Selhurst Park isn’t just a Premier League football ground, but the heart of a vibrant and diverse community, stretching back a century since Palace’s arrival in 1924. Find out more about the incredible history of Selhurst Park.

100 Years of Selhurst Park

## Our Senegalese Sarr

> Ismaïla Sarr became the club’s third signing of the 2024/25 summer transfer window after joining on a five-year deal from Olympique de Marseille.

The 26-year-old attacker possesses plenty of experience of English football, having spent four years at Watford – recording 34 goals and 22 assists in 131 games – prior to joining Marseille, whom he helped reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last season.

Sarr's career began in French football with Metz, before moving to Rennes and leading the club into Europe, as well as winning their first Coupe de France in almost half a century.

At international level, he has been a mainstay of the Senegal national side, earning 64 caps, scoring 13 goals and winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.

His career has also been defined by his eye for the spectacular, having won Goal of the Season awards in both the Football League and the Europa League.

2022/23, Watford (v West Bromwich Albion)

EFL Goal of the Season

Watford, 2020/21

Player of the Season

Players' Player of the Season

2018/19, Rennes (v Jablonec)

UEFA Europa League Goal of the Season

December 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Shirts

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Ismaïla Sarr Relives His FA Cup Magic

Goal of the month & Player of the month: April 2025

Access All Over | Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa (Wembley Edition)

Goal of the month contenders | April 2025

All The Goals | Pitchside Angle

FA Cup Semi-Final Recap

Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa | FA Cup Semi-Final Palace TV+

Match Action: Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa | FA Cup Semi-Final

Goal of the month contenders | March 2025

Access All Over: Fulham (A)| FA Cup   

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town | Palace TV+

Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich Town | Palace TV+

Match Action: Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich Town

Goal of the month contenders | February 2025

All the Angles: Ismaïla Sarr v Aston Villa | Goal #2

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

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Adam Wharton trained the whole week and is available.&quot; 🙌<br><br>Oliver Glasner has provided a team news update.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CPFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/xOxI5ddwX4">pic.twitter.com/xOxI5ddwX4</a></p>&mdash; Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1923356293802164316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Speaking to a packed-out pre-match press conference, on the eve of a historic occasion for the club, the manager is expecting to have a deep Crystal Palace squad to choose from.

“It’s positive team news,” Glasner smiled. “Everyone is fit.

“**Adam \[Wharton\]** trained the whole week and is available, and all the others are fit.

“There are some tough decisions to take – but good decisions to take.”

Glasner confirmed that Palace have not adjusted their training schedule too much ahead of the showpiece occasion against City, aside from the increased pre-match media commitments.

“It feels like a normal game,” the manager confirmed.

“There’s much more attention and interviews to do during the week, but our preparations have been more or less the same as for a Premier League game, like they were for the semi-final and quarter-final game.

“We focused on what we want to do tomorrow, we analysed Manchester City, but 90 percent we talked about us.

"We can influence what we want to do. The focus was on our game, and maybe having one or two small adjustments, because the players did very well in the last couple of weeks.

“We have a lot of confidence and are looking forward to the Final.”

Get Wembley ready

### **Match Details**

**Crystal Palace v Manchester City**

- Saturday, 17th May
- 16:30 BST
- FA Cup Final
- Wembley Stadium
- [Live audio commentary on Palace TV+](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/)

Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Adam Wharton is fit to face Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Team News: Glasner updates on Wharton ahead of FA Cup Final

Crystal Palace v Manchester City (2025-05-17)

Crystal Palace

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur

Last Match

Manchester City

FA Cup

Next Match

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**Today, we're delighted to share messages of support from some of South London's finest stars of the stage and screen – renowned comedians, Hollywood actors and legendary musicians – who have shone under the global spotlight, and are now hoping Palace can do the same this weekend...**

### Jo Brand

*Hailing from Clapham, BAFTA winner Jo Brand is one of the UK's most loved comedians, presenters, actresses, and writers in the UK. She has entertained global audiences for over 30 years, earning multiple awards and critical acclaim for her work.*

**Hello, Jo Brand here**, sending an 'all fingers crossed' message to the brilliant Palace team and staff, wishing them all the luck in the world for the 17th May.

I have been a Palace fan for many, many years, as have most of my family.

It would mean so much to us, as we lost our favourite family Palace fan, my brother Bill, four years ago, and we have lots of happy memories about the times we spent at Selhurst Park with Bill and his Hasting mates, who travelled up in a minibus, pristine and sober, and left quite a lot worse for wear on the journey home after sharing a big group meal with the London branch of the Palace fan club.

The atmosphere at Selhurst Park, the fans and the determination of the team are a powerful combination. I know the Eagles can do it, and I’m so proud to be asked to add a message of support.

### Katy B

*Hailing from Peckham, dubstep, R&B, funky, house and UK garage singer Katy B released her debut album,* On a Mission, *in 2011, receiving critical acclaim and a Mercury Prize nomination, spawning top-five hits* Katy on a Mission and Lights On, *both classics of the UK dance scene. Since, she has released three further UK top-ten singles, hitting number one in 2015 with* Turn the Music Louder (Rumble) *alongside KDA and Tinie Tempah.*

The team are doing great. They just seem to be so much more confident, playing in harmony together, and everyone looks like they’re really enjoying themselves on the pitch – it’s a joy to see.

We’ve beaten some big teams to get here and that can give us confidence. I just think Saturday’s game, being the underdogs… I feel like we’re gonna have that edge and fight even harder because of that.

I’m just hoping that we keep in that magical stride, score lots of goals and don’t let any in… for my nerves, I’m hoping it’ll be another 3-0 situation – but we’ll see!

Suzy Izzard & Jim Piddock from the 2016 Final

In the world of comedy, people often talk about the well-known "rule of three”, with the payoff punchline being something unexpected after two set ups which are expected.

This will be my third trip to Wembley from foreign lands to see us in an FA Cup Final and I’m hoping desperately for the payoff punchline this time with "the unexpected” (yes, Manchester City ARE the favourites) after two previous exciting Wembley finals but with “expected” results against Manchester United (okay, *four* if you count the dull replay in 1990, but I wasn’t there at that game).

If that happens, and we win a major trophy for the first time in the six decades I’ve supported Palace – and in the club’s 100-plus year history – I don’t think I can express in words the absolute heights and complete depths of elation I’ll feel.

This is almost certainly the best Palace squad I can ever remember us having, who on their day are capable of beating anyone with or without the help of good fortune... but winning a trophy like the FA Cup always requires a bit of luck along the way, so here’s wishing Oliver and the whole squad all the luck in the world.

And, of course, we all know what the other well-known “rule of three” is? THIRD TIME LUCKY.

Bring it on home, boys!

### Bill Wyman

*Born in Lewisham, Bill Wyman is a musician best known as the bassist for the Rolling Stones for 31 years, from 1962 to 1993, performing on their first 19 albums. He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Rolling Stones in 1989, and briefly returned to recording with them in 2023.*

*Although best known for his music, Bill has pursued many other interests since leaving the Stones in 1993, and is an avid archivist, collector, photographer and author.*

Hi guys, Bill Wyman here! I've been a fan of the Palace since 1946, actually, when I was 10 years old.

I've seen the Palace lose twice in the FA Cup Final against Man United, both by the odd goal.

Now, the Palace are on fire, and I hope that fire continues to burn on Saturday.

**Go Palace!**

Crystal Palace’s third-ever FA Cup Final will soon be upon us away – and ahead of the match, we’re delighted to share a range of South London’s favourite voices, looking forward to our return to English football’s greatest stage…

'It's time' – Voices of South London: Stars of the stage, screen & soundwaves

**Today, we hear from a former Palace captain who famously curled in one of the most famous goals of the club’s history at Wembley – the one and only David Hopkin...**

Hopkin joined the club in the 1995/96 season from Chelsea, with the side in the First Division and looking to regain a place in the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Describing his journey to SE25, Hopkin said: “I had signed for Chelsea in 1992 and I'd played a few games, but I was in and out of the team.

“I'd played, I think, about 50 games all in at Chelsea, I was just getting used to living in London after coming down from Greenock Morton.

“Peter Nicholas, who was at Chelsea as a youth team coach, had moved to Crystal Palace and then me and my agent, Phil Morrison, got a phone call to go and meet Steve Coppell and Ron Noades at the airport hotel.

“And when I went to speak to both of them, I made up my mind within five minutes that I wanted to join the club.”

Join he did – and he didn’t look back. 

In his first season the midfielder managed to net 12 goals in all competitions to help the side to a third-place finish in 1995/96.

This assured them of a place in the play-offs, and the Eagles made it all the way to Wembley – but agonisingly lost out in the final minute of extra-time to Leicester City.

“It was fantastic when I signed,” Hopkin smiled.

“There was Ray Lewington, Peter Nicholas, Steve Kember... Vic Bettinelli was the goalie coach and, to be fair, it was a great club. It's always been the same. I think it's never lost that family identity.

“I don't think you'll get very far if you're trying to find an ex-player who'll speak ill of the club. It's been a fantastic club for everybody, for their careers. And at that time, obviously they'd been relegated. They'd sold a good core of the squad, but to be fair to Steve Coppell and Ron Noades, they went into the lower leagues, bought the best players who are available, and developed them.

“We had a great core of players at time. They'd signed myself, Dougie Freedman, Neil Shipperley, Marc Edworthy, Andy Roberts... and the club also had a core of fantastic young players coming through.

“Rob Quinn, Clint Morrison, Hayden Mullins, Dean Gordon, Bruce Dyer – they were all coming up. Leon McKenzie, Danny Boxall, Steven Thompson as well... the club's always that kind of mixture of bringing players in to supplement the kids they had.

“And then we had a fantastic second season with Andy Linighan, David Tuttle, Carl Veart coming in. Ray Houghton was a fantastic signing too. With all these players, what they'd done was just get a whole team structure.

“We just kept going that following season, after losing out to Leicester the season before. Great, great memories, and probably the best time that I've enjoyed in football.”

In that second season, the 1996/97 campaign, Palace finished sixth overall, getting into the play-offs once more.

What followed was a close-fought semi-final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Hopkin scored a crucial goal to see the Eagles through on aggregate at Molineux.

“Dougie, who was my roommate at the time, played a massive part in the first leg when he came on. At the time we were drawing 1-1, but he came on and scored two fantastic goals.

“Then we had to go to Molineux, and you have to remember how much money they'd spent, the squad they had. They were favourites and we went behind quite early. And then I managed to score.

“People always ask me about the goal at Wembley and I say, ‘yeah, it was great,’ but I think the one at Molineux was arguably more important because that was the one that took us through to the final in the first place!

“I think that's always been in the club's DNA: to upset the odds when we’re not favourites. That's how it has always been. The fans have been absolutely fantastic with every team that's been through the generations.”

Going into the play-off final at Wembley, for the second consecutive season, Palace were once again battling against the odds, lining up against a strong Sheffield United team.

Despite that, however, a chance at redemption was on the cards, after the previous season's defeat, which was on the mind of Hopkin and some of the players.

“We'd played Sheffield United twice in the league and they'd beaten us both times, but going into the Wembley game, nothing changed, we were all relaxed. 

"We were there the year before, we'd all seen disappointment, but now we had staff behind us who were all fantastic and just relaxed.

When you go to a final, you just have to make sure you win a game.

“When we were coming out of the tunnel, you looked across and saw the Sheffield United team who were fully experienced players, with some players they had bought from the Premier League. I think we were all younger than them!

“I could see they looked nervous coming out of the tunnel, but we just went out. It felt like it was 90-odd degrees! It was really, really warm.

“As soon as we came out of the tunnel, I think there was *Oasis* playing and we saw the red and blue balloons going up, it was like coming out of a cauldron, but it was fantastic.”

“Great, great memories, the atmosphere was electric the whole time. The season before when we got beat by Leicester, I sat in the dressing room thinking, ‘it's got to happen again, if I ever get a chance to come back to Wembley again.’ 

"When you go to a final, you just have to make sure you win the game.”

The Eagles duly did win the game, and of course it came through one of the most iconic strikes in the club’s history off of Hopkin’s right boot – [giving us the iconic line of ‘Hopkin Looking to Curl One’](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/club/rob-hawthorne-recalls-hopkin-looking-to-curl-one-24-years-on/) from commentator Rob Hawthorne.

“It gets played every year when the play-offs are on! I didn't realise how good a goal it was and how hard it was and how difficult a skill it was at the time.

“You're running away from a goal... I managed to get a touch on the ball and turn while I’m getting closed down by a defender and – not even to a step – I just opened my leg and I thought ‘I'm just going to try and curl this in the top corner.’

“For it to go in was unbelievable. I think now, when I look back at the skill level, to go and do that, turn all in one movement and hit a shot like that, right away... it was incredible.

“I don't think people realise how special it was for me, my family and my wife when I was there, so it was great. I'll never forget that, they’re memories that will crop up every year because of the play-offs.”

Special it was indeed, and it was one of Hopkin’s last touches of the ball in red and blue at the time, as he went on to join Leeds United in the following season.

He did return to the club for one more season in 2001/02, but that was by no means the end of his impact in red and blue.

“I do Palace’s recruitment and scouting in Scotland!” he revealed. “I go out and watch games all over Scotland. I've still got a great relationship with Dougie, the Chairman Steve Parish, and obviously Gary Issott at the Academy.

“We speak most weeks about players and recruitment and different things, I’ve been doing it for the past three or so years and I've really enjoyed it.

“Scott Banks was the first one we took down, who came from Dundee United. He's now at St. Pauli in the Bundesliga, which is great for him, fantastic for the club that they've managed to take a player down and develop to now play for a top German side.

“It’s great for the Academy too, and we’ve also brought Dylan Reid from St. Mirren – he was the youngest ever Scottish Premiership player at the time.

“The most recent acquisition is of course Justin Devenny. I went with Dougie, and we have a laugh about it now, but I was saying, ‘Dougie, you need to come and watch this kid!’

“Usually the data team and the analysts and Dougie will ask me to go and watch a player, but I said to him: ‘look, you have to come up!’

“So he's a very good success story coming from Airdrie, playing for the U21s and now he’s part of the first-team plans, which is incredible.”

Devenny himself has scored in the FA Cup run to the Final, away at Doncaster Rovers, and may potentially feature in the matchday squad at Wembley on Saturday – a move facilitated by the work of Hopkin, who also turned his attention to the final.

Giving similar advice to [another Wembley goal scoring hero in Kevin Phillips](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/features/voices-of-wembley-kevin-phillips/), Hopkin said: “You go into the game and you try to play the game – not the occasion.

“I think the players know this now, with all the experience they’ve got; some have played for England, which has been fantastic. They all did so well in the semi-final too.

“The manager Oliver Glasner has done a fantastic job. He seems a very calming influence on the players, because the squad is so young.

“So I think his message will be: ‘go play the game and try and win it,’ because that's all that matters at the end of it – lifting a trophy.

“It'd be fantastic for the club to lift a major trophy, especially in a game that's going to be shown worldwide.”

Crystal Palace’s third-ever FA Cup Final is not far at all away – and ahead of the match, we’re delighted to share a range of our favourite South London voices, looking forward to our return to English football’s greatest stage…

First-team

First-team

Team News: Glasner updates on Wharton ahead of FA Cup Final

'It's time' – Voices of South London: Stars of the stage, screen & soundwaves

'For it to go in was unbelievable' – Voices of Wembley: David Hopkin

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7Ismaïla
Sarr

First-team

First-team

Team News: Glasner updates on Wharton ahead of FA Cup Final

'It's time' – Voices of South London: Stars of the stage, screen & soundwaves

'For it to go in was unbelievable' – Voices of Wembley: David Hopkin

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7IsmaïlaSarr

7Ismaïla
Sarr