Crystal Palace finally confirm FA Cup parade plan but fans left furious

Crystal Palace have announced how they will celebrate their FA Cup victory over Manchester City with supporters – and confirmed when their bus parade will take place around Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace have confirmed their plans for a bus parade to celebrate their FA Cup win. The Eagles earned their first piece of major silverware with victory over Manchester City at Wembley and will now extend their celebrations with supporters to Monday May 26.

Eberechi Eze’s first half strike earned the south London side victory against Pep Guardiola’s men as goalkeeper Dean Henderson controversially avoided a red card. Palace have already lifted the trophy on the Selhurst Park pitch as they celebrated with a Premier League win over Wolves on Tuesday night.

And now they will host a more formal celebration to enable their fans to join the side and see the FA Cup trophy up close. The Eagles’ FA Cup-winning heroes and their trophy will take part in an open-top bus parade down the SE25 streets on Bank Holiday Monday (May 26).

It will begin at the top of Whitehorse Lane from 13:00 on Monday and last 45 minutes as it completes a route that will turn into Park Road and down Holmesdale Road. A party on the pitch at Selhurst Park will then follow from 14:30.

The club will host a ticketed event, though it will be free, that will serve up live entertainment, special guests and the end-of-season awards for those in attendance. Standing tickets on the pitch and seats in the Main Stand will be available to witness a trophy lift or two.

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But some fans have been left frustrated with the day’s itinerary after a dispute with the local council forced a change in plans.

It was earlier reported that there were issues raised by Bromley Council over potentially using Crystal Palace Park for the FA Cup parade. And the council has now seen criticism after the confirmation of the route.

One social media user said: “@LBofBromley thanks for being party poopers, if you have had anything to do with stopping the parade. Don’t get or understand why you wouldn’t want this to be celebrated, this is a massive achievement! Shame on you!”

“The Crystal Palace bowl would have been the perfect place to end,” said another. “Ready made stage which would require little setting up.

“Route could have travelled through Croydon and Selhurst past the ground, made it’s way to Penge road left up along Penge high street then into the park.”

“Be ashamed of your actions,” said one frustrated fan. “The biggest and best thing to happen to South London in decades and you can’t facilitate it.”

Another said: “Oi @LBofBromley hang your heads on shame. Once in a lifetime opportunity here. No other council have banned these. Think of the South London children this will inspire.”

As well as being able to lift the FA Cup trophy, Crystal Palace were also awarded a place in next season’s Europa League. The club are confident that they will be able to compete in the competition despite their largest shareholder John Textor also owning Lyon, who could also qualify for the tournament.

UEFA’s club financial control body (CFCB) is set to look into the case, but the Eagles are confident that there will be no issue as Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings do not have the majority of voting rights.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner is not thinking about European competition just yet however, even with the Premier League season almost over. The Austrian said: “It makes just no sense thinking and talking about the Europa League.

“It’s so far away. I think this could be the biggest mistake you can do. My only thoughts are how we can improve our game, how we can improve as a team. here won’t be big changes.

“I think from a financial perspective, Crystal Palace will never be a top four club in England. I think this club got promoted in 2013. Since then, this club has always progressed. Not huge steps. You can be a one-hit wonder. But then you’re back. Then you’re gone.

“It just makes no sense. That’s why we said our planning shouldn’t be: ‘Now we play in Europe. We do crazy things and everything collapses’. We follow the pathway.

“Now we get a special reward. We can play in Europe. But we don’t leave our pathway. This pathway didn’t start with Oliver Glasner. It started with the new owners in 2010. For me the next step is to play between eight and 12 in the Premier League.”

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