The trophy was on display at Croydon Council.
Crystal Palace Football Club got close to some silverware today when Croydon welcomed the Premier League trophy for a charity event.
Excited fans could get their photos taken with the silverware in return for a suggested £5-10 donation to the Crystal Palace Football Club Foundation, which reaches out to youths in Croydon, Bromley and Sutton.
South Norwood’s Jane Bashford, a support worker for the deaf and blind, went to the event at Croydon Council’s Bernard Weatherill House, to excite her family.
She said: “My husband is a Palace fan and my boys are, so I’ve got to be, and I thought I’d surprise them. I’m going to give the picture to my husband for either his birthday or Christmas.
I thought it was a good cause as well – helping out young people.”
The foundation expects to receive between £800-1000 from the hundreds of visitors, while Barclays, sponsor of the Premier league, agreed to match the final total.
The charity has a variety of options for older residents too. Council worker, Graham Clark, a 59-year-old Crystal Palace fan, took advantage of their over-40’s fitness course.
Mr Clark and his fellow Crystal Palace fan Andy Lang are planning to attend tomorrow’s away game at Cardiff, and are eager to share their time in the spotlight.
Mr Lang said: “We’re gonna send it round to family and friends, I mean that’s the closest we’ll ever come to the cup.”
Mr Clark wryly added: “Well, maybe next year. We’ll see.”
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