In that second season, the 1996/97 campaign, Palace finished sixth overall, getting into the play-offs once more.
What followed was a close-fought semi-final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Hopkin scored a crucial goal to see the Eagles through on aggregate at Molineux.
“Dougie, who was my roommate at the time, played a massive part in the first leg when he came on. At the time we were drawing 1-1, but he came on and scored two fantastic goals.
“Then we had to go to Molineux, and you have to remember how much money they'd spent, the squad they had. They were favourites and we went behind quite early. And then I managed to score.
“People always ask me about the goal at Wembley and I say, ‘yeah, it was great,’ but I think the one at Molineux was arguably more important because that was the one that took us through to the final in the first place!
“I think that's always been in the club's DNA: to upset the odds when we’re not favourites. That's how it has always been. The fans have been absolutely fantastic with every team that's been through the generations.”