July 22 2001

Steve Coppell

Famous faces at Crystal Palace have said the strange, the stupid and the downright bizarre things over the years... here's a selection of some of the best

"The lad got over-excited when he saw the whites of the goal-post's eyes."

Steve Coppell

"When you're getting into mid-winter in England, you need a few of the hard white men to carry the artistic black players through."

One of Ron Noades' infamous quotes on a Channel 4 TV documentary about black footballers - September 1991

"You can never rule out a lesser club like Palace, from winning the league. So much can happen."

Michele Padavano talking like he plays - January 1998

Q: What sporting event would you pay most to watch?

A: Someone absolutely mashing Prince Nazeem Hamed.

David Hopkin, in Sun Q+A - 1997

"Dave Bassett has said he could not work with me and he is right. He is a dinosaur whose time has gone."

Simon Jordan rules Bassett out of the running for the manager's job - June 2001

"I know a lot of people think an investment of £30m is an over-valuation, but I believe it is a very fair price for where I think I can take Palace over the next five years. I am absolutely convinced it will be a good solid financial investment as well as one that secures my love and passion for Palace."

Mark Goldberg tries convincing himself that he has made the right decision - February 1998

"At the end of the day, it's all about what's on the shelf at the end of the year."

Steve Coppell

"I understand Lombardo getting the coaching job, but what is Brolin's role? Catering manager?"

Frank McClintock - January 1998

"A lot of people don't expect me to be any use to Palace. Then a lot of people talk sh!t."

Tomas Brolin after the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa - March 1998

"We hope that supporters will respond to our efforts to become a force to be reckoned with and also establish a squad that will be capable of competing in Europe within a five year period."

Mark Goldberg living in cookoo land again - July 1998

"I'm 52 this year and have to look at any opportunities that come along. That is not to say I have been using Palace as a vehicle in the last year."

Dave Bassett hints at becoming a judas - February 1997

"My mind was definitely made up when my mother's side of the family, who are all Irish, told me to declare for Mick's team."

"I’m definitely 100 per cent Irish now. I got on really well with Robbie Keane, Ian Harte and Gary Kelly - they are all top men over there and it was a very good craic."

Clinton Morrison tries to convince himself that he is actually Irish - August 2001

"Billy Gilbert hit a kamikaze back pass which Justin Fashinu pounced on like a black Frank Bruno."

Commentator Ian Dark

"I'm not going to make it a target, but it's something to aim for."

Steve Coppell

"I've only taken one penalty before - for Crystal Palace. It was 2-2 in the 90th minute. I hit the post and we went down that year."

Gareth Southgate

"To be honest I thought in extra time both teams had settled for a replay. I was panicking then, because I hadn't re-booked our hotel for midweek."

Steve Coppell after the FA Cup semi-final win against Liverpool in 1990

Steve Coppell talking to his team in the dressing room, which included Stan Collymore.

Coppell: We have to treat this like a cup match, it's very important.

Collymore: Sorry boss I can't!

Coppell: Why not Stan??

Collymore: Boss, I have already played in the cup this year and I'm cup tied!

Sent in by Markie P

"I was watching the Blackburn game on TV on Sunday, when it flashed on the screen that George (Ndah) had scored in the first minute at Birmingham. My first reaction was to ring him up. Then I remembered he was out there playing."

Ade Akinbiyi, when he was at Leicester

This is from a while back; round about '86-87. I was an ex-pat Palace fan living in Nottingham. We'd played Derby, and Andy Gray had scored. The local paper report read something like:

"Andy Gray picked up the ball to start the Palace attack... and the Scottish veteran finished the move himself."

So - blond-haired Scot in his thirties: young black English midfielder in his early twenties. Remind me again; which Andy Gray *was* it who used to play for Palace...?

Sent in by David

Tomas Brolin said in the Sun not long after retiring: "From a young age I felt like my mission in life was to make shoes."

As you may know he now owns a Swedish shoe company. Why the hell did he come to Palace? He was later quoted to say that he liked the amount of shoe shops in London.

Sent in by Tom S

I remember Ray Lewington referring to Bruce Dyer by saying: "He's got a heart like a dustbin."

Sent in by Pez

Carlo Nash stating the obvious after our 6-1 away win at Reading in 1996: "When I conceded the penalty, the ref could have sent me off, but he didn't and I'm really quite happy about that."

Sent in by Thealmightyeagle

Fatboy Slim said in 2003: "It shames me to say that because I grew up in Reigate, for the early years of my life, I supported our arch rivals Crystal Palace."

Simon Jordan: "I'm not going to drag it out or make a point, because points are pointless"

Steve Coppell: "He's carrying his left leg, which, to be honest, is his only leg."

by Tonbridge Eagle

Alan Smith spoke so much rubbish, he even has his own section for you to look at here

Simon Jordan quotes

Neil Warnock quotes