As a London club, Crystal Palace may not always garner the same attention as the likes of Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur, but is nevertheless one of the city’s most significant clubs.
With a history that dates back to 1861, the club is one of the original founders of the FA, and the FA Cup.
That long history has seen many great players pass through.
Here’s a look at Crystal Palace FC’s five greatest-ever players.
Vince Hilaire – A hugely talented winger, Hilaire was a part of the dynamic Crystal Palace side of the late 70s and was instrumental in helping them gain promotion to the first division in the 1978/79 season.
Unlike in the late 70s, the modern game is one dominated by technology and more ways for sports punters to bet on their favourite teams and players than ever.
One of the perks of modern online sports betting is that you can now bet on an individual player’s performance.
Unfortunately, this practice wasn’t as prevalent in Vince Hilaire’s day, but if it was, you can guarantee he would have found great odds (and a lot of fan support) with the safest betting sites in the UK.
Leaving a lasting legacy with Palace, his exploits saw him continue successful stints at the likes of Leeds United and Stoke City.
However, it was Crystal Palace who always remember him the fondest as one of their greatest-ever players.
Ian Wright – While he was a player who may have made a bigger name at Arsenal, it was at Crystal Palace that Ian Wright first gained prominence as a player.
Now a popular pundit, Wright scored 117 goals in 277 matches for Palace.
It was that kind of electric form that helped earn him the transfer to Arsenal.
However, before that, he became Palace’s third highest scorer in history.
His goals in the FA Cup final against Manchester United are now legendary, with Wright often providing some of the greatest memories for Palace supporters in the last three decades.
Jim Canon – Despite being a Glaswegian, Jim Canon came to epitomize what it was to be a Crystal Palace player.
Spending his entire career with the Eagles, Canon was a rugged centre-back who was always dependable.
Sadly sports betting wasn’t as expansive as it is now in Canon’s era.
If it was, he would have been a great candidate for a long-term soccer market pick for player with the most appearances in a season.
In the modern world, options like those offered by a Solana casino means players can even gamble with cryptocurrencies.
Players like Canon were made for modern-day online gambling, since he remains the club’s all-time record holder for most appearances.
Having played 663 games for the club over the course of 16 seasons, Cannon is a true legend of Selhurst Park.
Julian Speroni – Certainly most fans’ pick for the greatest goalkeeper in Palace’s history, Julian Speroni’s sterling reputation also made him one of their best players.
Playing close to 400 games for the club, he won multiple Player of the Year Awards, and has made too many crucial saves to count.
Instrumental in helping the club earn promotion in 2013, he has been one of the pillars of Crystal Palace’s modern-day status as a serial Premier League club.
His acrobatic feats, coupled with an indomitable attitude and authoritative presence, made him a stalwart of the club.
Although he departed in 2019, Speroni will always be fondly remembered as a proper legend of the club.
Geoff Thomas – Playing for Crystal Palace for six amazing seasons, Geoff Thomas is widely regarded as the greatest player in the club’s history.
In his first season with the Eagles, Thomas won the Player of the Year Award. By the next season, he was crucial to Palace earning promotion during the 1988/89 season.
Having earned the club’s captaincy with his superb performances, Thomas led the club to the 1990 FA Cup final where they gave a sterling account of themselves by earning a 3 – 3 draw with Manchester United, forcing a replay.
However, it was Thomas’ stunning long-range effort against Liverpool in the semi-finals that got Palace there in the first place.
Hardworking and reliable, Thomas became a club legend and forever remains most fan’s pick for the greatest Crystal Palace player in history.
That’s certainly saying something, since Crystal Palace have a legitimate claim for being the oldest club in history.
Image by KEREM TAŞER from Pixabay
