Crystal Palace FC's first-ever major European adventure is underway, as we battle to win the UEFA Conference League. Find out how you can join us on our journey.

European Tour

## Born in the USA

> After a remarkable two-year journey from Alabama to Bayern Munich, Chris Richards fulfilled a lifelong dream when he moved to the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2022.

Born in Alabama, USA, Richards began his career near Houston before joining F.C. Dallas’ Academy and earning a professional contract there.

He moved to Houston and then Dallas aged 16 – both over 600 miles from his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where his parents still live – and initially lived alone with a host family. He then made the even larger jump of joining Bayern Munich aged 18, where he learnt fluent German and made his senior debut shortly after signing.

From here Richards’ rise was swift: he made his senior debut in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, his professional debut with Bayern Munich II in 2019, and his full Bayern debut in June 2020. A few months later he featured as a substitute in the German side’s DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund.

The young defender went on to represent Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League before joining 1899 Hoffenheim on loan in 2021. He has played a total of 82 professional matches.

Richards began his international career early, too, competing with the US Under-20s to win the CONCACAF U20 Championship aged 18. His performances at this level earned him a senior debut in November 2020, coming on as a substitute against Panama. Richards has since amassed seven further caps.

He made his debut for the Eagles at Anfield as a second-half substitute in August 2022. Richards went on to make his first start for the club, after a leg injury, in January 2023 in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Commenting on his first start he said: “It was worth the wait! Being able to make it \[my first Premier League start\] at home, especially in a game like tonight, was amazing."

His performances against Manchester United home and away, along with keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle United, saw him win the club's Player of the Month award in January 2023.

Richards' first domestic season in red and blue ended with 10 appearances in total, however he also managed to score his first international goal in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League against Canada to guide the United States to a 2-0 win.

The 2023/24 campaign saw Richards establish more of a place in the side, playing multiple roles as a centre-back, defensive midfielder and even as a right-back. He racked up 30 appearances in total, and scored his first goal against Burnley in a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park in February 2024.

Richards also found CONCACAF Nations League success once more, winning the title again in a 2-0 win over Mexico in March 2024. He was also recognised for his exceptional work with the Palace for Life Foundation - winning the PFA Community Champion award.

In 2024/25, Richards made 32 appearances across all competitions - six of which were in the FA Cup, where he played every single minute on the way to making history in the final against Manchester City.

2020

IFFHS Men's World Youth Team

January 2023

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

2023/24

PFA Community Champion

Richards

Twitter

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Richards reflects on Mostar

Richards reflects on 100th Palace appearance

CPFC x SunExpress aircraft livery

Chris Richards Previews Fulham

The best of our Defenders | Brighton (H)

Chris speaks on victory against Brentford

Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Millwall

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Millwall | Palace TV+

Chris speaks on win against Millwall

Richards reflects on victory at Villa Park

Chris speaks on tough game against Nottingham Forest

Chris speaks on solid performance against Chelsea

Richards on the final game at Anfield 

Fa Cup Final | Chris Richards & Matt Turner | Post Match Interview

Richards praises team spirit

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

**Watch the game using the embedded link above!**

#### **How can I watch the game?**

The game kicks off on Sunday, 5th April at **14:00 BST** at the VBS Community Stadium and will be broadcast live on the Barclays Women's Super League 2 YouTube channel, embedded above!

If you can't watch the game, the best place to follow all the action live on matchday is via our **[Palace Women X channel](https://x.com/cpfc_w)** and **[Instagram channel,](https://www.instagram.com/cpfc_w/?hl=en)** with live updates and content throughout the afternoon.

You can also follow via the official **[Crystal Palace App](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/information/palace-app-upgraded-download-and-use-now/)**, through which **goal updates and other important notifications are delivered straight to your phone**, keeping you informed of all the goals and key incidents for both sides.

Throughout the game, live **Opta stats** on the app will also keep you up to date with all the action. Even from ahead of matchday, and after the full-time whistle, you can follow all the action, **with previews, reaction and video** all in one place.

#### **The Opposition**

Ipswich Town WFC are new to the Barclays Women's Super League 2 for the 2025/26 season, having earned promotion as champions of the FAWNL South Division in the 2024/25 campaign.

The club made a significant step in their development by turning professional in June 2021, with Sophie Peskett signing their first professional women's contract.

Music superstar and lifelong fan Ed Sheeran also has a notable connection to the club, as he holds a 1.4% stake in Ipswich Town.

- **Head Coach: David Wright**
- **Nickname: The Blues**
- **Ground: JobServe Community Stadium / Portman Road**
- **Founded: 1991 (35 years ago)**

#### **Match Details**

- **Crystal Palace Women v Ipswich Town Women**
- **Sunday, 5th April (14:00 BST)**
- **Barclays Women's Super League 2**
- **VBS Community Stadium**

Crystal Palace Women take on 11th-place Ipswich Town in the Barclays Women's Super League 2 today. You can watch the game below!

WATCH LIVE: Palace Women v Ipswich

Crystal Palace Women v Ipswich Town Women (2026-04-05)

Crystal Palace

UEFA Conference League

AEK Larnaca

Last Match

Fiorentina

Next Match

Get ready for Europe!

*This interview was initially published in the Crystal Palace v Aston Villa programme in January 2026 - you can **[buy issues of the matchday programme by clicking HERE](https://shop.cpfc.co.uk/giftssouvenirs/souvenirs/programmes/)**.*

Footballers are all about rhythm. After all, routine breeds consistency. 

It’s why superstitions are so common amongst professionals, or at least they were before more started to look at the actual data, and less at which shin pad they must put on first. 

When you are playing week in, week out in the Premier League, it’s the expectation that you are as close to the top of your game as possible. But when you haven’t been playing regularly, that sharpness, that rhythm obtained from all those matches isn’t there. 

It’s never an easy situation to be in. So, when Nathaniel Clyne stepped into the Palace starting XI for December's trip to Fulham, he had to utilise every bit of previous experience built up over his career.

“It was always going to be a tough game anyway,” Clyne tells us on a cold morning at Copers Cope. “But from my personal perspective, having not started a Premier League game in… eight months I think, it wasn’t easy. 

“I just wanted to be back up to speed as quickly as possible. In that scenario you just want to get your first few touches out of the way and build into the game. 

“I managed to do that and fitness-wise I felt okay. That’s the other thing in your mind when you’ve not played for a while. 

“Overall, I think I coped really well.” 

That’s probably an understatement.

Clyne has always displayed a humble approach ever since he made his debut as an Academy graduate in his first spell in South London, back in 2008. 

In the right wing-back role at Fulham, replacing the injured Daniel Muñoz, who had scored the winner just four days earlier at Burnley, the 34-year-old was excellent. 

Palace won 2-1, thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and Marc Guéhi, but it was Clyne who stole the show, according to Manager Oliver Glasner. 

“Today, honestly the Man of the Match for me is Nathaniel Clyne,” Glasner said after the win. “He didn’t play for months now. 

“Performing like this with no real team training, always training in a group of eight, then showing this performance is huge credit to him. It shows what a great player he is and what a great person he is.”

High praise indeed. What’s even more remarkable is that Clyne didn’t have long to prepare, he only learnt himself the day before the game.

Only that intensity and hard work means your body can cope

“During the last training session,” he says. “We tend to set up in our starting team, so I gauged from that I’d be in. The night before, the Manager confirmed it. 

“But I think the training sessions really helped me feel up to speed. I could only perform like I did because of those. 

“The intensity we have in training, the demands the staff put on us to perform... only that intensity and hard work means your body can cope with that situation.”

Regardless of numbers in the session or when he last played a full game, Clyne clearly expects to put the work in. This is also a player who has played for his country and trained with some incredible players over the course of his career. 

So how does the current Palace set-up compare? “It is right up there,” Clyne reflects. “Even when we have a second day recovery session and the players who played are not training because they’re doing their own recovery, it’s still got that intensity. 

“I’ve been at other clubs with other managers and in that scenario, they’ll let the players that haven’t played take their foot off the gas a bit.

“It’s fair to say that doesn’t’ happen here,” he laughs. “Here, we keep the standards high and I think that even when there is a session with smaller numbers, it’s still just as demanding as when the full squad are involved.”

The fact it’s the first time in the club’s history as well, you can feel that

The UEFA Conference League is one factor in the need to balance intensity, the extra workload part and parcel of winning trophies following last season’s FA Cup win – with Clyne involved in many a European matchday squad.

It’s a far cry from his first spell at Selhurst Park from 2008 to 2012. Back then, Championship survival and administration were the main priorities for the club. Now in 2026, it’s about making Palace a force on the continent and winning more trophies. 

“Playing European football, it definitely feels extra special that it’s with Palace,” adds Clyne. “The fact it’s the first time in the club’s history as well, you can feel that. You know it means a lot to the supporters. 

“It’s great we can all travel abroad together and compete on that big stage. 

“And I think we’re adapting well to it. A few of the lads have obviously played in Europe before, but also quite a few haven’t. 

“It’s very demanding playing in the Premier League and then having a European trip, doing all the travelling, so the team deserve credit for dealing with it and the staff as well for organising us and making sure we’re as prepared as we possibly can be. 

“Hopefully we can make a good run in the competition and try and win it. That has to be the aim.”

During a frantic period, Clyne has continued to step up and deliver for Palace and – not the first time – shown himself to be a dependable member of this squad. 

In the rematch with Fulham at Selhurst Park in January, he produced the Eagles’ best moment. Showing fabulous footwork out on the right, Clyne got beyond Antonee Robinson and delivered a perfect cross for Jean-Philippe Mateta to head into the net. Simply put, it was excellent wing-back play.

In the majority of his appearances since Oliver Glasner arrived in 2024, Clyne has played in the back three. But he is now showing the capacity to contribute at both ends, in attack and defence. 

“It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve played that role,” he reflects. “At least in terms of playing there regularly. I’d played the position before, but that was often when a manager was tinkering with a formation, not a set formation throughout the season. 

“It is a little bit different. When you’re out wide with the ball, you don’t really have someone to combine with. 

“For someone like me, who is a defender, you’ve naturally got to be more attack-minded. Your fitness levels have to be as high as possible, so it’s not easy! It’s more demanding than playing at full-back.

“But I’m enjoying it – it’s a lot of fun. You’ve got to contribute and be involved in the attacking phases of play more and every player wants that.”

Clyne, at the time of writing, hasn’t scored since returning, but came close in that first game against Fulham… only to not quite make the right connection when the ball came to him in the penalty area. 

“It’s fair to say I had a few sleepless nights after that!” he laughs. “A lot of messages from friends saying I should have scored! 

“It would have been the perfect time to score. But it did fall awkwardly on the ankle of my left foot. So I can’t blame myself too much. 

"Hopefully the next time I get a chance with that sort of opportunity I’ll score,” he pauses… “or at least hit the target!”

Whether a goal comes or not, Clyne knows, through his 18-year experience as a professional, he needs to, first and foremost, just enjoy the moment.

To get a trophy with the club where I came through the Academy, it meant a lot

He says: “I just want to continue what I’m doing. Stay fit, keep on enjoying playing football. Because you never know when it’s going to stop. 

“I just want to stay fit and try and be as successful as possible.” And could that include winning another a trophy? 

Despite achieving plenty over the course of his professional career so far, Clyne ranks last season’s FA Cup as his favourite day in the sport.

“It’s definitely top of what I’ve achieved,” he adds. “I have been in a lot of tournaments and a lot of finals, where I haven’t crossed the line or had the trophy at the end of it.

“So to lift the FA Cup was rewarding. I was relieved to get that win over the line, but to get a trophy with the club where I came through the Academy, it meant a lot.” 

Clyne is known for his tattoos of London landmarks, a personal tribute to his home city. Could some future ‘ink’ be dedicated to the FA Cup or Community Shield wins? 

“I think I’ll wait until the end of my career,” Clyne says. “Hopefully before then I can win a few more and put it all together!" 

Considering the last 12 months at Crystal Palace, that sounds like a wise decision.

Nathaniel Clyne turns 35-years-old today – many happy returns, Clyney!

Happy birthday, Clyney!: His Palace journey, from fighting for survival to competing in Europe

The 22-year-old – who on Thursday [won the Premier League’s Creative Moment of the Month](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/wharton-wins-march-premier-league-creative-moment-of-the-month/) award for his recent through-ball against Tottenham Hotspur – was speaking to talkSPORT whilst on England duty.

The midfielder returned to Palace after picking up a minor knock during 45 minutes’ action against Uruguay at Wembley last week, but – discussing his hopes of featuring for the Three Lions at this summer’s World Cup finals, ahead of that game – reflected on his first four caps for his country at senior level.

“It's obviously a really good feeling,” Wharton said. “I think it's always positive to be selected and to be able to come here and train with all the other lads and the staff.

“It’s a bit different [being part of a 35-man selection], but it obviously gives a chance for a lot more players to try and impress and make a point on why they should go in the summer.

“He [Thomas Tuchel] gives everyone positions, and he's said I'm in this sort of No. 6 position – so here now you've got Jordan Henderson and then Elliot Anderson [in competition]. That was what it was in the last camp as well.

“Obviously I want to play as much as I can and try and help the team. But at the same time, Jordan and Elliot are top players, playing well this season, so it's not going to be easy. And like I said, football is a game of opinions. I’m sure whoever the manager chooses is going to do a great job and will give everything to help the team.

“It’s every young boy's dream to be able to go to a World Cup to represent their country. I'm going to try and impress as much as I can, and try and play as well as I can up until the players get on that plane – hopefully I'm one of them.

“There’re still a few games to play before then, so a lot can happen, but hopefully I can do well enough and show that I'm worthy of a ticket on the plane. There are a lot of top players, so I'm sure whoever gets those tickets will be worthy of them and definitely deserve to represent the country. I'm sure they'll do the country proud.”

While he still awaits his first goal in red and blue, Wharton is enjoying his most productive season for Palace to date, leading the club’s assist charts with seven in all competitions – including the aforementioned pair at Spurs.

The midfielder continues to win plaudits far and wide in the media, but Wharton – typically humble – is choosing to remain grounded, stating: “It's hard not to [see compliments from the media]. 

"I think when you sort of see them everywhere nowadays on social media, everything gets thrown about a lot – friends send it to you, family send it to you. Sometimes it's hard to not see them!

“But no, I try and just sort of don't get too ahead of myself with the positive, and on't get too down with the negative. I try and just stay sort of level-headed, keep my feet on the ground, and just focus on myself and how I can improve.

“You know, if you think you're on top of the world, then there's a long way to fall. I just sort of listen to what the coaches say, what the staff say, because they've got my best interests at heart and they want me to improve and help them as much as possible as well.”

It's about trying to just communicate more

This summer will mark two years since Wharton’s England debut against Bosnia in June 2024, and his subsequent selection for the 2024 European Championships, where he helped the Three Lions all the way to the final.

The young midfielder has continued to improve at club level during that time, helping Palace to a historic first-ever pair of trophies and into Europe for the first time.

Looking back, Wharton reflected: “I think a lot's changed since then. But, yeah, I think I just have more of an understanding of the game, trying to become a bit more vocal on the pitch, especially at Palace. 

“Being in the midfield, you have to speak a lot more. You have to speak with the defenders, then you've got the wide players and the strikers. You’ve got to speak a bit to everyone. It's about trying to just communicate more, because then it helps the team if everyone knows what they're doing.

“And then on the ball, off the ball, there a lot of different things that have changed, but I’m just trying to work on it all, really. 

“With the gaffer at Palace, I’m just trying to take as much as I can from him. With the way we play, and then Europe's been different this year, so it's been a lot more on-the-ball for us, trying to keep the ball moving quick, and trying to break down [teams] a little bit, which we haven't really done a lot in the Premier League, because teams are more aggressive against us.”

“I don't think you could have written that script back then [in 2024]. It's been a very special journey – lots of ups and downs, lots of different paths taken that I probably would never have thought would happen. But I'm glad with how everything's gone.

“I'm just happy that I'm able to play football and express myself, and try and have a benefit on any team that I play with.”


Now well into his third year as a Crystal Palace player – having arrived from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 – Adam Wharton was recently quizzed on the journey he has undertaken as a Premier League, and now established international, midfielder.

Women

Women

WATCH LIVE: Palace Women v Ipswich

Happy birthday, Clyney!: His Palace journey, from fighting for survival to competing in Europe

Wharton on evolving with Palace & areas for improvement

Get ready for Europe!

26Chris
Richards

Women

Women

WATCH LIVE: Palace Women v Ipswich

Happy birthday, Clyney!: His Palace journey, from fighting for survival to competing in Europe

Wharton on evolving with Palace & areas for improvement

Get ready for Europe!

26ChrisRichards

26Chris
Richards