On Palace pressed, and Selhurst Park was formally opened on 30th August 1924 by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Louis Newton; Palace’s chairman, Mr Sydney Bourne; and the club president, Mr F.J. Nettlefold, who had contributed some £24,000 of the £30,000 suggested cost.
A picture of the match programme that day can be seen above; the programme featured an advertisement that advised that the roof of the grandstand was constructed with asbestos tiles - although readers will be pleased to know that these were since removed several decades ago!
At that stage, there was only one stand – the present Main Stand – which newspaper reports claim hosted 12,000 fans at kick-off but, as the game went on, soon filled up as some 20,000 fans turned out to witness the beginning of a new era.
Palace could not have wished for more illustrious opposition in Division Two for their big day, as The Wednesday’s side featured a number of high-profile stars of the time.
As such it was perhaps little surprise The Wednesday won out through a fourth-minute goal from inside-right Joe Marsden – but it was the occasion which will live longer in the history books.
“The new Palace head-quarters, which will accommodate about 80,000 people when completed, were opened by the Lord Mayor of London,” Yorkshire’s Star Green ‘un – perhaps hyperbolic in terms of capacity – proclaimed.
“This South London club have struck out boldly and have a ground which may, in the course of time, become one of the best in the Metropolis.”
Just short of 100 years later, with the stands of Selhurst Park rocking to the sounds of one of the country’s finest atmospheres, few could dispute the accuracy of that prediction.
Article produced with thanks to Ian King