Former PL striker’s son ‘hopes to play for Crystal Palace’ one day, interesting reason

There are many reasons to want to play for Crystal Palace as an aspiring footballer.

The location, the fact they feature in the Premier League regularly and playing alongside players like Wilfried Zaha would be enough, yet for Sydney Van Hooijdonk, son of former Nottingham Forest and Celtic striker Pierre, it’s none of those.

The 18-year-old, who currently plays for NAC Breda in the Eredivisie, where he recently made his debut this season, sat down for an interview alongside his father for VI in Holland, and he immediately discussed his hopes and dreams.

While he admired the teams Pierre played for, he only has one club in mind at the moment, and that’s Crystal Palace.

Why? We’ll let him explain.

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He said: “It all started the season Liverpool could finally become champions again, with Suarez and Sturridge and all that. They lost the title at Palace, after a 3-0 lead. That impressed me so much. I’ve always followed them. That stadium, those fanatical fans; I really like that. Evert winter break, I go to England with friends to visit competitions.

“We will go again at the end of December. To Crystal Palace, of course, against Chelsea. And to Fulham. We’ve been to Wigan, Huddersfield, Brentford. I hope to play for Crystal Palace myself. I already received the shirt from my friends for my birthdays”.

This type of mentality was praised by his father, who acknowledged Sydney was a ‘real football fan’ and condemned how many of his peers ‘are focused on absolute top clubs’.

Despite only playing 14 minutes of professional football so far this season, spread over five appearances, for NAC Breda, the 18-year-old has been in great form for the Eredivisie’s youth sides this season.

In 14 appearances for both the U19s and the U21s, he’s managed to score nine goals.