Every word from our final Selhurst Park game speeches
On a memorable night in SE25, Crystal Palace were able to pay a fitting tribute to Joel Ward on his final competitive appearance at Selhurst Park.
On a memorable night in SE25, Crystal Palace were able to pay a fitting tribute to Joel Ward on his final competitive appearance at Selhurst Park.
After our 4-2 win over Wolves, which ensured a new Premier League points record is assured, Chairman Steve Parish, manager Oliver Glasner and Ward himself addressed the crowd.
In case you missed it, here's every word from the post-match speeches.
I don't know if there's any way I can do this justice really, and I can't think of the right words.
Joel... 363 appearances, 13 years, one big friendship – that’s I wrote on Instagram and I meant every word.
We signed you in the little porter cabin shed, for £400,000 and you said to me ‘I'll come if you don't sell Wilfried and you tell me we're going to get promoted.’ That's what he said to me.
It's a difficult thing in football, saying goodbye to people. I was really, really choked when Wardy came off there, really choked.
You've been brilliant for us. I know the performance tonight was everything about you.
You just looked like it was your first game, it was unbelievable. I know all the players that played on the pitch tonight and came on, they wanted to get that win for you Wardy, to dedicate to it you and make sure your last game was another win.
Thanks to all the players, I know how much they love you and you've got your lovely new arrival there as well, you've got a new baby, so gorgeous.
So listen, we've got a small memory, there'll be lots more things coming your way. But really this is just about everybody in the stadium standing as one and saying thank you mate for everything you've done, you've been a rock star for this club, thank you.
I think it's not too easy to find the right words now after those words.
But what I can say to all of you is just a huge thank you. And I think now, after the last couple of weeks, we all get the reward for the awful start!
In this start – and this is I think when everybody takes this as a learning and we are talking quite often about it – after a win at the moment, it's not so easy to learn something because we're all flying, everybody is celebrating and drinking.
Then it's not so easy to learn something. But after defeats, in tough times, if you take the right conclusions, it can help you reach the next level.
And I think this is what we all could experience this year. And it's really a big credit to all of you that when we were struggling, when we didn't get the results, you always stick to us.
You always supported us. And we always were one.
We always were Crystal Palace. That's why we could write history in the league, why we could write history winning the FA Cup.
So, thank you very much for this huge support.
There's just a few thank yous I'd like to say.
Firstly, to all you guys in the stands, you all welcomed me in 13 years ago and you raised the roof at Selhurst Park tonight as a goodbye, so thank you so much for your continued support.
I want to say thank you to the chairman, Dougie, and all the managers that I've played under – obviously Oliver as well. It's been truly special, this journey's been a roller coaster with so many highs and it's been a real honour to represent this club and wear this shirt.
I want to say thank you, I want to say thank you to these lads, the staff, it's been a real honour to stand by your side, to play alongside you, to support you and this group will live in my memory for the rest of my life.
We created history for this club on Saturday and we created history tonight as well. The standard these lads have set is incredible and they've got such bright futures ahead of them.
Now this is a difficult one. My family, from day one, have given me everything. My mum and dad for driving me up and down the country, for supporting me through thick and thin.
To my sister and my brother, for standing by my side and sharing in this journey. But the most precious of all of that is my wife, my two boys and my daughter who was born on Thursday.
It's a real honour, I love them to pieces. They've been with me every step of the way and it's the biggest honour, like I said in the interview, to walk out with my family on this pitch and I was so thankful that tonight I got to do it for one last time.
Thank you everybody, I love you.
