Croydon will host a huge parade to celebrate Crystal Palace's win (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
Croydon will host a huge parade to celebrate Crystal Palace's win (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
Croydon is preparing to roll out the red and blue carpet for Crystal Palace as the borough celebrates the club’s first-ever major trophy with a victory parade.
On Bank Holiday Monday (May 26), fans will line the streets to see the Eagles lift the FA Cup in their hometown, following the clubs 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley.
Croydon Council has been supporting the football club on the plans, to give local fans the chance to see the winning team lift the FA Cup in their hometown of Croydon.
The club has designed the parade route and winners’ party.
Tomorrow, the open-top bus will start at the top of White Horse Lane at 1pm, with the winning players and the trophy, then will turn into Park Road and travel down Holmesdale Road.
The parade is free for everyone to attend and is expected to last about 45 minutes.
This will be followed by a ‘party on the pitch’ at Selhurst Park at 2.30pm, where there will be live entertainment, special guests, end-of-season awards and another chance to see the FA Cup trophy.
The event inside Selhurst Park is free, but the club has introduced a ticketing system.
Tickets must be booked in advance on the Crystal Palace FC website.
The council is covering the costs of closing roads and cleaning up afterwards, so the football club doesn’t have to pay for those services.
Palace won the FA Cup following their 1-0 win against Manchester City in a nail-biting game at Wembley last Saturday (May 17).
It is the football club’s first major trophy in their 164-year history.
The victory has lifted spirits across the borough, with Crystal Palace’s passionate Red and Blue supporters eagerly counting down the days until the FA Cup returns to Croydon for a proper celebration.
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, a Palace season ticket holder, said: “I was extraordinarily proud of our local Premier League team lifting the FA Cup at Wembley.
“It is right for the club and the fans that we give the Eagles the homecoming they deserve, when they bring the trophy back to Selhurst Park.
“We have been working closely with Crystal Palace FC to support the celebrations.
“As a Palace fan, I know how much this means to so many residents and the Council have been ready and willing to facilitate in any way we can.
“Now everyone can look forward to a momentous day.”
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