Pitcher spent five years at the Eagles between 1994 and 1999 and made 83 appearances for the club, scoring two goals before being forced to retire from football due to injury.
He had played 204 games for Charlton before arriving at Selhurst Park and he helped Palace reach the semi-finals of both cup competitions in 1994/95, famously scoring a fantastic long-range strike against Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-final. His only other goal for the Eagles would come in the last eight of the League Cup in another convincing win against Manchester City.
A serious knee injury sustained against Huddersfield Town in August 1996 would virtually end his playing career, and after a short stint on loan at Leyton Orient in 1998 he was forced to hang up his boots the following year.
Everyone at the club would like to pass on their condolences to Darren’s family and friends.