Today’s defeat at Anfield was the second away loss for Crystal Palace this week, after the club had a planning application for new buildings at their Beckenham training ground rejected by Bromley Council on Thursday.

Planning defeat: council decision was a reverse for Palace manager Frank de Boer and the co-chairman, Steve Parish, right

Palace wanted to build what they called a two-storey “extension” to the main pavilion building and extend the car park at the ground in Copers Cope Road to “provide essential medical, changing and office facilities for the club”, the planning officials noted.

In the report to the planning committee, based on the club’s application, it said, “The existing facilities on site are noted as being insufficient and inadequate, falling well short of Premiership standards and the provision of additional and improved facilities is considered essential for the continued function of the site for this occupier,” something which does not require much reading between the lines.

But the Bromley planning committee refused permission on the grounds of inappropriate development on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), something which their colleagues at Croydon Council might do well to note.

The entrance to Palace’s training ground. Not up to Premier League standard

Palace’s application drew considerable opposition from their neighbours. One said, “Unauthorised works have already been carried out on site”, with others complaining about the use of temporary cabins.

And one clearly disgruntled resident said, pointedly, “The area is residential and not a site for commercial purposes. If the existing site is not fit for purpose they should relocate.”

No need to read between the lines there at all.

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