Crystal Palace play in the first European final in the club’s history in Leipzig tonight. But it doesn’t mean that the Holmesdale Fanatics, nor other Eagles fans, are prepared to forgive and forget what the UEFA football bureaucrats did to them last summer.
Number one: Palace and England keeper Dean Henderson, who puts £1,000 behind the bar for the club’s fans, is a key figure in tonight’s match
As FA Cup-winners in 2025, Palace qualified automatically for the Europa League, Europe’s second-tier competition.
But they were relegated to the Conference League over a backroom ownership technicality.
Nottingham Forest were put in tthe Europa League in their place: not a tear was shed in south London when Forest lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Aston Villa…
Now, with a moment of redemption within Palace’s grasp, the Fanatics, and thousands of other Palace fans who have gathered in the German city, are planning a march – part-triumphal, part protest – as they make their way to the Red Bull Arena ahead of kick-off (8pm London time) against Rayo Vallecano.
“On this historic night we have the opportunity not only to win the competition, but also to take our rightful place in the Europa League,” the Holmesdale Fanatics posted yesterday. The winners of the Conference League take a place in the European League next season.
“Last May, it was not just that we won the FA Cup, but the manner in which we did it. Thousands of Palace fans marching together through central London, an emotional fan-made display and 30,000 Palace on their feet giving 90 minutes of unrelenting support.
“Wednesday, we must do it all again.”
The Fanatics are calling on all Palace fans attending tonight’s match tonight to meet at Thomaswiese from 4pm to begin the march together at 7pm.
In it together: how fans groups are calling for a boycott of UEFA ‘fanzones’
They suggest Palace fans boycott the corporatist UEFA “fanzones” set up in Leipzig city centre.
“Fuck the UEFA fanzones off,” another Palace fans group tweeted.
“Palace on the piss in Leipzig.”
Palace easily sold out their 13,000 ticket allocation for tonight’s big match, and there is reckoned to be half as many Eagles fans again in the city for the game – despite the lack of any direct flights from London to Leipzig, with many fans travelling via Berlin or Frankfurt, some using Eurostar trains in a two-day journey, others who have opted to drive halfway across Europe for the historic occasion.
Tonight is, poignantly, the final game in charge for manager Oliver Glasner, who has been generally acclaimed as the club’s top boss of all time.
“I will go home and have a rest on my terrace and enjoy my family,” Glasner said after Palace’s league match against Arsenal on Sunday.
With their European commitments, Palace have endured an unrelenting schedule. Tonight will be their 60th game of the season.
“When you have this schedule, it’s for me now also giving them time back. This is what they deserve and what I think I deserve as well. Then let’s see what the future brings,” Glasner said.
Master and class: Palace have won two trophies under Oliver Glasner. Can they make it three tonight?
“I really had more than two fantastic years of my life, and not just in football, but everywhere at this club. That’s what it’s all about and I think I could help to develop and progress Crystal Palace.”
As the Grauniad’s Ed Aarons notes, West Ham’s relegation confirmed at the weekend means only the “Big Six” and Everton have been in the Premier League for longer than Palace’s 14 successive seasons come 2026-2027. That’s a stability which Glasner has done much to cement while the club has sold its best players – Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, the scorer of the Cup final winner 12 months ago, and club captain Marc Guehi.
“This is a huge achievement for Crystal Palace,” Glasner said. “It’s a huge achievement for Steve Parish.
“He took the club over when Palace was in administration and they got promoted. I know Steve now quite well and I know he will always do what’s necessary to stay in the league.
Written in the stars: there would be something most apt in highlighting the hypocrisy of UEFA for Palace to win in the RB Arena tonight, as foreseen here on Inside Croydon in August last year
“I think 12 Crystal Palace players will go to the World Cup and that means it will be a very short pre-season with many challenges.
“But I can promise the new manager whoever he will be, he will find a fantastic group of players, fantastic characters who are really always working very hard to succeed. This is the foundation of every success.”
- If you are currently in Leipzig and need to get in touch with Crystal Palace Supporter Services, their dedicated helpline in Germany is 07345 703 244
Not all our podcast content is behind a paywall: our Under The Flyover interview with comedian and Palace fan Kevin Day last summer discussed the gross injustices heaped on his club by the football bureaucrats at UEFA- Click here to listen now
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