Crystal Palace’s success in the Premiership could soon be recognised by East Croydon station with plans underway to add ‘Home of the Eagles’ to signage.
Greater London Assembly Member for Croydon & Sutton and Conservative Member for Kenley Ward, Steve O’Connell, has submitted plans to Network Rail to add the label to the station.
Cllr O’Connell has written to Managing Director for Network Rail South East, Danny Ward, asking him to take up the idea.
Highlighting football’s power to transcend political boundaries, Labour leader of the council Tony Newman has been supportive of the bid.
Speaking to SW Londoner, Cllr O’Connell said, “Obviously these things take time but Tony has given us his support.”
Some early feedback criticised the decision to add the name to East Croydon station and not others closer to Crystal Palace’s stadium Selhurst Park.
East Croydon station is around 2.5 miles away, whereas both Thornton Heath and Selhurst are less than a mile from the ground.
However Cllr O’Connell urged people not to get caught up on proximities.
He said: “It’s not necessarily about the closest station to the ground.
“East Croydon station links the borough and the town with the club.
“I go to a lot of away matches and the station is a main link between London and other parts of the country.
“Crystal Palace is one of the major clubs in London and there needs to be a strategic link in place.”
Cllr O’Connell also cleared up any confusion surrounding what the rebranding process would entail.
“We wouldn’t be looking to change the name of the station itself, but what we would be looking to do is ensure East Croydon has the subtitle Home of the Eagles when you pull into the station,” he said.
Picture courtesy of Ewan Munro, with thanks
