French newspaper L’Equipe have been running a recent feature on old English football grounds. Covering the clubs which haven’t yet got themselves a brand new stadium or had their existing one changed beyond recognition.
Saturday sees the turn of Crystal Palace, and it’s clear L’Equipe feel there’s a lot of the past about the club. That’s not in a negative sense, the French newspaper explain that Palace still have an atmosphere that is rare elsewhere, with fans going to the match to get behind their team.
But things can’t stay the same forever and there will inevitably be changes ahead, with expansion plans in motion. L’Equipe are particularly interested in the prospect of Selhurst Park being renamed for a sponsor, and have spoken to Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish.
Parish certainly didn’t rule out changing the name, but has his conditions: “If we did, it’d have to be worth it, for example possibly to finance the renovation of our academy… but such a measure would not be very popular with the fans.”
With Selhurst Park’s Main Stand set for renovation, there’s been worry that the ground could become too corporate, but Parish hinted that’s not what they’re looking for: “The aim of this work is not to please a certain category of the public but to improve the overall comfort of all spectators.”
Comedian Kevin Day, a well known Palace fan, also gave his opinion to L’Equipe, saying he’s concerned that development could lead to growth of the ‘prawn sandwich brigade’.
