**Allow us to set the scene: Palace in trouble, two goals down – up pop Mark Bright and Ian Wright to save the day. It was to become a familiar story in the following years, but on this day (15th November) in 1986, the iconic strike partnership began terrorising defenders for the very first time.**
Steve Coppell’s Palace were taking on Ipswich at Selhurst Park, and things were not going to plan, 2-0 down heading towards half-time.
New signing Bright was making his debut for the club, and had hoped to do so in more felicitous circumstances. A Kevin Wilson double had stunned the home supporters – but soon they were in full voice once more.
Bright gave Palace a way back into the game, marking his debut with a goal just before the break. Ipswich added a third, before Kevin Taylor notched one back for the Eagles.
Then, in the final minute, up stepped Ian Wright to score a vital equaliser – and add his name alongside Bright’s on the scoresheet.
**The first of many occasions.**
When it came to strike partnerships, there were all the combinations. The little and large: Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch spring to mind. The nippy runner and the powerful finisher. The fast and the furious: step up Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney.
But at Crystal Palace, we were privileged to watch one of the very best at work. Their names even rhymed, for goodness' sake; it was just meant to be. Wright, Bright and an absolute shedload of goals.
Goals of all types too. Long-range screamers to perfectly timed tap-ins; wonderfully crafted openers to scrambled home equalisers; powerful headers to intricate lobs. Palace’s two No 9s could do it all.
Their stories could not be more different – geographically at least. Bright, born in Stoke-on-Trent, played his early football for non-league side Leek Town before joining Port Vale and Leicester City.
Gary Lineker had just left the latter, allowing a young Bright to establish himself in the first-team and earn a £75,000 move to Crystal Palace. Talk about a bargain.