The Round-up: Five further final-day highlights

Club

29 May 2023

On the pitch, a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest rounded off Crystal Palace’s season and helped secure 11th place in the 22/23 Premier League table.

But with it being the final day of the season at Selhurst Park, there were plenty of off-field highlights to catch up on as well.

From fond farewells to post-match speeches, new kits and murals on show – and a quite incredible pre-match fan display – read on to get fully caught up on a busy final day…

Final day, first outing

Okay, so it’s unlikely you’ll have missed this one – but it was the new 23/24 home kit that was on show at Selhurst Park for the final match of the season.

The shirt’s design is made of red and blue halves to celebrate 10 years and that first incredible season we had in 2013/14. Take a look at some of the best shots of it in action below, or click here to find out more.

01 / 09

The pre-match fan display

Ending the season as they began it, the Holmesdale Fanatics produced an awe-inspiring vista prior to kick-off: a touching tribute to the late Maxwell Fraser, better known as legendary musician Maxi Jazz.

A lifelong Crystal Palace fan and an Associate Director of the club, Maxi Jazz was born in Brixton, lived in West Norwood, and rose to prominence as lead singer of the band Faithless. He sadly passed away in December at the age of 65.

All in the Holmesdale Road stand paid tribute to Maxi Jazz prior to kick-off, unfurling a vast banner reading “This is our church, this is where we heal our hurts” – a reference to Faithless track ‘God is a DJ’ – and raising a towering ‘Tifo’ in homage to the much-loved musician.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Zaha - oh, yes!

Following its official unveiling earlier in the week, Sunday marked the first Palace matchday scores of supporters will have seen a new mural paying homage to Wilfried Zaha.

Located near the south-east corner of the stadium, at the junction of Park Road and Holmesdale Road, close to Rothesay Road where the winger was raised, the mural depicts three of Zaha’s favourite images in a Palace shirt.

Supporters could be seen prior to Sunday’s game congregating around the mural, taking photographs and posing with the impressive depiction of a modern Palace icon.

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How’s stat?

Crystal Palace are now unbeaten in their last 11 top-flight home games on the final day of the season, having won seven and drawn four of those encounters.

The draw also means that Palace have lost just one of their last 10 games at Selhurst Park, and finished unbeaten in all five since Roy Hodgson’s return (winning three of those).

Go on then, one more: Will Hughes’ first Premier League goal for the club arrived on the occasion of his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions. A former Derby player, scoring against Forest...

The stirring speeches

The end of a long season, and time for some farewells – parting proving, as ever, such sweet sorrow.

Barely an eye was dry in the house as, emerging for the post-season lap of appreciation to a guard of honour, James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic – influential Palace players for nine and six-and-a-half-years respectively – received fitting send-offs.

Presented with gifts and handed the microphone for the chance to address the Selhurst faithful, the duo’s speeches made for moving moments.

Milivojevic said: “What can I say? I can only say a big thank you to you for all these six years giving support to myself, to the team, to the Football Club.

“When I came to England, I’d read about you guys, but when I started to play here, I started to understand the energy and everything that you give to us. You’ve been our 12th player on the pitch for us almost every game we’ve played at home, so thank you so much for this.”

McArthur added: “I’d just like to say a big thanks to every single fan. Since I joined nine years ago, that first day, you were unbelievable – the best fans, I’ve ever seen to be honest – and the reason I’d say you’re the best is you stick by this team through thick and thin.

“When we lose, we still believe as as club, and you give us that belief to win games. That’s going to be so important for these young lads who are playing here for the next few years: stick by them when times are hard, we’ll all stick together, and we’ll keep moving forward."

Chairman Steve Parish, presenting the duo with gifts from the club, added: “You see what these two guys do on the pitch. What you don’t see is what they do every day at the training ground, the leadership qualities they’ve got, the help that they’ve given me, given Dougie [Freedman, Sporting Director] and all the managers in the time they’ve been here…

“We would not be here today without everybody involved, but these two guys are special – I’ve got so much love for both of them. Congratulations, guys.”

After thanking Roy Hodgson, Ray Lewington and the backroom staff at the club, Chairman Parish also said: “Finally, most importantly, and especially today with that amazing display, you the fans are the best fans in the world, there’s no doubt about it.

“We’re going to take this club to the next level and start building a beautiful thing here. You’re all going to be a part of it, and I look forward to seeing you next year.”

Given the final word, Roy Hodgson said: “When the Chairman called me and asked if Ray and I would come back for this period of time, it was a really good moment. I didn’t know quite how good a moment it would be, but these last two-and-a-half months have been a real pleasure, working with everyone at the club.

“I have tremendous affection and respect for the group of players I’ve been asked to work with, but this hasn’t been all about me: I’ve been very fortunate to have Ray Lewington, Paddy McCarthy and Dean Kiely alongside me.

“All I can do is thank you very much for this opportunity, I’ve really enjoyed it, and I wish you well for the future.”

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