeed, such was the speed of the impression he made there, it took just six months before Spanish press began to link him with La Liga outfits such as Real Betis.

By June 2024, just two years after leaving Nigeria, Uche’s transfer to Getafe CF. Moving to Madrid, a dream realised: the then-21-year-old was a top-flight footballer.

Whatever report you read about Uche, common themes emerge: quality, physical strength, pace, energy and – an attribute which Palace fans in particular are sure to love – a hefty work rate. His versatility is oft-cited, too, as during his time in Spain, the young talent was deployed mainly in midfield but also – on occasion – further up the pitch, and even sometimes in defence.

After signing a four-year deal with Getafe, he continued to feature in a variety of positions, including central midfield, as an advanced playmaker, and as an attacker – contributing five goals and eight assists in 41 appearances for the side last season.

Uche’s switch to the Premier League arrives at the culmination of a memorable summer for the 22-year-old, having received his first senior call-up for Nigeria in May of this year for the friendly 2025 Unity Cup tournament in London.

It was at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium he made his senior debut for the *Super Eagles* on 31st May, coming off the bench with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining in the final. After a 2-2 draw, Nigeria won the tournament 5-4 on penalties – Uche scoring the winning kick.

Uche

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Uche reflects on his Premier League debut

CCTV | First Look at Uche & Canvot

Christantus Uche | First Interview

Christantus Uche Signs!

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

For the first time ever in this corner of South London, triangular corner flags were used.

The shape of corner flags may not seem that important on the surface, but it actually signified a historic moment.

Traditionally, only teams that have won the FA Cup use triangle flags. Of course, after the events of Saturday, 17th May 2025, that now includes the Eagles.

#### **Is it strictly a rule?**

In truth, this is one of football's unwritten laws. The lawmakers of the game, IFAB, do not regulate the shape of the corner flag.

In England specifically, there is no mention of the shape of the flag in the FA's regulations and, at least officially, clubs are free to decide what shape of flags they use.

Yet like many traditions in football, is it still widely respected. Old habits die hard, and all that.

#### **Where does this tradition come from?**

It is unknown exactly where the tradition around triangular corner flags came from. 

One possible explanation is that Cardiff City changed to triangle flags in 1927, the same year they lifted the FA Cup – so far the only time the Bluebirds have done so in their history – and the rest of the country simply followed suit.

Regardless, it would seem remiss to turn down another opportunity to celebrate that monumental day in our history at Wembley, four months ago!

Access All Over | FA Cup Final

Defender Jaydee Canvot and penalty shoot-out hero Walter Benítez weren't the only debutants in SE25 this week... In both our Premier League draw with Sunderland and Carabao Cup win over Millwall, the Eagle-eyed amongst you may have spotted a new feature on the Selhurst Park pitch!

Did you notice this Selhurst Park debut?

Millwall

League Cup

Crystal Palace

Last Match

Premier League

West Ham United

Next Match

2025/26 EAGLE WHITE KIT - SHOP NOW

Describing how she and the team felt at full-time on Sunday, Potter said: "It was a weird one really, because we were happy that we scored four really good goals, but we weren't happy with the goals that we conceded.

"We need to be a little bit more difficult for teams to play against. For some of the chances that they had, it was difficult to see us conceding four goals.

"But, I thought there was an improvement in our play from the week before, which is really important. We've got to keep pushing. We've got to keep looking forward. We're trying to get the team to play a new way and buy into that, and they're doing it."

The quality of Palace's attacking play was a significant positive, which Potter attributes to the team's preparation.

She said: "We knew we would get chances. We knew what positions we could get into if we moved the ball into certain areas and got Southampton into that low block that they like to get into - the girls did that excellently."

On the injury front, Potter gave an update on several key players. While Allyson Swaby's return to full fitness is still ongoing, her outlook is positive.

"We're trying to work with Allyson at the moment. She's coming back from an injury that she picked up pretty early in pre-season... but she's looking positive right now.

"Aimee \[Everett\] is going to be out for another few weeks. She's still a little bit away. She's had a kind of a re-injury of the ankle that she had previously, the one that she had surgery on, so she's going to be a few weeks out.

"My Cato is going to be another few weeks out, and Lola \[Brown\] picked up a little bit of an injury as well. We're still waiting for the final results on that.

"So we're a few players down over the coming weeks, month or so. But we're hoping to get Allyson back in and around the squad pretty soon."

Looking ahead to the next match, Potter acknowledged the unique challenges that newly-promoted Nottingham Forest will present.

She said: "They haven't conducted themselves like a newly-promoted team this season. I think it's really important that you see the amount of backing that they've had. They've really gone after it.

"I'd put them in the bracket of Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Sunderland, Durham. There are big teams in this league that can really push and kick on for this promotion this year."

She also praised Nottingham Forest's Head Coach Carly Davies, and her team's playing style.

"They've got a very good coach in Carly. I've known her for many, many years. Really good style of playing football. Wants to play. The team wants to play.

"We've got to make sure we're looking at them and what they can do to us. But, as ever, we'll be concentrating on ourselves."

**Tickets for Sunday's away trip to Nottingham Forest are available now, you can secure your spot by clicking the button below!**

Buy Forest away tickets here!

Ahead of Palace's trip to the City Ground, Crystal Palace Women's manager Jo Potter reflected on the 4-4 draw with Southampton, provided a team news update, and looked ahead to Sunday's clash with Nottingham Forest.

Palace Women v Forest: Jo Potter on team news, attacking improvements and facing Carly Davies

Nottingham Forest Women v Crystal Palace Women (2025-09-21)

As part of this exclusive experience, you’ll get the chance to go behind-the-scenes at training, witnessing Oliver Glasner's Eagles preparing for an upcoming fixture.

With Palace coming off the back of our most successful season in our 164-year history, and now preparing for our first-ever European campaign in the Conference League, this is your chance to see the stars of this historic squad, up close and in person.

What's more, you'll also get the chance to visit our state-of-the-art Academy, opened in 2021 after extensive redevelopment. One of only a handful of Category A football academies in London, our Academy has already nurtured exceptional talents over the years, including Wilfried Zaha, Nathaniel Clyne, and Gareth Southgate.

The **auction start price is £500 and will close on the 14th October 2025**, with all proceeds going towards Palace for Life Foundation's work in South London.

This promises to be an unforgettable day, and we encourage all supporters to get involved to win this unique opportunity.

Enter the auction

### Who are Palace for Life?

**Palace for Life Foundation is the official charity of Crystal Palace F.C. which has been working with the South London community for over 30 years.** 

The Foundation use the power of football and the Palace brand to change the lives of young people across south London, particularly the most hard-to-reach and hard-to-help. 

They work with over 15,000 young people each year, inspiring them to find a better path and to lead a healthier life.

[**Learn more about the Foundation's vital work here.**](https://www.palaceforlife.org/whats-on/)

Palace for Life Foundation are offering Crystal Palace a once-in-a-lifetime experience via fundraising auction: the chance for you, and up to three guests, to watch the Men’s first-team train up close at Copers Cope, before enjoying lunch at the state-of-the-art Academy.

Watch Palace train, visit the Academy – and raise funds for young South Londoners

Club

Club

Did you notice this Selhurst Park debut?

Palace Women v Forest: Jo Potter on team news, attacking improvements and facing Carly Davies

Watch Palace train, visit the Academy – and raise funds for young South Londoners

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12Christantus
Uche

Club

Club

Did you notice this Selhurst Park debut?

Palace Women v Forest: Jo Potter on team news, attacking improvements and facing Carly Davies

Watch Palace train, visit the Academy – and raise funds for young South Londoners

2025/26 EAGLE WHITE KIT - SHOP NOW

12ChristantusUche

12Christantus
Uche