Back in the Day: September 11th - Tony Popovic Scores THAT Own Goal

Wednesday 11th September 1946

Crystal Palace 1-0 Brighton

League Division Three South – Att: 11,988

Manager: George Irwin

As always, any excuse to talk about a win over Brighton. The victory was one of significant character as it was the second win in four days on the back of getting thumped 10-2 at Reading the Wednesday before this fixture.

Bert Robson (below) scored the only goal of the game, heading in off his ear, but it was not enough to put Palace above Brighton in the table. The visitors had now won one, drawn two and lost one but this was in the days of two points for a win so Brighton sat on four points, as did we, but our horrendous goal difference as a result of the hiding at Elm Park meant that Brighton would hold table bragging rights for now - not that Palace and Brighton were at the stage of bragging at each other yet.

 

Wednesday 11th September 1963

Crystal Palace 4-1 Reading

League Division Three – Att: 12,049

Manager: Dick Graham

I thought that I would balance out the mention of the 10-2 Reading win in 1946 with a big Palace win over the Royals. Jimmy Wheeler scored Reading’s only goal of the game with Dick Spiers scoring an own goal, a bit like his parents did when they named him. Werge, Dowsett, and Burridge would complete the rout.

Alliteration Watch: Dickie Dowsett. Was everyone named ‘Dick’ back in the day? Well, apparently not. His real name was Gilbert, a well-known precursor for the name, Dickie.

Names you definitely don’t hear in football anymore: Eddie Werge, Colin Meldrum, Rod Thornhill – take your pick.

 

Saturday 11th September 1982

Crystal Palace 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

League Division Two – Att: 7,508

Manager: Alan Mullery

A rare win from the dark days of “The Famous” Alan Mullery (below). Second half strikes from Kevin Mabbut (60) and Vince Hilaire (72) achieved the win and it meant that Palace were now four games unbeaten at the start of the season (two wins, two draws), however, just look at the attendance. Only 7,508 turned up to witness the win as many stayed away in protest of the Mullery appointment.

The promising start would not materialise into anything worthwhile, and Palace would eventually finish in 15th place with home attendances only surpassing 10,000 on seven occasions – and that was mainly down to the away following of the likes of Newcastle and Leeds.

Names you definitely don’t hear in football anymore: Derek Fazackerley, sadly. In the Palace Club shop back in the 90's, it would have cost £8.75 to get 6 and Fazackerley on the back of your shirt!

 

Wednesday 11th September 1991

England 0-1 West Germany

Friendly – Wembley – Att: 59,500

John Salako played for England for the last time as a Karl-Heinz Riedle strike sunk England (Crystal Palace: On This Day by Neil McSteen)

England: Woods, Dixon, Dorigo, Pallister, Parker, Batty, Steven (Merson), Platt, Smith, Lineker, Salako (Stewart)

Germany: Illgner, Binz, Effenberg, Kohler, Buchwald, Hassler, Matthaus, Moller, Brehme, Riedle, Doll (Klinsmann)

Saturday 11th September 2004

Portsmouth 3-1 Crystal Palace

Premier League - Att: 20,019

Manager: Iain Dowie

From the moment that former Palace striker Ricardo Fuller gave the hosts the lead in the third minute, it was already clear to most that it probably wasn't going to be our day. This adage does not ring truer for anyone more than Tony Popovic. Danny Granville (43) equalised before the break, but Patrick Berger (47) reestablished the Pompey lead immediately after the restart before the big Australian took over. 

The ball was whipped into the near post where Pops tried to clear the ball, only to backheel volley the ball into the far corner and in off the post. The video below is billed as the "Most Beautiful Own Goal" and I am not going to argue with that suggestion. 

Sunday 11th September 2016

Crystal Palace left-back, Pape Souare is involved in a serious traffic accident that puts him out of action for almost a year.

Monday 11th September 2017

Frank de Boer is sacked after just four games in charge. The Dutchman lost the opening four games of the season without scoring a single goal, the first time a top flight team had done this since 1924. Results on the pitch were only part of the problem. Reports suggested that a complete relationship breakdown had occurred between Steve Parish and de Boer. 

Club Statement

Crystal Palace Football Club have this morning parted company with Frank de Boer.

We would like to thank Frank for his dedication and hard work during his time at the Club.

A new manager will be appointed in due course and we wish Frank the very best of luck for the future.

There will be no further comment at this time.

David Ornstein (BBC) Tweet

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September 10th - Crystal Palace Born in 1905