Ahead of Crystal Palace returning to FA Cup action against Macclesfield today (Saturday, 10th January, 12:15 GMT), memories of special moments have come flooding back, as we recall our last match in the competition: a day at Wembley none of us will ever forget.
The events of Palace’s FA Cup final success against Manchester City will go down in legend – and will be marked this afternoon at the Leasing.com Stadium, and throughout our FA Cup campaign this season, with a specially-designer winners’ ball, as well as silver sleeve patches which reflect our status as the current holders.
One man who played a huge role in that victory was our No. 1, Dean Henderson, who – having saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty on 36 minutes, as well as making a number of other fine stops that day – wrote his name into club folklore.
Henderson earlier this week attended the VIP launch of The Art of Waiting at Crystal Palace Park – an exhibition jointly curated by Art of, Added Time Club and Palace, in partnership with Crystal Palace Parks Trust, which is being held at the Palace Park Subway this weekend, and which tells the story of the club’s journey and intricate ties with the Cup competition.
There, Henderson relived the emotions of hearing the full-time whistle go at Wembley – his place in history assured: “I can't even put my finger on what it actually was in that moment... pure emotion.
“Obviously, you go through the game and you feel so in control cause it's just a game of football, and you've got to play it like that, ultimately… but the feeling to see the reaction in front of my goal, and everyone going up…
“When I was stepping up to take the goal kick [in injury time], I knew we'd got this! ‘If I kick this far, if I get it off the floor, we've won. We've won.
“And just to hear that atmosphere at that moment… everyone was singing louder than ever. I don't think anyone will ever hear Wembley like that. It genuinely shook. It was insane.
“Obviously, the players are so thankful for all that support, because we needed them that day. Obviously, City were a phenomenal team, but it was all about Crystal Palace – and it was always going to be Crystal Palace's day.”
Recalling the moments before and after his save, when Erling Haaland threw the ball to Marmoush, who was duly denied by Henderson, he smiled: “It sounds mad, but I was buzzing. I was buzzing. I was just thinking, ‘right, this is it, let's go.’
“To be fair, Remi [Matthews] had come in my room earlier that morning and he’d said: ‘I think you're going to save a penalty today.’ It’s mad how it worked.
“When it got given, and then he chucked the ball to Marmoush, I was like: ‘got it, got it, got it.’ It was a long wait – it was VAR – so we're just looking at each other for ages, and I just thought there's so much pressure on him…
“Obviously as a goalkeeper, you're not supposed to save them, are you? So: stay calm, but know your routine. And obviously when I saved it, I just couldn't wait to look behind me, but then there was another ball coming, so I had to stay focused!
“When I laid down on the floor for those five or ten seconds – whatever it was – honestly, it was incredible.”
The scenes behind Henderson’s goal in the immediate aftermath of the save have been replayed thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of times by Palace’s worldwide social media following – the West side of Wembley bouncing in sheer jubilation.
They were only matched by the scenes at full-time – and now, with Palace embarking on a new FA Cup adventure, starting with today’s trip to Macclesfield, it gives us one last wonderful chance to recall them.
Henderson smiled: “It's what makes a game so special, isn't it? And that's why the FA Cup's so special. Anybody can beat anybody.
“Obviously, for Crystal Palace and South London, it's incredible. We're just so delighted that we could bring everyone that happiness, honestly. Everyone's got their own reasons why and their own emotions that go into it and everyone's got their fight on that day.
“My fight was obviously winning the FA Cup in front of my one-year-old boy at the time. He was in the stadium, and that was my fight – and I was going to make sure it happened. Obviously, everyone's got their own fight as well. It’s incredible.
“The support's phenomenal at Selhurst Park, and home and away, the fans are so supportive of the players. Obviously there's more expectation on us now, which we've brought upon ourselves, but which I think is fantastic.
“We’re all pushing in the right direction to keep getting better and better. Obviously the fans demand a bit more of us, which is great, but we demand more of each other ultimately.
“I’m so thankful for all the support throughout my time here, and hopefully it can continue for many years to come.”
Macclesfield FC v Crystal Palace
I don't think anyone will ever hear Wembley like that. It genuinely shook
—Dean Henderson