GLAD ALL OVER!

MATTHEW LUDDINGTON TELLS US ABOUT HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH CRYSTAL PALACE THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD...

- MATTHEW LUDDINGTON

GROWING up with a father who was a lifelong Manchester United supporter, I had early glimpses of the glitz and glamour associated with supporting one of the world's biggest clubs.

However, it wasn't until the 2004-05 Premier League season that I found a profound connection with a team.

Andy Johnson's 21-goal haul (including 11 penalties) captured my imagination. His single-handed determination to drive Palace's fight for Premier League survival resonated deeply with me as a striker myself.

After Palace's heartbreaking relegation on the final day of that season, a moment forever etched in memory by Soccer Saturday's announcement of Jonathan Fortune's late goal for Charlton, I knew I had discovered my club.

The allure wasn't in the star-studded lineup or silky football often associated with top teams. Instead, it was the hardworking ethos embodied by manager lain Dowie, Johnson's goalscoring prowess and the team's fighting spirit, epitomised by players like Aki Riihilahti, that won my heart.

Palace's resilience in the Premier League despite coming up against superior footballing sides mirrored my own limitations on the pitch and forged a profound connection.

Surprising my dad, who had only known me to follow Manchester United, I found myself clamouring to attend every Crystal Palace match.

After the inevitable debate whether to get off the train at Selhurst or Thornton Heath station and finding our wooden seats in the Arthur Wait stand, I loved watching my heroes like Johnson, Clinton Morrison, and Dougie Freeman ply their trade.