“Instead of sending someone to just pick it up, or ask for it to be dropped off, Eze wanted to meet Paul and his family in person to talk about the shirt and their family,” explained Meadowcroft.
“I think Paul thought I was winding him up at first when I said he was invited down, but once he knew I wasn’t joking, Paul, his seven-year-old daughter Sienna and Dad Anthony, all came down with me to the Crystal Palace Academy, where Ebere was with his Foundation.”
At the Academy, Eze spoke to the three generations of the Darville family about their history with Crystal Palace and learning what it meant to them – with Anthony attending since the 1960s, Paul since the 1990s and his daughter now in the 2020s – even letting the family hold and wear his prized FA Cup Winners' medal.
“Being able to personally thank the man who scored the goal that won Palace the FA Cup Final was one thing, but having him ask questions about the shirt, the family and the connection to it was amazing,” said Paul about the experience.
“Ebere has always come across as nice in the media, but he could not be a friendlier person, as are his friends, brothers and agents. I can’t believe that I’ve held a FA Cup Winners' medal, nor that Sienna has had it around her neck.”